Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of March 28th
Rounding out March are a number of shows that range from fairy tales to scathing cultural commentary. Here to help you parse through the rich end-of-the-month additions to the city’s theatre scene is our Editor Samantha, whose picks you can find illustrated in red under the cut!
Already Reviewed by Mooney on Theatre:
Up the Garden Path by Lisa Codrington (Obsidian Theatre). A Caribbean woman poses as a man in order to come to Canada as a migrant farm worker in the 1960s. Opens Mar 23 and runs to Apr 10, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm. mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $20-$35. Show Info. by Lisa Codrington (Obsidian Theatre). A Caribbean woman poses as a man in order to come to Canada as a migrant farm worker in the 1960s. Opens Mar 23 and runs to Apr 10, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm. mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $20-$35. Show Info.
** The Crackwalker by David French (Factory Theatre). A couple trapped in a booze-fuelled cycle of violence struggle with raising a baby and a bogeyman from their dreams. Previews Mar 22-23, opens Mar 24 and runs to Apr 10, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $35, preview $25. Show Info.
** IBlithe. Red Sandcastle Theatre presents Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit reinvented for the digital age. Directed by David Huband. Opens Mar 24 and runs to Apr 2, Thu-Sun 8 pm. $20. Show Info.
** Blood Wedding. Soulpepper Theatre presents the play by Federico García Lorca, translated by Guillermo Verdecchia. A young couple’s engagement rekindles buried passions and threatens a deep-seated blood feud in a small rural town. Mar 2-Apr 9, see website for details. Show Info.
** You Will Remember Me by François Archambault (Tarragon Theatre/Studio 180 Theatre). A professor and respected intellectual/political figure struggles with dementia. Previews from Mar 1, opens Mar 9 and runs to Apr 10, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2:30 pm (and Saturdays: Mar 12, 19 & 26 at 2:30 pm). $28-$60, srs $45-$49, stu $29, rush $15. MainSpace. Show Info.
** Kinky Boots by Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper (Mirvish). A man inherits a shoe company and teams up with a drag queen in this musical based on the 2005 film. Previews from Jun 16, opens Jun 28 and runs to May 15th, 2016 (extended from Dec 20), Tue-Sat 8 pm, see website for other times. $35-$130. Show Info.
Fancy Nancy: The Musical by Susan DiLallo and Danny Abosch (LOT). Stage adaptation for families of the picture book Fancy Nancy And The Mermaid Ballet by Jane O’Connor. Feb 13 to May 1, Sat 11 am, Sun 11 am & 1 pm. $25-$45. Show Info.
Jitters by David French (Soulpepper Theatre). This play-within-a-play looks at the comedic catastrophes of opening night. Mar 2-Apr 6, see website for details. Show Info.
** The Public Servant by Jennifer Brewin, Haley McGee, Sarah McVie and Amy Rutherford (Nightwood Theatre/Common Boots Theatre). An idealistic young civil servant prepares to write her first official memo. Previews Mar 13 and 15, opens Mar 16 and runs to Apr 3, see website for schedule. $18-$35. Show Info.
And the Rest:
** Great Balls of Fire. Famous People Players presents a black light dinner theatre show featuring iconic rock n’ roll anthems. Opens Jan 15 and runs to May 31, see website for times. $40-$65 (includes lunch/dinner). Show Info.
Avenue Q by Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty (Lower Ossington Theatre). A college grad moves to NYC and copes with grown-up problems in this adult musical puppet play. Mar 10-Apr 3, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 3:30 pm. $50-$60. Show Info.
** The Judas Kiss by David Hare (Hampstead Theatre/Mirvish). At the height of his success, author/playwright Oscar Wilde must choose between his lover and his freedom. Opens Mar 22 and runs to May 1, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $35-$119.
NOTE: This production was originally scheduled to play at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Due to the extension of Kinky Boots, it will now be staged in the Ed Mirvish Theatre. Show Info.
The Death of the King by Bahram Beyza’ie (Modern Times Stage Company/Theatre Centre). Mar 26-Apr 11. A family must prove their innocence after a king is found dead in their flour mill. Previews Mar 26-27, opens Mar 29 and runs to Apr 10. Details TBA. $15-$25 Show Info.
** Chimerica by Luck Kirkwood (Canadian Stage/Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre). A photojournalist returns to China 20 years after capturing an iconic image of protest in Tiananmen Square. Previews Mar 29-30, opens Mar 31 and runs to Apr 17, Tue-Thu & Sat 8 pm, Fri 7 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 1 pm. $24-$99. Show Info.
The Skriker by Caryl Churchill (Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts). Determined to avenge a ravaged planet, an ancient fairy takes on many forms as it pursues two young women. Opens Mar 29 and runs to Apr 2, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $22. Show Info.
Caught by Jordi Mand (TPM). A teen caught shoplifting tries to persuade a female security guard to let him go. Previews Mar 31-Apr 3, opens Apr 5 and runs to Apr 24, see website for schedule. $17-$38, mat pwyc at the door. TPM Backspace. Show Info.
The Great War: The History of the Village of the Small Huts, 1914-1918, by Michael Hollingsworth (VideoCabaret/Soulpepper Theatre). Apr 1-May 14, see website for details. Show Info.
** Esu Crossing the Middle Passage by d’bi.young anitafrika (Watah Theatre/Storefront). This solo play (part 1 of a new trilogy) looks at the journey into the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, embodied by the spirit of Esu – the trickster God of Ifa, told through movement, poetry and sound. Opens Apr 1 and runs to Apr 17, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20-$25. Show Info.
Hold Mommy’s Cigarette. Shelley Marshall performs her solo dark comedy about life, mental illness and survival. Opens Apr 1 and runs to Apr 10, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25. Show Info.
** Isis and Osiris by Peter Anthony Togni and Sharon Singer (VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert). New opera on this enigmatic love story from mythology. Apr 1-3, Fri 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $52-$73. Show Info.
Travelogue. Toy Piano Composers and The Bicycle Opera Project present four original operas that explore travel by bicycle, car and rocket ship are presented as part of the Curiosity Festival. Apr 1-2 at 8 pm. $15-$20, three day festival pass $30. Show Info.
Princesses Don’t Grow on Trees by Andrea Scott (SSCT). A girl’s wish comes true, taking her to a fairy-tale land, in this play for ages 4 and up. Apr 2-24, Sat-Sun 11 am & 2 pm. $16. Show Info.
High Stakes Storytelling (Toronto Storytelling Festival). Sage Tyrtle hosts a storytelling show w/ Faizal Bacha, Fatima Farooqi and Judie Oron. Apr 2 from 1-3 pm. Free. Show Info: sagetyrtle@gmail.com.
Boxes Buried Deep written and performed by Sage Tyrtle (Sage Tyrtle/Toronto Storytelling Festival). Solo show about a scary witch, a charming prince and a malevolent fairy vying for a young girl’s attention. Apr 2 at 7:30 pm. $15. Show Info.
** Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar (Mirvish). A Pakistani-American lawyer and his white American wife host a dinner party where – despite everyone’s liberal and progressive views – everyone is drawn into a conversation that reveals their “tribal” roots. Opens Apr 3 and runs to Apr 17, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm (and Apr 13). $39-$89. Show Info.
The Odds (Aspaklaria Jewish Repertory Theatre/Spotlight On Israeli Culture Festival). A counsellor opens a couples’ workshop for men only in this play about love and commitment. Apr 3 at 8 pm. $37.25. In the Studio Theatre. Show Info.
Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings