Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of April 18th
As we approach the day of Shakespeare’s death, there are a lot of intriguing and unique shows getting ready to honour the bard. If he’s not your thing, there are still plenty of other shows opening this week that should grab your attention. This week, our editor Mike is here to select his picks in red under the cut!
Already Reviewed by Mooney on Theatre:
If/Then by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (Mirvish). This new musical simultaneously follows one woman’s two possible life paths to explore different possibilities. Opens Apr 12 and runs to May 8, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $35-$130. Show Info.
Carmen by Georges Bizet (Canadian Opera Company). A gypsy seduces an American soldier in Spain in this opera performed in French. Opens Apr 12 and runs to May 15: Apr 12, 20, 23, 28, May 4, 6, 10, 12, 13 at 7:30 pm; Apr 17, May 8 and 15 at 2 pm; Apr 30 at 4:30 pm. $50-$435, specially priced $22 tickets available for people under the age of 30. Show Info.
Das Ding (The Thing) by Philipp Löhle (Canadian Stage/Theatre Smash). A global crisis attaches itself to various people in this social comedy. Previews Apr 12-13, opens Apr 14 and runs to May 1, Tue-Thu & Sat 8 pm, Fri 7 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 1 pm. $24-$99. 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.
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. Show Info.
Killer Joe by Tracy Letts (surface / underground). A man decides to kill his alcoholic mother to collect insurance money and pay off his drug debts. Previews Apr 3, opens Apr 5 and runs to Apr 24, Tue-Sun 7:30 pm. $35, preview $20. 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.
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 Beaux Stratagem by George Farquhar (George Brown Theatre Spring Repertory Season). Two debt-ridden young men look to marry for money but love threatens to get in the way in this Restoration comedy. Opens Apr 13 and runs to Apr 23, see website for schedule (runs in rep with The Enchanted). $20, srs $15, stu $8. Show Info.
August: Osage County by Tracy Letts (Alumnae Theatre). A family must confront its secrets when its alcoholic patriarch disappears in this darkly comic drama. Opens Apr 8 and runs to Apr 23, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20, Wed 2-for-1, Sun pwyc. Show Info.
The Best Plan for Living Happily by Julia Lederer (QuestionMark-Exclamation Theatre/Birdtown and Swanville). A woman deals with an existential crisis in the wake of her best friend’s wedding. Previews Apr 7, opens Apr 8 and runs to Apr 23, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $20-$25. 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.
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.
The Enchanted by Jean Giraudoux (George Brown Theatre Spring Repertory Season). A young woman in a provincial French town seeks the answer to the riddle of death from a handsome ghost. Opens Apr 13 and runs to Apr 23, see website for schedule (runs in rep with The Beaux Stratagem). $20, srs $15, stu $8. Show Info.
Reckoning by Tara Beagan and Andy Moro (Article 11). This triptych in sound, movement and video looks at three separate experiences with Residential Schools and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Previews Apr 13-14, opens Apr 15 and runs to Apr 24, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $18-$28, preview $12-$20, Sun pwyc at the door. Show Info.
Dead Roads by Clare Preuss, Neema Bickersteth, Darwin Lyons and Zoë Sweet (The Dead Roads Collective/The RISER Project). Bizarre occurrences hit a small Alberta town in this magical-realist story about life on the edge of capitalism. Opens Apr 16 and runs to Apr 24, see website for times. $20, youth under 25 $10. Show Info.
The Archivist by Shaista Latif (The RISER Project). Latif performs her solo show about memory. Opens Apr 17 and runs to Apr 22, see website for times. $20, youth under 25 $10. Show Info.
Anne of Green Gables: The Musical by Lucy Maud Montgomery (LOT). A red-haired orphan lands in a PEI farm in this musical version of the classic story. Opens Apr 14 and runs to May 8, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 3:30 pm. $50-$60. Show Info.
The Summoned by Fabrizio Filippo (Tarragon Theatre). The friends and family of a billionaire tech visionary gather for the reading of his will. Previews from Apr 20, opens Apr 27 and runs to May 29, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2:30 pm (see website for Wed & Sat mats). $28-$60, srs $45-$49, stu $29, rush $15. MainSpace. Show Info.
Journey to Happiness. JL Witterick presents a show about the search for what makes us happy, told through narrative, music, photography and cinematography. Apr 21 at 7:30 pm. $35-$75. VIP $150 (includes a signed Robert Bateman book). All proceeds donated to Toronto Wildlife Centre. Show Info.
Her Story Counts (Jennifer Neales). Monologues exploring privilege, in vitro fertilization, mental health, resilience and more by Ordena Stephens-Thompson, Susan Lock, Evanjelia Kambites, Tennille Read and others. Apr 22-24, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm. $20, stu/srs $15. Show Info.
Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On: The Lyrical Shakespeare. Live music by the Orpheus Choir and Talisker Player and dramatic reading by actor Geraint Wyn-Davies. Apr 23 at 7:30 pm. $40, srs $30, stu $10. Show Info.
Drunk Romeo and Juliet. Dauntless City Theatre presents the classic tragedy with a twist. The star-crossed lovers drink their way through the tale while the rest of the cast stays sober. Apr 23 at 8 pm. $20-$25. Show Info.
Sweet Swan of Avon: Shakespeare’s Sorrows. The Musicians In Ordinary present live music and readings from Hamlet, Pericles and others by Seth Lerer, to mark 400 years since William Shakespeare’s death. Apr 23 at 8 pm. $20-$30. Show Info.
Shakesbeers Showdown: The Bard Awakens. Spur-Of-The-Moment Shakespeare Collective presents the fifth annual throwdown. Shakespearean indie theatre companies compete in improvised performances fuelled by beer. Apr 24 at 7:30 pm. $15-$18 (benefits the Shakespeare-In-Hospitals Program). Show Info.
Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings