Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of September 19th.

This week features a great selection of cheap shows and openers! Whether you fancy love stories, music, story-driven theatre, or even something your baby will enjoy, Toronto has you covered this week. To help you narrow down your choice(s), our assistant editor Jess is here to pick out her most-anticipated shows in red text!

Already Reviewed by Mooney on Theatre:

Groundswell: A Festival of Contemporary Women’s Theatre. Nightwood Theatre presents staged readings of plays by Tabitha Keast, Marcia Walker, Aviva Armour-Ostroff, Jijo Quayson and Meara Tubman-Broeren. Sep 19-24, opening party Mon 6-8 pm, performances Tue-Fri 7 pm, Sat 4 pm. All readings are PWYC at the door. Show Info.

Aunt Dan and Lemon. Shadowtime Productions presents Wallace Shawn’s Obie-winning play. A reclusive British invalid looks back on her chats with a passionate American scholar whose colourful stories and seductive opinions provided her with an escape from her unhappy family life in this morality tale and black comedy. Previews Sep 14, opens Sep 15 and runs to Sep 25, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $30, stu/srs $25, preview $15. Show Info.

Kill Your Parents in Viking, Alberta by Bryce Hodgson and Charlie Kerr (Blood Pact Theatre/Storefront Theatre). Three estranged siblings meet in the middle of a brutal to sign the will of their recently deceased grandmother. Opens Sep 9 and runs to Sep 25, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20-$25. Limited Wed pwyc, in person only. Show Info.

Old Times by Harold Pinter (Unit 102 Actors Co). An old friend visits a married couple, sparking memories and startling revelations. Previews Sep 6-7, opens Sep 8 and runs to Sep 24, Tue-Sat 8 pm, plus Sep 18 (no show Sep 21). $25 (cash only). Show info.

Matilda: the Musical by Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin (Mirvish/Royal Shakespeare Company/The Dodger). A gifted girl uses her imagination and sharp mind to fight against the cruel and cynical people in her life in this musical based on the novel by Roald Dahl. Opens Jul 5 and runs to Oct 16, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm. mat Wed, Sat-Sun 1:30 pm (no performances Sep 6-11). $38-$139. Show Info.

Luzia by Daniele Finzi Pasca and Julie Hamelin Finzi (Cirque du Soleil). Acrobats, musicians, dancers, storytellers and more are used to tell a story inspired by the monarch butterfly’s journey from Canada to Mexico. Opens Jul 28 and runs to Oct 2, see website for schedule. $49 & up. Show Info.

Thank You For Being a Friend (Joseph Patrick/LOT). Dorothy, Sophia, Rose and Blanche of TV’s Golden Girls take the stage in puppet form in this tribute show. Opens Jul 29 and runs to Sep 24, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Tue, Sat-Sun 1:30 pm. $60-$80. Show Info.

And the rest:

One Things Leads to Another returns to Young People’s Theatre (YPT) by popular demand. An innovative work of theatre commissioned by YPT and created specifically for infants, One Thing Leads to Another transforms everyday objects into fabulous, fanciful phenomena. Sep 22 – Oct 8. $18.65. Show Info.

Raoul’s Blues Interviews III – Paul James. Soulpepper Cabaret Series presents blues musician Raoul Bhaneja jams and chats about the music scene with Paul James, accompanied by Terry Wilkins on upright bass. Sep 24 at 8:30 pm. $25, stu $20. Show Info.

Singing River. Waterfront Toronto presents storytellers Cathy Elliott, Sharada Eswar and Diana Tso share tales from Indigenous Canada and around the world, inviting us to renew our relationship with our city’s rivers. Music by the Burble Choir, GREX and Marie Gaudet, dance by Julia Alpin, Nova Bhattacharya and Lucy Rupert and more. Sep 24, 1-5 pm. Free. Show Info.

Hosanna by Michel Tremblay (Soulpepper Theatre). A drag performer and her partner confront insecurities and illusions about identity. Opens Sep 23 and runs to Oct 15, see website for schedule. $32-$94, youth/rush $5-$25. Show Info.

Aftermath by Andrea Dworkin, edited by Adam Thorburn (The Waterworks Company). This play was devised from an unpublished manuscript by writer/feminist activist Dworkin, found after her death, about being drugged and raped in Paris in 1999. Sep 22-24, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Fri-Sat 4 pm. $15-$25. Aki Studio. Show Info.

Culture/Shock. THE BOX NYC and Brassai Noir presents an immersive theatrical cabaret nouveau set in a whimsical royal court with music, dance, cirque, burlesque and more. Sep 21-22 at 10 pm. $50. Show Info.

Hopera Quartus. Opera singers perform a selection of eight operatic arias, duos and trios, each accompanied by a craft beer pairing. Sep 21-22 at 8 pm. $40. Presented by Beerology. Show Info.

Noises Off by Michael Frayn (Soulpepper Theatre). A misfit company of actors juggle their lines, love lives and lunches just hours before opening night in this classic farce. Opens Sep 21 and runs to Oct 22, see website for schedule. $32-$94, youth/rush $5-$25. Show Info.

Music Amongst the Trees. Toronto Masque Theatre presents poetry and songs inspired by trees performed and considered, with pianist Jo Greenway, members of the Elizabeth McDonald Voice Studio, readings by Derek Boyes and hosted by Larry Beckwith. Sep 19 at 7:30 pm. $25. Show Info.

(off)-Balance. Branch Out Theatre presents a solo play by Naomi Tessler. Autobiographical journey of one woman’s struggle with depression, which led to spiritual awakening in her first year at university. Sep 19-20, Mon 7:30 pm, Tue 1 & 7:30 pm. $15-$25. Show Info.

Blind Date by Rebecca Northan (BIBT). This new version of the clown play see Mimi and Mathieu finding love with a different person (from the audience) every night. Previews from Sep 20, opens Sep 22 and runs to Oct 9, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $29-$39, previews $25, rush $20, Sun PWYC at the door. Show Info.

True Stories Toronto. Personal stories told without notes in less than 10 minutes with Erin Rodgers, Jillian Welsh, Wanda Prochazka, Natalie Currie and Anh Phung. Sep 20 at 7:30 pm. Free. Show Info.

The Four of Us. by Itamar Moses (Foxglove Theatre). Two aspiring writers face heartbreak, humiliation and overnight success while trying to hang on to their friendship. Opens Sep 17 and runs to Sep 26, Sat-Sun 8 pm (and Sep 26), mat Sunday Sep 25 at 2 pm. $20. Show Info.

Les Belles-Soeurs by Michel Tremblay (Bloor West Village Players). Working-class women in a poor Montreal neighbourhood discuss their lives, religion and small joys. Opens Sep 9 and runs to Oct 1, see website for schedule. $24, under 30/srs $20. Show Info.

Tideline. Hart House Theatre, Canadian Rep & ENSEMBLE: Canadian Youth Theatre present a play by Wajdi Mouawad. A man must confront family secrets and feelings of displacement after the sudden death of the father he barely knew. Opens Sep 16 and runs to Oct 1, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Oct 1 at 2 pm. $28, srs $17, stu $12-$15. Show Info.

Salt by Erin Vandenberg (Lark & Whimsy Theatre Collective). This drama explores the impact of addiction and mental illness on the relationship between two teenage sisters and their alcoholic mother. Previews Sep 17-18 (Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 1:30 pm), opens Sep 20 and runs to Sep 28, Tue-Sun 7:30 pm, mat Sep 21 & Sep 24 at 1:30 pm. $25, previews $15. Show Info.

Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings.