Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of February 26th, 2018

This week’s selections are full of new shows, Broadway’s Canadian superstar musical is back for a second week on Toronto stages, and so much more. There is much to choose from, so here to help you chose is our Assistant Editor Jess, with a few of her top picks in red. Check them out below the cut:

Already reviewed by Mooney on theatre:

Hang by debbie tucker green (Obsidian Theatre). This drama delves into the heart of a woman’s unthinkable decision. Directed by Philip Akin and choreographer Kimberley Rampersad. Previews from Feb 6, opens Feb 9 and runs to Feb 28, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $20-$35. At The Berkeley Street Theatre. Show Info.

King Charles III by Mike Bartlett (Studio 180 Theatre/Mirvish). Following the death of the queen, Charles attempts to reassert the crown’s power in this future history play. Previews Feb 10, opens Feb 15 and runs to Mar 4, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $39-$92, at mirvish.com. At The CAA Theatre. Show Info.

Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth (The Company Theatre/Outside the March/Starvox). An aging daredevil fights the community council bent on bulldozing his land and putting up condos. Previews from Feb 13, opens Feb 15 and runs to Mar 10, Mon-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Wed & Sat 1:30 pm. $25-$60, at crowstheatre.com. At The Streetcar Crowsnest. Show Info.

Come From Away by Irene Sankoff and David Hein (Mirvish). Newfoundlanders open their homes to stranded passengers following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Previews from Feb 13, opens Feb 18 and runs to Sep 2, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed 1:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $69 and up. At The Royal Alexandra Theatre. Show Info.

The Secret Garden. Young People’s Theatre presents a play by Paul Ledoux, adapted from the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Neglected in her uncle’s gloomy manor, a young girl finds takes refuge in a mysterious hidden garden. Previews from Feb 5, opens Feb 8 and runs to Mar 17, see website for schedule. $10-$45. Recommended for ages 6-12, runs approx. 85 minutes. At The Young People’s Theatre. Show Info.

The Abduction From The Seraglio by WA Mozart (Canadian Opera Company). Cultures collide in Mozart’s singspiel about the story of European captives of a Muslim pasha in the Ottoman Empire. Sung in German w/ English surtitles. Opens Feb 7 and runs to Feb 24, see website for schedule. $22-$350.  At The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

Cottagers And Indians by Drew Hayden Taylor (Tarragon). Comedy/drama looking at conflicts between native traditional water usage and property owners in cottage country. Previews from Feb 13, opens Feb 21 and runs to Mar 25, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm (see website for other mats). $20-$60. At Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

And everything else:

The Drawer Boy by Michael Healey (Theatre Passe Muraille). An actor goes to the country to research rural life and reawakens painful memories for two farm owners. Previews from Feb 28, opens Mar 6 and runs to Mar 25, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $17-$38 (weekend mats pwyc at the door; $22.50 in advance). TPM 50th Anniversary Gala March 8 – pre-show reception from 6 pm, performance of The Drawer Boy at 7:30 pm. Special guests, raffle prizes, gift bags, open bar & more. $125. Tickets. #DrawerBoyTO. At Theatre Passe Muraille. Show Info.

Black Boys. Buddies and Saga Collectif present a raw, intimate and timely exploration of queer male Blackness. Through dance, poetry, scripted scenes & conversation Stephen Jackman-Torkoff, Tawiah M’Carthy and Thomas Olajide explore how Black male bodies encounter the world and one another.Previews Feb 28, opens Mar 1 and runs to Mar 11, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $30-$40, preview/rush $20, Sun pwyc at the door. At Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Show Info.

The Audre Lorde Works-in-Progress Festival. The Watah Theatre presents a week-long festival of readings by emerging Black, Indigenous, POC and LGBTQQIP2SAA artists aged 18-30. Opens Feb 26 and runs to Mar 3, Mon-Sat 8:30 pm. $20. More info & tickets at crowstheatre.com. At Crowsnest Streetcar. Show Info.

Person of Interest. Lunkamud presents a comedy drama written and performed by Melody A. Johnson. An actor is driven to the brink by the neighbours from Hell in this mostly true story. Mar 1-4, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $20. At Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

Mr. Bojangles Bar: Memories Of A Fictional Bartender. Silverberg & Finn). Music, dance and stories from a bartender you’ve never known and famous singers who don’t exist. Feb 28 at 8:30 pm. $20. buddiesinbadtimes.com. At Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Show Info.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang (Scarborough Players). Bickering siblings named after dysfunctional characters from Chekhov plays try to escape their melancholic curse in this comedy. Opens Mar 2 and runs to Mar 17, see website for schedule. $24. At Scarborough Village Theatre. Show Info.

Tainted Justice by Don Nigro (Village Players). Murder mystery based on a true event on Cape Breton Island in 1913. Opens Mar 2 and runs to Mar 24, Thu-Sat 8 pm (and Mar 7), mat Mar 11 and 18 at 2 pm. $20-$24. At The Village Playhouse. Show Info.

Bunny by Hannah Moscovitch (Tarragon). A woman is caught between her sexual desires and what is socially acceptable. Previews from Feb 21, opens Feb 28 and runs to Apr 1, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2:30 pm (see website for other mats). $20-$60. MainSpace. At Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

No Foreigners by David Yee (fu-GEN Theatre/Hong Kong Exile/Theatre Conspiracy). This interdisciplinary collaboration by the companies and playwright David Yee considers Chinese shopping malls as racialized spaces of cultural creation and clash. Opens Feb 21 and runs to Feb 25, Wed-Sat 7 pm, Sun 2 pm. $28, stu/srs/arts workers $18. At The Theatre Centre. Show Info.

Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare (Hart House Theatre). The Bard’s bloodiest tragedy tells a tale of lust, betrayal, revenge and humanity’s most vile traits. Opens Mar 2 and runs to Mar 10, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Mar 10 at 2 pm. $28, srs $17, stu $12-$15. At Hart House Theatre. Show Info.

Idomeneus by Roland Schimmelpfennig (Soulpepper Theatre). A Trojan War hero must deal with the consequences of his promise to the gods in this fresh take on the Greek myth. Previews from Mar 3, opens Mar 8 and runs to Mar 24, see website for times. $32-$96. At Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

The Trials of a Noble House. Pleiades Theatre presents a workshop presentation of the 1683 Latin comedy and love story by SorJuana Inés de la Cruz. Translated by Ana Lorena Leija and John Van Burek and directed by Andrey Tarasiuk. Mar 3 and 4 at 2 pm. Free (RSVP required). At Dancemakers. Show Info.

Homewrecker by Daniel Pagett (Coyote Collective/Leroy Street Theatre/Scapegoat Collective). New play that challenges perceptions of gender, status, relationships and the very nature of love. Previews Feb 21-22, opens Feb 23 and runs to Mar 10, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $15-$20, previews pwyc. At The Assembly Theatre. Show Info. 

After Wrestling by Bryce Hodgson and Charlie Kerr (Blood Pact Theatre/Storefront Theatre). Slacker-comedy turned suicide-mystery that finds itself in a booze- and grief- fuelled magic realism debate on love, life and after-death. Previews from Feb 24, opens Mar 1 and runs to Mar 18, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $30-$50, preview $20. At Factory Theatre. Show Info.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare (The Chekhov Collective). The classic romantic comedy about lovers in a magical forest is framed in a feminine perspective. Previews from Feb 21, opens Feb 22 and runs to Mar 11, Wed-Sun 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $25-$40, at brownpapertickets.com. At The Citadel Theatre. Show Info.

Fierce by George F Walker (Criminal Girlfriends). Two women who share troubled pasts and a mutual distaste of politeness square off in this drama. Previews from Feb 15, opens Feb 17 and runs to Mar 3, Mon-Sat 8 pm. $15-$25, preview pwyc. At The Red Sandcastle Theatre. Show Info.

One Thing Leads To Another. Young People’s Theatre presents it’s popular show for babies, by Maja Ardal, Audrey Dwyer, Mary Francis Moore and Julia Tribe. Young play-goers experience everyday objects being transformed into fabulous, theatrical phenomena. Recommended for ages 3-12 months but suitable for up to 24 months. Opens Feb 17 and runs to Mar 3, see website for times. $20, babies/youth 18 & under $5. At Young Peoples Theatre. Show Info.

Little Gem by Elaine Murphy (Toronto Irish Players). The story of a year in the lives of three women of three generations in one family. Previews Feb 15, opens Feb 16 and runs to Mar 3, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $23-$25, opening $50 (reception follows performance, preview $10 min. At Alumnae Theatre. Show Info.

Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings.