Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of April 16th, 2018

Toronto live theatre for the week of April 16th, 2018. On Toronto’s stages this week are some wild, wacky, and wondrous women, drunken Shakespeare characters, and a whole host of new shows. Our Assistant Editor Jess is on hand with a few of her top picks in red. Check them out below the cut:

Already reviewed by Mooney on theatre:

Love and Information by Caryl Churchill (Canadian Stage and York University MFA Directing Program). This play examines the modern human connection in the age of data overload. Previews from Apr 10, opens Apr 12 and runs to Apr 29, Tue-Thu and Sat 8 pm, Fri 7 pm, mat Sat-Sun 1 pm. $39-$69. At Bluma Appel Theatre. Show Info.

Addicted by Raven Dauda (ADEDO collective/the Watah Theatre). An alcoholic who’s at the end of her rope finds herself at an unconventional rehab facility. In treatment, Penelope faces her inner demons and the ugly truth about her family’s destructive past. Previews Apr 11 opens Apr 12 and runs to Apr 21, Mon-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 2:30 pm. $30, stu/srs/arts workers $25 (preview $20-$25). At Aki Studio. Show Info.

Le Menteur (The Liar) by Corneille (Théâtre français de Toronto). A fictitious identity and a misunderstanding drive this baroque comedy about young Parisians living in the golden era of the 17th century. Preview from Apr 11, opens Apr 13 and runs to Apr 22, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 3:30 pm, Sun 2:30 pm; some shows w/ English surtitles (see website). $19-$26, pwyc Wed-Thu. At Berkeley Street Theatre. Show Info.

Take d Milk, Nah? by Jivesh Parasram (Pandemic Theatre/b current/Theatre Passe Muraille). Parasram blends storytelling and ritual to explore the intersections of being Indian, Hindu, West Indian, Trinidadian and Canadian. Previews from Apr 10, opens Apr 12 and runs to Apr 22, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $20. #dMILKTO. At Theatre Passe Muraille. Show Info.

Category E by Belinda Cornish (Coal Mine Theatre). A half-blind paraplegic shares a cell with a potential psychopath in this horror-comedy. Preview from Apr 8, opens Apr 11 and runs to Apr 29, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25-$42.50. At Coal Mine Theatre. 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.

An American in Paris. Mirvish presents the musical by George and Ira Gershwin, book by Craig Lucas. An American soldier and a mysterious French woman find each other in at the end of WWII in this musical based on the film. Opens Mar 27 and runs to Apr 29, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed 1:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $59-$175. At The Princess of Wales Theatre. Show Info.

Therac 25 by Adam Pettle. Set in and around the Princess Margaret Hospital, the story of Alan and Moira exposes the harsh realities of the solitude and fears that accompany cancer treatment with brutal honesty and wry humour. Opens April 6 and runs to April 21, Tue-Sat, 8pm. $20-$25. At The Assembly Theatre. Show Info.

And everything else:

The Lemonade Experience: A Burlesque Tribute to Beyoncé’s Lemonade. Burlesque tribute to the hit album with and an all-Black women cast including Zyra Lee Vanity, Dainty Smith, Obskyura, Betsy Swoon, Ivory, Coco Framboise and others. Apr 22 at 8 pm (doors 7 pm). $18-$28 adv, $30 at the door. At Round Venue. Show Info.

Queen Marie by Shirley Barrie (Alumnae Theatre Company). Musical about the life and times of Marie Dressler, a 1930s actor from Ontario. Opens Apr 13 and runs to Apr 28, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25, Wed 2-for 1, Sun PWYC. At Alumnae Theatre. Show Info.

Where There’s A Will by Mahesh Dattani (Sawitri Theatre). This comedy about a rich, controlling man looks at women in their own homes being marginalized by patriarchal codes. Opens Apr 12 and runs to Apr 21, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25-$30. At Alumnae Theatre. Show Info. 

Girls Like That by Evan Placey (Tarragon). A naked photo of a young woman goes viral in this play about the evolution of feminist consciousness and modern female friendships. Previews from Apr 17, opens Apr 24 and runs to May 27, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2:30 pm (see website for other mats). $20-$60. At Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

Tell Me What It’s Called. Highlights and the RISER Project present a collectively created laboratory/experiment performance. A group of collaborators use an image-based devising process to build, refine, reframe, distil, discard and build again as they explore the space between how two people understand something. Previews Apr 17, opens Apr 18 and runs to Apr 24, daily at 7 pm. $5, $20, $35 or $60 – pay what you can afford. At The Theatre Centre. Show Info.

I And You by Lauren Gunderson (Outlook Theatre). Two teens are brought together by a poetry assignment in this ode to youth, life and love. Previews Apr 19, opens Apr 20 and runs to Apr 29, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm, Apr 25 at 1:30 pm. $20-$32. At Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

How Not to Die Stupidly: A Few Cautionary Tales For Deeply Flawed Individuals In Light Of Upcoming Disasters. Humber Theatre presents a cabaret-style performance by Tatiana Jennings. A rag-tag troupe of futuristic time travellers who bring cautionary tales about the end of the world to contemporary Toronto. Their bizarre and comedic stories turn stranger and more foreboding as the mysterious machine containing their uploaded personalities begins to malfunction. Outdoor performance in the church courtyard; please dress for the weather. Apr 19-20, shows at 6 and 8 pm. Pwyc. At At. George The Martyr. Show Info.

mashup. The creators of pomme is french for apple are back with mashup, a fun variety show where island vibes, vaudeville frolic and a motley troupe of magical gyals gather on a stage to present… the greatest show on earth. As part of the Storefront Theatre’s Feminist Fuck It Festival, this one-night-only event features: Akosua Amo-Adem, Hoodo Hersi, Daphney Joseph, Dainty Smith, Maiko Watson, and Carol Zoccoli, with sounds by Ayaka Kinugawa and hosted by the legendary misfit duo Liza Paul and Bahia Watson. April 19 at 10:30 pm. $15 & up sliding scale, at mashupffif.bpt.me. At Geary Lane. Show Info.

Drunk Hamlet. Dauntless City Theatre presents two brave actors playing Shakespeare’s melancholy Dane & boozing their way through the classic play, ending in a very big sword fight. Apr 20-21, Fri-Sat 8 pm. $25-$35. At Wychwood Theatre. Show Info.

Prairie Nurse by Marie Beath Badian (Thousand Islands Playhouse/Factory). Two Filipino nurses deal with curious locals in 1960s small-town Saskatchewan. Previews from Apr 21, opens Apr 26 and runs to May 13, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $30-$50, preview $20. At Factory Theatre. Show Info.

Mr. Truth. Lester Trips Theatre & the RISER Project present a play created & performed by Lauren Gillis and Alaine Hutton. A masked demon-like entity follows people who repress their “erotic truths” and forces them to confront their desires in a series of tragicomic nightmare vignettes. Previews Apr 15 (at 9 pm), opens Apr 16 and runs to Apr 24, Mon-Sat 9 pm. $5, $20, $35 or $60 – pay what you can afford. At The Theatre Centre. Show Info.

Fun Home The Musical Stage Company & Mirvish present the musical by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron (based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir). Alison, a 43-year-old lesbian cartoonist, struggles to untangle her complex relationship with her deceased father. Previews from Apr 13, opens Apr 17 and runs to May 6, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $39-$89. At CAA Theatre. Show Info.

Mouthpiece by Norah Sadava and Amy Nostbakken (Nightwood Theatre/Quote Unquote Collective/Why Not Theatre). The two performers journey into the female psyche through text, a cappella harmonies and physicality. The piece follows one woman in the wake of her mother’s death, as she tries to find her voice. Previews Apr 11, opens Apr 12 and runs to Apr 22, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $25-$35, Sun pwyc at the door. At Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Show Info.

Feminist Fuck It Festival. Curated festival of multidisciplinary women and non binary-identifying artists presenting original, bold and entertaining works of art. There will be cabarets, comedy, films, musical performances and more. Radha S. Menon’s play Ganga’s Ganja will play every night, plus performances by Elvira Kurt, Cat ant the Queen, Fay Slift & Fluffy Soufflé, Fancy Bits Theatre and many others. Apr 11-22, see website for schedule. Tickets are sliding scale/pay what you can afford $15-$50, available online and in person. A festival one-day pass is available for $45 for all evening shows or all weekend matinee shows. At Geary Lane. Show Info.

Risky Phil. Young People’s Theatre presents the world premiere of a play by Paula Wang. A boy being raised by his aunt finds out he’s not an orphan after all in this play for ages 9 & up. Opens Apr 9 and runs to Apr 27, see website for times (public shows Apr 14-15, 21-22 at 2:30 pm. Members of the public are are welcome to attend weekday school performances, subject to availability; call 416-862-2222 to inquire). $10-$34. At Young People’s Theatre. Show Info.

Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings.