Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of April 23rd, 2018

Toronto live theatre for the week of April 23rd, 2018. There is something for everyone on Toronto’s stages this week. Our Publisher Megan 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.

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

The Return of Ulysses by Monteverdi (Opera Atelier). The Greek king returns to his family after 20 years in this Italian opera. Opens Apr 19 and runs to Apr 28, see website for times. $39 & up. At the Elgin Theatre. 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.

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.

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 $10-$34. 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. At Young People’s 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 28, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $20. At Theatre Passe Muraille. Show Info.

The Best is Yet To Come Undone. The Second City presents the Spring 2018 MainStage sketch revue, tackling this generation’s minefield of crushing clichés and relatable revelations. Limited run, Tue-Sun see website for times. $27 & up, stu from $16. At Second City. Show Info.

And everything else:

What Happened Was by Tom Noonan (Witchboy Theatre). Two vaguely acquainted co-workers meet for a first date. What begins with this deceptively simple premise soon unfolds into a sly, disturbing dissection of modern dating rituals. As these two lonely New Yorkers struggle to open up to one another, they inadvertently reveal more about themselves than they ever intended, exposing something ominous and sinister lurking just beneath the surface. Opens April 25th and runs until may 5th, Tue-Sat, 8PM. $15-$35. At The Assembly Theatre. Show Info.

Selfie. Young People’s Theatre presents a play by Christine Quintana. An incident at a party shatters the connections between three friends in this play for ages 13 & up. Previews from Apr 23, opens Apr 26 and runs to May 11, see website for schedule. $19-$24. Public shows Apr 29 at 2:30 pm (relaxed performance, pwyc); Apr 6 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. At Young People’s Theatre. Show Info.

Annie by Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin, Thomas Meehan (Mirvish). A plucky orphan finds a home in this family musical. Downton Abbey‘s Lesley Nicol will play Miss Hannigan. Opens April 24 and runs to June 3, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 1:30 pm. $29-$229. At Mirvish Theatre. Show Info.

La Belle Hélène by Jacques Offenbach (Toronto Operetta Theatre). This opéra bouffe parodies the story of Helen of Troy from Greek mythology. Opens Apr 25 and runs to Apr 29, see website for schedule. $29-$49. At Jane Mallett Theatre. Show Info.

Shadow Girls by Keshia Palm & Claren Grosz (Pencil Kit Productions/Blank Canvas). Two women’s attempts at an intimate relationship are complicated by a fraught mutual history in this theatrical production scored entirely with overhead projector art. Previews Apr 25-26 at 8:30 pm, opens May 2 and runs to May 6, Wed-Fri & Sun 7:30 & 9:30 pm. $25, preview $20. At The Gladstone Hotel. Show Info.

There Goes The Bride by Ray Cooney and John Chapman (NAGs Players). An overworked, underpaid man stresses over his daughter’s overly lavish wedding and finally snaps on the morning of the big day in this comedy. Opens Apr 26 and runs to May 5, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm. $15-$20. At The Tranzac. Show Info.

Orpheé+  Against the Grain Theatre, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Opera Columbus and NYC’s Company XIV present a re-imagined production of the Gluck/Berlioz opera set as an electronic, baroque-burlesque descent into hell. This new production features an orchestra that mixes acoustic and electric instruments, captivating choreography from burlesque dancers, aerial artistry and a global virtual chorus. Apr 26-28 at 8 pm. $40-$110. #AtGOrphee is sung in French (Berlioz score), with English surtitles. The performance is 2 hours with one intermission. At Flexk Dance Studio. Show Info.

Chris Harder: Porn to be a Star. This high-energy solo show follows the bumps & grinds of burlesque beefcake Chris Harder. Featuring a handful of characters and loosely based on his own experiences from a Barbie-loving closeted childhood to a fascinating career in the gay adult industry, Harder takes you by the hand on his up-close and in-your-face search for fame, followers and a place to shine. Apr 26-28, Thu-Sat 8:30 pm. $25. At Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Show Info.

Resilience. Loookup Theatre presents a circus show about mental health and the ability to return to your original form after being bent, compressed and stretched. Apr 27-28, Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $12. At Wychwood Theatre. Show Info.

Anna Bolena by Gaetano Donizetti (Canadian Opera Company). Sondra Radvanovsky helms this Italian opera about the final days of Henry VIII’s second wife. Sung in Italian w/ English surtitles. Opens Apr 28 and runs to May 26, see website for times. $35-$225 (box seats $350). At The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. 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.

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.

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.

Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings.