Originally from Vancouver, Zee Zee Theatre has brought their award winning play My Funny Valentine to Buddies in Bad Times, providing an intriguing examination of the 2008 murder of Lawrence King.
Continue reading Review: My Funny Valentine (Zee Zee Theatre)
Grounding Theatre Company gives The Bard’s classic a feminist twist, on stage in TorontoI literally said “Yowza!” when the volunteer usher handing me my program at the Harbourfront Centre told me that Groundling Theatre Company’s production of Lear is three hours long. However, I’m happy to report that the old adage holds true and time does fly when you’re having fun. When this stunning production ends you are left wanting more.
Or Not to Be explores the role of a lifetime, on stage at the Sandcastle Theatre in TorontoHamlet is a dream role for any actor. Everyone wants to try it at some point in their career, right? But what if it was your last role? Is that how you’d spend the limited time you have left? These are the questions addressed in Or Not to Be, a new play written by Andrew Batten and directed by Julia Haist, on stage now at Red Sandcastle Theatre. Continue reading Review: Or Not To Be (Andrew Batten/Glass Hammer Productions)
Tarragon Theatre delivers Shakespeare’s classic Hamlet through a rock n’ roll lens in TorontoThere is something to be said on whether or not the type of music integrated into a show can help reimagine a well-known story. Tarragon Theatre’s Hamlet applies a rock and roll ‘lens’ to a familiar tale.
The results don’t rewrite the book, but when a production’s this good, it’s hard to argue.
Tarragon Theatre brings the Dora Award-winning Mustard back to the Toronto stageIn Kat Sandler’s bright and offbeat Mustard, now being remounted at the Tarragon Theatre Extraspace, the titular character isn’t supposed to be there. Yet he persists. Mustard (Anand Rajaram) is Thai’s imaginary friend, confidant, and protector. That’s all well and good, but most imaginary friends aren’t supposed to hang around until you’re 16. Thai (Rebecca Liddiard), however, is both blessed and cursed with a giggly, rambunctious, fully-grown imaginary man with a penchant for scatological humour, because she needs a little extra love. Her father deserted the family, her mother drinks and takes pills to pretend to cope – and, oh, she’s pregnant by her college-age boyfriend.
Mustard has already won Doras for best production and performance (for Anand Rajaram), and it’s easy to see why. It’s got the bones of a typical family drama with an appealing atypical spin. It’s got humour, heart and fantasy — and it’s got just enough dark-edged, brutal danger to spice things up.