A cathartic and hopeful delving into the philosophical questions about who we are at our core
Lucid Ludic’s devised production of Brain Storm, a hit at the 2017 Toronto Fringe (winning that year’s Tosho Knife Cutting Edge Award) returns in a production at Dancemakers Studio in association with Why Not Theatre. The show shares vignettes from a young woman’s frustrating attempts at recovery from the literal cutting edge of brain surgery. Kate (Shayna Virginillo) was a playwright; now she can’t read, and the simplest tasks, like riding the subway, are fraught with discomfort and peril.
One phrase plays on repeat in Kate’s mind, linking her to her deceased spirit medium grandmother (Hayley Carr), who acted as a writing vessel for the words of spirits. One of these spirits, fittingly, is that of renowned Canadian neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield (Alexandra Montagnese and Maïza Dubhé) – yes, the Heritage Minute gets a reference – who proclaims his belief that death is not the end, but consciousness on a different frequency.
Beautiful and tragic modern adaptation covers an abundance but stays focused and cohesive
Marjorie Chan’sLady Sunrise, playing at Factory Theatre, is a phenomenal deep dive into the lives of six Asian women set in the early 2000s in Vancouver and Richmond, British Columbia. It follows their personal heartbreaks and professional pains and explores the struggles of trying to survive within the confines of a suffocating culture.
Fineness and flare took the stage along with plenty of technical skill
Harbourfront Centre recently presented A.I.M. as part of Torque, a festival of international contemporary dance. It’s the third time A.I.M. has performed at Harbourfront, and I am kicking myself for missing the previous shows. What a great evening!
Consistent high-quality performers solicit belly laughs in this comedy revue
Wednesday I had the pleasure of checking out a comedy revue featuring Asian comics with a wide spectrum of backgrounds and styles. Comedian Rush Kazi presents monthly comedy shows at the Rivoli, and one of them is Asian Comedy All Stars, a comedy revue showcasing comics from Asia, or of Asian descent.
Shows that Caught Our Eye in Toronto for the Week of February 24, 2020
My partner and I went to a show last weekend and met a wonderful couple. We met in the elevator on the way to the show, and again after the show in the same elevator afterward. It sparked a short but great conversation about shows we had seen, and theatre that we like. There wasn’t agreement in our preferences, but it was such a wonderful, spontaneous conversation! It really reminded me that the theatre community is really an extended family tied together by our love of theatre art.
So this week it’s up to me to let you – my theatre family – know what has caught my personal eye this week. Check out my ‘red’ picks below. And, agree with me or not about my choices, I know that if I meet you in the lobby or elevator we can still easily start up a conversation about our mutual love of theatre.
Consistent high-quality performers solicit belly laughs in this comedy revue