by Leanne Milech
It’s March break, which means the kiddies have lots of free time, and you need some inexpensive entertainment options. Have no fear – we’re here! In addition to our post on March break theatre goodies for you and yours, we’ve included a kid-friendly listing in this, our weekly post on five shows that cost twenty bucks or less. We’ve also got some sweet deals for you, our adult readers. Sometimes, after all, you just want to leave the kids at home. In case you’ve got a babysitter lined up already, why not see one of the shows we’ve hand selected as cheap AND entertaining? Read on for March break theatre suggestions, Mooney style.
1) Wanda T. Grimsby: Detective Extraordinaire
– West Queen West’s Lower Ossington Theatre (100A Ossington Ave.) plays host to this cute family show about a detective on a mission to stop two endangered animals from causing a huge disaster.
– Tickets are $15, and the show runs today (March 16) and tomorrow (March 17) at 2 p.m.
– Grab your tickets online at eventbrite
2) The Aleph
– This Soulpepper Theatre Company production tells the tale of a man who finds a place where he can see everything in the universe, all at once, in a single moment. The Aleph is based on a short story by acclaimed Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges.
– Get transported into The Aleph‘s discourse on infinity until March 20 at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts (55 Mill) for only $20. Tonight is also Talkback Tuesday, which means all audience members get a special chance to stay after the show and participate in a Q&A with the creative people behind the show.
– Performances are at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees on March 17 and March 20. You can order tickets by telephone at 416.866.8666, in person at the box office or online
3) WriteNOW! Festival of New Works
– This festival is presented by pivotal(arts) theatre company, founded by six eager, University of Guelph theatre alumni. Their agenda: to present new Canadian works to theatre audiences. WriteNOW! certainly accomplishes their goal by presenting 4 new one-act plays in the course of one week.
– See it at Bread and Circus (199 Augusta) until March 20; shows run at 7:30 p.m. daily for only $15
– Click here to buy tickets to this unique theatre festival
4) Breakfast
– We’re pretty much obsessed with Buddies in Bad Times (12 Alexander), the bold theatre company that collaborated on Breakfast with super cool indie company, The Independent Aunties. And I’m a self-proclaimed self-help junkie, so this show about a woman trying to pull up her bootstraps and start her life anew through self-help rituals seems like something too good to miss.
– Previews March 17 & 18, opens March 19 and runs to April 4, 2010
– Shows run Tuesday to Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
– Check out these cheap tickets prices: Previews are $15, Tues./Wed. shows are $20 and Sunday matinees are PWYC (or Advance $20)
– Get tickets at the box office, by phone at 416-975-8555 or online at totix.ca
5) Softown
– Adapted by Modupe Olaogun (AfriCan Theatre Ensemble/Theatre Direct), this show uses a combination of dance, music and traditional storytelling to tell the tale of one mixed-race household. Softown reflects on themes of race and religion in 1950s South Africa and is both entertaining and educational.
– Runs Mar 17 to Mar 21, with a March 17 preview at 4 p.m. and opening at 8 p.m., Thu-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun 4:30 p.m.
– All shows are at Theatre Direct’s Wychwood Theatre (601 Christie)
– Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at totix.ca or in person at Yonge-Dundas Square