Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of February 1st, 2015
A new month, a new slew of theatres throwing open their doors for new productions! Duck in out of the mounting cold and take in a play or two in this great city of ours. As always, we’re here to offer our picks in red under the cut!
Already Reviewed by Mooney on Theatre:
** Click-bait and Switch The Second City presents its Fall MainStage Revue featuring sketches, songs and improv. Tue-Thu 8 pm, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm, late shows Fri-Sat 10:30 pm. Runs to Feb. 1. $16-$35. Show Info.
** Kinky Boots by Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper (Mirvish). A man inherits a shoe company and teams up with a drag queen in this musical based on the 2005 film. Previews from Jun 16, opens Jun 28 and runs to Mar 6, 2016 (extended from Dec 20), Tue-Sat 8 pm, see website for other times. $35-$130. Show Info.
** Spy School!: Mission Ridiculous. Written by Danny Wengle, Ken MacDougall, Brian Caws & the Cast, presented by Mysteriously Yours Dinner Theatre. James Bond and other secret agents go back to school in this interactive dinner-theatre show. Runs to Mar 26, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm (dinner from 6:30 pm), see website for other matinees & shows (no shows Dec 25-26). $45-$87. Show Info.
Within the Glass by Anna Chatterton (Tarragon Theatre). Two very different couples meet after a critical mistake at a fertility clinic. Previews from Jan 6, opens Jan 13 and runs to Feb 14, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2:30 pm (see website for Wed & Sat mats). $28-$60, rush $15. In the MainSpace. Show Info.
** Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton (Mirvish). A woman’s husband manipulates her into believing that she’s going insane in fog-bound 1880s London. Opens Jan 17 and runs to Feb 28, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $35-$119. Show Info.
** Slip (Circlesnake Productions). A detective tries to solve a mysterious death while struggling to hold on to her fading memory. Previews Jan 21, opens Jan 22 and runs to Feb 7, Thu-Sun 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm. $20, Sun mat $10 or pwyc. Show Info.
** Bigmouth (Mirvish). Belgian actor Valentijn Dhaenens pays tribute to 2,500 years of oration in this solo show. Opens Jan 19 and runs to Feb 7, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $19-$89. Show Info.
Siegfried by Richard Wagner (Canadian Opera Company). The third opera in Wagner’s ring cycle follows Siegfried on a heroic comin-of-age journey. Opens Jan 23 and runs to Feb 14, see website for times. $TBA. Show Info.
Stepping Out by Richard Harris (Alumnae Theatre). Eight strangers forge friendships and reveal secrets at a weekly tap dance class. Opens Jan 22 and runs to Feb 6, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20, Wed 2-for-1, Sun pwyc. Show Info.
** Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose (Soulpepper Theatre). Jurors deliberate the case of a young man accused of killing his father in a capital murder case. Previews from Jan 19, opens Jan 22 and runs to Feb 13, see website for schedule. $35-89. Show Info.
The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown (LOT). Two 20-something New Yorkers spend five years falling in and out of love in this musical. Opens Jan 21 and runs to Feb 14, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 3:30 pm. $50. Show Info.
** The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare (Groundling Theatre Company/CMT). Leontes, King of Sicilia, descends into a world of jealousy, murder and conspiracy. Previews from Jan 26, opens Jan 28 and runs to Feb 20, Tue-Sun 7:30 pm. $35, rush $30, preview $25, Sun pwyc. Show Info.
** The Trial of Judith K by Sally Clark (Thought For Food Productions). This reimagining of Franz Kafka’s novel The Trial sees a woman arrested for an unnamed crime in 1980s Vancouver. Previews Jan 28, opens Jan 29 and runs to Feb 14, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. $30, stu/srs $25, preview $20, mat pwyc at the door or $20 adv. Backspace. Show Info.
** The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov (The Chekhov Collective/Theatrus). The lives of a dozen Russians undergo enormous change after the 1861 emancipation of the serfs. Previews Jan 28, opens Jan 29 and runs to Feb 14, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $24-$48. Show Info.
** Taking Care of Baby by Dennis Kelly (Storefront Theatre). A woman is accused of murdering her two infant children. Jan 29-Feb 14. Details TBA. Show Info.
And the Rest:
Great Balls of Fire. Famous People Players presents a black light dinner theatre show featuring iconic rock n’ roll anthems. Opens Jan 15 and runs to May 31, see website for times. $40-$65 (includes lunch/dinner). Show Info.
Avenue Q by Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty (Lower Ossington Theatre). A college grad moves to NYC and copes with grown-up problems in this adult musical puppet play. Nov 12-Feb 14, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 3:30 pm. $50-$60. Show Info.
The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine by Robert Morgan, Martha Ross and Leah Cherniak (Soulpepper Theatre). Repressed anger rears its head as a couple strive to maintain the veneer of a perfectly ordered world. Opens Jan 25 and runs to Feb 20, see website for schedule. $25-$60. Show Info.
Cowboy Versus Samurai by Michael Golamco (Soulpepper Theatre). A Korean high school teacher falls for a colleague in a small American midwest town in this romantic comedy. Opens Jan 26 and runs to Feb 20, see website for schedule. $25-$60. Show Info.
One Night Only: The Greatest Musical Never Written (Kliffer Entertainment). Fully improvised musical that challenges assumptions about improv and theatre. Previews Jan 27, opens Jan 28 and runs to Feb 14, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $45-$55, stu/srs $30. Show Info.
Hamlet by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare BASH’d). Text-driven, barroom version of the classic tragedy. Opens Feb 2 and runs to Feb 7, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $19-$20. Show Info.
** Mustard by Kat Sandler (Tarragon Theatre). A teen deals with her drinking mother and an imaginary friend who lives under her bed in this darkly comic fairy tale. Previews from Feb 2, opens Feb 10 and runs to Mar 13, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2:30 pm (see website for Wed & Sat mats). $28-$60, rush $15. ExtraSpace. Show Info.
The Flying Balmonts (Isabella Hoops Entertainment). Sword swallowing, juggling, unicycling, magic and contortion with Tom Balmon and Isabella Hoops. Feb 2 at 8 pm. $10-$15. Show Info.
Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen (Theatre 20). Musical cabaret tribute show. Feb 3-21, see website for times. $25-$55. Show Info.
** Monomyths, conceived and curated by Jess Dobkin and Shannon Cochrane (Progress Festival/FADO Performance Art Centre). This assemblage of non-linear un-narratives proposes a cultural, political and social feminist re-visioning of the world. Feb 3-7, see website for times. Pwyc. Show Info.
Lulu V.3 // Who Do Lulu? You Do Lulu? by susanna fournier & ted witzel (the red light district/Buddies in Bad Times Theatre/Videofag/institut für alles Mögliche). A series of theatrical investigations into frank wedekind’s lulu-figure. Feb 4-7, details TBA. Show Info.
** The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Canadian Opera Company). Figaro and Susanna’s wedding is jeopardized by the wandering eye of their employer in this popular comedic opera. Opens Feb 4 and runs to Feb 27, see website for times. $TBA. Show Info.
Alice in Wonderland: the Pantomime (The NAGs Players). This family show presents a unique take on Lewis Carroll’s classic tale. Opens Jan 28 and runs to Feb 6, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Jan 29 and Feb 5 at 1:30 pm. $12-$20, mat $4 for kids under 12. Show Info.
Evita: the Musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber (SMCSU/SMC Troubadours). Eva Peron goes from humble beginnings to the wife of Argentina’s president and “spiritual leader” of her nation. Feb 4-6, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $25, stu/srs $15. Show Info.
** Heartbreakers (Les Femmes Fatales). Burlesque revue with performances by Dolly Berlin, Westward Ho, Dottie Dangerfield, Ferrera Rose, Jade Electra and others. Feb 4 at 9:30 pm. $20. Show Info.
Foot 2016: Festival of Original Theatre Centre For Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies, U of T presents a conference combining academic presentations and performances. This year’s theme, Staging Realities, explores theatre’s interaction with the real, realness, and reality in all its possible forms. Feb 5-7, see website for schedule. Free. Show Info.
A Mickey Full of Mouse. Red Sandcastle Theatre presents a new play by Dawna J Wightman. This new original comedy follows an alcoholic on a trip to Disney World. Feb 5-7, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20. Show Info.
Tapestry: Songbook VI. Tapestry presents new works by emerging opera artists. Feb 5-6 at 8 pm. $25. Studio 315. Show Info.
You Can’t Take It With You by George S Kaufman and Moss Hart (Ryerson Theatre School). An eccentric clan is shaken up when their daughter finds a fiancé from a conservative family. Feb 5-11. $20, stu/srs $15. Show Info.
The Ugly Duckthing by Marty Stelnick (SSCT). Re-telling of the Hans Christian Andersen classic using puppetry, music and multimedia for ages 5 and up. Feb 6 at 11 am & 2 pm. $16. Show Info.
Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs. Acting Up Stage Company presents the actor/activist performing songs by Billy Joel, Stephen Sondheim, Rufus Wainwright, Miley Cyrus and others. Feb 6 at 3 & 8 pm. $49.50-$139.50. Show Info.
Thumbelina. Little Red Theatre presents a re-telling of the Hans Christian Andersen classic for ages 4 and up. Feb 7 at 11 am & 2 pm. $16. Show Info.
** Falstaff by Antonio Salieri (VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert). Operatic version of Shakespeare’s play sung in Italian with English surtitles, featuring Aradia Ensemble. Feb 7 at 2:30 pm. $40-$52. Show Info.
Mosaic Storytelling Festival. Presented by St David’s Anglican Church and Open Door East End Arts Collective. Clare Nobbs and Hugh Cotton tell stories of hobgoblins, monstrous boars and golden apples from England, Scotland and Ireland. Feb 7 at 3 pm. Pwyc. Show Info.
Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings