Five For Twenty (or Less)

There’s some great cheap live theatre this week for under $20 a ticket. Our picks include a famous musical, a satirical comedy, a play about Christmas in New York, an opera based on mayor Rob Ford, and a play by Euripedes. Now there are no excuses to stay home on a Friday night. Check it out!

Cabaret by Joe Masteroff, John Kander and Fred Ebb (Hart House Theatre). An American writer falls for a nightclub singer in Nazi-era Berlin. Opens Jan 13 and runs to Jan 28, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Jan 28 at 2 pm. $25, stu/srs $10-$15. 7 Hart House Circle. 416-978-8849, harthousetheatre.ca.

Four Dogs And A Bone by John Patrick Shanley (Lyric Artist Alliance Co-op/AK Productions). Two female actors, a producer and a screenwriter vie for control of an art-house film in this satirical comedy. Previews Jan 9 at 8 pm. Opens Jan 10 and runs to Jan 21, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $20, preview $10. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. fourdogsandabone.com.

Other People by Christopher Shinn (Mutual Friends Co-op/Mercedes Grundy). Three ambitious young adults struggle with sex, desire and their art over Christmas in the East Village in NYC. Previews Jan 18. Opens Jan 19 and runs to Jan 28, Mon-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2:30 pm. $20, stu/srs $15. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, Tank House Theatre, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, otherpeopletoronto.com.

Rob Ford, The Opera by Michael Patrick Albano and student composers (U of T Faculty of Music). This surrealist fantasy is loosely based on the personality of the city’s mayor. Jan 22 at 2:30 pm. Free. Edward Johnson Building, MacMillan Theatre, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-5776.

The Trojan Women by Euripides, translated by Gwendolyn MacEwen (Alumnae Theatre). The women of Troy seek their voice amidst the destruction of war in this exploration of feminist ideals. Opens Jan 20 and runs to Feb 4, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20, Wed 2-for-1, Sun pwyc. 70 Berkeley. 416-364-4170, alumnaetheatre.com.