Reviews of productions based in Toronto – theatre includes traditional definitions of theatre, as well as dance, opera, comedy, performance art, spoken word performances, and more. Productions may be in-person, or remote productions streamed online on the Internet.
Marjorie Chan’s Lady 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.
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!
A.I.M. performed a mixed repertory of five pieces which together offered a wide-ranging and extremely well-programmed night of dance. Continue reading Review: A.I.M. (Harbourfront Centre)
Consistent high-quality performers solicit belly laughs in this comedy revueWednesday 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.
This month’s revue featured Anto Chan, Thurka Gunaratman, Zeeshan Ansari, Carolina DG, Big Norm, Shuhei Murakami, and headliner Cassie Cao. The show also featured two burlesque numbers by Imogen Quest.
Continue reading Review: Asian Comedy All Stars (RushZilla Productions)
AF celebrates Anishinaabe prophecies through dance, by Red Sky Performance with Canadian StageRed Sky Performance in residence at Canadian Stage presents AF, a mind-blowing journey through dance and movement, projections and sound. Directed by Sandra Laronde, and choreographed by Thomas Fonua, AF explores the seven fire prophecies of the Anishinaabe that have shaped the lives of people on Turtle Island. Each prophecy is shown through a series of movements utilizing contemporary dance and physical storytelling. Paired with an intensely visceral soundtrack, this performance will leave you spellbound.
Continue reading Review: AF (Red Sky Performance with Canadian Stage)
The tragically brief life and career of virtuoso cellist Jacqueline Du Pré is a source of great interest for contemporary historians and classical music aficionados. Du Pré’s was forced to end her internationally acclaimed performing career at age 28 when worsening multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms made it impossible for her to play. Despite the brevity of her career, she is widely regarded as one of the greatest cellists of all time. Continue reading Review: Jacqueline (Tapestry Opera)