With the world slowing down a little for the holidays, now is the time to kick back, relax and spend some time with the ones you love. What better way to cap off 2013 than to enjoy one of these fine productions. They’re a little bit naughty and a little bit nice… just the right amount to spice up your holiday life. These shows are On Our Radar, Toronto, and we think you should get stoked for theatre this Holiday Season!
“A young actress determined to land the lead plays a cat-and-mouse game with the play’s director.”
This is a remount of the production that ran in the fall and be glad it’s back! This is a production that you need to put at the top of your to-see list this holiday season and catch it before it goes again. Not only is this production sexy, smart and funny, Carly Street’s sharp, seamless performance is a marvel to watch. If that doesn’t convince you, we suppose you’ll just have to mosey on down to the theatre and let this production put you in the mood.
Where: Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley
When: December 13th-29th, Tue-Sat 7pm, mat Sat-Sun 1pm (Dec 24th at 1pm; no shoes Dec 25-26)
“In an original fairy tale by Toronto playwright, Haley McGee, a young girl must outwit trolls and gnomes in this outdoor production for all ages.”
A perfect show for the whole family or to reconnect with your inner child, this outdoor play unfolds in the historic Evergreen Brickworks with magic, adventure, a great cast and enough charm to warm even the coldest winter-begrudging hearts. With that in mind, dress warmly and be sure to catch this lovely Canadian gem this holiday season.
Where: Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview
When: December 11th-29th (no shows December 17th & 24th-26th) Tue-Sun 8pm, mat December 21st & 23rd 5pm
Elizabeth – Darcy: An Adaptation of Pride and Prejudice
By Hallie Burt and Kate Werneburg, presented by Burt and Werneburg
“In Regency England, Elizabeth Bennet, a bright, spirited, young woman, meets the wealthy and arrogant Mr. Darcy. Their first impressions are challenged and finally overturned, as over time, they come to respect, admiration, and true love. Join Burt and Werneburg as they create an exciting period piece that illuminates a universal human experience through immersion, humour, and investment.”
Clever and charming, this 2013 Toronto Fringe two-hander deserved this remount in the historic Campbell House Museum. This entertaining and inventive adaptation is definitely on our radar for the holidays, and of particular note is the sharp skill in which Burt and Werneburg flip between their cast of characters.
Where: The Campbell House Museum, 160 Queen Street West
When: December 14th – 29th 2pm & 8pm (check online for specific dates and times)
By Christopher Bond, George Reinblatt, Frank Cipolla and Melissa Morris, presented by Starvox Entertainment/Jeffrey Latimer Entertainment
“The musical based on the Evil Dead film franchise returns home for its 10th anniversary.”
On the flip side, if you’ve had enough of holiday cheer, why not fill your December with some horror, blood and gore with a mixture of song and dance, of course. You’re sure to have a bloody good time!
Where: Randolph Theatre, 736 Bathurst
When: October 29th– January 5th Tue-Thu 8pm, Fri-Sat 7pm and 10:30pm, Sun 3pm.
By Miklós László, adapted by Adam Pettle & Brenda Robins, presented by Soulpepper
“By great demand, the award-winning, heart-warming holiday hit returns! In this uproarious comedy for the whole family, that forms the basis for both The Shop Around the Corner and You’ve Got Mail, two shop clerks kindle a tender love affair through anonymous letters while they unwittingly squabble with one another in person.”
Between the lavish set, vivacious staging, live music elements and charming, smile-inducing performances, Parfumerie is a feel-good feast for the soul. If you’re looking to stay in the holiday mood, head on down to the Distillery District to catch this seamless performance.
Where: Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill
Why is theatre relevant? Whether it allows you to re-connect with your inner child, be exposed to a new perspective, challenges your pre-conceptions or allows you to let your guard down, whether you’re looking for a sexy night out, a night to sing and dance with childish glee without feeling out of place, or simply looking to be entertained and connect with those around you through classic love stories and a beer in hand, these productions are On Our Radar, Toronto, and we think you should get stoked for theatre this November!
With a newly extended run, we’ve heard nothing but exciting things about this production. Bold, brave work, exciting use of a new venue to the Toronto scene (The Downstage), and some incredible talent that must be noted!
“John Patrick Shanley is an Oscar, Tony and Pulitzer prize-winning writer of stage and screen. He is best known for the 1988 film Moonstruck, and the 2004 play Doubt, which was also adapted into an Oscar-nominated film in 2008.
Bob Kills Theatre is an experience in visceral theatre. Founded by Melissa D’Agostino and Diana Bentley, the company strives to present unique, often surreal, texts in interesting venues. With an emphasis on bold stories and the virtuosity of performance, Bob Kills Theatre aims to challenge, engage, entertain and instigate.”
Various 32-year olds seek love, sex and a way out of their dead-end lives.
Adapted from the novella by Dostoevsky, created and performed by Adam Paolozza, Arif Mirabdolbaghi and Viktor Lukawski, we’ve heard this production described as hilarious, whimsical, psychologically complex, haunting and magical. If that doesn’t catch your interest, maybe this delightful trailer will. Catch this gem of a remount before it closes!
“When are you no longer yourself? The anxious government clerk Golyadkin is plagued by a stranger who looks just like him but is more daring, romantic and brash. Inspired by Dostoevsky’s novella The Double, this theatrical triangle between a neurotic, his doppelganger and a stand-up bass transports us to 19th century Russian high society and Golyadkin’s labyrinthine search for his identity.
After a hit independent run last season that saw a Dora Award win for lighting design, Tarragon warmly welcomes this dark satire about our deepest fears of losing our identity.”
If there is one production we have been excited about for its first professional Canadian Theatre debut, it’s Bound to Create Theatre’s production of Dirty Butterfly as part of Obsidian Theatre’s 2013/14 presentation series. Since its first run at the 2012 Toronto Fringe Festival, we’ve heard nothing but incredible things of this arresting play by British playwright Debbie Tucker Green and after seeing its opening, this hypnotic play is not to be missed!
“This drama explores voyeurism, power and guilt by confronting the collateral damage of domestic abuse and racial economic divide.”
There’s a new George F. Walker in town and with some pretty incredible young Canadian talent as its leads, local talent Haley McGee and Vancouver native Graeme McComb, and we’re into it!
“Moss Park is an intimate look at two young people as they confront an uncertain future. In this follow up to Tough!, George F. Walker takes Bobby and Tina on a journey as they fight to map a life that doesn’t include poverty.”
Featuring poetry by Dennis Lee, presented by Soulpepper
This needed a remount in the most heart-felt way. We saw this last fall and what a treat it was to watch this talented group of artists weave the children’s poems of Dennis Lee together with heart, humour and glee-inducing creativity. This family-friendly production is definitely enjoyable for all ages on so many levels as it celebrates imagination and invention.
If you know anything about Shakespeare BASH’d it’s the long line-up of Fringe hopefuls trying to snag the last few tickets at the door of their two sold-out Fringe hits with both their 2012 production of Taming of the Shrew and Much Ado About Nothing this past Summer at the Victory Café. If you managed to get your tickets early, then you got to see what all of the hype was about – a clean, story-focused Shakespeare, chalk-full of boisterous local talent, all of which you could enjoy with a drink in hand. Well BASH’d is about to present their first tragedy outside of the Fringe circuit and bring us to the incredible 3030 Dundas West in the Junction, inviting us to grab a beer (perhaps from one of the 3030’s many local craft beer selections) and reconnect with Shakespeare’s greatest story of original young love-at-first-sight.
We had the pleasure of catching this gem at the Atlantic Fringe Festival on a visit to Halifax this September and we’re very interested to see it in its next stage of development in Toronto at the intimate Videofag space. Andrea Nemetz from the Chronicle Herald expresses our thoughts on Mature Young Adults perfectly: “Everyone has been a teenager in love, or will be. …an astonishingly real look at that most complicated of emotions.”
“This tragi-comic love story continues the theatrical tradition of East Coast playwriting greats David French and Daniel MacIvor with a contemporary twist for the Facebook generation. In a world where labels and gossip fly through cyberspace like lightning, is it possible to love without giving up your identity? Can you escape the container your community places you in?”
If you are looking for a crazy, sexy performance to spice up your life as the temperatures drop… we’re looking to After Miss Julie presented by Red One Theatre Collective. After Miss Julie is a version of Strindberg’s Miss Julie by Patrick Marber, where Marber amps up the power play between Julie, John, and his fiancée Christine to a deliciously dangerous level. The result, a steamy and at times manic and even hilarious power play amongst the class structure of 1945 England. With David Ferry as the director and a cast of some exceptional young local talent (Claire Armstrong, Christopher Morris and Amy Keating), we can’t wait to see what Red One brings to the Storefront this November.
If you’ve never been to a Gargantua performance, now is your chance to catch their world premiere of their 10th cycle of work The Sacrifice Zone. Created through their unique process, Theatre Gargantua is artist driven and works as a creative ensemble, producing projects in two-year cycles. We’re overflowing with excitement to see their latest creation, blending physical theatre, vocal soundscapes and unique storytelling and staging and we think you should be too!
“An industrial explosion shatters lives in an isolated resource town, rocking the balance of the community. While Alex and Hannah struggle with the loss of their partners, Laura and Patrick renegotiate the boundaries of a love affair, and newcomer Elly watches the emotional landscape change as arrestingly as the physical environment does. When everything is at stake, what would you sacrifice to make things right?
The Sacrifice Zone cuts right to fundamental questions of who and what are our responsibilities? And is balance, indeed justice, ever possible? Gargantua explores real world issues of individual, corporate and environmental accountability through their signature physical and critically acclaimed contemporary visual style in this gripping production based on a script by celebrated Australian playwright Suzie Miller.”
Where:Factory Studio Theatre When: November 13th-30th Wednesday-Saturday 8pm, Saturday November 16th & November 20th 2pm. Tickets: $19-$25, Buy tickets at www.factorytheatre.ca
The Gay Heritage Project
Created and performed by Damien Atkins, Paul Dunn & Andrew Kushnir, presented by The GHP Collective in association with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
We just caught a glimpse of this promo video, and we can’t wait to catch it mid-November! A collaboration between acclaimed theatre makers Damien Atkins, Paul Dunn, and Andrew Kushnir, The Gay Heritage Project offers audiences a unique chance to discover, celebrate and connect to our queer heritage. Once again, Buddies in Bad Times provides Toronto with relevant, thought-provoking, socially-conscious theatre.
“Three of our country’s most gifted creator/performers set out to answer one question: is there such a thing as gay heritage? In their search, they uncover a rich history not often shared and shine new light on contemporary gay culture. The result is a hilarious and moving homage to the people who came before us and the events that continue to shape our lives.”
Know something that should be On Our Radar, Toronto? Connect with us through Twitter & Facebook using the hashtag #OnOurRadarTO or send us an email to inthegreenroom.ca@gmail.com. What’s on your Radar?
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