'12 Angry Men' Return to Toronto June 3-15February 26, 2008The Verdict Is In …
Toronto audiences demand more of TWELVE ANGRY MEN
The critically acclaimed and popular drama returns to
the Princess of Wales Theatre June 3 to 15, 2008.
Tickets Go On Sale Saturday March 1st
'Beauty and the Beast' at Stage West Dinner TheatreFebruary 25, 2008Dsiney's endearing family musical adapts well to the small dinner theater stage. With solid production values and some terriffic performances, the show is a crowd-pleaser.
* * * * (OUT OF 5)
'The Rink' at Civic Light Opera CompanyFebruary 25, 2008Civic Light Opera Company presents the Canadian premiere of Kander and Ebb's personal favorite amongst all of their shows.
* * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)
Review: 'Pillars of Society' at Theatre ErindaleFebruary 11, 2008Theatre Erindale's student production of Ibsen's 1877 drama PILLARS OF SOCIETY solves many of the obstinate problems that prevent the play from being revived more frequently.
* * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)
Review: 'Proposals'February 7, 2008There is no better way to spend a winter evening than in a packed theatre rocked with laughter. If that is what you are after, check out Neil Simon's Proposals being presented by Amicus players at Fairview Library Theatre.
* * * * (OUT OF 5)
Review: 'Driving Miss Daisy'February 7, 2008Encore Entertainment's loving revival of Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize winner 'Driving Miss Daisy' proves a crowd-pleaser with Toronto audiences.
* * * * (OUT OF 5)
'Spelling Bee' Flies into TorontoJanuary 18, 2008Broadway¹s Tony Award®-Winning Musical Comedy
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
To Compete at Toronto¹s Elgin Theatre
January 29 to February 10, 2008
Review: 'Criminals in Love'January 18, 2008Hart House Theatre's production accentuates the laughs and touches only lightly on the play's social commentary, which is perhaps the best approach for this piece. Credit director Andrea Wasserman for creating a realistic world for these cartoon-like bumblers to inhabit. Though the performances sometimes veer a little too close to farcical territory -sometimes pushing too hard to get laughs- the end result is an enjoyable crowd-pleaser.
* * * (OUT OF FIVE)
Review: 'Twelve Angry Men' National TourJanuary 11, 2008Roundabout Theatre Company's touring edition of their acclaimed 2004 Broadway revival is a potent ensemble drama not to be missed.
* * * * * (OUT OF FIVE)
Review: 'Whistle Down the Wind' National TourJanuary 6, 2008The tour of Whistle Down The Wind makes a brief stop in Toronto. Despite strong performances by the leads this is another muddled musical from Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.
* * (out of 5)
Soulpepper Theatre's 'Blithe Spirit'November 15, 2007Soulpepper Theatre has chosen to wrap up their 2007 season with an effervescent production of Noel Coward's comedy Blithe Spirit. You could hardly ask for a more perfect production.
* * * * * (out of 5)
Review: Mid Life! The Crisis MusicalSeptember 29, 2007 The problems of middle-age could hardly be considered substantial enough for a musical revue, but in this day and age of recycled movies and recycled pop-song catalogues attention must be paid any show that offers an original score and some entertainingly clever lyrics.
* * * (OUT OF FIVE)
Shaw Festival Announces 2008 SeasonSeptember 29, 2007The Shaw Festival announced their line-up for 2008. It will include the musicals WONDERFUL TOWN (in the Festival Theatre) and A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (in the Court House Theatre.) They will also do 4 special concrt performances of the Sondheim/Goldman FOLLIES.
The Shaw plays will be GETTING MARRIED and MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION.
The season will also include THE LITTLE FOXES, AN INSPECTOR CALLS, THE PRESIDENT, THE STEPMOTHER, AFTER THE DANCE, and a revival of their 2005 production of BELLE MORAL.
Mark Andrew Lawrence began his broadcasting career as music director for St. Catharines radio station CHRE. After six years there and eight years at classical station CFMX, he created FRONT ROW CENTRE to supply theatre reviews and articles to magazines, newspapers, and broadcasters across the greater Toronto area. Mark Andrew Lawrence maintains an extensive collection of over 3,500 Broadway show recordings in all formats (78 RPM singles, 45 RPM album, 10 & 12-inch Lps, and Compact discs) dating back to the early years of the 20th century.