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BWW Review: Coal Mine's THE RIVER is the Epitome of Indie Theatre
If you're unfamiliar with The Coal Mine, venture off to Toronto's east-end for the best of indie theatre. Though their permanent space is currently under renovation, the new independent theatre company, entering their second season, shines in their temporary space in the heart of the Danforth. Descr...
BWW Review: Factory Theatre's AGE OF AROUSAL is Anything But Gritty
Nina Lee Aquino, Artistic Director of the Factory Theatre describes their 2015/2016 Naked Season as 'pure theatrical encounters between the audience, the actor, the text, and the empty space that we all temporarily share'. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be reimagined, stripped down retelling of...
BWW Review: FUNNY GIRL at the Segal Centre is a Spunky and Sassy Success
The “Barbra Question” can often plague theatre companies when the idea of producing a Funny Girl musical is brought up. How can one produce the show in a way that even comes close to the iconic version that Streisand led in her breakout role? They face the additional obstacle of satisfying audie...
BWW Review: Downton Abbey Fans Will Love UPSIDE DOWNTON, Others Not So Much
Upside Downton, a parody of the hit television show Downton Abbey has made its way to Toronto after successful runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and in London. Starring Luke Kempner, who provides all the voices for 36 characters, this innovative one man show clocks in at just over an hour and is...
BWW Review: MOTOWN THE MUSICAL Underwhelms in Toronto
Motown the Musical, the Broadway show which dramatizes the rise and fall of the record label of the same name, opened yesterday in Toronto at The Princess of Wales Theatre. Though full of hit songs you will recognize, overall the show was underwhelming and lacked enough exposition to hold the audien...
BWW Review: Soulpepper's HAPPY PLACE is Full of Honest Emotion
Another piece in Soulpepper's fall season is the sophomore production from Dora-Award winning playwright Pamela Mala Sinha....
BWW REVIEW: Soulpepper's THE PLAY'S THE THING is Charmingly Clever
The latest revival of THE PLAY'S THE THING is another take at the Soulpepper favourite. Based on P.G. Wodehouse's adaptation of the 1926 classic, The Play at the Castle, and directed by Laszlo Marton who also took a stab at this production in both 1999 and 2003, you are sure in for a treat....
BWW Review: The World Premiere of THE LAST WIFE at Stratford Festival
The World Premiere of THE LAST WIFE, written by Kate Hennig and directed by Alan Dilworth, took place earlier this month at the Stratford Festival's Studio Theatre. BWW recently had the opportunity to see the show, and found it to present an intriguing combination of history, drama, humour and femin...
BWW Review: Second City's CLICK BAIT & SWITCH is a Guaranteed Great Night Out
CLICK BAIT & SWITCH, the latest mainstage revue at The Second City is a downright hilarious take of the ridiculousness of the current digital age we live in. Set against a backdrop of typical Internet click bait headlines, the cast of top-notch comedians perform sketch performances that are sure to ...
BWW Review: Stratford's THE ALCHEMIST is a Riot!
If you are looking for a good laugh, 17th Century-style, then look no further than this season's production of Ben Jonson's THE ALCHEMIST, currently on stage at the Stratford Festival's Tom Patterson theatre. What a riot! This production, directed by Artistic Director, Antoni Cimolino, had the audie...
BWW Review: Stratford's LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Hits a Home Run!
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST opened at the Stratford Festival's Festival Theatre on Friday night…and it hit a home run with the audience! Director, John Caird takes one of Shakespeare's earlier plays and makes it feel shiny and new. Assisting with this is an exceptional cast, captivating set design, and b...
BWW Reviews: Shaw Festival's LIGHT UP THE SKY: Aging Script Not So Bright
The Shaw Festival is known for dusting off old chestnuts and breathing new life into them. Unfortunately, its new production of Moss Hart's LIGHT UP THE SKY is a chestnut better left in the attic to continue gathering dust. Compared to his successful plays, like THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER (wi...
BWW Review: Stratford's OEDIPUS REX is Phenomenal
This season, audiences are being thrilled by a phenomenal production of OEDIPUS REX at the Stratford Festival's Tom Patterson Theatre to thunderous applause. Superb performances by all bolstered this production of the famous play by Sophocles to the top of my 'Must See' list for this season....
BWW Reviews: POSSIBLE WORLDS at Stratford Festival
Stratford Festival's Production of POSSIBLE WORLDS, directed by Mitchell Cushman, opened at the Studio Theatre this week. I had the opportunity to see this play one day early, during its very last preview performance. I can assure you that this play is unlike anything else you will at the Stratford ...
BWW Review: NEWSIES in Toronto is a Hit Full of Heart
You can't help but cheer for the loveable Newsies in Disney's Broadway musical based on the real news boy strike of 1899 and the financial flop film they produced on the matter in 1992. Disney's Newsies is a well written, incredibly designed, choreographed, and acted hit! Audiences are getting all o...
BWW Reviews: Stratford Festival's THE TAMING OF THE SHREW is a Must See
Shakespeare fans will be flocking to an exciting production of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW that is featured on the Festival Theatre stage at the Stratford Festival this season. Director Chris Abraham's recent contributions to the festival (particularly last season's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM) left patro...
BWW Review: Toronto Says 'YEAH' To Kinky Boots
There's a party happening every day at The Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto - and that party is the Canadian production of Kinky Boots which opened Sunday night. The mostly Canadian cast, save for American newcomer Alan Mingo Jr. as Lola earned a standing ovation from the opening night audience....
BWW Reviews: Stratford Festival's SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER
SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER opened recently at Stratford Festival's Avon Theatre. As you watch it, it quickly becomes apparent as to why this play has withheld the test of time. Laugh out loud humour, beautiful set design, and an excellent cast make for an enjoyable evening (or matinee) at the theatre....
BWW Review: THE ADVENTURES OF PERICLES at the Stratford Festival is Moving and Fun
THE ADVENTURES OF PERICLES by William Shakespeare, and directed by Scott Wentworth, opened at Stratford Festival's Tom Patterson Theatre on Saturday night. Starring Evan Buliung as the title character, this production was moving and fun from beginning to end....
BWW Reviews: SWEET CHARITY at SHAW FESTIVAL
Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields iconic 1960's musical SWEET CHARITY is playing on the stage of the Festival Theatre as this year's musical offering at the Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario. Visually stunning and often energetically infectious, this musical, with book by Neil Simon, comes a...
BWW Review: The Performers Rise to the Challenge in Stratford Festival's CAROUSEL
Stratford Festival's production of CAROUSEL opened on May 29th at the Avon Theatre. Despite an unsettling story with challenging themes, the performers in this production are able to rise to the challenge and present some of the finest song and dance that this stage has seen....
BWW Review: Stratford Festival's THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK is an Honest and Stunning production
On Thursday May 29th, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK opened at the Stratford Festival. It was an honest, stunning production that featured beautiful performances by all involved....
BWW Review: Stratford Festival's THE PHYSICISTS is Delightfully Disturbing
If you happen to be coming to Stratford Festival looking for a show that makes you laugh, think, and question whether the human race is doomed-all in equal measure…then look no further than director Miles Potter's disturbingly delightful production of THE PHYSICISTS. If you did not know you were l...
BWW Review: A Star is Born in Stratford's THE SOUND OF MUSIC
It's rare that you walk out of a show knowing you've witnessed history - and that is just what those seeing The Sound of Music at The Stratford Festival will be experiencing. Stratford's staging of the classic show, by director/choreographer Donna Feore will be talked about for years to come....
BWW Review: M'DEA UNDONE, Not Your Typical Opera
Adapted from a scene of Euripides' Medea, the Tapestry Opera's latest production of M'DEA UNDONE brings the myth and tragedy of this classic story to modern times. The opera takes place in the twenty-first century as Jason, a former army captain, begins a new political career and begins to distance ...
Videos
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síofra Red Sandcastle Theatre (6/17-6/28) |
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AC/DC Rogers Stadium (9/16-9/16) |
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ANNULÉ - Il était une fois... Noël Théâtre Capitole (11/25-11/29) |
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Gershwin, Porter n Me: Vancouver Vocalist, NYC Pianist, Toronto Rhythm Section - Last Sunday in May Jazz Bistro (5/31-5/31) |
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UNIONVILLE CANADA DAY CELEBRATION Unionville Millennium Square (7/01-7/01) |
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Swan Lake by International Ballet Stars in Brantford, ON The Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts (3/16-3/16) |
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World On Fire The Assembly Theatre (5/27-6/07) |
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THE NUTCRACKER by The United European Ballet The Burlington Performing Arts Centre (11/18-11/18) |
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Moonstruck Comedy Bar (10/09-10/30) |
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TIME AND TRANSFORMATION Meridian Arts Centre – George Weston Recital Hall (6/20-6/20) |
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