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BWW Reviews: Theatre20's 'COMPANY' Hits Most of the Right Notes
Theatre20's production of COMPANY is now playing at the Berkeley Street Threatre in downtown Toronto, and the production - which opened on June 27 hits most of the right notes, but I found it to be lacking the finesse it needed to be the first class production it had the potential to be. The story s...
BWW Reviews: The LOT's 'SPAMALOT' is Full of Humour, Enthusiasm and Quirky Fun
SPAMALOT may be based on the Monty Python film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but the musical differs greatly from the film on which it is based. While both the musical and film have hilarity in common, the story's transition onto stage provides some interesting differences. The musical, which pre...
BWW Reviews: Stratford Festival's HAY FEVER
Following up on the success of last season's production of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, the Stratford Festival is presenting another Noel Coward favourite this year. HAY FEVER recently opened at the Avon Theatre, and judging from the raucous laughter it produced from the opening night audience, it i...
FFT Productions Presents Kimberly Roberts as Judy Garland in THE GET HAPPY HOUR WITH JUDY Tonight
Spend an evening with Judy Garland, America's Sweetheart, as she tells of the TV show she'd preferred to have done. Get to know again the Judy everyone loves, without all the booze and drugs. Share songs, laughs, and tears with Judy as portrayed by Kimberly Roberts, a Vanity Fair featured Garland do...
BWW Reviews: A Split Decision for Soulpepper's TWELVE ANGRY MEN
The celebrated 1957 film 12 Angry Men is a drama that began its life on television as part of a CBS series, Studio One, where it premiered in 1954. The work, penned by ex-serviceman Reginald Rose and inspired by his direct experience as a juror, went on to win an Emmy, and in its later form, an Acad...
BWW Reviews: 'SOUTH PACIFIC' at the Huron Country Playhouse
Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical SOUTH PACIFIC (book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan) is currently playing at Drayton Entertainment's Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend, Ontario, under the direction (and choreography) of MICHAEL LICHTEFELD and it is an absolute delight!...
BWW Reviews: 'Stones in Her Mouth' Is Powerful, Provocative Theater
Stones in Her Mouth is a powerful theatrical experience that examines and explores women's lives. Brought to life by an ensemble of ten Maori women, the production, recently part of Toronto's annual Luminato Festival, has been feted worldwide since its premiere in 2013. As its choreographer Lemi Pon...
BWW Reviews: THE PHILADELPHIA STORY at the Shaw Festival
The Philadelphia Story, on stage at the Shaw Festival, takes the audience back to 1939, to the wealthy who have survived the Great Depression. Survived? It looks like they flourished! The audience applauds the luxurious set as the curtain is raised. Everything is gold, silver and white - a lavish gr...
BWW Reviews: ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS at Stratford
Yes, Alice, there is another world on the other side of that mirror...and it's made for kids! In an effort to reach out to families and little children, Stratford is offering something to keep the attention of the 12 and under crowd. Big colourful costumes, zany situations and audience participation...
BWW Reviews: 'Cinderella' Dazzles With Beauty
The National Ballet's popular production features dazzling sets, eye-popping costumes, and wondrous choreography....
BWW Reviews: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at Stratford Festival, is a Wild Ride
Director CHRIS ABRAHAM's production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at the Festival Theatre is sure to be the most talked-about production at Stratford Festival this season. This, in itself is a huge feat, as this season is full of brave and exciting productions. Not all of the talk will be positive (t...
BWW Reviews: Stratford Festival's MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN is an Important Play to See
MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN, Directed by MARTHA HENRY, and set in the 30 years war that ravaged 17th century Europe, is as moving, upsetting, and as politically relevant as ever…which is likely exactly what playwright Bertolt Brecht intended when he initially wrote it as a response to the Seco...
BWW REVIEWS: Stratford Festival's Man of La Mancha is the Perfect Escape
The theme this season at the Stratford Festival is Madness: Minds Pushed to the Edge and when it comes to choosing a musical to fit this theme, there is quite possibly no better choice than MAN OF LA MANCHA....
BWW Reviews: 'Physical Thinking' Soars And Inspires
The National Ballet of Canada opens its summer season with a mixed programme of twentieth century works....
BWW Reviews: Stratford's KING LEAR
Love between parents and their offspring should be unconditional. As soon as King Lear puts conditions on the love of his daughters, his life unravels: he goes mad. But what really drives him crazy? Is it remorse resulting from his bad decisions? Is it stress, worrying about his daughters? Or is sim...
BWW Reviews: Stratford's CRAZY FOR YOU
If you like musicals with amazing dancing, powerful singing and farcical comedy - and who doesn't? - get your tickets now for Crazy for You, on Stratford's Festival stage, as this show will sell out this summer. Crazy for You is an interesting invention. George and Ira Gershwin's old songs from the ...
BWW Reviews: What a Feeling? FLASHDANCE in Toronto Lacks Finesse
Flashdance, the 1980's Paramount Pictures movie which led to the creation of the MTV format has been translated to the stage by a group which includes the original film creative team. The show tells the story of Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and a bar dancer by night with dreams ...
BWW Reviews: CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES at Victoria Playhouse Petrolia
The laughter echoed throughout the sold-out house as Victoria Playhouse Petrolia marked its 2014 season opener with Church Basement Ladies. And it is laughter of recognition, whether the audience has memories of cooking in a church basement in the sixties, or feels the discomfort of hot flashes tod...
BWW Reviews: Lower Ossington Theater's HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH is Loud, Electric, and Shocking
Cult classic HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH is making waves on Broadway right now with Neil Patrick Harris, so Torontonians will be happy to know that they can catch a production of the edgy rock musical. The Lower Ossington theater is currently staging its own production of the musical about an East Ger...
BWW Reviews: CABARET at the Shaw Festival
Deborah Hay as Sally Bowles is a brilliant light shining in this otherwise very dark production of Cabaret, on stage this season at the Shaw Festival. Hayes has captured Sally completely, and in doing so, captivated the audience. Her rendition of "Maybe This Time" is so convincing that you believe ...
BWW Reviews: The 'STARS OF DAVID' Shine Brighter Than the Sun at the Toronto Centre
It's no secret that there are more Jews in Musical Theatre than stars in the sky - and the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company, along with Angelwak Theatre are shouting it from the rooftop of the Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts....
BWW Reviews: Theatre Passe Muraille's VITALS
'You don't know what a call is going to be like until you get there,' says Anna the paramedic. The same can be said of playwright Rosamund Small's new one-person drama Vitals, produced by Outside the March with support from Theatre Passe Muraille. This site-specific show about the arduous work of pa...
BWW Reviews: THE LION KING is Wholesome Family Entertainment
If you get concerned taking your children to the theatre because of all the recent productions featuring violence, swearing, and sexed-up drag queens - you should know The Lion King is fantastic, wholesome family entertainment with none of those (okay, there is one moment in drag, but I promise it's...
BWW Reviews: David Suchet in THE LAST CONFESSION is Drama at its Absolute Best
For the longest time, I was under the impression that Toronto audiences were not fans of drama - for we just don't seem to get many of them in our biggest theatres during most theatre seasons. From now until June 1st, Toronto audiences have the opportunity to experience drama at it's finest - The La...
BWW Reviews: 'Of Human Bondage' Explores Love and Obsession
William Somerset Maugham's monumental novel 'Of Human Bondage' has never had a stage translation —until now. Adapted by award-winning playwright Vern Thiessen, and produced by Soulpepper Theatre Company, 'Of Human Bondage' is currently on at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts through May 17t...
Videos
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The House of Special Purpose The Theatre Centre (6/03-6/06) |
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A Midsummer Night's Dream Stratford Festival (5/01-9/26) PHOTOS |
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THE NUTCRACKER by The United European Ballet The Burlington Performing Arts Centre (11/18-11/18) |
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The Hobbit Stratford Festival (4/21-10/23) PHOTOS |
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Tiger Bride Soulpepper Theatre (5/29-6/14) |
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John Cameron Mitchell: Hedwig 25th Anniversary Movie Tour The Danforth Music Hall (6/28-6/28) |
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The Tempest Stratford Festival (4/28-10/24) PHOTOS |
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Menopause The Musical Thunder Bay Community Auditorium (10/09-10/09) |
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World's Gone Wild The Second City (3/27-7/26) |
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Kismet/Emma Bovary Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts (5/29-6/04) |
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