Toronto Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 33

Review: PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT Pre-Broadway try-out
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - October 27, 2010

After two weeks of previews, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT had its official opening in Toronto on Tuesday October 26. The production is in terrific shape and delivers both spectacle and spectacular entertainment. Even when it falters, as it does on occasion, the musical is lively and tremendous fun....

Review: WICKED in Toronto
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - October 25, 2010

Wicked is a fun , entertaining show and the touring production on view at the Canon Theatre has enough magic to make one forgive some of the inadequacies, but it isn't as sharp a production as was previously seen here. * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)...

Toronto Centre for the Arts Presents OUT OF CHARACTER, Beginning 11/10
by Nicole Rosky - October 05, 2010

On Wednesday, November 10, 2010, the Toronto Centre for the Arts launches Out of Character: Intimate Portraits of Stage Stars, a five-part series that features some of Canada's most revered theatrical talent performing unplugged at the intimate George Weston Recital Hall, a venue renowned for its ou...

Review: '[title of show]'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - September 29, 2010

Angelwalk Theatre presents the Toronto premiere of [title of show] at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. Though the production values are minimal, the dynamite cast take hold of the material and milk it for all it's worth! * * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5) ...

Review: 'South Pacific'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - August 16, 2010

This is one not to miss - a first rate touring edition of a much lauded Broadway revival of one of Rodgers & Hammerstein's most challanging and rewarding musical plays. Jason Howard, Carmen Cusack, Jodi Kimura and Anderson Davis head a settlar cast. * * * * * (out of 5)...

Review: 'Funny Girl'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - June 02, 2010

The Civic Light Opera Company wraps up their 2009-10 season with an enjoyable staging of the musical Funny Girl, anchored by a performer more than up to the task of the role of Fanny Brice. * * * * 1/2 (out of 5)...

Review: 'Rock of Ages' Toronto cast
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - June 02, 2010

A terrific cast and a score made up of 80's evergreens makes Rock Of Ages an energizing night out. The cliche-ridden plot serves solely as an excuse for the two dozen period songs, but the in the end it's the music that delivers the high-octane entertainment. * * * * (OUT OF 5)...

BWW Reviews: MAMMA MIA! National Tour at the Princess of Wales
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - May 05, 2010

Almost ten years to the day, Mamma Mia returns to the city where the show had its North American premiere. It isn't the happiest of homecomings, due to an annoying tendency for the cast to overplay the material. Still the songs are as effervescent as ever and the book cleverly weaves them into a sl...

Review: 'Grease' Tour at the Canon Theatre
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - April 08, 2010

A revival of GREASE offers a watered down version of the original stage script, needlessly interpolates four songs from the motion picture version, and pointlessly brings in Taylor Hicks to play Teen Angel. Some lively choreography fails to compensate. * (out of 5)...

Review: 'Youg Frankenstein' National Tour at Princess of Wales Theatre
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - April 08, 2010

The Gene Wilder screenplay becomes the unsatisfactory basis for a failed Broadway musical. The star performance of Roger Bart goes a long way to making the performance endurable, but the show is far cry from being any kind of musical theatre classic. * * (out of 5)...

BWW Review: Rebecca Northan's 'Blind Date'
by Kelly Cameron - March 17, 2010

Rebecca Northan's wildly popular improv comedy Blind Date just finished a sold-out three week run as part of Harbourfront Centre's World Stage 2010 Season. Funny and charming, I had a wonderful time watching 'Mimi' woo her date of the evening! This is a little show with big potential, and I encoura...

Review: 'Rex' at Fairview Library Theatre
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - February 24, 2010

Rex has a reputation as a big Broadway disaster. It is well known that the show had many problems on the rocky road to Broadway in 1976, but The Civic Light Opera Company's new production shows off the show's strengths. Sheldon Harnick attended the opening night performance and pronounced this produ...

Review: 'String of Pearls'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - February 24, 2010

Leave it to Theatre Erindale to unearth a relatively unknown recent play and turn it into a brilliant showcase for the female members of the school's acting ensemble. A String of Pearls is a fascinating and funny piece that is highly recommended, with the caveat that there is some strong language an...

Review: 'Footloose' at Meadowvale Theatre
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - February 24, 2010

It will never be regarded as one of Broadway's greatest, the show Footloose can be fun and entertaining when the production features an energetic and youthful cast and a charismatic leading man. Meadowvale Music Theatre's production scores on both of these points, and even if the production occasion...

BWW Reviews: ASSASSINS
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - February 12, 2010

Birdland Theatre has joined forces with Barrie's Talk is Free Theatre to present a mesmerizing production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's darkly comic piece Assassins. Fans of the show will no doubt want to see it, but others are well advised to take this scary ride and see for themselves. ...

BWW Reviews: FALLEN ANGELS
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - February 12, 2010

Amicus Productions presentation of Noel Coward's comedy Fallen Angels proves to be a real crowd pleaser thanks to its leading ladies. * * * * (OUT OF 5)...

BWW Reviews: LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE - The Musical
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - February 12, 2010

If you have fond memories of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House books or the popular 1970's TV series, steer clear of the Canon Theatre because your expectations sure to be foiled. The same applies if you are a musical theatre fan out to see this new musical adapted from the novels. Despite a f...

BWW Reviews: Encore Entertainment's THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - February 02, 2010

Caitlynne Medrek gives an incandescent performance as the title character in Encore Entertainment's engrossing staging of the 1997 version of The Diary of Anne Frank. * * * * * (OUT OF 5)...

Review: 'The Light in the Piazza'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - February 02, 2010

Patty Jamieson, Jacquelyn French and Jeff Lillico head a superb cast in a ravishingly beautiful production of The Light in the Piazza playing a limited 3-week run at the Berkeley Street Theatre. * * * * * (OUT OF 5)...

Review: 'Pygmalion'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - January 28, 2010

Shaw's classic play is given a fine revival by Stage Centre Productions. * * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)...

Review: 'Cloud 9'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - January 28, 2010

Caryl Churchill's once daring play has lost some of its edge over the past three decades, but thanks to a terrific cast and solid direction, it still entertains. * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)...

BWW Reviews: DIXIE'S TUPPERWARE PARTY
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - January 28, 2010

Dixie Longate brings her Tupperware Party to Mississauga sending the crowd in the RBC Theatre at the Living Arts Centre into fits of uncontrollable laughter. Dixie - we love your cups! * * * * (OUT OF 5)...

Review: 'Andromache'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - January 28, 2010

Senior students at University of Toronto's Erindale Campus Theatre program tackle Richard Wilbur's translation of Jean Racine's 17th Century play and come up with a powerful production. * * * * * (OUT OF 5)...

BWW Reviews: 'GYP...' at Meadowvale Theatre
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - January 28, 2010

Theatre Unlimited offers a generally fine community production of the classic Arthur Laurents-Jule Styne-Stephen Sondheim musical Gypsy - but undoes it but cutting the final scene!! * * 1/2 (out of 5) ...

Review: 'One Hit Wonders' New Revue at Stage West
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - January 18, 2010

Some high-energy performers backed by a terrific band make the new revue at Stage West Dinner Theatre an enjoyable if somewhat overpowering smorgasbord. * * * (out of 5)...