Toronto Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 35

Review: 'Canadian Explosion'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - May 15, 2008

Stage West's latest revue celebrates Canadian pop music from 1956 to the present. The energetic cast and the slick production values make for a highly enjoyable evening. * * * * (OUT OF 5) ...

Review : 'Beau Jest'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - May 15, 2008

Delightful comedy Beau Jest is expertly performed by members of Encore Entertainment. * * * * (OUT OF 5)...

Review: 'Urinetown'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - April 17, 2008

Sheridan College students offer a slick Urinetown....

Review: 'Jerome Kern: All the Things You Are'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - April 17, 2008

Senior studnts of Sheridan College's musical theatre program offer a touching tribute to Jerome Kern....

Review: 'Alibi"
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - April 17, 2008

A new play gets a premiere in North York courtesy of Amicus Productions....

Review: 'A Man of No Importance'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - March 17, 2008

Mitchell Marcus and his Acting up Stage troupe have another winner with their breathtakingly simple staging of A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE at the Berkeley Street Theatre Upstaurs until March 22. Do not miss this one! * * * * * (OUT OF 5)...

Review: 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - February 28, 2008

Meadowvale Music Theatre serves up an enjoyable presntation of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's ever popular show. * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)...

'Beauty and the Beast' at Stage West Dinner Theatre
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - February 25, 2008

Dsiney'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 Company
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - February 25, 2008

Civic 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: 'Cabaret' at UC Follies
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - February 11, 2008

A CABARET that shifts the focus to Cliff works well for UC Follies. * * * 1/2 (OUT OF FIVE)...

Review: 'Pillars of Society' at Theatre Erindale
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - February 11, 2008

Theatre 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'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - February 07, 2008

There 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'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - February 07, 2008

Encore Entertainment's loving revival of Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize winner 'Driving Miss Daisy' proves a crowd-pleaser with Toronto audiences. * * * * (OUT OF 5)...

Review: 'Criminals in Love'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - January 18, 2008

Hart 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 some...

Review: "Art" at Fairview Library Theatre
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - January 16, 2008

Stage Centre Productions offers a fast, furious and funny production of the 1998 Tony Award winner. * * * * (OUT OF 5)...

Review: 'Twelve Angry Men' National Tour
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - January 11, 2008

Roundabout 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 Tour
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - January 06, 2008

The 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'
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - November 15, 2007

Soulpepper 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) ...

'Sweeney Todd' Toronto Tour: Bloody Brilliant
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - November 15, 2007

The national company of Sweeney Todd arrived in Toronto in fine form. * * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)...

Review: Mid Life! The Crisis Musical
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - September 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)...

Review: The Drowsy Chaperone Tour Hits Toronto
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - September 29, 2007

The The Drowsy Chaperone tour opened in Toronto this week to rave reviews. Don't miss this final chance to see Bob Martin as The Man in the Chair. * * * * * (OUT OF FIVE)...

Review: The Pillowman
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - September 28, 2007

Martin McDonagh's disturbing play is given a frighteningly intense production by Canadian Stage Company. * * * * 1/2 (OUT OF FIVE)...

Review: The Winslow Boy
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - September 28, 2007

The Village players offer a fine production of Terrence Rattigan's 1936 play. * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)...

Review: Funny Business
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - September 18, 2007

Office politics, Industrial shows, TV Reality shows and corporate team building exercises are just some of the targets in Funny Business, a new musical that attracted great acclaim earlier this summer at The Fringe Festival. It's called FUNNY BUSINESS. And it is very funny. * * * * (OUT OF 5)...

Review: As Thousands Cheer
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - September 12, 2007

Toronto's Civic Light opera Company offers Canadian premiere of Irving Berlin & Moss Hart's depression era revue. * * * * (OUT OF 5) (Reviewed September 7, 2007)...