Toronto Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 37

Review: SUDS-The Rockin' 60's musical soap opera
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - January 29, 2007

You have to put up with a riddiculous book and paper thin charcaters, but the tunes are well sung in SUDS - The Rockin' 60's muusical soap opera. * * (OUT OF 5)...

Front Row Centre reviews CALIFORNIA DREAMING 2
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - December 15, 2006

New revue covers 65 pop hits from the California music scene circa 1965 to 2000. Lively, energetic cast and endless parade of familiar tunes make this one a winner! * * * * 1/2 (out of 5)...

Front Row Centre reviews RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - November 18, 2006

An overstuffed Christmas stocking filled to the brim with tasty treats. * * * * (out of 5)...

Front Row Centre reviews THE STORY OF MY LIFE
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - November 04, 2006

Toronto finally has a show to get truly excited about: A new 2-character musical called THE STORY OF MY LIFE by Neil Bartram (music, lyrics) and Brian Hill (book.) My best advice is to stop reading this now and go order tickets! * * * * 1/2 (Out of five) ...

Front Row Centre reviews PIPPIN
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - November 01, 2006

A talented cast breathe life into Stephen Schwartz's PIPPIN songs but it's all undone by an ineffectual book and lacklustre direction. * * 1/2 (out of 5) ...

Front Row Centre reviews SYLVIA
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - October 31, 2006

Encore Entertainment offers an enjoyable production of A.R.Gurney's SYLVIA. * * * 1/2 (out of 5)...

Front Row Centre reviews RADIUM GIRLS
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - October 31, 2006

University of Toronto's senior year theatre students offer a powerful drama, RADIUM GIRLS as their first show of the season. * * * * (out of 5) * * * *...

Front Row Centre reviews THE SOUND OF MUSIC
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - October 23, 2006

The Rodgers and Hammerstein favourite is given a performance that hits the right notes but comes across devoid of feeling. * * (out of 5)...

Front Row Centre reviews THE LAST RESORT
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - October 22, 2006

Murder and madcap mayhem in a rundown Saskatchewan hotel. That's what happens in Norm Foster & Leslie Arden's musical comedy THE LAST RESORT, a wonderfully silly spoof currently being performed at Stage West Dinner Theatre. * * * (out of 5)...

Front Row Centre review ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - October 17, 2006

The Civic Light Opera Company offers Toronto theatre fans a rare chance to see the seldom staged 1965 musical ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER....

Front Row Centre reviews LEGENDS
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - October 13, 2006

Joan Collins & Linda Evans fail to spark LEGENDS James Kirkwood's problematic comedy strands its leading ladies with weak material. * * (OUT OF 5) ...

Front Row Centre reviews WICKED (on tour, in Toronto)
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - October 17, 2006

The hit musical returns to Toronto for a limed run. The production is first rate, even if the script and score are never quite at the same level. * * * * (OUT OF 5) ...

Front Row Centre reviews REEFER MADNESS - The Musical
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - September 19, 2006

Hart House Theatre has managed of a major coup, snagging the rights to present the Canadian premiere of the offbeat REEFER MADNESS - The Musical, a fun little musical satire. * * * * (out of 5) ...

Front Row Centre reviews I AM NOT A DINNER MINT
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - September 18, 2006

Writer/director Trey Anthony's latest play shines a light on relationship issues, but the piece could use more focus. * * (out of Five) ...

Front Row Centre reviews KING LEAR
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - September 11, 2006

Soulpepper Theatre Company's production of KING LEAR is riveting. This is one not to be missed. * * * * 1/2 (Out of 5) ...

Front Row Centre reviews MACHOMER
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - September 11, 2006

Rick Miller brings his one-man multi-media production back to Toronto where it all started 10 years ago. The show is very funny and just when it is beginning to pall, he wraps it up. Fun for both Shakespeare fans and SIMPSONS fans. * * * * (Out of 5) ...

Front Row Centre reviews OPENING NIGHT
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - September 10, 2006

The Mississauga Players offer Norm Foster's comedy about the onstage and backstage antics of a community theatre troupe. The play is neither uproarious comedy nor insightful character study but thanks to a strong cast, it is pleasant entertainment. * * 1/2 (out of 5)...

Front Row Centre reviews GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - August 25, 2006

In their sophomore season, Obstructed View Productions tackles David Mamet's classic play, GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS. Despite being too young for the characters the talented cast give fine performances and the play retains its power. * * * ½ (out of five) ...

Front Row Centre reviews BOMBAY DREAMS
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - August 19, 2006

Some interesting ideas go unexplored in this mess of a musical. Thanks to a winning performance by leading man Sachin Bhatt and some entertaining dancing the evening is not a complete fiasco. * * (out of five)...

Front Row Centre Review: GREASE
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - August 11, 2006

Talented cast and energetic dancing help this production slide by despite uneven direction and weak production values. * * 1/2 (our of five)...

Front Row Centre Review: BUDDY-THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - July 27, 2006

A galvanic star performance helps make Stage Wests's production of BUDDY enjoyable. Unfortunately, you have to endure a sketchy book and weak performances to get to it. * * 1/2 (out of 5)...

Front Row Centre review: SPAMALOT (National Tour)
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - July 17, 2006

* * * * ½ / 5 Toronto welcomes Monty Python's SPAMALOT. Python fans will be in heaven, and musical comedy buffs with love all the inside jokes. This is the big hit the city has been waiting for....

Front Row Centre reviews MARTIN SHORT: FAME BECOMES ME
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - June 18, 2006

Fame is such a fleeting thing, unless of course you're Martin Short! Short has been making people laugh for over 30 years, and the opening Thursday night (June 15th) of his show FAME BECOMES ME finds him in top form. Though the performance could use a bit of tightening in the first half, it ...

Front Row Centre Review: FORUM a funny thing in North York
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - May 30, 2006

Civic Light Opera Company presents a lively and fun filled production of A FUNNY THIG HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM. * * * * (out of 5)...

Front Row Centre Review: RAGTIME - In Concert
by Mark Andrew Lawrence - May 30, 2006

A concert version of RAGTIME returns to the theatre centre where it premiered 10 years ago. * * * * (out of five)...