Theatre

Thursday Theatre Review: Waiting for Godot

godotWaiting for Godot is the theatrical equivalent of a mine field. Full of starving grizzly bears. Surrounded by a shark-infested moat. On fire.

It is a play where nothing actually happens. Two guys show up and wait for another guy to arrive. But behind this facade of inactivity lies a vast chasm of existential ambiguity. Sixty years after it was written, nobody is really sure what it's actually about. In fact, the play resists explanation so strongly, any attempt to pin down Beckett's intent seems doomed to failure.

So when I read that Remain in Light Theatre's production of Godot featured a World War II setting and the music of Joy Division, I thought: Uh oh. This might be trouble. And it was. But only a little. Almost in spite of itself, Remain in Light has managed to mount an impressive production of Beckett's classic.

Thursday Theatre Review (on a Friday) - Avenue Q

Avenue Q in Toronto
Okay, I'm betting that a lot of you have heard the song The Internet is for Porn through the delightful World of Warcraft remake on youtube, well, it really kind of does set the tone for Avenue Q.

If you don't know about Avenue Q, think Sesame Street only edgy and raunchy and pushing boundaries. In short, it's fun, has hum-able music and is funny - but you're not going to leave the theatre with an earth shattering revelation. Well, except maybe that puppet sex is hotter than you expected...

The Papermill Theatre at Todmorden Mills

Todmorden MillsIt's been almost a year since the Papermill Theatre opened on Pottery Road. But that didn't stop me from waiting until last week to make my inaugural visit. Set inside the historic Todmorden Mills, the theatre is currently hosting Remain in Light's production of Waiting for Godot.

Contest: Win Tickets to Remain in Light's "House"

20080817_ril.jpgJonathan Hirsh and Ryan Seeley have created Toronto's newest theatre company Remain in Light (RIL), and their aim is to bring classic theatrical pieces to new light in an edgy, exciting, and engaging way. They've debuted with two plays that are currently running on an alternating schedule at the Paper Mill Theatre, one of which is Daniel MacIvor's House.

RIL's rendition of House is a solo performance by Ryan Seeley, and tells the laugh-filled story of a man losing his grip on reality and having a very bad day.

blogTO has two pairs of tickets to pass on to Toronto theatre-loving readers. Continue reading for full contest and event details.

Thursday Theatre Review: Summerworks

20080814_SummerworksPelee.jpgIf you haven't been checking out the Summerworks Theatre Festival, let me ask you this: what the heck have you been doing? Standing around in the rain? Putting a lot of effort into a summer romance that, let's be honest, isn't going to work out? Seriously, people. Go check it out. Great theatre, music, dance, art...and you have four days left to take it all in.

Ever your faithful servants, we have been hitting the tarmac and sniffing out the best bets. Continue reading for reviews of Dust, Flux, If We Were Birds, Kid Cosmic, Pelee, Rendevous With Home, and The Performance Gallery.

Summerworks Cometh

Cast of PeleeAh, the summer of 2008. If the rain doesn't wash you away, then you're liable to be swamped by theatre. Hot on the heels of the 11 day performance binge of the Toronto Fringe comes the Summerworks Theatre Festival. Think of it as a smaller, more refined version of the Fringe. Unlike its larger cousin, Summerworks is juried. The festival evaluates each show, and only the best applicants get in. So while it lacks the brash irreverance of the Fringe, Summerworks always provides a high-quality product.

And there's a lot of product to choose from. With 42 shows, eight nights of live music and a "performance gallery" at the Gladstone Hotel, the variety can be a little daunting. Continue reading for a few of my early picks.
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