Stage Door Reviews 2019
Fool for Love
✭✭✭✩✩
by Sam Shepard, directed by Frank Cox-O’Connell
Soulpepper Theatre Company, Young Centre, Toronto
July 18-August 11, 2019
Eddie: “I’m not goin’ anywhere. See? I’m right here. I’m not gone”
In...
Hilda’s Yard
✭✭✭✭✩
by Norm Foster, directed by Jim Mezon
Norm Foster Theatre Festival, FirstOntario PAC, St. Catharines
July 12-26, 2019
Mrs. Lindstrom: “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of...
The Road to Damascus
✭✭✭✭✩
by Dominique Ziegler, translated and directed by David Eden
To Hell and Back Company, Toronto Fringe Festival, Tarragon Extraspace, Toronto
July 5-13, 2019
Swiss playwright Dominque Ziegler’s The Road...
The Ashes of Forgotten Rain
✭✭✭✩✩
written and directed by Norman Hussey
Missed Metaphor Productions, Toronto Fringe Festival, Robert Gill Theatre, Toronto
July 5-14, 2019
Norman Hussey’s backstage comedy The Ashes of Forgotten Rain would...
Old-ish
✭✭✭✭✩
by Susan Freedman, directed by Alan Silverman
GoodSide Productions, Toronto Fringe Festival, Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace, Toronto
July 5-13, 2019
Susan Freedman’s solo play Old-ish is a joy. The...
Above & Beyond
✭✭✩✩✩
by Jaclyn Toledano, directed by Rebecca Ballarin
JackieTol Productions, Toronto Fringe Festival, Robert Gill Theatre, Toronto
July 4-13, 2019
Jaclyn Toledano’s Above & Beyond is a comedy about office...
My Dad’s Deaths (A Comedy)
✭✭✭✭✩
written and directed by Jon Bennett
A Mulled Whine, Toronto Fringe Festival, Guloien Theatre, Streetcar Crowsnest, Toronto
July 4-14, 2019
Australian comic Jon Bennett is probably best known in Toronto...
Off the Island
✭✭✩✩✩
music by Mike Poisson & Connor Young, book, lyrics and direction by Brian Gibson
Gazebo Productions, Toronto Fringe Festival, Guloien Theatre, Streetcar Crowsnest, Toronto
July 4-14, 2019
Off the Island...
The Peers
✭✩✩✩✩
written and directed by Kate Hammer
INFEMOUS, Toronto Fringe Festival, Annex Theatre, Toronto
July 3-13, 2019
INFEMOUS, the Montreal company led by Kate Hammer, states in its publicity material, “Representing...
Molly Bloom
✭✭✭✭✩
by James Joyce, adapted and directed by Jocelyn Adema
Fourth Gorgon Theatre, Toronto Fringe Festival, Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, Toronto
July 5-13, 2019
Jocelyn Adema has taken on the seemingly...
UNRAVELLED
✭✭✭✩✩
music, book, lyrics and direction by Andrew Seok
Chaos & Light, Toronto Fringe Festival, Grace Toronto Church, 383 Jarvis St., Toronto
July 5-13, 2019
Composer, lyricist and director Andrew Seok’s semi-staged...
Boy Falls From The Sky: Jake Epstein Live at Supermarket
✭✭✭✭✭
by Jake Epstein, directed by Robert McQueen
• Past Future Productions, Toronto Fringe Festival, Supermarket, 268 Augusta Ave., Toronto
July 4-13, 2019;
• TO Live presents Best of Fringe, Toronto Centre...
Dungee the Dragon & The Just-Okay Juggler
✭✭✭✭✩
written and directed by Dan Boyer
• Stories by Dan, Toronto Fringe Festival, George Ignatieff Theatre, Toronto
July 4-14, 2019;
• North(519)KIDS, Jungle Oasis, Orangeville
July 21;
Spend Your Kids' Inheritance
✭✭✭✩✩
music by Frank Horvat, book & lyrics by Catherine Frid, directed by Andrew Lamb
Watercourse Theatre, Toronto Fringe Festival, Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, Toronto
July 4-14, 2019
While it’s good...
Cyrano de Bergerac
✭✭✭✭✩
by Sean Jacklin & Jack Rennie, directed by Jack Rennie
The Leslieville Players, Toronto Fringe Festival, 74 Jones Ave., Toronto
July 4-14, 2019
If you’re looking for 50 minutes of very silly fun, then...
The Taming of the Shrew
✭✭✭✩✩
by William Shakespeare, directed by Nicole Arends
Aquarius Players, Toronto Fringe Festival, St. George the Martyr Courtyard, 197 John St., Toronto
July 3-14, 2019
St. George the Martyr’s courtyard,...
The Horse and His Boy
✭✭✭✩✩
by Anna Chatterton, directed by Christine Brubaker
Shaw Festival, Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
May 26-July 21, 2019
Fisherman: “Natural affection is stronger than soup”
For those...
The Writer
✭✭✭✭✭
by Norm Foster, directed by Patricia Vanstone
Norm Foster Theatre Festival, FirstOntario PAC, St. Catharines
June 21-July 5, 2019
“A Kind Heart”
The Norm Foster Theatre Festival has opened...
Masquerade
✭✭✭✩✩
by Mikhail Lermontov, directed by Rimas Tuminas
Vakhtangov State Academic Theatre of Russia
• Luminato & Show One, John Basset Theatre, Toronto
June 9-10, 2019;
• Cherry Orchard Festival,...
Marienbad
✭✭✭✭✩
by Christopher House & Jordan Tannahill
Toronto Dance Theatre, Winchester Street Theatre, Toronto
May 23-June 1, 2019
“Le long des allées rectilignes,... en train de vous perdre, pour toujours, dans...
August: Osage County
✭✭✭✭✭
by Tracy Letts, directed by Jackie Maxwell
Soulpepper Theatre Company, Young Centre, Toronto
May 24-June 30, 2019
Barbara: “Thank God we can't tell the future, we'd never get out of bed”
Soulpepper...
The Brothers Size
✭✭✭✭✩
by Tarell Alvin McCraney, directed by Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu
Soulpepper Theatre Company, Young Centre, Toronto
May 10-June 1, 2019
“Try a little tenderness” (Otis Redding, 1966)
The Brothers...
Lilies
✭✭✭✩✩
by Michel Marc Bouchard, translated by Linda Gaboriau, directed by Cole Alvis
lemonTree creations, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre & Why Not Theatre, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto
May 9-26, 2019
Mlle...
Otello
✭✭✭✭✩
by Giuseppe Verdi, directed by David Alden
Canadian Opera Company, Four Seasons Centre, Toronto
April 27, 30, May 3, 9, 12, 15, 18 & 21, 2019
Iago: “L’alvo frenetico del mar sia la sua tomba!”
Next to Normal
✭✭✭✭✩
music by Tom Kitt, book & lyrics by Brian Yorkey, directed by Philip Akin
The Musical Stage Company, CAA Theatre, Toronto
May 1-19, 2019
Diana: “Maybe I’ve lost it at last.
Maybe my last lucid...
Lo (or Dear Mr. Wells)
✭✭✭✩✩
by Rose Napoli, directed by Eric Coates
Great Canadian Theatre Company, Ottawa
May 2-17, 2019
“I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” (from...
Drunk Girl
✭✭✭✭✩
by Thea Fitz-James, directed by Shanda Bezic
TMI Productions, Fringe Encore, Arts Club Theatre, Ottawa
April 26-27, 2019
“You don’t bro ice a friend”
The poster for Thea Fitz-James’s play...
Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story
✭✭✭✩✩
created by Hannah Moscovitch, Ben Caplan & Christian Barry, directed by Christian Barry
Tarragon Theatre, Toronto
April 24-May 26, 2019
Caplan: “Those that keep their eyes upon the heavens
Are...
Hand to God
✭✭✭✩✩
by Robert Askins, directed by Mitchell Cushman
Coal Mine Theatre, 1454 Danforth Avenue, Toronto
April 24-May 12, 2019
“Dr. Jekyll and Miss Piggy”
The adventurous Coal Mine Theatre closes its...
Cabaret
✭✭✭✭✩
music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb & book by Joe Masteroff, directed by Dennis Garnhum
Grand Theatre, McManus Stage, London
April 11-May 18, 2019
Emcee: “In here life is beautiful”
The...
La Bohème
✭✭✭✭✩
by Giacomo Puccini, directed by John Caird
Canadian Opera Company, Four Seasons Centre, Toronto
April 17, 26, 28, May 2, 4, 5, 7, 11 & 22, 2019
Rodolfo: “In cener la carta si sfaldi e l'estro rivoli...
Copenhagen
✭✭✭✭✩
by Michael Frayn, directed by Katrina Darychuk
Soulpepper Theatre Company, Young Centre, Toronto
April 12-May 4, 2019
Heisenberg: “Before we can glimpse who or what we are, we’re gone and laid to dust”
Bigre
✭✭✩✩✩
by Pierre Guillois, Agathe L'Huillier & Olivier Martin Salvan, directed by Pierre Guillois
Compagnie le Fils du Grand Réseau, Berkeley Street Theatre, Toronto
April 11-28, 2019
“The Play That Really...
Four Chords and a Gun
✭✭✭✩✩
by John Ross Bowie, directed by Richard Ouzounian
• Starvox Entertainment, Fleck Theatre, Harbourfront, Toronto
April 10-28, 2019;
• Broadway Playhouse, Chicago, IL
May 18-June 2, 2019
Idomeneo
✭✭✭✭✩
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, directed by Marshall Pynkoski
Opera Atelier, Ed Mirvish Theatre, Toronto
April 4-13, 2019
“Con danze e con suoni
Convien festeggiar” (Coro, Act 1)
Opera...
Kopernikus
✭✭✭✭✭
by Claude Vivier, directed by Joel Ivany
Against the Grain Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto
April 4, 5, 6 ,11, 12 & 13, 2019
“L’avenir veut te parler”
Against the Grain Theatre’s production...
Shove It Down My Throat
✭✭✩✩✩
by Johnnie Walker, directed by Tom Arthur Davis
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre & Pandemic Theatre, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto
April 3-14, 2019
“It’s the journey”
Johnnie Walker’s...
Fences
✭✭✭✭✭
by August Wilson, directed by Djanet Sears
Grand Theatre, Spriet Stage, London
March 22-April 6, 2019
Bono: “Some people build fences to keep people out and other people build fences to keep people in”
The Gamblers
✭✭✭✭✩
by Nikolai Gogol, translated & adapted by Selma Dimitrijevic, directed by Esther Jun
Talk Is Free Theatre, Five Points Theatre, Barrie
March 29-April 6, 2019
Ikharev: “Everyone uses a little deceit”
Dear Evan Hansen
✭✭✭✭✩
music & lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, book by Steven Levenson, directed by Michael Greif
Stacey Mindich with David Mirvish, Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto
March 28-July 21, 2019
“Waving through...
A Doll’s House, Part 2
✭✭✩✩✩
by Lucas Hnath, directed by Krista Jackson
David Mirvish & Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, CAA Theatre, Toronto
March 27-April 14, 2019
Nora: “Marriage says, ‘I own you’”
The title of Lucas...
Isitwendam (An Understanding)
✭✭✭✭✩
by Meegwun Fairbrother and Jack Grinhaus, directed by Jack Grinhaus
Bound to Create Theatre, Daniels Spectrum, Toronto
March 20-30, 2019
“Healing comes from listening”
Meegwun Fairbrother’s...
School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play
✭✭✭✭✩
by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Nina Lee Aquino
Obsidian Theatre with Nightwood Theatre, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto
March 8-24, 2019
Ericka to Paulina: “You don’t even like yourself”
New Magic Valley Fun Town
✭✭✭✭✩
by Daniel MacIvor, directed by Richard Rose
• Tarragon Theatre & Prairie Theatre Exchange, Tarragon Theatre Mainspace, Toronto
February 27-March 31, 2019;
• Neptune Theatre, Halifax
April...
Bears
✭✭✭✭✩
written & directed by Matthew MacKenzie
Alberta Aboriginal Performing Arts and Punctuate! Theatre, Factory Theatre, Toronto
February 28-March 17, 2019
Mama: “No one can frighten us. We frighten ourselves.”
Revisor
✭✭✭✭✩
written by Jonathon Young, directed and choreographed by Crystal Pite
Kidd Pivot, Bluma Appel Theatre, Toronto
March 7-17, 2019
Narrator: “I am within this even as I contain this”
The successor...
Little Menace: Pinter Plays
✭✭✭✭✩
by Harold Pinter, directed by Thomas Moschopoulos
Soulpepper Theatre Company, Young Centre, Toronto
February 21-March 17, 2019
“I mean, apart from all, that how are you, really?
Little Menace...
The Last Ship
✭✭✭✭✩
music & lyrics by Sting, book by Lorne Campbell, directed by Lorne Campbell
David Mirvish, Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto
February 19-March 24, 2019
“To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield”...
(La) voix humaine
✭✭✭✭✩
by Francis Poulenc, directed by Aria Umezawa
Against the Grain Theatre, Gallery 345, 345 Soraunen Avenue, Toronto
February 16, 2019
Lui: “J’ai ta voix autour de mon cou”
Against the Grain...
Oslo
✭✭✭✭✩
by J.T. Rogers, directed by Joel Greenberg
Studio 180, CAA Theatre, Toronto
February 14-March 3, 2019
“Waffles and cigarettes”
Many people will remember the historic handshake between Israeli...
The Father
✭✭✭✭✭
by Florian Zeller, translated by Christopher Hampton, directed by Ted Dykstra
Coal Mine Theatre, 1454 Danforth Avenue, Toronto
February 13-March 3, 2019
André: “I’m losing all my leaves”
Coal...
We Are All Treaty People
✭✭✭✩✩
by the Original Artists of Making Treaty 7, directed by Troy Emery Twigg & Nikki Loach
Quest Theatre & Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society, Young People’s Theatre, Toronto
February 11-22, 2019
“To be or...
Così fan tutte
✭✭✭✩✩
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, directed by Atom Egoyan
Canadian Opera Company, Four Seasons Centre, Toronto
February 5-23, 2019
Despina: “L’aure incostanti
Han più degli uomini
Stabilità”
The Tashme Project: The Living Archives
✭✭✭✭✩
by Julie Tamiko Manning & Matt Miwa, directed by Mike Payette
Tashme Productions, Factory Theatre Mainspace, Toronto
January 29-February 10, 2019
“They assimilate so well they disappear”
The...
Fierrabras
✭✭✭✭✩
by Franz Schubert, directed by Guillermo Silva-Marin
VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert, Jane Mallett Theatre, Toronto
February 3, 2019
Chorus: “Nach langer Leiden Qualen
Erwacht die reine Lust”
Hook Up
✭✭✭✩✩
music by Chris Thornborrow, book & lyrics by Julie Tepperman, directed by Richard Greenblatt
Tapestry Opera & Theatre Passe Muraille, Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace, Toronto
January 30-February 9, 2019
Elektra
✭✭✭✭✩
by Richard Strauss, directed by James Robinson
Canadian Opera Company, Four Seasons Centre, Toronto
January 26-February 22, 2019
Elektra: “Wir sind bei den Göttern, wir Vollbringenden”
The...
Rose: A New Musical
✭✭✭✭✩
music and book by Mike Ross, lyrics and book by Sarah Wilson, directed by Gregory Prest
Soulpepper Theatre Company, Young Centre, Toronto
January 23-February 24, 2019
“Once upon a time the world was...
The Scavenger’s Daughter
✭✭✩✩✩
by Susanna Fournier, directed by ted witzel
PARADIGM Productions, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto
January 17-27, 2019
Webb to Sarah: “You speak and speak and say nothing”
Susanna Fournier’s...
The Raven / Futari Shizuka
✭✭✭✭✩
by Toshio Hosokawa, directed by Paramita Nath
Toronto New Music Projects and Wallace Halladay, Walter Hall, University of Toronto, Toronto
January 17, 2019
“Take thy beak from out my heart, and take...
After the Fire
✭✭✩✩✩
by Matthew MacKenzie, directed by Brendan McMurtry-Howlett
Punctuate! Theatre and Alberta Aboriginal Performing Arts
in Association with Native Earth Performing Arts and The Theatre Centre, The Theatre Centre,...
1979
✭✭✭✭✩
by Michael Healey, directed by Miles Potter
The 1979 Group, Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs, Toronto
January 10-27, 2019
Joe Clark: “We’ve earned a moral right to govern”
1979, Michael...
Raising Stanley / Life with Tulia
✭✭✭✭✩
by Kim Kilpatrick, Karen Bailey & Bronwyn Steinberg, directed by Bronwyn Steinberg,
• Raising Stanley / Life with Tulia Collective, Next Stage Festival, Factory Theatre, Toronto
January 11-20, 2019;
•...