Stage Door Reviews 2021
2021: The Year in Review
![2021: The Year in Review](images/2021-Reviews/plummer.henry.newton.jpg)
If the year 2020 will go down as the worst year for the theatre industry in living memory due to the global pandemic, 2021 at least saw a respite from the harshest...
Jesus Christ Superstar
![Jesus Christ Superstar](images/2021-Reviews/jc.superstar.1.jpg)
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music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, book & lyrics by Tim Rice, directed by Timothy Sheader
David Mirvish, Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto
December...
The Judas Kiss
![The Judas Kiss](images/2021-Reviews/judas.kiss.2021.1.jpg)
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by David Hare, directed by Billy Lake
Talk Is Free Theatre, Five Points Theatre, Barrie
December 3-12, 2021
Wilde: “Everything I have done has...
rihannaboi95
![rihannaboi95](images/2021-Reviews/rihannaboi95.1.jpg)
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by Jordan Tannahill, directed by Tawiah Ben M’Carthy
Young People’s Theatre, Toronto
November 22-December 18, 2021 online
“When the sun shines,...
No Change in the Weather
![No Change in the Weather](images/2021-Reviews/no.change.in.weather.1.jpg)
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by Bernardine Stapleton, directed by Brad Hodder
Mirvish Productions, CAA Theatre, 651 Yonge Street, Toronto
November 20-29, 2021
“The past comes...
A Christmas Carol
![A Christmas Carol](images/2021-Reviews/Christmas.Carol.shaw.2021.1.jpg)
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by Tim Carroll, directed by Molly Atkinson
Shaw Festival, Royal George Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
November 20-December 21, 2021
Scrooge: “Men’s...
Desire Under the Elms
![Desire Under the Elms](images/2021-Reviews/Desire.under.elms.1.jpg)
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by Eugene O’Neill, directed by Tim Carroll
Shaw Festival, Studio Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
October 23-December 12, 2021
Abbie: “I hain’t bad...
A Tonic for Desperate Times
![A Tonic for Desperate Times](images/2021-Reviews/tonic.for.desperate.times.1.jpg)
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by The Ensemble, directed by Jacquie P.A. Thomas
Theatre Gargantua, St. Anne’s Parish Hall, 651 Dufferin Street, Toronto
November 5-14, 2021
“Hope...
Into the Woods
![Into the Woods](images/2021-Reviews/into.the.woods.2021.1.jpg)
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music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine, directed by Michael Torontow
Talk Is Free Theatre, Winter Garden Theatre, 189 Yonge Street,...
Divine Interventions
![Divine Interventions](images/2021-Reviews/divine.interventions.1.jpg)
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’by co-created by David Danzon, Anika Johnson & Matt OConnor, directed by David Danzon
• Corpus Dance Projects, Gallery Stratford, Stratford
September...
The Ladies Foursome
![The Ladies Foursome](images/2021-Reviews/ladies.foursome.1a.jpg)
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by Norm Foster, directed by Emily Oriold
• Norm Foster Theatre Festival, St. Catharines Golf & Country Club, St. Catharines
September 14-17, 2021;
•...
The Fixer-Upper
![The Fixer-Upper](images/2021-Reviews/Fixer-Upper.1.jpg)
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by Lorne Elliott, directed by Simon Joynes
Port Stanley Festival Theatre, Grace Auditorium, Port Stanley
September 8-October 9, 2021
“If at first...
Kroehler Girls
![Kroehler Girls](images/2021-Reviews/kroehler.girls.1.jpg)
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by Severn Thompson and the cast, directed by Severn Thompson
Here For Now Theatre, The Bruce Hotel Back Lawn, 89 Parkview Drive, Stratford
September...
Serving Elizabeth
![Serving Elizabeth](images/2021-Reviews/Serving.Elizabeth.1 copy.jpg)
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by Marcia Johnson, directed by Kimberley Rampersad
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Theatre Canopy, Stratford
September 2-26, 2021 in person;
October...
Trouble in Mind
![Trouble in Mind](images/2021-Reviews/trouble.in.mind.1.jpg)
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by Alice Childress, directed by Philip Akin
Shaw Festival, Studio Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
August 21-October 9, 2021
“No confusion in that...
Sherlock Holmes and the Raven’s Curse
![Sherlock Holmes and the Raven’s Curse](images/2021-Reviews/sherlockraven.1.jpg)
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by R. Hamilton Wright, directed by Craig Hall
Shaw Festival, Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
August 10-October 9, 2021
Holmes: “There is...
The Devil’s Disciple
![The Devil’s Disciple](images/2021-Reviews/devils.disciple.1.jpg)
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by George Bernard Shaw, directed by Eda Holmes
Shaw Festival, The Nona Macdonald Stage, Niagara-on-the-Lake
July 23-October 9, 2021
Anderson:...
Three Tall Women
![Three Tall Women](images/2021-Reviews/three.tall.women.1..jpg)
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by Edward Albee, directed by Diana Leblanc
Stratford Festival, Studio Theatre, Stratford
August 19-October 9, 2021
A: “I can’t remember what...
Something’s Rotten!
![Something’s Rotten!](images/2021-Reviews/somethings.rotten.1.jpg)
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written and directed by Pier Porcheron
SpringWorks PuppetWorks mini-fest, Elvis Alatac, Behind Gallery Stratford, 54 Romeo Street, Stratford
August...
I Am William
![I Am William](images/2021-Reviews/i.am.william.1.jpg)
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by Rébecca Déraspe, music by Chloé Lacasse & Benoît Landry, translated by Leanna Brodie, directed by Esther Jun
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Theatre...
R+J
![R+J](images/2021-Reviews/R+J.1.jpg)
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by William Shakespeare, adapted by Ravi Jain, Christine Horne & Alex Bulmer, directed by Ravi Jain
Stratford Festival & Why Not Theatre, Festival Theatre...
The Wonder of it All
![The Wonder of it All](images/2021-Reviews/wonder.of.it.all.1a.jpg)
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by Mark Weatherley, directed by Seana McKenna
Here For Now Theatre, The Bruce Hotel Back Lawn, 89 Parkview Drive, Stratford
August 17-September...
So, how’s it been?
![So, how’s it been?](images/2021-Reviews/so.hows.it.been.1.jpg)
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Co-created by Liza Balkan & Paul Shilton, directed by Liza Balkan
Here For Now Theatre, The Bruce Hotel Back Lawn, 89 Parkview Drive, Stratford
August...
Chase the Ace
![Chase the Ace](images/2021-Reviews/Chase-the-Ace.1.jpg)
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by Mark Crawford, directed by Miles Potter
• Lighthouse Theatre Festival, Lighthouse Theatre Tent, Port Dover
July 23-August 8, 2021;
• Theatre...
A Short History of Niagara
![A Short History of Niagara](images/2021-Reviews/short.history.of.niagara.1.jpg)
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by Alexandra Montagnese & Mike Petersen, directed by Tim Carroll
• Shaw Festival, The BMO Stage, Niagara-on-the-Lake
July 29-August 15, 2021;
•...
Post Alice
![Post Alice](images/2021-Reviews/post.alice.1.jpg)
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by Taylor Marie Graham, directed by Fiona Mongillo
Here For Now Theatre, The Bruce Hotel Back Lawn, 89 Parkview Drive, Stratford
July 27-August...
Blindness
![Blindness](images/2021-Reviews/blindness.1.jpg)
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by Simon Stephens, directed by Walter Meierjohann
Donmar Warehouse, Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto
August 5-29, 2021;
September 24-October...
The Rez Sisters
![The Rez Sisters](images/2021-Reviews/Rez.Sisters.1.jpg)
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by Tomson Highway, directed by Jessica Carmichael
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Canopy Theatre, Stratford
July 23-August 15, 2021 in person;
September...
Janet and Louise
![Janet and Louise](images/2021-Reviews/janet.and.louise.1.jpg)
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by Deanna Kruger, directed by Jeannette Lambermont-Morey
Here For Now Theatre, The Bruce Hotel Back Lawn, 89 Parkview Drive, Stratford
July 27-August...
Flush
![Flush](images/2021-Reviews/FLUSH..jpg)
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written and directed by Tim Carroll
Shaw Festival, The Humeniuk Foundation Stage, Niagara-on-the-Lake
July 24-August 6, 2021;
Royal George Theatre,...
Charley’s Aunt
![Charley’s Aunt](images/2021-Reviews/charleys.aunt.1.jpg)
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by Brandon Thomas, directed by Tim Carroll
Shaw Festival, The BMO Stage, Niagara-on-the-Lake
July 25-31, 2021;
Royal George Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
August...
A Midsimmer Night’s Dream
![A Midsimmer Night’s Dream](images/2021-Reviews/mnd.stratford.2021.1.jpg)
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by William Shakespeare, directed by Peter Pasyk
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Theatre Canopy, Stratford
July 21-August 1, 2021 in person;
September...
goldfish
![goldfish](images/2021-Reviews/goldfish.1.2021 copy.jpg)
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written and directed by Steve Ross
Here For Now Theatre, The Bruce Hotel Back Lawn, 89 Parkview Drive, Stratford
July 8-25, 2021;
September 14-17,...
The Tracks
![The Tracks](images/2021-Reviews/tracks.1.2021.jpg)
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music & lyrics by Kale Penny, book by Mark Weatherley, directed by Monique Lund
Here For Now Theatre, The Bruce Hotel Back Lawn, 89 Parkview Drive,...
The Resurrection
![The Resurrection](images/2021-Reviews/resurrection.1a.jpg)
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by George Frideric Handel, directed by Marshall Pynkoski
Opera Atelier, Toronto
streaming May 27-June 10, 2021;
July 29-August 12, 2021;
September...
Alice in Wonderland
![Alice in Wonderland](images/2021-Reviews/Alice.1.2021.jpg)
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by Fiona Sauder, with music by Landon Doak & Victor Pokinko directed by Sue Miner
Bad Hats Theatre, presented by Soulpepper, Toronto
streaming April...
An Acorn
![An Acorn](images/2021-Reviews/acorn.1.jpg)
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written by Caridad Svich, directed by Kendra Jones
impel Theatre, Toronto
streaming March 13-April 3 2021;
May 6-17, 2021
“This story begins...
Brick Bros. Circus
![Brick Bros. Circus](images/2021-Reviews/brick.bros.circus.1.jpg)
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written by Ann Powell, David Powell & Sharon Weisbaum, directed by Sharon Weisbaum
Puppetmongers Theatre, Toronto
streaming March 10-24, 2021
“You...
21 Black Futures, Season 3
![21 Black Futures, Season 3](images/2021-Reviews/21.black.futures.3.jpg)
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conceived by Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu
Obsidian Theatre Company, Toronto
streaming from February 26, 2021-February 26, 2022
“You cannot make me regret...
21 Black Futures, Season 2
![21 Black Futures, Season 2](images/2021-Reviews/21.black.futures.special.jpg)
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conceived by Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu
Obsidian Theatre Company, Toronto
streaming from February 19, 2021-February 19, 2022
“I’m not special because...
21 Black Futures, Season 1
![21 Black Futures, Season 1](images/2021-Reviews/21.black.futures-death.news.jpg)
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conceived by Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu
Obsidian Theatre Company, Toronto
streaming from February 12, 2021-February 12, 2022
“What is my authentic voice?”...