Stage Door Reviews 2021

2021: The Year in Review

Saturday, January 1, 2022
2021: The Year in Review

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 restrictions in public gatherings...

Jesus Christ Superstar

Friday, December 10, 2021
Jesus Christ Superstar

✭✭✭✭✩
music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, book & lyrics by Tim Rice, directed by Timothy Sheader
David Mirvish, Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto
December 2-23, 2021
Chorus: “Do you think you're...

The Judas Kiss

Tuesday, December 7, 2021
The Judas Kiss

✭✭✭✭✩
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 been done for love”
I recently had...

rihannaboi95

Sunday, November 28, 2021
rihannaboi95

✭✭✭✭✩
by Jordan Tannahill, directed by Tawiah Ben M’Carthy
Young People’s Theatre, Toronto
November 22-December 18, 2021 online
“When the sun shines, we'll shine together” (“Umbrella”, Rihanna,...

No Change in the Weather

Monday, November 22, 2021
No Change in the Weather

✭✭✭✩✩
by Bernardine Stapleton, directed by Brad Hodder
Mirvish Productions, CAA Theatre, 651 Yonge Street, Toronto
November 20-29, 2021
“The past comes back and kicks you in the arse"
Mirvish...

A Christmas Carol

Sunday, November 21, 2021
A Christmas Carol

✭✭✭✩✩
by Tim Carroll, directed by Molly Atkinson
Shaw Festival, Royal George Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
November 20-December 21, 20121
Scrooge: “Men’s courses will foreshadow certain ends”
This...

Desire Under the Elms

Monday, November 15, 2021
Desire Under the Elms

✭✭✭✭✩
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 nor mean – ’ceptin’ fur an enemy – but...

A Tonic for Desperate Times

Sunday, November 7, 2021
A Tonic for Desperate Times

✭✭✭✩✩
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 for the hopeless”
With A Tonic...

Into the Woods

Sunday, October 31, 2021
Into the Woods

✭✭✭✭✩
music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine, directed by Michael Torontow
Talk Is Free Theatre, Winter Garden Theatre, 189 Yonge Street, Toronto
October 28-31, 2021
Little...

Divine Interventions

Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Divine Interventions

✭✭✭✭✭
’by co-created by David Danzon, Anika Johnson & Matt OConnor, directed by David Danzon
• Corpus Dance Projects, Gallery Stratford, Stratford
September 18, 2021;
• Amos Waites Park,...

The Ladies Foursome

Thursday, September 16, 2021
The Ladies Foursome

✭✭✭✭✩
by Norm Foster, directed by Emily Oriold
• Norm Foster Theatre Festival, St. Catharines Golf & Country Club, St. Catharines
September 14-17, 2021;
• Sawmill Golf Course, Fenwick
September...

The Fixer-Upper

Monday, September 13, 2021
The Fixer-Upper

✭✭✭✭✩
by Lorne Elliott, directed by Simon Joynes
Port Stanley Festival Theatre, Grace Auditorium, Port Stanley
September 8-October 9, 2021
“If at first you don’t succeed, lower your expectations”
As...

Kroehler Girls

Saturday, September 11, 2021
Kroehler Girls

✭✭✭✭✭
by Severn Thompson and the cast, directed by Severn Thompson
Here For Now Theatre, The Bruce Hotel Back Lawn, 89 Parkview Drive, Stratford
September 8-26, 2021
“Kroehler Girls, Kroehler...

Serving Elizabeth

Thursday, September 9, 2021
Serving Elizabeth

✭✭✭✩✩
by Marcia Johnson, directed by Kimberley Rampersad
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Theatre Canopy, Stratford
September 2-26, 2021 in person;
October 28-November 28, 2021 online
“Princess...

Serving Elizabeth

Tuesday, September 7, 2021
Serving Elizabeth

✭✭✭✩✩
by Marcia Johnson, directed by Kimberley Rampersad
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Theatre Canopy, Stratford
September 2-26, 2021 in person;
October 28-November 28, 2021 online;
February...

Trouble in Mind

Sunday, September 5, 2021
Trouble in Mind

✭✭✭✭✭
by Alice Childress, directed by Philip Akin
Shaw Festival, Studio Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
August 21-October 9, 2021
“No confusion in that land where I'm bound” (from “Go With Me...

Sherlock Holmes and the Raven’s Curse

Thursday, September 2, 2021
Sherlock Holmes and the Raven’s Curse

✭✭✩✩✩
by R. Hamilton Wright, directed by Craig Hall
Shaw Festival, Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
August 10-October 9, 2021
Holmes: “There is no mystery here”
Sherlock Holmes and...

The Devil’s Disciple

Saturday, August 28, 2021
The Devil’s Disciple

✭✭✭✭✩
by George Bernard Shaw, directed by Eda Holmes
Shaw Festival, The Nona Macdonald Stage, Niagara-on-the-Lake
July 23-October 9, 2021
Anderson: “It is in the hour of trial that a man...

Three Tall Women

Friday, August 27, 2021
Three Tall Women

✭✭✭✭✩
by Edward Albee, directed by Diana Leblanc
Stratford Festival, Studio Theatre, Stratford
August 19-October 9, 2021
A: “I can’t remember what I can’t remember”
The current Stratford...

Something’s Rotten!

Sunday, August 22, 2021
Something’s Rotten!

✭✭✭✭✩
written and directed by Pier Porcheron
SpringWorks PuppetWorks mini-fest, Elvis Alatac, Behind Gallery Stratford, 54 Romeo Street, Stratford
August 19-22, 2021
Hamlet: “My thoughts...

I Am William

Saturday, August 21, 2021
I Am William

✭✭✩✩✩
by Rébecca Déraspe, music by Chloé Lacasse & Benoît Landry, translated by Leanna Brodie, directed by Esther Jun
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Theatre Canopy, Stratford
August 14-September...

The Rez Sisters

Friday, August 20, 2021
The Rez Sisters

✭✭✭✭✩
by Tomson Highway, directed by Jessica Carmichael
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Canopy Theatre, Stratford
July 23-August 15, 2021 in person;
September 30-November 21, 2021 online;
January...

R+J

Friday, August 20, 2021
R+J

✭✭✭✩✩
by William Shakespeare, adapted by Ravi Jain, Christine Horne & Alex Bulmer, directed by Ravi Jain
Stratford Festival & Why Not Theatre, Festival Theatre Canopy, Stratford
August 15-September...

The Wonder of it All

Wednesday, August 18, 2021
The Wonder of it All

✭✭✭✭✩
by Mark Weatherley, directed by Seana McKenna
Here For Now Theatre, The Bruce Hotel Back Lawn, 89 Parkview Drive, Stratford
August 17-September 5, 2021;
Lighthouse Festival Theatre,...

So, how’s it been?

Wednesday, August 18, 2021
So, how’s it been?

✭✭✭✭✩
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 17-September 5, 2021
“Something...

Chase the Ace

Monday, August 16, 2021
Chase the Ace

✭✭✭✭✩
by Mark Crawford, directed by Miles Potter
• Lighthouse Theatre Festival, Lighthouse Theatre Tent, Port Dover
July 23-August 8, 2021;
• Theatre Orangeville, Tent at Mt Alverno Luxury...

A Short History of Niagara

Wednesday, August 11, 2021
A Short History of Niagara

✭✭✭✭✩
by Alexandra Montagnese & Mike Petersen, directed by Tim Carroll
 • Shaw Festival, The BMO Stage, Niagara-on-the-Lake
July 29-August 15, 2021;
 • Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake
July...

Post Alice

Saturday, August 7, 2021
Post Alice

✭✭✭✭✭
by Taylor Marie Graham, directed by Fiona Mongillo
Here For Now Theatre, The Bruce Hotel Back Lawn, 89 Parkview Drive, Stratford
July 27-August 15, 2021
“Where do our lost girls go?”
Taylor...

Blindness

Friday, August 6, 2021
Blindness

✭✭✭✭✭
by Simon Stephens, directed by Walter Meierjohann
Donmar Warehouse, Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto
August 5-29, 2021;
September 24-October 24 2021
Doctor’s Wife: “If you can...

The Rez Sisters

Thursday, August 5, 2021
The Rez Sisters

✭✭✭✭✩
by Tomson Highway, directed by Jessica Carmichael
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Canopy Theatre, Stratford
July 23-August 15, 2021 in person;
September 30-November 21, 2021 online;
January...

Janet and Louise

Sunday, August 1, 2021
Janet and Louise

✭✭✭✩✩
by Deanna Kruger, directed by Jeannette Lambermont-Morey
Here For Now Theatre, The Bruce Hotel Back Lawn, 89 Parkview Drive, Stratford
July 27-August 15, 2021
Janet: “A stick is a stick...

Flush

Saturday, July 31, 2021
Flush

✭✭✭✭✩
written and directed by Tim Carroll
Shaw Festival, The Humeniuk Foundation Stage, Niagara-on-the-Lake
July 24-August 6, 2021;
Royal George Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
August 17-October...

Charley’s Aunt

Thursday, July 29, 2021
Charley’s Aunt

✭✭✭✩✩
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 8-October 10, 2021
Lord...

A Midsimmer Night's Dream

Friday, July 23, 2021
A Midsimmer Night's Dream

✭✭✩✩✩
by William Shakespeare, directed by Peter Pasyk
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Theatre Canopy, Stratford
July 21-August 1, 2021 in person;
September 16-December 4, 2021 online;
January...

goldfish

Sunday, July 11, 2021
goldfish

✭✭✭✭✩
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, 2021
Shannon: “You do your thing...

The Tracks

Friday, July 9, 2021
The Tracks

✭✭✭✭✩
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, Stratford
July 8-25, 2021
“It’s hard...

The Resurrection

Monday, May 31, 2021
The Resurrection

✭✭✭✩✩
by George Frideric Handel, directed by Marshall Pynkoski
Opera Atelier, Toronto
streaming May 27-June 10, 2021;
July 29-August 12, 2021;
September 24-October 24, 2021
“Viva è...

Alice in Wonderland

Saturday, April 10, 2021
Alice in Wonderland

✭✭✭✩✩
by Fiona Sauder, with music by Landon Doak & Victor Pokinko directed by Sue Miner
Bad Hats Theatre, presented by Soulpepper, Toronto
streaming April 3-18 2021
Caterpillar: The question...

An Acorn

Sunday, March 21, 2021
An Acorn

✭✭✭✭✩
written by Caridad Svich, directed by Kendra Jones
impel Theatre, Toronto
streaming March 13-April 3 2021;
May 6-17, 2021
“This story begins one morning at 9 AM.
When it seemed...

Brick Bros. Circus

Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Brick Bros. Circus

✭✭✭✭✭
written by Ann Powell, David Powell & Sharon Weisbaum, directed by Sharon Weisbaum
Puppetmongers Theatre, Toronto
streaming March 10-24, 2021
“You have seen bricks in walls. You have...

21 Black Futures, Season 3

Friday, March 12, 2021
21 Black Futures, Season 3

✭✭✭✭✩
conceived by Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu
Obsidian Theatre Company, Toronto
streaming from February 26, 2021-February 26, 2022
“You cannot make me regret this rage” (Cavities)
The 21 short...

21 Black Futures, Season 2

Thursday, February 25, 2021
21 Black Futures, Season 2

✭✭✭✭✩
conceived by Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu
Obsidian Theatre Company, Toronto
streaming from February 19, 2021-February 19, 2022
“I’m not special because I’m Black. I’m special because I’m me”...

21 Black Futures, Season 1

Thursday, February 18, 2021
21 Black Futures, Season 1

✭✭✭✭✩
conceived by Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu
Obsidian Theatre Company, Toronto
streaming from February 12, 2021-February 12, 2022
“What is my authentic voice?” (The Death News)
Mumbi Tindyebwa...