Stage Door Reviews 2022

The Best Productions of 2022

Sunday, January 1, 2023
The Best Productions of 2022

Toronto:
This year saw the passing of veteran actor Keith Dinicol at age 69 and of renowned director Majdi Bou-Matar at age 47. Dinicol was known as a mainstay...

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

✭✭✭✩✩
music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, book & lyrics by Tim Rice, directed by Laurence Connor
Michael Harrison & David Mirvish, Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto
December...

White Christmas

Monday, December 19, 2022
White Christmas

✭✭✭✭✭
music & lyrics by Irving Berlin, book by David Ives & Paul Blake, directed by Kate Hennig
Shaw Festival, Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
November...

Moby Dick

Saturday, December 17, 2022
Moby Dick

✭✭✭✭✩
written and directed by Yngvild Aspeli
 • Plexus Polaire, Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront, Toronto
December 13, 15 & 16, 2022;
 • NYU Skirball,...

’da Kink in My Hair

Friday, December 16, 2022
’da Kink in My Hair

✭✭✭✭✩
by Trey Anthony, directed by Weyni Mengesha
Soulpepper & TOLive, Bluma Appel Theatre, Toronto
December 9-23, 2022
Novelette: “Love the kink”
In 2005...

Peter’s Final Flight

Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Peter’s Final Flight

✭✭✭✭✩
by Matt Murray, directed by Tracey Flye
Ross Petty Productions, Elgin Theatre, Toronto
December 8, 2022-January 7, 2023
Captain Hook: “I did...

Red Velvet

Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Red Velvet

✭✭✭✭✩
by Lolita Chakrabarti, directed by Cherissa Richards
Crow’s Theatre, Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw, Toronto
November 25-December 18, 2022
Aldridge:...

O Christmas Tea

Monday, December 12, 2022
O Christmas Tea

✭✭✭✭✭
by Aaron Malkin & Alastair Knowles, directed by David MacMurray Smith
James & Jamesy, Jane Mallett Theatre, Toronto
December 10, 2022
James:...

our place

Monday, December 5, 2022
our place

✭✭✭✭✭
by Kanika Ambrose, directed by Sabryn Rock
Cahoots Theatre & Theatre Passe Muraille, Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto
November 19-December 3, 2022
“Ooo...

Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical

Sunday, December 4, 2022
Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical

✭✭✭✩✩
book by Amanda Whittington, directed by James Grieve
Mirvish Productions, Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto
December 1, 2022-January 15, 2023
“The...

Post-Democracy

Sunday, November 27, 2022
Post-Democracy

✭✭✩✩✩
by Hannah Moscovitch, directed by Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu
Tarragon Theatre, Tarragon Mainspace, Toronto
November 17-December 4, 2022
Bill: “You have...

The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale

Monday, October 24, 2022
The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale

✭✭✭✭✩
by Haley McGee, directed by Mitchell Cushman
Soulpepper Theatre Company with Outside the March & the red light district, Young Centre, Toronto
October...

Indecent

Sunday, October 23, 2022
Indecent

✭✭✭✭✭
by Paula Vogel, directed by Joel Greenberg
David Mirvish & Studio 180, CAA Theatre, 651 Yonge Street, Toronto
October 20-November 6, 2022
“From...

Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo

Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo

✭✭✩✩✩
by Rajiv Joseph, directed by Rouvan Silogix
Crow’s Theatre & Modern Times Stage Company, Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto
October...

Driving Miss Daisy

Monday, October 17, 2022
Driving Miss Daisy

✭✭✭✭✭
by Alfred Uhry, directed by Marti Maraden
Drayton Entertainment, St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, St. Jacobs
October 7-22, 2022
Hoke: “I ain’ no...

Un.Deux.Trois.

Saturday, October 15, 2022
Un.Deux.Trois.

✭✭✭✭✩/✭✭✭✩✩/✭✭✭✩✩
written & directed by Mani Soleymanlou
Orange Noyée & Théâtre français du CNA, Berkeley Street Theatre, Toronto
October 13-16, 2022
“Vous...

Singin’ in the Rain

Thursday, October 13, 2022
Singin’ in the Rain

✭✭✭✭✩
music by Nacio Herb Brown, lyrics by Arthur Freed, book by Betty Comden & Adolph Green, directed by Jonathan Church
Mirvish Productions, Princess of...

The First Stone

Sunday, October 9, 2022
The First Stone

✭✭✭✭✩
by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, directed by Yvette Nolan
New Harlem Productions & Great Canadian Theatre Company, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto
October...

The Shark is Broken

Thursday, October 6, 2022
The Shark is Broken

✭✭✩✩✩
by Ian Shaw & Joseph Nixon, directed by Guy Masterson
Mirvish Productions, Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto
September 30-November 6, 2022
Robert...

Public Enemy

Thursday, September 29, 2022
Public Enemy

✭✭✭✭✩
by Olivier Choinière, translated and adapted by Bobby Theodore, directed by Brendan Healy
Canadian Stage, Berkeley Street Theatre, Toronto
September...

Cockroach

Monday, September 26, 2022
Cockroach

✭✭✩✩✩
by Ho Ka Kei, directed by Mike Payette
Tarragon Theatre, Tarragon Theatre Mainspace, Toronto
September 22-October 9, 2022
“Katsaridaphobia”
Expectations...

Bad Parent

Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Bad Parent

✭✭✩✩✩
by Ins Choi, directed by Meg Roe
Soulpepper Theatre Company, Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre & Prairie Theatre Exchange, Young Centre, Toronto
September...

Uncle Vanya

Monday, September 19, 2022
Uncle Vanya

✭✭✭✭✭
by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Liisa Repo-Martell, directed by Chris Abraham
 • Crow’s Theatre, Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto
August...

1939

Friday, September 16, 2022
1939

✭✭✭✭✩
by Jani Lauzon & Kaitlyn Riordan, directed by Jani Lauzon
Stratford Festival, Studio Theatre, Stratford
September 11-October 29, 2022
Countess:...

The Foursome

Monday, September 12, 2022
The Foursome

✭✭✭✭✩
by Norm Foster, directed by Jamie Williams
• Norm Foster Theatre Festival, St. Catharines Golf & Country Club, St. Catharines
September 6-7, 2022;
• Brock...

Death and the King’s Horseman

Friday, September 2, 2022
Death and the King’s Horseman

✭✭✭✭✩
by Wole Soyinka, directed by Tawiah M’Carthy
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Theatre, Stratford
August 27-October 29, 2022
Elesin: “Memory...

Spit

Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Spit

✭✭✭✩✩
by Noelle Brown, directed by Seana McKenna
Here For Now Theatre, Falstaff Family Centre, Stratford
August 25-September 4, 2022
Nicole: “Small...

The Miser

Thursday, August 25, 2022
The Miser

✭✭✩✩✩
by Molière, translated & adapted by Ranjit Bolt, directed by Antoni Cimolino
Stratford Festival, Festival Theatre, Stratford
August 26-October 29,...

Just to Get Married

Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Just to Get Married

✭✭✭✭✩
by Cicely Hamilton, directed by Severn Thompson
Shaw Festival, Royal George Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
August 21-October 16, 2022
Georgiana:...

The Doctor’s Dilemma

Tuesday, August 23, 2022
The Doctor’s Dilemma

✭✭✩✩✩
by G.B. Shaw, directed by Diana Donnelly
Shaw Festival, Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
August 20-October 18, 2022
Ridgeon to Jennifer:...

Chitra

Sunday, August 21, 2022
Chitra

✭✭✭✭✩
by Rabindranath Tagore, directed by Kimberly Rampersad
Shaw Festival, Royal George Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
June 19-October 8, 2022
Chitra:...

Gem of the Ocean

Saturday, August 20, 2022
Gem of the Ocean

✭✭✭✭✭
by August Wilson, directed by Philip Akin
Shaw Festival, Studio Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
August 19-October 9, 2022
Aunt Ester to Citizen:...

Wishful Seeing

Thursday, August 11, 2022
Wishful Seeing

✭✭✭✭✩
by Maja Ardal, directed by Kim Blackwell
4th Line Theatre, Winslow Farm, Millbrook
August 4-27, 2022
“The fact that the accused was a woman made...

Notre Dame de Paris

Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Notre Dame de Paris

✭✭✭✭✩
music by Richard Cocciante, book & lyrics by Luc Plamondon, directed by Gilles Maheu
Nicolas & Charles Talar & Tandem.mu, National Arts Centre, Ottawa
August...

The Fourposter

Monday, August 8, 2022
The Fourposter

✭✭✭✭✩
by Jan de Hartog, directed by Laurel Smith
Classic Theatre Festival, Arts Court Theatre, Ottawa
August 5-28, 2022
Michael: “I have the choice...

It Runs in the Family

Monday, August 1, 2022
It Runs in the Family

✭✭✭✩✩
by Ray Cooney, directed by Alex Mustakas
Drayton Entertainment, Huron Country Playhouse, Grand Bend
July 21-August 6, 2022;
Hamilton Family Theatre,...

Girls & Boys

Saturday, July 30, 2022
Girls & Boys

✭✭✭✭✭
by Dennis Kelly, directed by Lucy Jane Atkinson
Here For Now Theatre Company, Falstaff Family Centre, Stratford
July 28-August 7, 2022;
Streetcar...

Forty-Seven

Wednesday, July 27, 2022
Forty-Seven

✭✭✭✩✩
by Deanna Kruger, directed by Rebecca Cuthbertson
Here For Now Theatre Company, Falstaff Family Centre, Stratford
July 21-31, 2022
Trish: “It’s...

Wingfield Unbound

Tuesday, July 26, 2022
Wingfield Unbound

✭✭✭✭✩
by Dan Needles, directed by Douglas Beattie
Douglas Beattie Theatrical Productions Ltd., Player’s Backstage, Stratford Perth Museum, Stratford
July...

Gaslight

Monday, July 25, 2022
Gaslight

✭✭✭✩✩
by Johnna Wright & Patty Jamieson, directed by Kelli Fox
Shaw Festival, Royal George Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
May 27-October 8, 2022
Bella...

Detroit

Friday, July 22, 2022
Detroit

✭✭✭✭✩
by Lisa D’Amour, directed by Jill Harper
Coal Mine Theatre, 1454 Danforth Avenue, Toronto
July 10-August 7, 2022
Sharon: “Does anyone talk to...

Everybody

Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Everybody

✭✭✭✩✩
by Branden Jacob-Jenkins, directed by László Bérczes
Shaw Festival, Studio Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
June 17-October 8, 2022
Everyman: “O,...

Little Women

Thursday, July 14, 2022
Little Women

✭✭✩✩✩
by Jordi Mand, directed by Esther Jun
Stratford Festival, Avon Theatre, Stratford
July 7-October 29, 2022
Mrs. March: “Conceit spoils the finest...

The Drawer Boy

Wednesday, July 13, 2022
The Drawer Boy

✭✭✭✭✭
by Michael Healey, directed by Gil Garratt
Blyth Festival, Harvest Stage, Blyth
June 22-July 16, 2022
“Each be other’s comfort kind” (from “At...

Wingfield’s Folly

Monday, July 11, 2022
Wingfield’s Folly

✭✭✭✭✩
by Dan Needles, directed by Douglas Beattie
Douglas Beattie Theatrical Productions Ltd., Player’s Backstage, Stratford Perth Museum, Stratford
July...

Wingfield’s Progress

Monday, July 11, 2022
Wingfield’s Progress

✭✭✭✭✩
by Dan Needles, directed by Douglas Beattie
Douglas Beattie Theatrical Productions Ltd., Player’s Backstage, Stratford Perth Museum, Stratford
July...

All’s Well That Ends Well

Saturday, July 9, 2022
All’s Well That Ends Well

✭✭✭✩✩
by William Shakespeare, directed by Scott Wentworth
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Theatre, Stratford
July 7-October 29, 2022
First Lord Dumaine:...

My Hero

Wednesday, July 6, 2022
My Hero

✭✭✭✩✩
by Norm Foster, directed by Simon Joynes
Port Stanley Festival Theatre, Grace Auditorium, Port Stanley
June 17-July 9, 2022
Corinne: “If I want...

Letter from Wingfield Farm

Monday, July 4, 2022
Letter from Wingfield Farm

✭✭✭✭✩
by Dan Needles, directed by Douglas Beattie
Douglas Beattie Theatrical Productions Ltd., Player’s Backstage, Stratford Perth Museum, Stratford
July...

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

✭✭✭✭✩
by Jack Thorne, directed by John Tiffany
David Mirvish, Sonia Friedman, Colin Callender & Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre,...

2 Pianos 4 Hands

Monday, June 13, 2022
2 Pianos 4 Hands

✭✭✭✭✭
written & directed by Ted Dykstra & Richard Greenblatt
The Marquis Entertainment Inc. & Talking Fingers, Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto
June 12-July...

Chicago

Saturday, June 11, 2022
Chicago

✭✭✭✭✭
music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Fred Ebb & Bob Fosse, directed by Donna Feore
Stratford Festival, Festival Theatre, Stratford
June...

Hamlet

Saturday, June 11, 2022
Hamlet

✭✭✩✩✩
by William Shakespeare, directed by Peter Pasyk
Stratford Festival, Festival Theatre, Stratford
June 2-October 28, 2022
Hamlet: “I have of late...

Richard III

Thursday, June 9, 2022
Richard III

✭✭✭✩✩
by William Shakespeare, directed by Antoni Cimolino
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Theatre, Stratford
June 4-October 30, 2022
Richard III:...

Wildfire

Friday, June 3, 2022
Wildfire

✭✭✭✭✭
by David Paquet, translated by Leanna Brodie, directed by Soheil Parsa
Factory Theatre, Toronto
June 2-19, 2022
Claudine: “Come to think of it,...

Damn Yankees

Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Damn Yankees

✭✭✭✩✩
music & lyrics by Richard Adler & Jerry Ross, book by George Abbott & Douglass Wallop, directed by Brian Hill
Shaw Festival, Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
May...

Too True to Be Good

Sunday, May 29, 2022
Too True to Be Good

✭✭✭✭✩
by George Bernard Shaw, directed by Sanjay Talwar
Shaw Festival, Studio Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
May 29-October 8, 2022
The Elder: “The only...

Distant Early Warning

Monday, May 23, 2022
Distant Early Warning

✭✭✭✩✩
by Justin Miller, directed by John Turner
Pearle Harbour & Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto
May 19-29, 2022
“I...

Lessons in Forgetting

Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Lessons in Forgetting

✭✭✩✩✩
by Emma Haché, translated by Taliesin McEnaney with John Van Burek, directed by Ash Knight
Pleiades Theatre, Young Centre, Toronto
May 12-22, 2022
Elle:...

The Herd

Sunday, May 15, 2022
The Herd

✭✭✩✩✩
by Kenneth T. Williams, directed by Tara Beagen
Tarragon Theatre with Citadel Theatre & NAC Indigenous Theatre, Tarragon Theatre Mainspace, Toronto
May...

Is God Is

Saturday, May 14, 2022
Is God Is

✭✭✭✭✩
by Aleshea Harris, directed by Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu
Obsidian Theatre Company, Necessary Angel Theatre Company & Canadian Stage, Berkeley Street Theatre,...

The Magic Flute

Thursday, May 12, 2022
The Magic Flute

✭✭✭✭✩
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, directed by Anna Theodosakis
Canadian Opera Company, Four Seasons Centre, Toronto
May 6, 8, 11, 14, 17, 19 & 21, 2022
Pamina...

A Northern Lights Dream

Saturday, May 7, 2022
A Northern Lights Dream

✭✭✭✩✩
music and libretto by Michael Rose, directed by Guillermo Silva-Marin
Toronto Operetta Theatre, Jane Mallett Theatre, Toronto
May 5-7, 2022
Mrs....

La Traviata

Wednesday, May 4, 2022
La Traviata

✭✭✭✭✩
by Giuseppe Verdi, directed by Arin Arbus
Canadian Opera Company, Four Seasons Centre, Toronto
April 23, May 1, 3, 7, 12, 18 & 20, 2022
Alfredo:...

The Huns

Saturday, April 30, 2022
The Huns

✭✭✭✭✭
by Michael Ross Albert, directed by Marie Farsi
One Four One Collective & The Spadina Avenue Gang, 
Assembly Theatre, 1479 Queen Street West, Toronto
April...

Three Women of Swatow

Thursday, April 28, 2022
Three Women of Swatow

✭✭✭✩✩
by Chloé Hung, directed by Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster
Tarragon Theatre, Tarragon Theatre Extraspace, Toronto
April 27-May 20, 2022;
May 15-25,...

Grow

Monday, April 25, 2022
Grow

✭✭✭✩✩
music by Colleen Dauncey, lyrics by Akiva Romer-Segal, book by Matt Murray, directed by Dennis Garnhum
Grand Theatre, Spriet Stage, London
April...

Toka

Friday, April 22, 2022
Toka

✭✭✭✩✩
written and choreographed by Indrit Kasapi, directed by Cole Alvis
Theatre Passe Muraille & lemonTree creations, Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto
April...

Pipeline

Saturday, April 16, 2022
Pipeline

✭✭✭✩✩
by Dominique Morisseau, directed by Weyni Mengesha
Soulpepper Theatre Company, Yonge Centre, Distillery District, Toronto
April 14-May 8, 2022
Nya:...

The House of Bernarda Alba

Wednesday, April 13, 2022
The House of Bernarda Alba

✭✭✭✭✩
by Federico García Lorca, translated by David Johnston, directed by Soheil Parsa
Aluna Theatre & Modern Times Stage Company, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre,...

The Antipodes

Saturday, April 9, 2022
The Antipodes

✭✭✭✭✩
by Annie Baker, directed by Ted Dykstra
Coal Mine Theatre, 1454 Danforth Avenue, Toronto
April 6-May 15, 2022
Sandy: “No dwarves or elves or...

Orphan Song

Monday, April 4, 2022
Orphan Song

✭✭✩✩✩
by Sean Dixon, directed by Richard Rose
Tarragon Theatre, Tarragon Mainspace, Toronto
April 1-24, 2022
Mo: “Louse not meat”
Orphan Song by...

Le Club des éphémères

Friday, April 1, 2022
Le Club des éphémères

✭✭✭✭✩
by Alain  Doom, directed by Dillon Orr
Le Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario & Le Théâtre français de Toronto, Berkeley Street Theatre, Toronto
March 30-April...

Our Fathers, Sons, Lovers and Little Brothers

Monday, March 21, 2022
Our Fathers, Sons, Lovers and Little Brothers

✭✭✭✭✩
by Makambe K. Simamba, directed by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard
 • Tarragon Theatre & Black Theatre Workshop, Tarragon Extraspace, Toronto
March 17-April...

Room

Sunday, March 20, 2022
Room

✭✭✭✭✩
by Emma Donoghue, directed by Cora Bissett
Grand Theatre, Covent Garden Productions & Mirvish Productions, Grand Theatre, London
March 11-19, 2022;
Princess...

Rinaldo

Thursday, March 17, 2022
Rinaldo

✭✭✭✭✩
by George Frideric Handel, directed by Tom Diamond
The Glenn Gould School, Royal Conservatory of Music, Koerner Hall, Toronto
March 16 & 18, 2022
Rinaldo:...

Mercy

Monday, March 14, 2022
Mercy

✭✭✭✩✩
by Drew Carnwath, directed by Rosemary Doyle
Theatre Kingston, Baby Grand Theatre, Kingston
March 10-26, 2022
Jordan: “Not forgiveness, not compassion”
To...

Fantasma

Thursday, March 10, 2022
Fantasma

✭✭✭✭✩
music by Ian Cusson, libretto by Colleen Murphy, directed by Julie McIsaac
Canadian Opera Company, Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre, 227 Front...

Light

Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Light

✭✭✭✩✩
by Rosa Laborde, directed by Jackie Maxwell
Tarragon Theatre, Tarragon Mainspace, Toronto
March 8-13, 2022 in person
March 15-27, 2022 online
Michael...

Gloria

Monday, March 7, 2022
Gloria

✭✭✭✩✩
by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, directed by André Sills
ARC with Crow’s Theatre, Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw St., Toronto
March 4-20, 2022
Lorin:...

Things My Fore-Sisters Saw

Sunday, March 6, 2022
Things My Fore-Sisters Saw

✭✭✭✭✩
written and directed by Leslie McCurdy
Li’l Ol’ Me Productions, Theatre Orangeville, Orangeville
March 3-13, 2022
“This land is your land, this...

Iphigenia and the Furies (On Taurian Land)

Saturday, February 26, 2022
Iphigenia and the Furies (On Taurian Land)

✭✭✭✩✩
by Ho Ka Kei, directed by Jonathan Seinen
Saga Collectif, Architect Theatre & Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto
February 23-26, 2022 online
Iphigenia:...

This Is How We Got Here

Monday, February 14, 2022
This Is How We Got Here

✭✭✭✩✩
written and directed by Keith Barker
Native Earth Performing Arts, Shaw Festival, Studio Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
February 12-19, 2022
Paul:...

She’s Not Special

Friday, February 11, 2022
She’s Not Special

✭✭✭✭✩
written by Fatuma Adar, directed by Fatuma Adar & Graham Isador
HomeMadeIt Productions & Pressgang Theatre with Pandemic Theatre, Next Stage Theatre...

Solstice d’hiver

Sunday, February 6, 2022
Solstice d’hiver

✭✭✭✭✩
by Roland Schimmelpfennig, translated by Camille Luscher & Claire Stavaux, directed by Joël Beddows
Groupe de la Veillée, Théâtre Prospero & Théâtre...

Heart of a Dog

Tuesday, February 1, 2022
Heart of a Dog

✭✭✭✩✩
written and directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, translated by Mahsa Ershadifar & Mohammad Yaghoubi
Nowadays Theatre Company, Next Stage Theatre Festival,...

Stories of a Dish

Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Stories of a Dish

✭✭✭✩✩
by Himanshu Sitlani, directed by Neha Poduval
Nautanki Bazaar, Next Stage Theatre Festival, Toronto
January 19-February 13, 2022 online
Julia...

The Complex

Saturday, January 22, 2022
The Complex

✭✭✭✭✩
written by Chantal Forde, directed by Mandy Roveda
It’s Not a Pivot Productions, Next Stage Theatre Festival, Toronto
January 19, 21, 22, 23, 27,...