Stage Door Reviews 2022
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
✭✭✭✩✩
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
✭✭✭✭✭
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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
✭✭✭✭✩
by Lolita Chakrabarti, directed by Cherissa Richards
Crow’s Theatre, Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw, Toronto
November 25-December 18, 2022
Aldridge:...
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
✭✭✭✭✭
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
✭✭✭✩✩
book by Amanda Whittington, directed by James Grieve
Mirvish Productions, Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto
December 1, 2022-January 15, 2023
“The...
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
✭✭✭✭✩
by Haley McGee, directed by Mitchell Cushman
Soulpepper Theatre Company with Outside the March & the red light district, Young Centre, Toronto
October...
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
✭✭✩✩✩
by Rajiv Joseph, directed by Rouvan Silogix
Crow’s Theatre & Modern Times Stage Company, Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto
October...
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.
✭✭✭✭✩/✭✭✭✩✩/✭✭✭✩✩
written & directed by Mani Soleymanlou
Orange Noyée & Théâtre français du CNA, Berkeley Street Theatre, Toronto
October 13-16, 2022
“Vous...
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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
✭✭✩✩✩
by Ian Shaw & Joseph Nixon, directed by Guy Masterson
Mirvish Productions, Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto
September 30-November 6, 2022
Robert...
Public Enemy
✭✭✭✭✩
by Olivier Choinière, translated and adapted by Bobby Theodore, directed by Brendan Healy
Canadian Stage, Berkeley Street Theatre, Toronto
September...
Cockroach
✭✭✩✩✩
by Ho Ka Kei, directed by Mike Payette
Tarragon Theatre, Tarragon Theatre Mainspace, Toronto
September 22-October 9, 2022
“Katsaridaphobia”
Expectations...
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
✭✭✭✭✭
by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Liisa Repo-Martell, directed by Chris Abraham
• Crow’s Theatre, Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto
August...
1939
✭✭✭✭✩
by Jani Lauzon & Kaitlyn Riordan, directed by Jani Lauzon
Stratford Festival, Studio Theatre, Stratford
September 11-October 29, 2022
Countess:...
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
✭✭✭✭✩
by Wole Soyinka, directed by Tawiah M’Carthy
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Theatre, Stratford
August 27-October 29, 2022
Elesin: “Memory...
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
✭✭✩✩✩
by Molière, translated & adapted by Ranjit Bolt, directed by Antoni Cimolino
Stratford Festival, Festival Theatre, Stratford
August 26-October 29,...
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
✭✭✩✩✩
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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
✭✭✭✭✭
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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
✭✭✭✩✩
by Ray Cooney, directed by Alex Mustakas
Drayton Entertainment, Huron Country Playhouse, Grand Bend
July 21-August 6, 2022;
Hamilton Family Theatre,...
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
✭✭✭✩✩
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
✭✭✭✭✩
by Dan Needles, directed by Douglas Beattie
Douglas Beattie Theatrical Productions Ltd., Player’s Backstage, Stratford Perth Museum, Stratford
July...
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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
✭✭✭✩✩
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
✭✭✩✩✩
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
✭✭✭✭✭
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
✭✭✭✭✩
by Dan Needles, directed by Douglas Beattie
Douglas Beattie Theatrical Productions Ltd., Player’s Backstage, Stratford Perth Museum, Stratford
July...
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
✭✭✭✩✩
by William Shakespeare, directed by Scott Wentworth
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Theatre, Stratford
July 7-October 29, 2022
First Lord Dumaine:...
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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
✭✭✭✭✭
written & directed by Ted Dykstra & Richard Greenblatt
The Marquis Entertainment Inc. & Talking Fingers, Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto
June 12-July...
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
✭✭✩✩✩
by William Shakespeare, directed by Peter Pasyk
Stratford Festival, Festival Theatre, Stratford
June 2-October 28, 2022
Hamlet: “I have of late...
Richard III
✭✭✭✩✩
by William Shakespeare, directed by Antoni Cimolino
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Theatre, Stratford
June 4-October 30, 2022
Richard III:...
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
✭✭✭✩✩
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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
✭✭✭✩✩
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
✭✭✩✩✩
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
✭✭✩✩✩
by Kenneth T. Williams, directed by Tara Beagen
Tarragon Theatre with Citadel Theatre & NAC Indigenous Theatre, Tarragon Theatre Mainspace, Toronto
May...
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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
✭✭✭✩✩
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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
✭✭✭✭✭
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
✭✭✭✩✩
by Chloé Hung, directed by Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster
Tarragon Theatre, Tarragon Theatre Extraspace, Toronto
April 27-May 20, 2022;
May 15-25,...
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
✭✭✭✩✩
written and choreographed by Indrit Kasapi, directed by Cole Alvis
Theatre Passe Muraille & lemonTree creations, Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto
April...
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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
✭✭✩✩✩
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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
✭✭✭✭✩
by Makambe K. Simamba, directed by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard
• Tarragon Theatre & Black Theatre Workshop, Tarragon Extraspace, Toronto
March 17-April...
Room
✭✭✭✭✩
by Emma Donoghue, directed by Cora Bissett
Grand Theatre, Covent Garden Productions & Mirvish Productions, Grand Theatre, London
March 11-19, 2022;
Princess...
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
✭✭✭✩✩
by Drew Carnwath, directed by Rosemary Doyle
Theatre Kingston, Baby Grand Theatre, Kingston
March 10-26, 2022
Jordan: “Not forgiveness, not compassion”
To...
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
✭✭✭✩✩
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
✭✭✭✩✩
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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)
✭✭✭✩✩
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
✭✭✭✩✩
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
✭✭✭✭✩
written by Fatuma Adar, directed by Fatuma Adar & Graham Isador
HomeMadeIt Productions & Pressgang Theatre with Pandemic Theatre, Next Stage Theatre...
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
✭✭✭✩✩
written and directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, translated by Mahsa Ershadifar & Mohammad Yaghoubi
Nowadays Theatre Company, Next Stage Theatre Festival,...
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
✭✭✭✭✩
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,...