Stage Door Reviews 2023
The Master Plan
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by Michael Healey, directed by Chris Abraham
Crow’s Theatre, Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto
September 13-October 19, 2023
Eric...
The Waltz
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by Marie Beath Badian, directed by Nina Lee Aquino
Factory Theatre, Toronto
September 6-17, 2023;
Great Canadian Theatre Company, Ottawa
February...
Queen Maeve
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by Judith Thompson, directed by Murdoch Schon
Here For Now Theatre, Stratford Perth Museum, Stratford
September 8-23, 2023
Maeve: “Roots are...
The Fox
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by Daniela Vlaskalic, directed by Kelli Fox
Here For Now Theatre, Stratford-Perth Museum, Stratford
August 25-September 9, 2023
Jill: “I hate...
Frankenstein Revived
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by Morris Panych, choreographed by Stephen Cota, directed by Morris Panych
Stratford Festival, Avon Theatre, Stratford
August 24-October 28, 2023
Frankenstein:...
Les Belles-Soeurs
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by Michel Tremblay, translated by John Van Burek & Bill Glassco, directed by Esther Jun
Stratford Festival, Festival Theatre, Stratford
August 25-October...
The Shadow of a Doubt
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by Edith Wharton, directed by Peter Hinton-Davis
Shaw Festival, Royal George Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
August 20-October 15, 2023
Lady Uske:...
Gypsy
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music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthur Laurents, directed by Jay Turvey
Shaw Festival, Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
May...
The Amen Corner
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by James Baldwin, directed by Kimberly Rampersad
Shaw Festival, Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
August 19-October 8, 2023
David: “I’ve...
On the Razzle
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by Tom Stoppard, directed by Craig Hall
Shaw Festival, Royal George Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
May 26-October 8, 2023
Zangler: “One false move...
The Donnellys: A Trilogy
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by James Reaney, adapted and directed by Gil Garratt
Blyth Festival, Harvest Stage, Blyth
June 22-September 3, 2023
James, Sr.: “The Donnellys...
Life Without
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by Steve Ross, directed by Jan Alexandra Smith
Here For Now Theatre Festival, Stratford Perth Museum, Stratford
August 11-26, 2023
Jack: “He...
Jenny’s House of Joy
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by Norm Foster, directed by Lisa Horner
Norm Foster Theatre Festival, Mandeville Theatre, Ridley College, St. Catharines
August 11-20, 2023
“It’s...
Village Wooing
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by George Bernard Shaw, directed by Selma Dimitrijevic
Shaw Festival, Royal George Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
July 8-October 7, 2023
A: “We...
The Playboy of the Western World
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by John Millington Synge, directed by Jackie Maxwell
Shaw Festival, Studio Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
July 7-October 7, 2023
Jimmy: “Bravery’s...
The Apple Cart
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by George Bernard Shaw, directed by Eda Holmes
Shaw Festival, Studio Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
July 9-October 7, 2023
King Magnus: “Ministers...
King Gilgamesh and the Man of the Wild
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by Ahmed Moneka, Jesse LaVercombe and Seth Bockley, directed by Seth Bockley
TRIA Theatre and Soulpepper Theatre, Young Centre, Toronto
July 27-August...
Wedding Band
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by Alice Childress, directed by Sam White
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Theatre, Stratford
July 14-October 1, 2023
Julia: “I want to rise...
Prairie Nurse
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by Marie Beath Badian, directed by Megan Watson
Summer Stage, Capitol Theatre, Port Hope
July 15-30, 2023
“They all look the same”
The third...
Margaret Reid
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by Madeleine Brown, directed by Monique Lund
Here For Now Theatre, Stratford Perth Museum, Stratford
July 14-29, 2023
Cora: “A narrative has...
The Effect
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by Lucy Prebble, directed by Mitchell Cushman
Coal Mine Theatre, 2076 Danforth Avenue, Toronto
July 13-30, 2023
Connie: “It’s a chemical reaction,...
Hadestown
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music, lyrics and book by Anaïs Mitchell, directed by Rachel Chavkin
David Mirvish, Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto
July 7-August 20, 2023;
CAA...
Corporate Finch
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written & directed by Taylor Marie Graham
• Port Albert Productions, Toronto Fringe Festival, Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace, Toronto
July 5-16,...
Easy as Pie
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by Aaron Malkin & Alastair Knowles, directed by David MacMurray Smith
• James and Jamesy, Toronto Fringe Festival, Factory Theatre Mainspace, Toronto
July...
Much Ado About Nothing
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by William Shakespeare, directed by Chris Abraham
Stratford Festival, Festival Theatre, Stratford
June 16-October 27, 2023
Friar Francis: “What...
Outlaw
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by Norm Foster, directed by Jim Mezon
Norm Foster Theatre Festival, Century Barn, Ball’s Falls
June 23-July 2, 2023;
Rose Theatre, Brampton
July...
Prince Caspian
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by Damien Atkins, directed by Molly Atkinson
Shaw Festival, Royal George Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
May 28-October 8, 2023
Doctor: “There is...
A Wrinkle in Time
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written and directed by Thomas Morgan Jones
Stratford Festival, Avon Theatre, Stratford
June 16-October 29, 2023
“A straight line is not the...
Richard II
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by William Shakespeare, adapted by Brad Fraser, directed by Jillian Keiley
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Theatre, Stratford
June 17-September...
Rent
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music, book & lyrics by Jonathan Larson, directed by Thom Allison
Stratford Festival, Festival Theatre, Stratford
June 2-November 5, 2023
Mark:...
Treemonisha
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by Scott Joplin, directed by Weyni Mengesha
Volcano with the Canadian Opera Company, Soulpepper & Moveable Beast, Bluma Appel Theatre, Toronto
June...
Armadillos
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by Colleen Wagner, directed by Jani Lauzon
Factory Theatre, Factory Theatre Mainspace, Toronto
June 8-24, 2023
Karmyne: “We need a new story”
On...
Grand Magic
✭✭✭✭✩
by Eduardo de Filippo, translated by John Murrell & Donato Santeramo, directed by Antoni Cimolino
Stratford Festival, Tom Patterson Theatre, Stratford
June...
Kelly v. Kelly
✭✭✭✭✩
Music & lyrics by Britta Johnson, book by Sara Farb, directed by Tracey Flye
The Musical Stage Company with Canadian Stage Berkeley Street Theatre,...
Casey and Diana
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by Nick Green, directed by Andrew Kushnir
Stratford Festival, Studio Theatre, Stratford
June 1-17, 2023
Thomas: “When I go I want to have a train”
The...
Monty Python’s Spamalot
✭✭✭✭✩
music by John Du Prez & Eric Idle, book & Lyrics by Eric Idle, directed by Lezlie Wade
Stratford Festival, Avon Theatre, Stratford
May 31-November...
King Lear
✭✭✩✩✩
by William Shakespeare, directed by Kimberley Rampersad
Stratford Festival, Festival Theatre, Stratford
May 30-October 29, 2023
Fool: “Then shall...
L’Anima del filosofo
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by Franz Joseph Haydn, directed by Nico Krell
Faculty of Music, University of Toronto & Schulich School of Music, McGill University, MacMillan Theatre,Toronto
May...
The Rage of Narcissus
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by Sergio Blanco, translated by David Goldman, adapted and directed by Marcio Beauclair
Expandido Theatre Group, Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace,...
Pinocchio
✭✭✭✭✭
by Teater Patrasket, directed by Alex Byrne
Teater Patrasket, Harbourfront Centre Theatre, Toronto
May 20-22, 2023
Narrator: “What should Pinocchio...
Vaches, the musical
✭✭✭✭✩
music by Brian St-Pierre, book & lyrics by Stéphane Guertin and Olivier Nadon, directed by Dillon Orr
• Créations In Vivo, Berkeley Street Theatre...
The Sound Inside
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by Adam Rapp, directed by Leora Morris
Coal Mine Theatre, 2076 Danforth Avenue, Toronto
May 11-June 3, 2023
“There is no complete life. There...
The Chinese Lady
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by Lloyd Suh, directed by Marjorie Chan
Studio 180 Theatre & fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company with Crow’s Theatre, Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 CarlawAvenue,...
La Verbena de la Paloma
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by Tomás Bretón, directed by Guillermo Silva-Marin
Toronto Operetta Theatre, Jane Mallett Theatre, Toronto
May 5-7, 2023
Don Hilarión: “Oh, qué...
New
✭✭✭✩✩
by Pamela Mala Sinha, directed by Alan Dilworth
Necessary Angel Theatre Company with Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre & Canadian Stage, Berkeley Street...
Macbeth
✭✭✭✭✩
by Giuseppe Verdi, directed by David McVicar
Canadian Opera Company, Four Seasons Centre, Toronto
April 28-May 20, 2023
Macbeth: “Pietà , rispetto,...
Paint Me This House of Love
✭✭✭✩✩
by Chelsea Woolley, directed by Mike Payette
Tarragon Theatre, Tarragon Extraspace, Toronto
April 20-May 11, 2023
Rhondi: “Truth is love”
The...
The Seagull
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by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Simon Stephens, directed by Daniel Brooks
Soulpepper Theatre Company, Young Centre, Toronto
April 13-May 7, 2023
Konstantin:...
Maanomaa, My Brother
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by Tawiah M’Carthy and Brad Cook, directed by Philip Akin
Canadian Stage & Blue Bird Theatre Collective, Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs, Toronto
April...
American Son
✭✭✭✭✩
by Christopher Demos-Brown, directed by Jordan Laffrenier
Drayton Entertainment, St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, St. Jacobs
April 6-23, 2023
“The...
La Resurrezione
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by George Frideric Handel, directed by Marshall Pynkoski
Opera Atelier, Koerner Hall, Toronto
April 6-8, 2023
Angelo: “Risorga il mondo, lieto...
The Hooves Belonged to the Deer
✭✭✩✩✩
by Makram Ayache, directed by Peter Hinton-Davis
Tarragon Theatre & Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Tarragon Theatre Mainspace, Toronto
April 5-23,...
Of the Sea
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by Ian Cusson, directed by Philip Akin
Tapestry Opera & Obsidian Theatre with TO Live, Bluma Appel Theatre, Toronto
March 25-April 1, 2023
Dfiza:...
Metamorphoses 2023
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by Michele Smith & Dean Gilmour with the company, directed by Michele Smith
Theatre Smith-Gilmour, Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto
March...
The Gig
✭✭✭✭✩
by Mark Crawford, directed by Morris Panych
Theatre Aquarius, Dofasco Centre, Hamilton
March 10-25, 2023
Fonda to Laura: “You’ll make a great...
Mahabharata, Parts 1 & 2
✭✭✭✭✭
written by Ravi Jain & Miriam Fernandes, directed by Ravi Jain with Miriam Fernandes
Why Not Theatre with the Barbican, London, Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
March...
L’Amant anonyme
✭✭✭✭✩
by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, directed by Guillermo Silva-Marin
VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert, Jane Mallett Theatre,Toronto
March...
The Land Acknowledgement, or As You Like It
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by Cliff Cardinal, with Chris Abraham & Rouvan Silogix as co-conspirators
David Mirvish & Crow’s Theatre, CAA Theatre, Toronto
March 14-April 2,...
You and I
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by Maja Ardal, directed by Allen MacInnis
Young People’s Theatre, Studio Theatre,Toronto
March 11-26, 2023
Elo: “I’m thinking with my head”
In...
Fairview
✭✭✭✩✩
by Jackie Sibblies Drury, directed by Tawiah M’Carthy
Canadian Stage & Obsidian Theatre, Berkeley Street Theatre, Toronto
March 9-26, 2023
Beverly:...
Behind the Moon
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by Anosh Irani, directed by Richard Rose
Tarragon Theatre, Tarragon Theatre Extraspace, Toronto
March 2-19, 2023
Ayub: “There’s just no clarity...
Homes: A Refugee Story
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by Winnie Yeung & Haysam Kadri, directed by Haysam Kadri
Grand Theatre, Auburn Stage, London
March 2-19, 2023
Father: “Fear cannot stop us from...
Hamilton
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by Lin-Manuel Miranda, directed by Thomas Kail
Mirvish / Jeffrey Seller / Sander Jacobs / Jill Furman / The Public Theatre, Princess of Wales Theatre,...
The Darkest Dark
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by Jim Millan & Ian MacIntyre, directed by Jim Millan
Young People’s Theatre, Toronto
February 23-April 2, 2023
Chris: “Outside there’s darkness...
Prodigal
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written & directed by Paolo Santalucia
The Howland Company with Crow’s Theatre, Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto
February 24-March...
English
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by Sanaz Toossi, directed by Anahita Dehbonehie & Guillermo Verdecchia
• Soulpepper Theatre Company & The Segal Centre, Young Centre,Toronto
February...
Redbone Coonhound
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by Amy Lee Lavoie & Omari Newton, directed by Micheline Chevrier
• Tarragon Theatre & Imago Theatre, Tarragon Theatre,Toronto
February 16-March...
Yerma
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by Simon Stone, directed by Diana Bentley
Coal Mine Theatre, 2076 Danforth Avenue,Toronto
February 9-28, 2023
Mary: “What have you been doing...
La Flambeau
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by David Bontemps, directed by Mariah Inger
Orchestre classique de Montréal, L.R. Wilson Concert Hall, McMaster University, Hamilton
February 13,...
BOOM X
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written & directed by Rick Miller
Kidoons/WYRD Productions, Grand Theatre, London
February 10-25, 2023;
Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw Avenue,...
Martyr
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by Marius von Mayenburg, translated by Maja Zade, directed by Rob Kempson
ARC, Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas Street East, Toronto
January 14-29,...
La Bête
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by David Hirson, directed by Dylan Trowbridge
Talk Is Free Theatre, Five Points Theatre, Barrie
February 3-11, 2023;
Harbourfront Centre Theatre,...
Fall on Your Knees, Parts 1 & 2
✭✭✩✩✩/✭✭✭✭✩
by Hannah Moscovitch and Alisa Palmer, directed by Alisa Palmer
National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage, Neptune Theatre & Grand...
Flush
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written and directed by Marie-Claire Marcotte
Théâtre français de Toronto, La Troupe du Jour & Fittonia Films, Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs,Toronto
February...
Pressure
✭✭✭✭✩
by David Haig, directed by John Dove & Josh Roche
David Mirvish, Royal Alexandra Theatre,Toronto
January 29-March 5, 2023
Eisenhower: “If you’re...
Prophecy Fog
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by Jani Lauzon, directed by Franco Boni
Paper Canoe Projects, Grand Theatre, Fergus
January 21, 2023
for 2023 tour, see below;
Coal Mine Theatre,...
Controlled Damage
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by Andrea Scott, directed by Ray Hogg
Grand Theatre, London
January 20-29, 2023
“I’m a troublemaker in their eyes. But I have no reason to apologize....
Fifteen Dogs
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written and directed by Marie Farsi
Crow’s Theatre, Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto
January 19-February 12, 2023
Hermes: “Some...