Stage Door Reviews 2023
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 nature”
Here For Now Theatre’s festival of new work is presenting the world premiere of...
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 shone until he didn’t”
Most people will know Steve Ross from his 20 seasons at the Stratford...
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 life that matters, nothing but life” (Dostoevsky, The Idiot)
By programming entire...
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 6, 2023
Gilgamesh: “Enkidu, my friend whom I love, has turned to clay!
Am I not...
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 show in the Capitol Theatre’s Summer Stage season is Prairie Nurse by Marie Beath Badian....
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 to have a narrator”
Margaret Reid by Madeleine Brown is currently receiving its world premiere...
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, is what I’m saying”
The final play of the Coal Mine Theatre’s 2022/23 season is The...
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
Hermes: “It’s an old songIt’s an old tale from way back whenIt’s an old songBut we’re gonna...
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, 2023;
• Here For Now Festival, Stratford Perth Museum, Stratford
July 20-22, 2023;
•...
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 5-16, 2023;
• Winnipeg Fringe PTE Mainstage, Winnipeg, MB
July 19-30, 2023;
•...
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 6-9, 2023
Keets: “No man really knows about other human beings”
You may think...
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 10-17, 2023
Treemonisha: “Was I born to do this?”
2023 has been a great year for...
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 paper, Armadillos, Factory Theatre’s last show to open in its 2022/23 season has a...
Kelly v. Kelly

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Music & lyrics by Britta Johnson, book by Sara Farb, directed by Tracey Flye
The Musical Stage Company with Canadian Stage Berkeley Street Theatre, Toronto
May 31-June 18, 2023
Eugenia: “All I’m guilty of is dancing”
Britta Johnson’s...
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 Stratford Festival is currently presenting the world premiere of Casey and Diana...
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 26-27, 2023
Coro: “O poter dell’armonia!
La favella degli de
Ed...
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, Toronto
May 19-28, 2023
“Je est un autre” (Arthur Rimbaud in letter to Georges Izambard,...
Pinocchio

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by Teater Patrasket, directed by Alex Byrne
Teater Patrasket, Harbourfront Centre Theatre, Toronto
May 20-22, 2023
Narrator: “What should Pinocchio do?”
The only show I was able to catch at this year’s Junior Festival at Harbourfront...
Vaches, the musical

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music by Brian St-Pierre, book & lyrics by Stéphane Guertin and Olivier Nadon, directed by Dillon Orr
• Créations In Vivo, Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs, Toronto
May 11-13, 2023;
• Capitol Centre, North Bay;
May 16, 2023;
•...
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 are only fragments. We are born to have nothing, to have it pour through our hands” (from...
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, Toronto
May 5-21, 2023
Afong Moy: “What do they see when they see me?”
In...
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 noche me espera”
If you want to know why La Verbena de la Paloma (The Festival of the...
New

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by Pamela Mala Sinha, directed by Alan Dilworth
Necessary Angel Theatre Company with Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre & Canadian Stage, Berkeley Street Theatre, Toronto
April 28-May 14, 2023
Nuzha: “There is no happen”
Pamela Mala...
Macbeth
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by Giuseppe Verdi, directed by David McVicar
Canadian Opera Company, Four Seasons Centre, Toronto
April 28-May 20, 2023
Macbeth: “Pietà , rispetto, amore,
Conforto a’dì cadenti
Ah! non spargeran d’un fiore
La tua canuta età.”
The...
Paint Me This House of Love

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by Chelsea Woolley, directed by Mike Payette
Tarragon Theatre, Tarragon Extraspace, Toronto
April 20-May 11, 2023
Rhondi: “Truth is love”
The Tarragon Theatre closes its 2022/23 season with the world premiere of Paint Me This House...
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: “Theatre is a dreamscape”
Soulpepper’s current production of The Seagull is...
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 14-30, 2023
“Wo bε yε me nua” (“Will you be my brother?”)
Canadian Stage and...
American Son

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by Christopher Demos-Brown, directed by Jordan Laffrenier
Drayton Entertainment, St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, St. Jacobs
April 6-23, 2023
“The face of the race”
Drayton Entertainment may be known primarily for light entertainment,...
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 e giocondo”
At the end of my 2021 review of the film Opera Atelier made of its fully...
The Hooves Belonged to the Deer

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by Makram Ayache, directed by Peter Hinton-Davis
Tarragon Theatre & Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Tarragon Theatre Mainspace, Toronto
April 5-23, 2023
“In the beginning Man created God”
The Tarragon Theatre and Buddies in Bad Times...
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: “Water is the god that makes us free”
Tapestry Opera and Obsidian Theatre have combined...
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 24-April 9, 2023
“Omnia mutantur, nihil interit” (Metamorphoses 15:165
Ovid’s...
The Gig

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by Mark Crawford, directed by Morris Panych
Theatre Aquarius, Dofasco Centre, Hamilton
March 10-25, 2023
Fonda to Laura: “You’ll make a great politician ... not a compliment”
Theatre Aquarius is presenting the world premiere of...
Mahabharata, Parts 1 & 2

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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 9-26, 2023
Bhishma: “What has been spoken once cannot be unspoken”
Why...
L’Amant anonyme

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by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, directed by Guillermo Silva-Marin
VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert, Jane Mallett Theatre,Toronto
March 19, 2023
“Jouissez de l’allégresse”
VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert has concluded its 2022-23...
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, 2023;
May 4-7, 2023
“Don’t be an ally, be a friend”
Cliff Cardinal’s play The Land...
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 2016 Maja Ardal, Audrey Dwyer, Mary Francis Moore and Julia Tribe created one of the...
Fairview

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by Jackie Sibblies Drury, directed by Tawiah M’Carthy
Canadian Stage & Obsidian Theatre, Berkeley Street Theatre, Toronto
March 9-26, 2023
Beverly: “You don’t just watch a person and they don’t know you’re there and you’re just standing...
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 anymore”
Anosh Irani’s new play Behind the Moon, now playing at the Tarragon Theatre,...
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 living”
I feel extremely lucky to have caught one of the final performances of the world...
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, Toronto
February 23-August 20, 2023
Washington: “History has its eyes on you”
Hamilton...
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 everywhere”
Young People’s Theatre is currently presenting the world premiere of The...
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 12, 2023
Preacher: “It takes a prodigal parent to have a prodigal child”
Well-known...
English

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by Sanaz Toossi, directed by Anahita Dehbonehie & Guillermo Verdecchia
• Soulpepper Theatre Company & The Segal Centre, Young Centre,Toronto
February 16-March 5, 2023;
• Segal Centre, Montreal
March 19-April 2, 2023
Marjan: “Do...
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 5, 2023;
• Théâtre Denise-Pelletier, Montreal
March 21-April 1, 2023
Jordan: “Is...
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 to your life?”
Her: “Or what has my life done to me?
Yerma by Australian playwright...
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, 2023
Madame: “Est-ce la vie ou est-ce la mort?”
Brott Opera has benefited the people...
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, Toronto
May 10-28, 2023
Rick Miller: “It’s just you and I now trying to cope with...
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, 2023
Benjamin: “I’ve had it with hiding and pretending to be sick when I’m the only one...
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, Toronto
March 1-17, 2024
Elomire: “It’s dangerous to be governed by a fool”
Talk...
Fall on Your Knees, Parts 1 & 2

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by Hannah Moscovitch and Alisa Palmer, directed by Alisa Palmer
National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage, Neptune Theatre & Grand Theatre London, Bluma Appel Theatre, Toronto
January 26-February 4, 2023;
• Neptune...
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 1-5, 2023
Marthe: “Chère, ils ne sont pas faits pour durer, c’est tout”
The...
Pressure

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by David Haig, directed by John Dove & Josh Roche
David Mirvish, Royal Alexandra Theatre,Toronto
January 29-March 5, 2023
Eisenhower: “If you’re wrong thousands of men will go to their deaths”
Some advertising for David Haig’s 2014...
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
“We come from the stars, we are star people”
Jani Lauzon’s Paper Canoe Projects has launched a tour...
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. Because, I did nothing wrong”
If you want to get to know Viola Desmond, the woman...
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 humans are unhappy; others aren’t. Their intelligence is a difficult gift”
Crow’s Theatre...