'Spelling Bee' Flies into TorontoJanuary 18, 2008Broadway¹s Tony Award®-Winning Musical Comedy
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
To Compete at Toronto¹s Elgin Theatre
January 29 to February 10, 2008
Review: 'Criminals in Love'January 18, 2008Hart House Theatre's production accentuates the laughs and touches only lightly on the play's social commentary, which is perhaps the best approach for this piece. Credit director Andrea Wasserman for creating a realistic world for these cartoon-like bumblers to inhabit. Though the performances sometimes veer a little too close to farcical territory -sometimes pushing too hard to get laughs- the end result is an enjoyable crowd-pleaser.
* * * (OUT OF FIVE)
Review: 'Twelve Angry Men' National TourJanuary 11, 2008Roundabout Theatre Company's touring edition of their acclaimed 2004 Broadway revival is a potent ensemble drama not to be missed.
* * * * * (OUT OF FIVE)
Review: 'Whistle Down the Wind' National TourJanuary 6, 2008The tour of Whistle Down The Wind makes a brief stop in Toronto. Despite strong performances by the leads this is another muddled musical from Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.
* * (out of 5)
Soulpepper Theatre's 'Blithe Spirit'November 15, 2007Soulpepper Theatre has chosen to wrap up their 2007 season with an effervescent production of Noel Coward's comedy Blithe Spirit. You could hardly ask for a more perfect production.
* * * * * (out of 5)
Review: Mid Life! The Crisis MusicalSeptember 29, 2007 The problems of middle-age could hardly be considered substantial enough for a musical revue, but in this day and age of recycled movies and recycled pop-song catalogues attention must be paid any show that offers an original score and some entertainingly clever lyrics.
* * * (OUT OF FIVE)
Shaw Festival Announces 2008 SeasonSeptember 29, 2007The Shaw Festival announced their line-up for 2008. It will include the musicals WONDERFUL TOWN (in the Festival Theatre) and A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (in the Court House Theatre.) They will also do 4 special concrt performances of the Sondheim/Goldman FOLLIES.
The Shaw plays will be GETTING MARRIED and MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION.
The season will also include THE LITTLE FOXES, AN INSPECTOR CALLS, THE PRESIDENT, THE STEPMOTHER, AFTER THE DANCE, and a revival of their 2005 production of BELLE MORAL.
Review: The Drowsy Chaperone Tour Hits TorontoSeptember 29, 2007The The Drowsy Chaperone tour opened in Toronto this week to rave reviews. Don't miss this final chance to see Bob Martin as The Man in the Chair.
* * * * * (OUT OF FIVE)
Review: The PillowmanSeptember 28, 2007Martin McDonagh's disturbing play is given a frighteningly intense production by Canadian Stage Company.
* * * * 1/2 (OUT OF FIVE)
Review: The Winslow BoySeptember 28, 2007The Village players offer a fine production of Terrence Rattigan's 1936 play.
* * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)
Review: Funny BusinessSeptember 18, 2007Office politics, Industrial shows, TV Reality shows and corporate team building exercises are just some of the targets in Funny Business, a new musical that attracted great acclaim earlier this summer at The Fringe Festival. It's called FUNNY BUSINESS. And it is very funny.
* * * * (OUT OF 5)
Review: As Thousands CheerSeptember 12, 2007Toronto's Civic Light opera Company offers Canadian premiere of Irving Berlin & Moss Hart's depression era revue.
* * * * (OUT OF 5)
(Reviewed September 7, 2007)
We Will Rock You Extends Again in TorontoAugust 8, 2007The hit Toronto production of WE WILL ROCK YOU has now extended to November 4, 2007. The new block of tickets will go on sale Saturday August 11, 2007.
Mark Andrew Lawrence began his broadcasting career as music director for St. Catharines radio station CHRE. After six years there and eight years at classical station CFMX, he created FRONT ROW CENTRE to supply theatre reviews and articles to magazines, newspapers, and broadcasters across the greater Toronto area. Mark Andrew Lawrence maintains an extensive collection of over 3,500 Broadway show recordings in all formats (78 RPM singles, 45 RPM album, 10 & 12-inch Lps, and Compact discs) dating back to the early years of the 20th century.