Toronto Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 18

BWW Review: Canadian Opera Company's ARABELLA Sparkles in Every Way
by Taylor Long - October 06, 2017

Swanky sets, shimmering voices, sumptuous costumes - it all sparkles when met with sublime Strauss. The Canadian Opera Company presents the Canadian premiere of ARABELLA, a lyric comedy by Richard Strauss. A co-production with Santa Fe Opera and Minnesota Opera, ARABELLA is sung in German with Engli...

BWW Review: Britta Johnson's LIFE AFTER is Musical Theatre Perfection
by Taylor Long - September 30, 2017

Sometimes you know, within the first thirty seconds, that you're seeing something truly special. Britta Johnson's LIFE AFTER is exquisite from start to finish. Produced by the Musical Stage Company, Canadian Stage and Yonge Street Theatricals, the new Canadian work is the epitome of well-constructed...

BWW Review: Escape to Serenity with Toronto Symphony's BRAHMS GERMAN REQUIEM
by Taylor Long - September 29, 2017

Sometimes a striking contrast is just what is needed. The Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents Alexina Louie's Triple Concerto for Three Violins and Orchestra and Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem (BRAHMS GERMAN REQUIEM). Frantic tension meets wonderful tranquility in this double bill....

BWW Review: Technical Wizardry Astounds in Mirvish's NORTH BY NORTHWEST
by Taylor Long - September 26, 2017

You've never seen anything like it! Mirvish's NORTH BY NORTHWEST, based on Alfred Hitchcock's famous film, fills the gorgeous Royal Alexandra Theatre with suspense and intrigue. Adapted by Carolyn Burns and directed by Simon Phillips, the new stage adaption thrills with witty, technical innovation....

BWW Review: TORONTO SYMPHONY Season Launch Delivers Surprises
by Taylor Long - September 21, 2017

A night of surprises, enthusiastic artistry and brave new compositions graced the Roy Thomson Hall Tuesday night. The TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA opened its 2017-2018 season with a program that effortlessly mingled the classical with the contemporary. This is a year of big changes for the orchestra. ...

BWW Review: Soulpepper's PICTURE THIS is a Weird, Wacky, Whimsical Farce
by Taylor Long - September 17, 2017

Just when you think you've run out of laughter, PICTURE THIS demands more. Written by Morris Panych and Brenda Robins, Soulpepper's PICTURE THIS is a heap of slapstick, comedic gold wrapped in the packaging of Ken MacDonald's gorgeous, intelligent set. Inspired by Melchior Lengyel's 'The Battle of W...

BWW Review: Nothing is Everything in Soulpepper's WAITING FOR GODOT
by Taylor Long - September 15, 2017

Beckett's masterpiece, WAITING FOR GODOT proves its relevance in Soulpepper's riveting revival, opening their 2017-18 season. GODOT's structure, atmosphere and design plays like a contemplation on mindfulness - a search for meaning, in the seemingly meaningless....

BWW Review: ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: THE MUSICAL at Confederation Centre Of The Arts
by Chelsey Robichaud - September 05, 2017

Anne continues to be in our hearts for old and new alike...

BWW Review: Laugh at 2017 with Second City's PARTY TODAY, PANIC TOMORROW
by Taylor Long - August 27, 2017

Are recent events making you feel angry, scared, annoyed, freaky? Laugh them off with Second City's hilarious new revue - PARTY TODAY, PANIC TOMORROW. The funniest performers in Toronto parody the headlines of today in sketches that run from dark, to just plain weird....

BWW Review: AN OCTOROON at SHAW FESTIVAL
by Michael Rabice - August 23, 2017

Pushing the limits of the Shaw Festival's mission, an edgy slave story from a different era is being presented in The Royal George Theatre. By the looks of it, Shaw's usual audiences are in for an eye opener. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (aka BJJ) has taken us on his own personal journey of frustrated pla...

BWW Review: DIVINE at SummerWorks Entertains with Adventure in a Grim Future
by Taylor Long - August 10, 2017

Can you imagine life without water? It's something we take for granted. Water is always accessible. It's easy to find. DIVINE, by Natalie Frijia, imagines a world without these luxuries. Directed by Claire Burns, DIVINE presents this one potential future as a post-apocalyptic wasteland - a wild-west...

BWW Review: REALITY THEATRE at SummerWorks Panders to the Millennial Attention Span
by Taylor Long - August 09, 2017

A study by Microsoft in 2015 revealed that the average person's attention span (related to social media) is down to eight seconds - less than that of a goldfish. REALITY THEATRE, written by Julia Lederer and directed by Rebecca Applebaum, satisfies this need for constant change. Part of the SummerWo...

BWW Review: DRACULA at SHAW FESTIVAL
by Michael Rabice - August 08, 2017

STRONG ACTING IN DRACULA DESPITE TEDIOUS SCRIPT The story of Bram Stoker's DRACULA has been told long enough since the novel's release in 1897 that most everyone is familiar with the famous Prince of Darkness. Numerous films have been made, as early as the silent version NOSFERATU, and a stage ...

BWW Review: THE NEW CABARET Is a Splendid Addition to 'Night Music' Series at Stratford Festival's Forum
by Lauren Gienow - August 02, 2017

With the 2017 season of the Stratford Festival in full swing, and locals and visitors alike enjoying the glorious theatrical productions on stage at the Festival, Avon, Tom Patterson and Studio Theatres. It is important to note that there is far more than just theatre for audiences to enjoy at the F...

BWW Review: Marion Abbott Productions' WOMEN OF MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL
by Taylor Long - August 01, 2017

Toronto's Women of Musical Theatre Festival concluded a week ago today. My conclusion? More please....

BWW Review: Shakespeare in High Park Thrills with KING LEAR and TWELFTH NIGHT
by Taylor Long - July 20, 2017

Some shows are born great, some shows achieve greatness and others have greatness thrust upon them. Presented by Canadian Stage, Shakespeare's KING LEAR and TWELFTH NIGHT are in the hands of a phenomenal group of artists - who thrust greatness on them six nights a week....

BWW Review: Design Steals the Show in Soulpepper's VIMY
by Taylor Long - July 14, 2017

"I've heard the lighting is amazing," a woman whispered to me before the show. Clearly designers Astrid Janson and Andre du Toit are doing something right - Soulpepper's VIMY is a visual feast....

BWW Review: WILDE TALES at Shaw Festival
by Michael Rabice - July 13, 2017

CHARM ABOUNDS IN SHAW FESTIVAL'S 'WILDE TALES' A verbose frog, an egomaniacal Rocket, two charming birds, and a sympathetic Prince are not the usual cast of characters in an Oscar Wilde play. But in the ever evolving 2017 Shaw Festival season, his 'WILDE TALES' proves to be an eye opening and joy...

BWW Review: Masterful Storytelling in Soulpepper's BILLY BISHOP GOES TO WAR
by Taylor Long - July 11, 2017

The memory of a fascinating Canadian war hero brought to life by a fascinating Canadian actor. BILLY BISHOP GOES TO WAR is in fine form in Soulpepper Theatre Company's 2017 revival. Aligning with the 150th Birthday of our nation - the musical, written and performed by John MacLachlan Gray and Eric P...

BWW Review: ODYSSEO by Cavalia is a Gorgeous Spectacle
by Taylor Long - July 09, 2017

A celebration of the majestic unity of man and nature - ODYSSEO is a mammoth of a show. Presented by Cavalia under a 125-foot tall Big White Top, the show features 65 horses of various breeds and 50 versatile artists (horseback riders, acrobats, aerialists, singers and dancers). ODYSSEO is a thrilli...

BWW Review: Empowering Anthems Shine in Mirvish's BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL
by Taylor Long - July 06, 2017

Feel the earth move with Chilina Kennedy's powerhouse vocals. Mirvish Productions presents BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL, with a book by Douglas McGrath and music by Gerry Goffin & Carole King and Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil. The musical follows King's journey - from the sale of her very first s...

BWW Review: 4 BY MONK BY 4 at the TD Toronto Jazz Festival
by Taylor Long - July 05, 2017

Four masters paying tribute to 'the architect'. The 2017 TD Toronto Jazz Festival closed with a concert featuring pianists Kenny Baron, Cyrus Chestnut, Benny Green and Gerald Clayton. 4 BY MONK BY 4 honoured the renown American jazz pianist and composer, Thelonious Monk....

BWW Review: HIROMI Duet Featuring EDMAR CASTANEDA at the TD Toronto Jazz Festival
by Taylor Long - June 30, 2017

Two musicians, engulfed by the spirit of jazz. Presented by the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, Hiromi played the Koerner Hall on Wednesday evening, joined by jazz harpist Edmar Castaneda. A melange of rock, pop, and jazz - the duo proved that the world needs more piano and harp....

BWW Review: HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE IN CONCERT Will Make You Believe in Magic
by Taylor Long - June 28, 2017

Has Harry Potter reached cult classic level yet? It certainly seemed to last night. Presented by the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts and Attila Glatz Concert Productions, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Justin Freer) was joined by the Women's Chorus from Amadeus Choir and the Elmer ...

BWW Review: Decibel-Shattering, Ground-Pounding Applause for CARAVAN PALACE at the TD Toronto Jazz Festival
by Taylor Long - June 27, 2017

Spell-binding jams that beg you to dance and dance. CARAVAN PALACE 'blew the roof' off of the Phoenix Concert Theatre last night, performing as part of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival. The seven-member virtuosic electro-swing ensemble pushes the boundaries of jazz with an inventive mesh of music - even...