A List of "Must See" Toronto Theatre

By Barbara Fingerote, SLA Toronto Chapter

Tickets for most of the shows listed below plus other events may be purchased in person or online at the half-price (same day) ticket booth, TO Tix, located at Dundas Square, Yonge and Dundas: http://www.totix.ca/

To hear what is currently available you may also call them at 416-536-6468 x 40 (toll free, 1-800-541-0499 ext. 40).

At this time, only the Hedda Gabler is listed for June, but as they become available, more shows will be listed.

NOTE: Remember to include the area code when calling in and around Toronto (either 416 or 905).

Here is a list of what I know is happening during or just before or after the conference. I have indicated which ones I highly recommend, although of course since there is no right answer to theatre, you will have to make up your own mind about that.

Unfortunately most of the companies that operate during the autumn and winter season have completed their seasons by the end of May, so this is a very short list for an in between time. Come back during the summer for Soulpepper, the Fringe, the various Shakespeare in the park shows, Summerworks, etc.

The Sonnets : Part One - Love

Original Text by William Shakespeare. Sonnet re-sequencing by Alchemy Theatre
Playing at the Alchemy Theatre, 133 Tecumseth Street from May 25 to June 4, 2005

Previews 8:30 pm on Wednesday May 25th.
Shows on Thursday through Saturday at 8:30pm, Saturday Matinee 2:30 pm
The Alchemy Theatre is located 1 block south and west of Queen West & Bathurst and can be reached at info@alchemytoronto.com or call 416-998-7503

Mad Miss / Just Jazz

Theatre Archipelago presents a double bill of solo performances adapted from stories by Caribbean women writers, performed by Rhoma Spencer and Honor Ford-Smith.
Playing at the Artword Theatre, 75 Portland Street from May 25 to June 12, 2005.

Shows on Tuesday through Saturday at 8:30, Sunday Matinee at 4 pm
The Artword Theatre is located half a block south of King West, one block east of Bathurst.
For reservations, call 416-366-7723 x 290 (St. Lawrence Centre Ticket Line) http://www.artword.net/website/welcome_artword.htm

Ain't Misbehavin'

Ain't Misbehavin' plays the Bluma Appel Theatre until June 25th. More a concert than a play, great singers (including the wonderful Jackie Richardson) sing great songs.
http://www.canstage.com/2004-2005/box_office/season/misbehavin.asp

Trying

Plays downstairs at the Berkeley St.Theatre until June 11th.
Paul Soles and Caroline Cave (last year's Dora award winner) are magnificent in this production of a well-written and fascinating play by Joanna McClelland Glass. Highly recommended.
http://www.canstage.com/2004-2005/box_office/season/trying.asp

Monday evenings are pay what you can.
Berkeley St. Theatre, 26 Berkeley Street and Bluma Appel Theatre in the St Lawrence Centre, Front Street West at Scott (one block east of Yonge), 416-368-3110. http://www.canstage.com/2004-2005/box_office/index.asp

NOTE: See Colin Hoare's posting about discounts for Ain't Misbehavin' and Trying.

Adult Entertainment & End of Civilization

Welcome "to the world of Max and Donnie, the two highly unorthodox cops in Adult Entertainment and End of Civilization, written by George F. Walker, directed by Ken Gass. Both are stunning individual plays and will be performed in repertory. Among its many accolades, End of Civilization was honoured with a Chalmers Award for best play in 1999." Fast paced, very funny. Highly recommended Warning: strong language.

Playing at the Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst Street at Adelaide Street West, from May 7 to June 12. 416-504-9971 http://www.factorytheatre.ca/

Previews only $12.00
Tuesday - Thursday evening performances at 8 pm: $25
Friday evening performances at 8 pm: $29
Saturday matinee performances (final weekend only) at 2 pm: $25
Saturday evening performances at 8 pm: $34
Sunday matinee at 2 pm: $20 in advance or Pay What You Can at the door

Schedule:
June 4: End 6:30, Adult 9:15
June 5: End 2:00, Adult 7:00
June 7: End 8:00
June 8: Adult 8:00
June 9: End 8:00
June 10: Adult 8:00
June 11: Adult 6:30, End 9:15
June 12: Adult 2:00, End 7:00

Two Can Play

By Trevor Rhone, directed by ahdri zhina mandiela, and starring Karen Robinson and Malcolm Xerxes. 'This deliciously funny affirmation of love asks the age old questions: "Can your spouse truly change?" "Is it possible to start over?" "Do we ever really get a second chance?" Two Can Play is a hilarious look at love and life ... Jamaica style!' Two fabulous actors! Should be a good show. Playing at the Obsidian Theatre 26 Berkeley St. from May 31 to July 2.

By Obsidian Theatre, playing at 26 Berkeley Street, 416-368-3110
http://www.obsidian-theatre.com/

Trapped in Taffeta

"Leslie Seiler brings over 30 characters to life in this fast paced and truly memorable one woman show."
Playing at Theatre Centre, 1087 Queest St. W. from June 8-19.

Theatre Centre is located at 1087 Queen Street West at Dovercourt, 416-538-0988 http://www.theatrecentre.org/schedule.html
Shows nightly from Tuesday -Saturday at 8pm, Saturday & Sunday Matinee at 2:30pm;
$20 / $15(students/seniors/equity/actra/bridal parties/equity)

Attentat #9

L'Action Terroriste Socialement Acceptable, or ATSA, an exciting company from Montreal is putting up their installation of "Attentat #9", at Yonge-Dundas Square from June 9 - 12, 2005.

ATTENTAT #9 consists of a Sport Utility Vehicle still fuming after having exploded, to which has been integrated an audio-visual manifesto. It is a hyper-realistic scene depicting a terrorist attack incriminating­all at once­ the automobile industry, consumers and governments. A destabilizing and unequivocal experience whose graphic violence will heighten the public's awareness of the perverse effects of the veneration of these gas-guzzling, power-hungry vehicles.

ATSA will be at the scene of the crime 24 hours a day. You are invited to come meet us and to discuss, film and photograph the exhibit. Many products stemming from the intervention will be available on the spot: a DVD of the manifesto, miniature replicas of ATTENTAT, stickers, and so on.

L'Action Terroriste Socialement Acceptable, or ATSA, founded by artists Annie Roy and Pierre Allard, has been creating "urban interventions" which question society and its values since '97. ATSA events rattle the urban landscape and open it up to societal debates. Its very name is an aberration and is intended as a reflection of the themes motivating the pair's creations.

Additional Info at: http://www.atsa.qc.ca

The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine

"... Domestic bliss always seems just out of reach for Ernest and Ernestine as they begin their life together. As repressed anger grows, the veneer of their perfectly ordered and happy world begins to crack with results that range from wildly funny to heartbreaking." You'll never look at dry cereal the same way again! Playing at Theatre Passe Muraille at 16 Ryerson Ave. from May 7 to June 6. Co-production with Theatre Columbus, which is celebrating its twentieth anniversary with the remount of one of their most popular plays.

Theatre Passe Muraille is located 1 block north of Queen West and 1 block east of Bathurst at 16 Ryerson Avenue, 416-504-7529
http://www.passemuraille.on.ca/Main.html

Shows nightly from Tuesday to Thursday evenings : $23.00,
Friday & Saturday Evenings: $30.00,
PWYC Previews and Sunday Matinees (Advance Booking Price): $10.00

Hedda Gabler

In association with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Highly recommended.
Fabulous cast, with Dora award winning Yanna McIntosh in the lead, this is a much anticipated production of a classic play in a new adaptation by Judith Thompson
Playing at the Volcano Theatre Company, 12 Alexander St. from May 22 to June 12

The Volcano Theatre Company is located 2 blocks south of Wellesley, half a block east of Yonge at 12 Alexander Street. 416-975-8555

Shows Tuesday to Saturday at 8pm,
Sunday Matinee at 2:30pm.,
TICKETS: $15-25, Sunday Pay-What-You-Can
http://www.buddiesinbadtimestheatre.com/events/show.cfm?i_key=31

Harbourfront Centre

207& 235 Queens Quay West, 416-973-4000. http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/

Although there are no theatre productions scheduled during the conference week, there are usually all kinds of happenings at Harbourfront that may be of interest, and it is a quick walk from the Convention Centre.

Shaw Festival

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario: http://www.shawfest.com/

The Shaw Festival presents play by George Bernard Shaw, plays written during Shaw's lifetime (1856-1950), and plays about that time period

The premier repertory classical theatre company in Canada, its work has been of more consistently high quality than the Stratford Festival to the west. I love the work they do here, especially the little known gems they find from time to time. Depending upon traffic, Niagara-on-the-Lake is about ninety minutes south of Toronto via the QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way). Five shows will have opened by the time of the Conference.

Stratford Festival

Stratford, Ontario: http://www.stratford-festival.on.ca/

Stratford presents the plays by Shakespeare (your last chance to see William Hutt on stage is this year's The Tempest, in which he plays Prospero), plus classical and current plays

The largest classical repertory company in Canada, I still love Stratford despite its inconsistent quality of work over the past few years. When they do it well, it is wonderful. Depending upon traffic, Stratford is probably two and half hours away.