Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of September 12, 2011:
** Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Wayne, our Managing Editor, wish he could exist in multiple parallel universes so he could check them all out.
Already Reviewed by MoT
DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE! (AND OTHER LIES) Second City presents its latest sketch revue about the things we tell ourselves to get through life. Wed-Fri 8 pm, Sat 8 & 10:30 pm, Sun 7 pm. $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
**THE PRICE by Arthur Miller (Soulpepper). Two estranged brothers reunite in a condemned house to sell their father’s possessions. Previews Aug 29-Sep 1. Opens Sep 2 and runs to Oct 22, see website for schedule. $28-$65. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
THE QUEENS by Normand Chaurette (Glasswater Theatre). Six royal women scheme to gain power in this play inspired by Shakespeare’s Richard III. Opens Sep 8 and runs to Sep 18, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm. $20, stu/srs $15. Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, 79A St. George. 416-978-8849, uofttix.ca.
TOTEM by Robert Lepage (Cirque du Soleil). Music, dance, acrobatics and design are used to trace the journey of the human species from amphibians to its desire to fly. Opens Aug 10 and runs to Oct 9, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sun 1 & 5 pm, Fri-Sat 4 pm (no show Sep 6). $74-$249, stu/srs $67-$235, children under 12 $54-$208. Grand Chapiteau, Port Lands, Commissioners at Cherry. cirquedusoleil.com.
WHITE BITING DOG by Judith Thompson (Soulpepper). A suicidal lawyer on a bridge is advised by a talking dog. Previews Aug 13-17. Opens Aug 18 and runs to Oct 21, see website for schedule. $45-$65, stu $28, rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
And the Rest
A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE by Arthur Miller (Theatre.IV.Mimmo). Miller’s play about 1950s Italian immigrants gets a staged reading. Sep 14-15, Wed-Thu 7 pm. $15 sugg donation. Columbus Centre, 901 Lawrence W. wix.com/theatreivmimmo/home
CAROUSEL by Rodgers & Hammerstein (Civic Light Opera Company). Love blooms at a carousel ride in this classic musical. Opens Sep 7 and runs to Sep 24, Wed 7 pm, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mats Sun (and Sep 24) 2 pm. $28. Fairview Library Theatre, 35 Fairview Mall. 416-755-1717, civiclightoperacompany.com
FRESH MEAT Tim Sims Encouragement Fund presents a showcase of new talent w/ Ashley Mofatt, British Teeth, DJ Demers, Julie Kim, Vest of Friends, Keven Soldo, host Marco Bernardi and others. Sep 12 8 pm. $12. Second City, 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com
IMPATIENT THEATRE CO presents improv by its students. 7 pm. Free. House Party, scenes by ITC teams. 8 pm. $5. The Incubator, improv w/ Rubicon and Iron Coffin. 10 pm. $5. Real Autobiographies, improv based on the bios of public figures. 11 pm. Free. Sep 13. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 416-238-7337, impatient.ca
MACHINA NUPTIALIS CORPUS and Le Centre francophone de Toronto present a dance-theatre piece about the matrimonial ceremony. Opens Sep 13 and runs to Sep 18, Tue-Sun 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2 pm. $30. Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace. 416-923-1171, corpus.ca
**MACHOMER by Rick Miller (WYRD). Miller voices several characters from TV’s The Simpson’s in this solo comedic adaptation of Macbeth. Opens Sep 13 and runs to Sep 25, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20-$55. Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, factorytheatre.ca.
MAMALOSHEN: MANDY PATINKIN IN CONCERT (Harold Green Jewish Theatre). The stage and screen star performs songs from a variety of Jewish musical traditions and some Broadway selections. Sep 17-18, Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $50-$150. Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-366-7723, hgjewishtheatre.com.
PAINS OF YOUTH by Ferdinand Bruckner (WORKhouse Theatre). Seven youths struggle with love, sex, crime, suicide and coming of age in 1920s Austria. Opens Sep 7 and runs to Sep 17, Tue-Sun 7 pm, mats Sep 10-11 at 2 pm. $20. Unit 102 Theatre, 46 Noble. workhousetheatre.com
PEOPLE4CHANGE by Raymond Bobgan (lemonTree creations/TheThem). Three people are moved to create positive change after witnessing a death on the subway tracks. Previews Sep 13. Opens Sep 14 and runs to Sep 24, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $20, stu/srs $15, mat pwyc. Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, lemontreecreations.ca
PRIVATE LIVES by Noël Coward (Mirvish). Exes meet at the same hotel while honeymooning with new spouses. Previews Sep 16-24. Opens Sep 25 and runs to Oct 30, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm (no matinee Sep 17). $35-$175. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com
THE LITTLE COMEDY SHOW THAT COULD Jon Kane presents Kathleen McGee, Todd Van Allen, Chris Roberts, Joy Acharjee and Diana Love. Sep 12 9 pm. $5. The Avro, 750 Queen E. jonkane.ca
**THE MAIDS by Jean Genet (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). Two maids are investigated when their mistress and her daughter are found dead in this psychosexual thriller. Previews Sep 17-21. Opens Sep 22 and runs to Oct 9, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $23-$33, Sun pwyc at the door. 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com
THE TALE OF A TOWN – QUEEN WEST by Lisa Marie DiLiberto (Fixt Point). This theatrical promenade starts at TPM and goes through the neighbourhood, exploring the history of the area using music and stories. Previews Sep 14. Opens Sep 15 and runs to Oct 9, Tue-Sun 7:30 pm. $20-$25, preview $15. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, passemuraille.on.ca
THE UNDERPANTS (Coffeehouse Theatre) originally written by Carl Sternheim and now adapted by the comedic genius of Steve Martin, revolves around Louise Maske; an ignored housewife whose underpants unexpectedly fall down while watching the King’s parade. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen Street East. The dates for the performances are as followed: September 16, 17, 18, 22, 23 and 24. All shows will begin at 8PM with an additional 2PM matinee performance on the 23rd and 24th. coffeehousetheatre.com
TORONTO HERITAGE DANCE DanceWorks CoWorks presents an evening of chamber dance with works by Patricia Beatty, Lawrence Gradus, David Earle, Peter Randazzo, Danny Grossman and Terrill Maguire. Sep 15-18, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25, stu/srs $20. Winchester Street Theatre, 80 Winchester. 416-204-1082, danceworks.ca.
*Listing based on NOW stage listings*