Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of November 19th, 2012: ** Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Sonia, our Editor, wish she could quit her evening job so she could check them all out.
Already Covered by MoT
ALLIGATOR PIE (Soulpepper). Adapted from the children’s poems of Dennis Lee, this family-friendly production celebrates imagination and invention. Previews Oct 26-Nov 5. Opens Nov 6 and runs to Nov 25. $23. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
**MISS CALEDONIA by Melody A Johnson (Lunkamud/Tarragon Theatre). A 1950s farm girl dreams of being an actress in the big city in this musical solo show. Previews Oct 13-23. Opens Oct 24 and runs to Nov 22. $48-$53, srs $38-$43, stu $27, rush $13. Tarragon Theatre, Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.
ROMEO AND JULIET by William Shakespeare (Hart House Theatre). The classic tragedy about lovers from conflicting families is retold. Opens Nov 7 and runs to Nov 24. $25, stu/srs $10-$15. 7 Hart House Circle. 416-978-8849, harthousetheatre.ca.
SPEAKING IN TONGUES by Andrew Bovell (The Company Theatre/Canadian Stage Company). Four marriages are plunged into a morass of sex, lies and neglect after a woman goes missing. Previews Oct 29-31. Opens Nov 1 and runs to Nov 24. $22-$49. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com.
**THE ANGER IN ERNEST AND ERNESTINE by Robert Morgan, Martha Ross and Leah Cherniak (Barzotti Woodworking/Pivotal(arts)). Repressed anger rears its head as a couple strive to maintain the veneer of a perfectly ordered world. Previews Nov 6-7. Opens Nov 8 and runs to Nov 24. $20-$25, Mon $10. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. theanger25.eventbrite.com.
WAR HORSE based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford (National Theatre of Great Britain/Mirvish). An English boy sets out to find his horse after it’s sold to the cavalry and shipped off to France during WWI. Previews Feb 10-27. Opens Feb 28 and runs to Jan 6. $35-$130, rush $29. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
WE’VE TOTALLY (PROBABLY) GOT THIS! Second City presents its fall 2012 revue featuring new sketches, songs and improv about stress and juggling priorities. Wed-Thu 8 pm, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm (plus Fri-Sat 10 pm). $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
**CINDERELLA (A RATical Retelling) by Mike Kenny and Jason Jestadt (Young People’s Theatre). Five rats retell the classic fairy tale in this musical story for ages 4 and up. Previews Nov 12-14. Opens Nov 15 and runs to Dec 30. $15-$20. 165 Front E. 416-862-2222, youngpeoplestheatre.ca.
THE ARSONISTS by Max Frisch (Canadian Stage). A man lets two strangers into his home and turns a blind eye to the obvious in this dark comedy about the human ability to ignore acts of evil. Previews Nov 11-14. Opens Nov 15 and runs to Dec 9. $24-$99. Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com.
The Drowning Girls by Beth Graham, Charlie Tomlinson and Daniela Vlaskalic (Alumnae Theatre). Three women murdered by the same husband tell their stories. Opens Nov 16 and runs to Dec 1. $20, Wed 2-for-1, Sun pwyc. Studio, 70 Berkeley. 416-364-4170, alumnaetheatre.com.
**THE LITTLE YEARS by John Mighton (Tarragon Theatre). Growing up in the 50s, a young woman’s interest in science is dismissed by her family. Previews Nov 7-13. Opens Nov 14 and runs to Dec 16. $48-$53, srs $38-$43, stu $27, previews $21-$24, rush $13. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.
And the rest…
Alchemy Sampradaya Dance Creations and Harbourfront Centre NextSteps present contemporary Indian dance with a premiere from Natasha Bakht and choreographies by Akram Khan, Russell Maliphant, Aakash Odedra, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Santosh Nair. Nov 22-24. $20-$35. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.
A Brimful Of Asha by Asha and Ravi Jain (Tarragon Theatre/Why Not Theatre). An Indo-Canadian man discovers that his Indian vacation is actually a wife-seeking scheme by his parents. Previews Nov 25. Opens Nov 27 and runs to Dec 16. $48-$53, srs $38-$43, stu $27, previews $21-$24, rush $13. Tarragon Theatre, Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.
A Hetaerae Event (Theatre Hetaerae/Bring the Buzz). A collective of women present an intellectual striptease on monogamy and infidelity. Opens Nov 14 and runs to Nov 24. Pwyc. Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, passemuraille.on.ca.
Armida by Gioachino Rossini (Opera in Concert). A sorceress attempts to weaken Christian soldiers only to fall in love with their leader in this Italian opera. Nov 25 at 2:30 pm. $40-$52. Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-366-7723, operainconcert.com.
**ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND The National Ballet of Canada presents Christopher Wheeldon’s interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s story. Opens Nov 10 and runs to Nov 25. $25-$239. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-345-9595, national.ballet.ca.
Asiansploitation Goes Back… To Crack You Up Asiansploitation presents a look back at memorable onstage moments in this sketch comedy revue. Opens Nov 23 and runs to Dec 1. $15-$20. George Ignatieff Theatre, 15 Devonshire. 416-978-8849, asiansploitation.com.
BOBLO by Erin Brandenburg and Andrew Penner (Kitchenband/the Theatre Centre). This theatrical concert explores memory by paying tribute to a defunct Detroit theme park. Opens Nov 22 and runs to Dec 2. $25, stu/srs $20. The Great Hall Black Box Theatre, 1087 Queen W. 416-538-0988, theatrecentre.org.
Damien by Aldyth Morris (The Bench Theatre Initiative). This play tells the story of Father Damien de Veuster, the leper priest of Moloka’i. Previews Nov 21. Opens Nov 22 and runs to Dec 1. $12-$15, preview $10. Sanctuary, 25 Charles E. thebenchtheatre.com.
Eigengrau by Penelope Skinner (Red One Theatre Collective). Two pairs of roommates deal with love, feminism and trying to connect in this dark comedy. Opens Nov 8 and runs to Nov 24. $20. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. redonetheatre.com.
Eugene Onegin by PI Tchaikovsky (Opera by Request). A concert version of the opera based on Pushkin’s novel about a selfish young man is performed in Russian. Nov 25 at 7:30 pm. $20. College Street United Church, 454 College. operabyrequest.ca.
Fare Game: Life In Toronto’s Taxis by Ruth Madoc-Jones, Marjorie Chan and Alex Williams (Theatre Passe Muraille). This docudrama multimedia play looks at the lives of taxi drivers and the struggles they face. Previews Nov 16-17. Opens Nov 20 and runs to Dec 8. $30-$35, previews/under 30 $15. Backspace, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, passemuraille.on.ca.
Fiddler On The Roof by Joseph Stein, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (Steppin’ Out Theatrical Productions). A Jewish patriarch clings to tradition in a changing world in this musical. Opens Nov 21 and runs to Nov 25. $27-$32. Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge. 905-787-8811, rhcentre.ca.
Freckleface Strawberry The Musical based on the novel by Julianne Moore (Lower Ossington Theatre). A girl’s friends help her to stop being embarrassed about her freckles. Opens Sep 16 and runs to Dec 23. $29-$59. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.
Into by Dave Carley (Newface Entertainment). Four commuters are forced to band together to survive a long-weekend traffic jam that lasts for days. Opens Nov 20 and runs to Nov 24. $20-$24. Berkeley Street Theatre, Upstairs, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, into-theplay.com.
L’Elisir D’Amore by Gaetano Donizetti (U of T Faculty of Music Opera Division). The comic opera about a love potion is performed in Italian with English surtitles. Nov 22-25. $35, srs $25, stu $10. Edward Johnson Building, MacMillan Theatre, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Lord Of The Flies adapted by Nigel Williams (Lower Ossington Theatre). Stranded on a desert island, a group of school boys descend into violent chaos in this adaptation of Golding’s novel. Opens Nov 22 and runs to Dec 9. $49. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.
Matroni Et Moi by Alexis Martin (Les Indisciplinés de Toronto). A philosophy student gets pulled into organized crime in this dark comedy performed in French. Nov 22-24. $15, stu $10. Polish Combatants Hall, 206 Beverley. lesindisciplinesdetoronto.ca.
Nonna’s Party by Ashley Burton (Gladstone Hotel). Burton brings stories of her feisty Sicilian family to life in this solo comedy. Opens Nov 7 and runs to Dec 19. $35-$55 (ticketweb.ca). 1214 Queen W. 416-531-4635, gladstonehotel.com.
Noye’s Fludde by Benjamin Britten (Trinity-St. Paul’s/VIVA! Youth Singers). RH Thomson plays the Voice of God in this opera about Noah’s duty to build the ark. Nov 23-25. $25, youth $12. Trinity St. Paul’s Church, 427 Bloor W. 416-964-6337, noyesfluddeopera.com.
Oleanna by David Mamet (Jaybird Productions). A student seeks extra help from her professor and then accuses him of sexual harassment. Opens Nov 15 and runs to Nov 24. $18, stu/srs $16. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, jaybirdproductions.ca.
Play Reading Week (Tarragon Theatre). Works in progress by Jordan Tannahill, Rosa Laborde, Matthew MacKenzie, Tracey Power, Ines Buchli and Marcel-Romain Thériault get staged readings. Opens Nov 20 and runs to Nov 25. Free. Near Studio, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.
Shaolin Warriors (Sony Centre for the Performing Arts). The Chinese troupe combines martial arts, music and theatre in a live show. Nov 23 at 7:30 pm. $35-$80. 1 Front E. 1-855-872-7669, sonycentre.ca.
**Snow White: The Deliciously Dopey Family Musical by Rick Miller (Ross Petty Productions). Pop culture references permeate this holiday pantomime version of the classic fairy tale. Previews Nov 23-28. Opens Nov 29 and runs to Jan 5. $27-$85. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge. 1-855-599-9090, rosspetty.com.
**Tagged & It’s Complicated by Matty Burns and Ben Wright (Out of Reach Theatre). Two twentysomethings look for love in the online dating world in this musical comedy. Opens Nov 24 and runs to Dec 1. $12-$15. Palmerston Library Theatre, 560 Palmerston. outofreachtheatre.com.
**Terminus (Outside the March/Mirvish). A mother with a heavy heart, a lonely woman and a dangerous loner experience a supernatural night in Dublin in this Irish rap-opera. Previews Nov 21-22. Opens Nov 23 and runs to Dec 9. $69, rush $29. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
The Fine Art Of Murder (Mysteriously Yours… Dinner Theatre). This dinner-theatre whodunit features a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Opens Sep 21 and runs to Dec 29. $66-$71. 2026 Yonge. 416-486-7469, mysteriouslyyours.com.
The Lesson by Eugene Ionesco (Modern Times Stage Company). Language drives the action and becomes an instrument of tyranny in this absurdist one-act play. Previews Nov 10-13. Opens Nov 14 and runs to Dec 1. $25-$35, Sun pwyc-$25. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, moderntimesstage.com.
The Little Play That Could by Jenny Alexander (Winchester/Sum of Us Collective). A Catholic/Hindu scholar and his alcoholic cousin discuss the creative process and finding one’s voice in this dark comedy. Opens Nov 12 and runs to Nov 24. $10. Winchester Kitchen & Bar, 51A Winchester. winchesterkitchen.com.
The Sacrifice Zone by Suzie Miller (Theatre Gargantua). This work in development explores the pursuit of justice in a manufactured resource industry town. Nov 23-24 at 8 pm. $20. Factory Theatre, Studio, 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, theatregargantua.ca.
The Whole Shebang – One:Two:One Dreamwalker Dance Company and Volcano Theatre present a look at the notion of identity by exploring twinning, mirroring and unison in works by Kate Alton, Andrea Nann, Benjamin Kamino and others. Nov 23-25. $25, stu/srs $20. Dancemakers Centre for Creation, 9 Trinity, studio 313. eventbrite.ca/org/2737388520.
Werk. Silhouettes Dance Company presents a different take on a day at the office. Nov 22. $10. Rivoli, 332 Queen W. silhouettes.sa.utoronto.ca.
The staging, special effects, and acting in “Lord of the Flies” (now playing at The Lower Ossington Theatre) were top notch!
Most memorable performances by the actors playing savage Jack, terrorized Piggy, and terrified Perceval (note the quiet yet profound performance by this youngest cast member, Jory Finkelstein!).
A MUST SEE!