Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of April 8th, 2013. ** 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 Covered by MoT
**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. Opens Apr 10 and runs to Apr 28. $27-$53, rush $13, Apr 13 mat pwyc. Tarragon Theatre, Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.
Arigato, Tokyo by Daniel MacIvor (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). A visiting Canadian author is pulled into a world of obsession, sex and longing in this play that fuses Japan and the West. Previews Mar 16-20. Opens Mar 21 and runs to Apr 14. Pwyc-$37. 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.
**Chile Con Carne by Carmen Aguirre (Alameda Theatre). A Chilean girl whose family fled the 1973 coup strives to save a tree in Vancouver in this dark comedy. Previews Mar 30-31. Opens Apr 2 and runs to Apr 14. $22-$29, stu/srs/previews $15-$17, Sun pwyc. Factory Theatre, Studio, 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, alamedatheatre.com.
**La Ronde by Arthur Schnitzler (Soulpepper). This adaptation sets the vignettes about 10 interconnected sexual liaisons in Toronto and examines our obsession with sex and sexuality. Opens Mar 26 and runs to May 4. $51-$68, stu $32 (rush $22, stu $5). Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
Legoland by Jacob Richmond (Atomic Vaudeville/Theatre Passe Muraille). Misfit siblings are extradited to Canada after attacking an American pop star in this contemporary vaudeville show. Opens Apr 2 and runs to Apr 13. $15-$35, mat pwyc.Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, passemuraille.on.ca.
Rent by Jonathan Larson (Lower Ossington Theatre). Artists of NYC’s Lower East Side struggle to make ends meet in the shadow of the AIDS epidemic in this musical. Opens Mar 28 and runs to Jun 2. $49-$60. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.
The Magic Flute by WA Mozart (Opera Atelier). The fairy-tale opera about perseverance and true love is performed in English with English surtitles. Opens Apr 6 and runs to Apr 13. $35-$155. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge. 1-855-622-2787, operaatelier.com.
The Meme-Ing Of Life Second City presents its spring mainstage revue about the wins and epic fails of living on and off the digital highway. Opens Mar 6 and runs to Jun 30. $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
**The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez (Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company/Obsidian Theatre). A Jewish Confederate officer celebrates Passover with his former slaves in Civil War-era Virgina. Previews Mar 16-20. Opens Mar 21 and runs to Apr 14. $42.50-$62.50. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. 416-733-0545, hgjewishtheatre.com.
The Wizard Of Oz adapted by Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Really Useful Group/Mirvish/Troika Entertainment/Warner Bros/Bill Kenwright). A twister sends Dorothy over the rainbow in this musical based on the film. Previews Dec 20-Jan 12. Opens Jan 13 and runs to Jun 2. $35-$130. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
**This by Melissa James Gibson (Canadian Stage). A group of 30-something friends navigate their way through death, parenthood and adultery in this unromantic comedy. Previews Mar 18-20. Opens Mar 21 and runs to Apr 13. $22-$49. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com.
True West by Sam Shepard (Soulpepper). Two recently reconciled brothers fight over art, freedom, family and human nature. Opens Mar 25 and runs to May 4. $51-$68, stu $32 (rush $22, stu $5). Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
And the rest…
¡Theatresports! Spring Tournament Bad Dog Theatre presents the 30th year of the improv comedy competition. Opens Mar 9 and runs to May 25. $12, stu $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 647-898-5324, baddogtheatre.com.
A Dance Tribute To The Art Of Football Jo Strømgen Kompani and Harbourfront World Stage present vignettes celebrating the form, physical patterns and locker room rituals of soccer. Opens Apr 10 and runs to Apr 13. $15-$35. Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.
Akshongay DanceWorks, Nova Dance and Harbourfront NextSteps present a duet created and performed by Nova Bhattacharya and Louis Laberge-Côté. Apr 11-13. $19.50-$34. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, danceworks.ca.
AlterNatives by Dvora Levinson (act2studio works) Four people meet on a train headed west in the late thirties. Questions of identity, nationalism, and the clash of cultures arise. Opens April 11 and runs to April 13. $15-$20., The Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen St. E. (at Logan) 416-979-5000 x6297 act2@ryerson.ca
Bad Ladies and the Detective by Nanako Ijichi (Good Ladies Productions). In a future dystopia, artists escape government surveillance and join an underground cabaret in this burlesque revue. Apr 13 at 7 and 10 pm. $20-$25. Annex Theatre, 730 Bathurst. goodladiesproductions.com.
Big In Germany by Rob Salerno (Ten Foot Pole Theatre). A Canadian rock band finds fame in Germany, but struggle at home in this satire of the Canadian entertainment industry. Previews Apr 9. Opens Apr 11 and runs to Apr 21. $20-$25, stu $15, preview $10, mat pwyc. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, tenfootpole.ca.
Blue Planet by Andri Snaer Magnason (Young People’s Theatre). On a planet run by children, a newcomer upsets the balance by granting the kids’ biggest wish, at a price. Previews Apr 8-10. Opens Apr 11 and runs to May 2. $10-$20. 165 Front E. 416-862-2222, youngpeoplestheatre.ca.
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story by Alan Janes (Lower Ossington Theatre). The life and music of the rock pioneer are celebrated in this jukebox musical. Opens Mar 28 and runs to Apr 21. $49-$60. Randolph Theatre, 736 Bathurst. lowerossingtontheatre.com.
COBA Rehearsal Collective of Black Artists presents a sneak peak at the upcoming production Evoque – Passions Deep Within, plus a venue tour and Q&A with artists. Apr 10. $5 full program, performance only free. Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E. cobarehearsal2013.eventbrite.ca.
Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee (Theatre Scarborough) This courtroom drama is a fictionalized account of the controversial 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial. Opens April 4 and runs to April 20. $18 Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston Rd. (at Markham Rd.) theatrescarborough.com/
Kyle & Mark Do New Sketches And Just Kill It Comedy Bar presents a weekly all-ages sketch show w/ Kyle Dooley and Mark Little. Opens Apr 3 and runs to Apr 24. $5. 945 Bloor W. facebook.com/events/434477086629718.
Les Improbables Supermarket presents improv comedy en français, w/ Les Bleus vs Les Rouges. Apr 9 7:30 pm. $5. 268 Augusta. 416-840-0501, ligueimprotoronto@gmail.com.
Let’s Du-et! (Toronto Burlesque Festival). This funder for the festival features duet performances by Coco Framboise and Mahogany Storm, Maria Juana and Chow Mein, and many others. Apr 12 at 9 pm. $25-$30. Gladstone Hotel, Ballroom, 1214 Queen W. letsduet.eventbrite.com.
Love Takes The Worry Out Of Being Close: Public Assemblies In Bed With Queers by Reena Katz (HATCH). Talk politics with LGBTQ people in this performance installation based on John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s bed-ins. Opens Apr 9 and runs to Apr 13. Finale $15, stu/srs $12; bed-ins free. Harbourfront Centre, Studio Theatre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.
Once Upon A Murder (Mysteriously Yours… Dinner Theatre). Preparations for a royal wedding are interrupted by a murder in this interactive dinner-theatre mystery. Opens Jan 25 and runs to May 31. $40-$71. 2026 Yonge. 416-486-7469, mysteriouslyyours.com.
Playboy Of The Western World by John Millington Synge (George Brown Theatre School). Irish villagers are initially charmed by a young man’s tale of murder, but turn on him as details emerge. Opens Apr 10 and runs to Apr 20. $18, srs $12 stu $7. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, youngcentre.ca.
**Race by David Mamet (Canadian Stage). A wealthy white man accused of raping a black woman hires a defense team consisting of one black and one white lawyer. Previews Apr 7-10. Opens Apr 11 and runs to May 5. $24-$99. Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com.
Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind (George Brown Theatre School). A group of 19th-century German teens explore their budding sexuality and deal with the consequences. Opens Apr 9 and runs to Apr 20. $18, srs $12 stu $7. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, youngcentre.ca.
Spur Festival – All The World’s A Stage (Diaspora Diologues/The Literary Review Of Canada). Playwright Ins Choi brings new characters to life in this walking theatrical piece. Apr 13 at 10 am. $30, stu $25. Philosopher’s Walk, 80 Queen’s Park. spurfestival.ca.
The Best Of The Second City presents classic and original sketch and trademark improvisation. Mon 8 pm. $14. Second City, 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
The Killdeer by James Reaney (Alumnae Theatre). This macabre comedy tells the tale of an Ontario town’s tangled web of murder and mystery. Opens Apr 12 and runs to Apr 27. $20, Wed 2-for-1, Sun pwyc. 70 Berkeley. 416-364-4170, alumnaetheatre.com.
The Process Revealed: Brussels/Toronto Project Toronto Dance Theatre presents excerpts from new works by Thomas Hauert and Etienne Guilloteau and a talk about the artistic process. Apr 8 at 7 pm. Free. Winchester Street Theatre, 80 Winchester. 416-967-1365, tdt.org.
The Simian Showcase (Monkeyman Productions). Short plays by Adam Esquenazi Douglas, Michael Trottier, Chloë Whitehorn and DJ Sylvis deal with themes of geek, fandom and popular culture. Opens Apr 12 and runs to Apr 20. $10. Imperial Pub, 54 Dundas E. monkeymanproductions.com.
The War Of 1812: The History Of The Village Of The Small Huts, 1812-1815 by Michael Hollingsworth (VideoCabaret). This history play looks at the war and its effects on a First Nations confederation that fought in defence of Canada. Previews Apr 9-16. Opens Apr 17 and runs to May 18. $30-$50, preview/stu mats $20. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, youngcentre.ca.
Throne of Games Season 2 Bad Dog Theatre presents serialized, unscripted shows inspired by the HBO series, w/ Paul Bates, Evany Rosen, Sarah Hillier and Bruce Hunter. Apr 3-May 8. $12, stu $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, baddogtheatre.com.
Toronto Comedy Brawl: Gauntlet Qualifying Rounds Empire Comedy Live presents amateur comedians competing for $1,000. Eight comics per night. Opens Mar 25 and runs to Apr 17. $5. Crown & Tiger, 414 College. empirecomedylive.com.
Windows Of Time YMI Dancing presents two new works by Andrea Nann and Mairéad Filgate and a repertoire of Pia Bouman’s classics. Apr 11-14. $20-$25, stu/srs $15, Sun pwyc. Pia Bouman Studio, 6 Noble. 416-533-3706, ymidancing.com.
Young Frankenstein by Mel Brooks, Irving Berlin and Thomas Meehan (Alexander Showcase Theatre). The doctor’s grandson inherits the family castle and repeats the old experiments in this musical comedy based on the 1974 film. Opens Apr 11 and runs to Apr 21. $32, stu/srs $27. Al Green Theatre, 750 Spadina. 416-324-1259, alexandershowcasetheatre.com.