Playlistings in Toronto for the week of February 19th

Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of February 19th, 2018

This week’s selections include opera, and no shortage of stories challenging gender, race, and new condos. There is much to choose from, so here to help you chose is our Assistant Editor Jess, with a few of her top picks in red. Check them out below the cut:

Already reviewed by Mooney on theatre:

Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi (Canadian Opera Company). A father’s anger and vengeance lead to murder and tragedy in this Italian opera. Opens Jan 20 and runs to Feb 23, see website for schedule. $22-$350. At The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

Hang by debbie tucker green (Obsidian Theatre). This drama delves into the heart of a woman’s unthinkable decision. Directed by Philip Akin and choreographer Kimberley Rampersad. Previews from Feb 6, opens Feb 9 and runs to Feb 28, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $20-$35. At The Berkeley Street Theatre. Show Info.

 

And everything else:

Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth (The Company Theatre/Outside the March/Starvox). An aging daredevil fights the community council bent on bulldozing his land and putting up condos. Previews from Feb 13, opens Feb 15 and runs to Mar 10, Mon-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Wed & Sat 1:30 pm. $25-$60, at crowstheatre.com. At The Streetcar Crowsnest. Show Info.

Bunny by Hannah Moscovitch (Tarragon). A woman is caught between her sexual desires and what is socially acceptable. Previews from Feb 21, opens Feb 28 and runs to Apr 1, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2:30 pm (see website for other mats). $20-$60. MainSpace. At Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

No Foreigners by David Yee (fu-GEN Theatre/Hong Kong Exile/Theatre Conspiracy). This interdisciplinary collaboration by the companies and playwright David Yee considers Chinese shopping malls as racialized spaces of cultural creation and clash. Opens Feb 21 and runs to Feb 25, Wed-Sat 7 pm, Sun 2 pm. $28, stu/srs/arts workers $18. At The Theatre Centre. Show Info.

Homewrecker by Daniel Pagett (Coyote Collective/Leroy Street Theatre/Scapegoat Collective). New play that challenges perceptions of gender, status, relationships and the very nature of love. Previews Feb 21-22, opens Feb 23 and runs to Mar 10, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $15-$20, previews pwyc. At The Assembly Theatre. Show Info. 

After Wrestling by Bryce Hodgson and Charlie Kerr (Blood Pact Theatre/Storefront Theatre). Slacker-comedy turned suicide-mystery that finds itself in a booze- and grief- fuelled magic realism debate on love, life and after-death. Previews from Feb 24, opens Mar 1 and runs to Mar 18, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $30-$50, preview $20. At Factory Theatre. Show Info.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare (The Chekhov Collective). The classic romantic comedy about lovers in a magical forest is framed in a feminine perspective. Previews from Feb 21, opens Feb 22 and runs to Mar 11, Wed-Sun 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $25-$40, at brownpapertickets.com. At The Citadel Theatre. Show Info.

Fierce by George F Walker (Criminal Girlfriends). Two women who share troubled pasts and a mutual distaste of politeness square off in this drama. Previews from Feb 15, opens Feb 17 and runs to Mar 3, Mon-Sat 8 pm. $15-$25, preview pwyc. At The Red Sandcastle Theatre. Show Info.

One Thing Leads To Another. Young People’s Theatre presents it’s popular show for babies, by Maja Ardal, Audrey Dwyer, Mary Francis Moore and Julia Tribe. Young play-goers experience everyday objects being transformed into fabulous, theatrical phenomena. Recommended for ages 3-12 months but suitable for up to 24 months. Opens Feb 17 and runs to Mar 3, see website for times. $20, babies/youth 18 & under $5. At Young Person’s Theatre. Show Info.

Cottagers And Indians by Drew Hayden Taylor (Tarragon). Comedy/drama looking at conflicts between native traditional water usage and property owners in cottage country. Previews from Feb 13, opens Feb 21 and runs to Mar 25, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm (see website for other mats). $20-$60. At Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

Come From Away by Irene Sankoff and David Hein (Mirvish). Newfoundlanders open their homes to stranded passengers following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Previews from Feb 13, opens Feb 18 and runs to Sep 2, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed 1:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $69 and up. At The Royal Alexandra Theatre. Show Info.

Rhubarb Festival. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre presents the 39th edition of Canada’s longest-running new works festival. Rhubarb transforms Buddies into a hotbed of experimentation, with artists exploring new possibilities in theatre, dance, music and performance art. Artists include Lois Weaver, Tamyka Bullen, Waawaate Fobister, lo bil, Kwaku Okyere, Monica Garrido, Pearle Harbour, Esie Mensah, LAL, Vivek Shraya and many others. Feb 14-25. Wed-Sun evening pass $20, Emerging Creators Unit Presentations are pwyc. At Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Show Info.

Little Gem by Elaine Murphy (Toronto Irish Players). The story of a year in the lives of three women of three generations in one family. Previews Feb 15, opens Feb 16 and runs to Mar 3, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $23-$25, opening $50 (reception follows performance, preview $10 min. At Alumnae Theatre. Show Info.

The Secret Garden. Young People’s Theatre presents a play by Paul Ledoux, adapted from the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Neglected in her uncle’s gloomy manor, a young girl finds takes refuge in a mysterious hidden garden. Previews from Feb 5, opens Feb 8 and runs to Mar 17, see website for schedule. $10-$45. Recommended for ages 6-12, runs approx. 85 minutes. At The Young People’s Theatre. Show Info.

The Abduction From The Seraglio by WA Mozart (Canadian Opera Company). Cultures collide in Mozart’s singspiel about the story of European captives of a Muslim pasha in the Ottoman Empire. Sung in German w/ English surtitles. Opens Feb 7 and runs to Feb 24, see website for schedule. $22-$350.  At The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac. Coal Mine Theatre presents a theatrical concert performance of the 1977 album. Conceived and guided by Ted Dykstra. Previews from Feb 4, opens Feb 7 and runs to Feb 25, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. $42.50, preview $25. At The Coal Mine Theatre. Show Info.

Into The Woods by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine (Encores by Encore). Characters from fairy tales are shown what would happen should all of their wishes come true. Feb 24-25, Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 and 7:30 pm. $29-$31.25. At The Toronto Centre for the Arts. Show Info.

King Charles III by Mike Bartlett (Studio 180 Theatre/Mirvish). Following the death of the queen, Charles attempts to reassert the crown’s power in this future history play. Previews Feb 10, opens Feb 15 and runs to Mar 4, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $39-$92, at mirvish.com. At The CAA Theatre. Show Info.

Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings.