All posts by Allison Gerson

The Preposterous Predicament of Polly Peel (Act 1)(The Polly Peel Collective) 2018 Toronto Fringe Review

The Preposterous Predicament of Polly Peel (Act 1) by The Polly Peel Collective at the Toronto Fringe Festival has been on many “Don’t Miss at Fringe” lists. With book by Julie Tepperman and music and lyrics by Kevin Wong, this play was the winner of the Paul O’ Sullivan Prize for Musical Theatre.  Well, in my opinion, it definitely delivers on the high expectations. It’s got a great story, great music, and great performances. Continue reading The Preposterous Predicament of Polly Peel (Act 1)(The Polly Peel Collective) 2018 Toronto Fringe Review

The Makeover Show (Avalonstorm) 2018 Toronto Fringe Review

Photo of Alysa Golden and Jane Smythe in The Makeover Show

Have you ever wanted a makeover? Someone to help you change your look and your life?  After watching The Makeover Show  produced by Avalonstorm and playing at the Toronto Fringe Festival,  you might think twice about it. The play is a funny and moving look at one woman’s real-life appearance on a reality TV makeover show and the challenges and power of such an experience. Continue reading The Makeover Show (Avalonstorm) 2018 Toronto Fringe Review

St. Peon of the People (Theatre a Go-Go) 2018 Toronto Fringe Review

Poster Image for St. Peon of the People

I love walking around downtown Toronto on hot summer nights, and I really like site-specific theatre. So I was very interested in St. Peon of the People produced by Theatre A Go Go playing at the Toronto Fringe Festival. Rather than sitting in a dark room, the audience for the play follows Parking Enforcement Officer Rita Nelson (Jamillah Ross) on a stroll around Queen Street West. Continue reading St. Peon of the People (Theatre a Go-Go) 2018 Toronto Fringe Review

Review: Burning Doors (Belarus Free Theatre/Luminato)

Maria Alyokhina in Burning DoorsBurning Doors is a difficult but deeply relevant play, now on the Toronto stage

Burning Doors, performed by Belarus Free Theatre, and currently being presented as part of the 2018 Luminato Festival is not an easy play to watch. In fact, if I had to describe it in one word, I would choose “painful.” It covers painful subject matter, and the performers must be in physical pain for large parts of the evening. But in spite the pain I felt watching it, I think it was an important play to see. Burning Doors highlights the power of art as political resistance. At a time when there seems to be an unending list of things to protest, it shines a bright, harsh light on both the risks and the necessity of doing so. Continue reading Review: Burning Doors (Belarus Free Theatre/Luminato)