This week marks the opening of manidoons collective’s piece bug co-presented by Theatre Passe Muraille and Native Earth Performing Arts. The piece is created and performed by Yolanda Bonnell.
If you follow theatre in Toronto at all, you’ve probably heard by now that manidoons collective – run by Bonnell and Cole Alvis – had a request:
Continue reading Request for Only IBPOC Reviewers For bug is an Exciting Big Deal
The Secret Life of a Mother is “unapologetically human”The review for Secret Life of a Mother was supposed to be easy. It was supposed to be a slam dunk. It’s an incredible show created by a powerhouse team. With so much talent and heart on display, it’s hard to imagine anyone not finding something to enjoy about it. The shows you love are supposed to be easy to write about.
But for some reason, here I am, submitting this review three days late (being the boss has its perks).
Sweat may not be perfect, but it’s important and worth seeingI wasn’t exactly sure why, but I knew walking out of Sweat, playing at Canadian Stage‘s Berkeley Theatre, that it was going to be a hard piece to write about. In fact, I already knew it at intermission.
It’s a solid production. It was a lovely way to spend an evening, but I was having a hell of a time getting this review written. After having written bits and pieces of this it over the past couple of days, but never managing anything cohesive, the reason finally struck me as I ambled down my stairs: I wanted to like this piece more than I did.
Everything about this production was fine. It was all good. Good directing, good acting, good design, all of it good. But none of it took my breath away. And I could tell it had the potential to.
Continue reading Review: Sweat (Canadian Stage and Studio 180 Theatre)
It’s New Year’s Eve. Time to wave good-bye to 2019, and welcome in 2020. I think a pretty fantastic way to do that is by checking out a live show. I have seen so many “things to do in Toronto on NYE” lists, and they almost all seem to be lists of big expensive parties. So I decided to make my own “things to do in Toronto on NYE” list – Mooney on Theatre style.
My parameters were that it had to be a live stage event; it had to be $35 or less; and, of course, it had to be in Toronto.
I love the idea of going to a show on NYE. I get to go out and experience the atmosphere of revelry and excitement, and, of course, enjoy something on stage. And, I get to still do the official “ring in the New Year” part in my living room (if I manage to stay awake until midnight).
Maybe you are more of a party animal than me (do you have a pulse? You are probably more of a party animal than me then.) Maybe you would like to ring in the New Year surrounded by excited people. You still can. Once the show is over, you can continue to whatever type of NYE celebration suites you best.
Either way, spending some time with live performance seems like an excellent way to usher in the New Year. And, without fanfare or flourish, here are my suggestions of things to check out:
Continue reading Toronto New Year’s Eve 2020 Event Listings – MoT style
When I heard about The Ward Cabaret playing at Harbourfront Centre Theatre, I knew I had to see it. A show that uses dynamic live music in the telling of a slice of Toronto’s history is right up my alley.
This isn’t a musical in the traditional sense. Songs don’t take the place of monologues to move the action forward. But they are certainly a vital part of telling the story. In fact, the press release doesn’t even call it a musical, it says, “This theatre-music event propels audiences into the extraordinary sounds and stories of The Ward.”