All posts by Mira Saraf

Review: The Lawyer Show 2013: 12th Night or What You Will (Nightwood)

lawyer show

Barristers get Bardy with this year’s Lawyer Show at the Berkeley Street Theatre in Toronto

The Lawyer Show is one of my favourite theatre events of the year. Staged annually at Berkeley Street Theatre and produced by Nightwood Theatre, the play features an all-lawyer cast who volunteer their time to rehearse for three months.

This year it was 12th Night Or What You Will. It is a comedy of conflicting desires, comic mix-ups and the usual dose of characters whose primary purpose is simply to create mischief.  Continue reading Review: The Lawyer Show 2013: 12th Night or What You Will (Nightwood)

Review: The Rocky Horror Show (Fallen Rock Productions)

Fallen Rock’s production of The Rocky Horror Show is garnering standing ovations at Toronto’s Randolph Theatre

It is difficult to feel sad or melancholy during any performance of the Rocky Horror Show – but Fallen Rock‘s production at the Randolph Theatre went above and beyond all expectations. The show was performed in celebration of Fallen Rock’s 10th anniversary, and in benefit of the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO). Continue reading Review: The Rocky Horror Show (Fallen Rock Productions)

Review: Beyond Bollywood – Ismat Apa Ke Naam (Why Not Theatre)

There’s much more to the Indian art scene than Bollywood and Why Not Theatre intends to let Toronto theatre goers know

Composed of three short stories, written by the late feminist Indian writer Ismat Chughtai, Ismat Apa Ke Naam  (by Why Not Theatre) is a blend of a reading and a one-man show. The show was performed at the Regent Parks Arts and Cultural Centre by renowned Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah, his wife Ratna Pathak Shah, and their daughter Heeba Shah. Each performer took us through a different story. The stage and the effects were simple. Lighting is used to convey changes in scene and mood – but generally stay the same within each tale. Continue reading Review: Beyond Bollywood – Ismat Apa Ke Naam (Why Not Theatre)

Review: Apprentice to Murder: You’re Fired (Mysteriously Yours…)

Three courses of murder at Toronto’s Mysteriously Yours… dinner theatre.

If you loved Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and Agatha Christie growing up, and/or love The Apprentice, you’ll definitely enjoy Apprentice To Murder: You’re Fired (Mysteriously Yours…) an interactive Mystery Dinner Theatre show based on Celebrity Apprentice.

Located on Yonge street, just north of Davisville, the Mysteriously Yours… evening consists of a three-course meal (which is, by the way, as delicious as the website claims it is). You start with a soup or salad, have a choice of mains and finish with an extremely indulgent dessert. Alcohol is available but not included in the price of your ticket. Continue reading Review: Apprentice to Murder: You’re Fired (Mysteriously Yours…)

Behind The Scenes of Mýthos: A Crimson Chorus

When I arrived at the Buddies in Bad Times theatre for the Mýthos: A Crimson Chorus workshop showcase on Saturday August 25, it was dominated by dim red lighting, smoke that would erupt out of mysterious places, and random bursts of guitar from the rehearsing band.

At about 7:15pm, writer and director, Heather Jopling came onto the stage to welcome us, point out the audience surveys in our programs and to urge us to leave the theatre immediately following the performance as there was another event immediately following the show. Continue reading Behind The Scenes of Mýthos: A Crimson Chorus