I promise you right now that it was not because I really thought that there was any chance of seeing hardcore sex on stage at the Theatre Centre that made me want to see Ghostlight Projects production’s of Debbie Does Dallas the Musical & Hedwig and the Angry Inch.  Honestly! My curiosity was piqued because I really didn’t have any idea how you could bring either of these shows to the stage successfully. Of course, Hedwig started as a stage production, but I didn’t know that at the time.

If you haven’t heard of Ghostlight Projects productions by the way, it’s because they’re brand new. Bringing to the stage versions of two cult movies, (one which features lots of sex, and the other lots of great music),  is an excellent way to introduce themselves to Toronto audiences and hopefully make a name for themselves.

Continue reading Debbie Does Dallas the Musical and Hedwig and the Angry Inch by Ghostlight Projects →

By Sam Mooney

Go see The Drowning Girls. 

(My editor says that isn’t enough of a review so…)

The Drowning Girls is a joint production of Tarragon and Bent Out of Shape Productions and it’s wonderful.  Energetic, vibrant, funny, and very wet.

Continue reading The Drowning Girls – Tarragon Theatre →

Review will be coming soon, but since it’s closing on Saturday, and since I enjoyed it so much, I wanted to post a note advising you to go see Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Theatre Centre.  Well worth the trip to Queen west, but take earplugs if you have sensitive ears.

By Darryl D’Souza

Yesterday I had the pleasure of seeing Over, a very well written play at the Somewhere There Theatre (340 Dufferin St.).  The play is about, among other things, the incestuous love between Mann (played by: Eric Double), and his sister Otter (played by: Julia Nish-Lapidus).  This production of Over is the first play to be performed by the newly formed Theatre Caravel theatre company, whose co-founders are actors: Eric Double and Julia Nish-Lapidus.

Over was written about 17 years ago by Toronto based playwright/performance artist Darren O’Donnell.  This was at least the fourth staging, including one in 1994 by acclaimed playwright/filmmaker Daniel MacIvor.

The play is not a serious drama about the transgression of sexual boundaries between a brother and sister, but rather a comedy very much in the tradition of the Theatre of the Absurd.  While I admit that I didn’t laugh as often as the others in the audience, I certainly did appreciate the calibre of writing.

Continue reading Over – Theatre Caravel →