Review: HADESTOWN Train Makes a Toronto Stop with Anaïs Mitchell Aboard!
Our look at the touring production of Hadestown, now playing at Toronto's Royal Alex Theatre thanks to Mirvish Productions.
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Jesus Christ Superstar 50th Anniversary Tour Review
That Shelf Managing Editor Jason Gorber reviews the Jesus Christ Superstar 50th Anniversary Tour production in Toronto.
Toronto Theatre: Girl From The North Country Review
Girl From The North Country absolutely feels like the kind of thing that Bob Dylan’s work would inspire.
Seance Review
The new Toronto stage show is a wonderful ghost story told with grace, poise, and considerable skill.
Seance Interview: Do You Believe in Ghosts?
Illusionist Nicholas Wallace talks about creating an atmosphere and the appeal of the supernatural in the new stage play Seance.
The Dork Shelf Guide to SummerWorks 2014
We take a look at and review some of the stage shows, art installations, performance art, music, and dance taking place at this year's 2014 SummerWorks festival!
SummerWorks 2014: The Water Thief Review
The Water Thief Juried Series A hauntingly clever blend of cinema, live musical accompaniment, and movement, there’s nothing else quite like The Water Thief at this year’s festival. Wordless, fantastical, and existential, this story of an old man in a coastal community that finds his final remaining days on Earth haunted by ghosts from the […]
SummerWorks 2014: Unknown Soldier Review
Unknown Soldier Juried Series Although boasting an electrifying performance from Jeff Ho in the lead of this one man show, writer/director/producer Jonathan Seinen’s fictionalized take on the struggles faced by imprisoned American soldier and whistleblower Chelsea Manning (formerly Bradley) is a well intentioned mixed bag that actually does better when it goes a bit off […]
SummerWorks 2014: Unintentionally Depressing Children’s Tales
Unintentionally Depressing Children’s Tales Juried Series Definitely not for kids, but not as “depressing” as the title suggests, writer Erin Fleck and director Maya Rabinovitch’s whimsically staged telling of four fractured fairy tales with melancholic undertones blends stage reading and gorgeous puppetry beneath a cozy, elaborate blanket fort with the audience gathered around on the […]
SummerWorks 2014: Thus Spoke… Review
Thus Spoke… National Series A potent and vibrant mix of dance, movement, performance art, and monologuing, Thus Spoke… makes its English language debut in Toronto by way of its original staging in Montreal. Two men (Frédérick Gravel, Frédérick Lavallée, with Gravel also serving as the artistic director, choreographer, co-creator, and lighting designer) and two women […]
SummerWorks 2014: Fuck You! You Fucking Perv! Review
Fuck You! You Fucking Perv! Juried Series With a title as in-your-face as Leslie Baker’s look at long standing mental health issues that have been caused as a result of childhood sexual abuse, you should know full well that what you’re going to get is going to be a provocation. And this one really works. […]
SummerWorks 2014: The Container Review
The Container Juried Series Definitely not for those who have issues with claustrophobia, this ingeniously mounted production of Clare Bayley’s politically and ethnically charged British play about refugees under stress and pressure takes on a whole new meaning under Zachary Florence’s tight and brave direction. The claustrophobia remark was not a joke. The show comes […]
SummerWorks 2014: Complex Review
Complex Juried Series This Toronto set culture clash takes place between Sarah (Emily Piggford), a 23 year old U of T graduate student studying math, and Warren (Mazin Elsadig) a troubled 15 year old Chalkfarm teenager, who she’s trying to tutor. They come from vastly different background, but both have to deal with loved ones […]
SummerWorks 2014: Chicken Grease is Nasty Business Review
Chicken Grease is Nasty Business Juried Series An unabashed crowd pleasing comedy with few pretensions, Chicken Grease is Nasty Business follows the madcap exploits of a non-traditional family as they celebrate the less that happy birthday of one of their own. Matriarch and fried chicken maven Modestine (Lili Francks) has devoted her life to adopting […]
SummerWorks 2014: Tour Review
Tour Live Art Series Making its East Coast debut following mountings in Vancouver and Victoria, this positively delightful bit of immersive art doesn’t last very long (maybe only about 20 minutes, tops), but there’s a real warmth and heart to this versatile little show that will stick with your long after your “tour” has ended. […]
