‘The Second City Totally Likes You’ may not be true love, but it makes a fun date by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

The latest sketch revue by the Second City Touring Company that tackles the comedic ground of romantic relationships and runs until April 5.

‘This Is How We Got Here’ explores Indigenous grief in suicide’s wake by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

It’s intense, but don’t expect any answers to the big questions it examines.

Pulitzer-winning ‘Sweat’ lays bare the first sting of capitalism’s failures in Toronto debut by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

Alternating between 2000 and 2008, before and after a local factory lays off hundreds for outsourcing, automization and cheaper non-unionized jobs, Nottage’s script is a modern tragedy in …

‘Immense anger’ propelled Pulitzer-winning play about factory closures now in Toronto by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

Lynn Nottage’s “Sweat” has proven its deep relevance about job losses that definitely hit home in southern Ontario.

‘My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding’ is back and as political as ever by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

Early creation by ‘Come From Away’ team returns to Toronto for a Project Parenthood benefit on Jan. 21.

‘The Solitudes’ takes classic novel one step forward — and puts women at the centre by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

Eight women tracing their historical legacies and taking it from there.

‘Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes’ is a familiar story of seduction — until it isn’t by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

A middle-aged literature prof and a young, adoring student — we’ve seen this before, but Hannah Moscovitch’s well-executed conventional story has a twist in store.

Jack and the BeansTalk a delightful pantomime fairytale riff, if sometimes rough by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

From the husband-and-wife creative team of Rob Torr and Stephanie Graham, to the low-fi, hand-painted backdrops, Torrent Productions has as much grassroots neighbourhood charm where the Ross…

Toronto debut of ‘Bend It Like Beckham the Musical’ doesn’t live up to the charm of the film by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

It’s not for lack of talent on the part of the cast, but this North American premiere lacks the production values to do justice to the source material, writes Carly Maga.

The Ward Cabaret is a haunting and musical history of immigrants who settled in Toronto by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

Their neighbourhood was torn down in the ’50s, but David Buchbinder’s production brings the streets back to life.

‘Cash Me If You Can’ is a remarkable tale that could use a trim and an update by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

“Cash Me If You Can,” written, directed and performed Patrick Combs, could use an outside editor.

How ‘The SpongeBob Musical’ brought director Tina Landau back to her avant-garde roots by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

In taking on a Broadway musical about a cartoon sponge, Tina Landau found a connection to ‘a place where otherness, be it in human form or in theatrical conceit, was embraced,’ she tells…

How a mostly Black, hip-hop version of ‘Macbeth’ got cancelled after a white director used the N-word by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

Some praised leadership for pulling the two plays while others criticized them for pursuing an agenda that they say puts other livelihoods at risk.

Take two beloved Italian grandmothers, add a variety show and you have ‘The Nonna Monologues’ by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

“At Christmas, our nonnas are the most important figures. They organize everything, they are at the centre,” says actor Danya Buonastella.

‘Stars: Together’ lets Canadian indie-rock survivors assess the damage in intriguing fashion by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

‘Mock rock doc’ at Toronto’s Streetcar Crowsnest lets veteran musicians tell their story — glories and heartbreaks all included — in semi-fictionalized style.

Teen drama A Million Billion Pieces is long on drama and short on feeling by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

‘Cats’ is still exciting to watch thanks to young performers in their prime by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical still doesn’t make sense, but in our current cultural moment why are we expecting it to? asks Carly Maga.

Ross Petty’s ‘Lil’ Red Robin Hood’ aims its arrows at dwindling arts education by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

Compelling, cramped rebellion against reason is a solid Toronto premiere for Pulitzer-winning play by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

‘Between Riverside and Crazy’ arrives in Toronto and demonstrates why Stephen Adly Guirgis’s creation is worth the hype, writes Carly Maga.

Black Lives Matter, Pride and how to talk about them go under microscope in provocative new play by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

‘Every Day She Rose’ examines Black Lives Matter’s disruption of the 2016 Pride parade from at least two perspectives.

‘I remember crying my eyes out’: ‘Soldier On’ deploys military veterans to bring traumas to life onstage by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

Half the cast have served, lending power to portrayal of PTSD, the ‘very specific’ military humour and more at Berkeley Street Theatre.

‘What the hell is the show?’: ‘Cats’ has always astounded people, says Andy Blankenbuehler by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

Blankenbuehler has choreographed both the new movie and the ‘Cats’ tour coming to Toronto. And people’s perplexity with the show has only increased.

Like the Bollywood films it imitates, Taj Express works best when its beautiful cast is singing and dancing by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

“Here Are the Fragments” is mmersive theatre that’s worth the trip by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

Over 90 minutes, the space is free to explore, but the scenes themselves often pull focus; it’s a curious effect that audience members are naturally drawn to follow the expert in the white…

‘Between Breaths’ lifts the tale of Newfoundland’s Whale Man above the typical bio-play by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

‘Buffoon’ and its hard-luck clown are not just a laughing matter by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

The tone of Anand Rajaram’s laughs as a child of the circus evolve from innocence to striking angry and unhinged notes.

Anosh Irani grew up surrounded by clowns in India. Now he’s putting one onstage in Toronto by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

Clowns ‘are born with a lens that is different from how other human beings view the world,’ says Irani, whose play ‘Buffoon’ stars Anand Rajaram at Tarragon Theatre.

‘The Harrowing of Brimstone McReedy’ is skilful and spooky, even with the odd misstep by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

One-man piece showcases the engaging talents of Eric Woolfe, who pulls the audience in even if some of his sentiments might push them away.

‘The Wager’ broaches the current environmental crisis but doesn’t go deep enough by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

‘Copy That’ made me angry but not in the way it probably intended by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

Jason Sherman’s play would have been more provocative 10 or 15 years ago, when it was a novel concept that inequality permeates every branch of our society, especially the stories we disse…

“Besbouss: Autopsy of a Revolt” speaks to both present and political history by Carly Maga - Theatre Critic

Production based on 2010’s Arab Spring appreciates the sacrifices happening around the world to attain what many Canadians already have.