Mr. Toronto

Although I try to be as “diverse” as possible with topics for my blog, I keep on coming back to live theatre, because there is just so darn much of it here.  And, unfortunately, most of these shows are only here for a little while (gone are the 10 year + runs of Phantom of the Opera and Mousetrap!), so if I don’t let you know about them often – poof, they’re gone!

First, a word about a couple shows playing now.  Just saw The Blue Dragon at the Royal Alexandra theatre.  I had never before seen a Robert Lepage production, and couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about. Now I get it.  Wonderful story (in 3, easy to follow languages – English, French and Chinese!) and INCREDIBLE staging. Running until Feb 19. http://mirvish.com/shows/thebluedragon

The other show which I can’t speak highly enough of about is Penny Plain.  I believe I blogged a couple years back about Ronnie Burkett, who is truly the world’s premiere puppet master (not that he has a ton of competition…).  Words cannot express how miraculous his shows are – within minutes you forget you are watching (perfectly crafted miniature) puppets, and only concentrate on the themes of death, sex, destruction – oh yeah, these shows are NOT for the kiddies!  On stage til Feb 26

http://www.factorytheatre.ca

Now for a few shows I am about to see, that you might be interested in:

Visiting Mr. Green, playing until February 18 (told you these were short run!) http://www.hgjewishtheatre.com/visitingmrgreen.html

The main reason you’ll want to see this is an opportunity to see acting icon Theodore Bikel (Fiddler on the Roof, anyone?) before it’s too late.  Not to be morose, but the guy is like 86 years old….

In the Heights, Feb 7-19 http://dancaptickets.com/pages/intheheights is yet another Broadway show (following in the footsteps of American Idiot, Addams Family…) that the Dancap group is bringing to town.  Have heard wonderful things about this modern twist on West Side Story…

Potted Potter Feb 11- March 4 at the intimate Panasonic Theatre is the “ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books into seventy madcap minutes…aided by multiple costume changes, brilliant songs, ridiculous props and a generous helping of Hogwarts magic.” Was a smash in London, and they know their Harry! http://mirvish.com/shows/pottedpotter

Finally, War Horse, (yet another “brought to you by Mirvish Productions” show), is perhaps the most anticipated show of the year, having received rave reviews in London and New York, and now a Steven Spielberg movie…and best of all, this show – which starts Feb 10 at the Princess of Wales theater – might actually stick around for longer than a few weeks! http://mirvish.com/shows/warhorse

So get your bum over here and stick it in a seat or two!

Mr. Toronto