Reviews

  • The Play:
    Flux, an in-concert reading of an operatic musical about
    Scottish history and war by Margaret Sweatman. The play is almost as
    confusing as the panel you are about to read.

    Flux, just another confusing kilt-wearing "opera"
  • Through his Gracing the Stage newsletter, Steve Fisher is an institution on the Toronto performing arts scene. We’re thrilled to provide Steve’s mini-reviews on this year’s SummerWorks Festival.

    (never underestimate) The Power; Photo: istoica
  • For the second review in a row I have to issue a spoiler warning (ironically, for similar reasons). So, if you’re seeing Crush stop reading, immediately.

    Crush, dangerous triangle
  • How exciting to leave a performance feeling energized and smitten, only to become embroiled in a long and animated show-inspired debate in the parking lot. Standing over the gleaming, rain spattered bulk of my mother’s car, watching for the meter maid, I couldn’t resist picking my (probably smarter) friend’s brain.

    Medina Hahn contemplates whether Daniel Arnold is a dream man or a creep, photo: Stephanie Hall
  • Through his Gracing the Stage newsletter, Steve Fisher is an institution on the Toronto performing arts scene. We’re thrilled to provide Steve’s mini-reviews on this year’s SummerWorks Festival.

    Obligatory bikini photo, Sex and the Saudi.
  • We don’t usually have spoiler warnings here at Plank but I feel obliged to provide one with this review because my problem with Raising Luke is the subject of a big reveal towards the end of the play. So, if you like to be surprised and plan to see this play, come back later.

    Raising Luke, take Plank's advice, Claire and dump the MoFo; photo: Keith Barker
  • Through his Gracing the Stage newsletter, Steve Fisher is an institution on the Toronto performing arts scene. We’re thrilled to provide Steve’s mini-reviews on this year’s SummerWorks Festival.

    The Girl with no Hands, photo: Christophe Jivraj
  • *The Play:* Marla’s Party, an offbeat domestic comedy by Darrah Teitel.

    *The Panel:*
    *Alison Broverman* is a Toronto-based playwright and arts reporter.
    *Andrew Templeton* is a Vancouver-based playwright and accidental reviewer

    Marla's Party, nothing like a family reunion to make you realize you're nuts!
  • When will you flee? This is the central question of Doug McKeag’s anxiety comedy, Doom 2012. This one-man show is an exploration of the catalogue of misery that awaits us if we don’t learn to read the signs. Although it references Biblical revelations, promises of rapture and Mayan calendars (from where the date 2012 originates) its main focus is on much more scientific or “rationale” predictions of doom such as global warming, peak oil and disease pathologies.

    Doom 2012, more proof that people from Calgary are scary.
  • The Show:
    Talk 60 to Me is a verbatim play constructed by Oonagh Duncan from hours of interviews with 60-year-olds from all over Toronto.

    Talk Sixty, they think about sex and Alison is curious.

Pages