Toronto is home to Canada's most active English language theatre scene, considered to be the third largest centre for English language theatre in the world, behind New York and London. It also enjoys a lively performing arts scene that ranges from small, independent productions to the hosting of large, international acts.
*Because I Can* features reliably funny Toronto regulars, Sandy Jobin-Bevans, Mike ‘Nug’ Nahrgang, Jim Annan, and Kate Hewlett in Allison McWood’s surreal, almost Monty Pythonesque, comedy about a manipulative podiatrist, his urban-phobic patient, an insecure male nurse, and a Romanian janitor wise beyond his position.
Because they can they will wrestle with a mop for your entertainment
The Williamson Playboys - the self-proclaimed oldest living father and son Cajun music duo (also known as comedians Doug Morency and Paul Bates) - delight with hilarious songs played on tuba and mandolin, and equally funny improvised banter between numbers assisted by MC Sandy Jobin-Bevans.
I’m a sucker for a bit of fast-talkin’, jazz-handin’ vaudville, and this was exactly what was promised on the flyer for *The Parker and Seville Show*. Trying in earnest to emulate classical greats like Laurel and Hardy or Abbott and Costello, Dave Barclay and Matt Kowall inserted their own brand of absurdity and vulgarity into an ancient formula.
Parker and Seville: there's no business like show business
In the Moment Theatre is back at it, following up their 2005 Fringe show _Shadow Court_ with further unabashed geekery in *Out of Character*. Delving into the mysterious and bizarre world of LARPing (Live Action Roleplaying, for the non-geeks), the play foregoes easy humour at the expense of these social outcasts and delivers a surprisingly poignant love story.
Following up last year’s hour long standup show _It's Sara Hennessey Time_, comic Sara Hennessey returns with a more theatrical offering with character pieces, prop comedy, a miniature cutout town, and video interludes.
Actor and musical performer Jeff Jones bares his soul in this sometimes funny, often abstract, almost schizophrenic monologue about loss, regret, and the beauty of collective thought.
After a mysterious fire burns down St. Agatha’s church, its new pastor and hard-core parishioners attempt to raise 4 million dollars of reconstruction money by throwing an old fashioned church-basement Bingo evening.
It’s a wonderful experience to walk out of a theatre with a big smile plastered across your face. It doesn’t happen often enough, but the rarity makes you really appreciate the gems that achieve it, and *Just East of Broadway* is one such example.
Toronto alt-comedian Winston Spear’s performance piece features him and two associates fooling around (carefully choreographed fooling that is) with flashing toys and gadgets of every ilk to the constant accompaniment of techno beats.
