Ontario theatre: 15 must-see exhibits across the province

Summarize this content material to 540 phrases Summer time in Ontario means it’s excessive season for stay theatre — and never simply at Stratford and Shaw.Stay efficiency blossoms throughout the province within the hotter months, in programming that displays vibrant, different locales and histories. These theatres are sometimes native labours of affection, with staffers and volunteers primarily based locally and deeply educated concerning the pursuits and tastes of native audiences. Summer time theatres supply strong contract employment for skilled actors exterior the common theatre season, and drive tourism to their areas.Comedies, musicals, historic dramas, household exhibits, even a tropical dinner theatre homicide thriller — there’s enormous selection to select from, and you’ll take your decide between stunning out of doors settings and extra conventional venues. The Star requested summer time theatres and festivals throughout the province to suggest a “should see” in every of their seasons. The Blyth Pageant in BlythThis competition makes historical past this summer time with the primary staging of all three of James Reaney’s Donnellys performs since they had been first produced at Tarragon Theatre within the mid-Nineteen Seventies. “The Donnellys: A Trilogy” relies on the true story of an Irish emigrant household that moved to Biddulph Township (then a part of Huron County, the place Blyth is positioned) within the 1800s. The problems and discrimination the household confronted in Eire, plus the challenges of adapting to a altering world, all added as much as a bloody, tragic occasion that was headline information on the time. Pageant inventive director Gil Garratt has tailored the three performs with the blessing of Reaney’s household and property. The identical firm of 10 actors, led by Randy Hughson, will carry out the performs in repertory below Garratt’s route.“Sticks and Stones” runs untilSept. 1; “The St. Nicholas Lodge” runs till Sept. 2; “Handcuffs” runs Aug. 1 to Sept. 3. In August, audiences can see the trilogy over three consecutive nights on the competition’s out of doors Harvest Stage. See blythfestival.com or name 1-877-862-5984. The Capitol Theatre in Port HopeThis celebrated theatre recommends “Little Store of Horrors,” operating Aug. 11 to Sept. 3., directed by inventive director Rob Kempson. The theatre guarantees an all-star Canadian solid in an revolutionary reinvention of the present that includes non-traditional casting. See capitoltheatre.com or name 1-905-885-1071. County Stage Firm in Prince Edward CountyFormerly the Pageant Gamers of Prince Edward County, this firm recommends “The 39 Steps,” Patrick Barlow’s award-winning parody of Alfred Hitchcock’s basic movie. 4 actors play greater than 150 roles in Monica Dottor’s manufacturing, staged on a rotating set designed by Steve Lucas. The manufacturing runs Saturday to Aug. 6 outside on the Eddie Pavilion in Bloomfield. See countystage.ca or e-mail [email protected]. Drayton Leisure in Grand Bend and CambridgeThe firm recommends “Kinky Boots,” operating on the Huron County Playhouse in Grand Bend till July 29 and the Hamilton Household Theatre in Cambridge Aug. 3 to twenty. See draytonentertainment.com or name 1-855-372-9866. Driftwood Theatre Group (throughout!)“Dwelling With Shakespeare,” a one-man present carried out by inventive director Jeremy Smith and co-created with Steven Gallagher, is the decide of this touring firm. It weaves private tales and reminiscences with passages from the Bard’s work. The present, which excursions to Kingston, Bloomfield, Quinte West, Peterborough, Oshawa, Pickering, Ingersoll, Toronto and Burlington from Aug. 5 to 27, rounds off Driftwood’s 30-year custom of touring Shakespeare. The corporate will relaunch with a brand new mandate in 2024. See driftwoodtheatre.com or name 1-844-601-8057. The Foster Pageant in St. CatharinesThis Niagara competition recommends “Jenny’s Home of Pleasure” by Norm Foster, a comedy set in opposition to the backdrop of the Previous West and a companion piece to “Outlaw,” which it produced earlier this summer time (it’s the primary time a theatre has produced the 2 performs in the identical season). Lisa Horner directs the manufacturing, which runs Aug. 9 to twenty at Ridley Faculty’s Mandeville Theatre in St. Catharines. See fosterfestival.com or name 1-844-735-4832, ext. 3. Fourth Line Theatre in MillbrookThe firm recommends its revival of “The Cavan Blazers,” the historic drama that launched the theatre 31 years in the past. Robert Winslow’s play follows the violent conflict between Protestant and Catholic Irish settlements in Cavan Township (the place the theatre is positioned) through the early to mid-Nineteenth century. It performs Aug. 1 to 23 at Winslow Farm in Millbrook. See 4thlinetheatre.on.ca or name 1-800-814-0055. Globus Theatre in BobcaygeonThe firm recommends “The Nice Palm Tree Seashore Tiki Bar Tragedy” (July 19 to 29), a homicide thriller/dinner theatre expertise written by Sarah Fast and carried out by Canadian Comedy Award-winning improvisers. See globustheatre.com or name 1-705-738-2037. Guild Pageant Theatre in ScarboroughThe troupe in Guild Park and Gardens in Scarborough recommends “Alice in Wonderland” (till July 22), a return of their sold-out 2021 hit, which presents the beloved story in a staging appropriate for all ages. See guildfestivaltheatre.ca or name 647-250-7438.Hamilton Fringe Pageant in HamiltonThe organizers of the fest (July 19 to 30) mentioned they couldn’t bear to decide on between the 50-plus exhibits of their 2023 season, which guarantees storytellers and magicians, comedies and improv, dancers and ghost tales, coming-of-age tales, puppets, musicals, children’ exhibits and an existential bowl of noodles (2022 Toronto Fringe hit “A Good Bowl of Pho”). See hftco.ca.Right here for Now Theatre in StratfordThe different Stratford firm recommends “Margaret Reid,” on till July 29, a pointy and intelligent comedy by Madeleine Brown about two bold ladies and the way the tales we inform ourselves form who we develop into. Monique Lund directs the piece, which includes motion and music as a part of Right here For Now’s 2023 out of doors theatre on the Stratford Perth Museum. See herefornowtheatre.com or name 1-519-272-4368. The Lighthouse Pageant in Port ColborneThe suggestion is “Mattress and Breakfast,” Mark Crawford’s acclaimed, well-travelled comedy a few homosexual couple who inherit a B&B in a small city and uncover that the easy life is extra difficult than they thought. The Port Dover run ends Saturday, nevertheless it performs the Roselawn Theatre in Port Colborne July 19 to 30. See lighthousetheatre.com or name 1-888-779-7703. The Orillia Opera Home in OrilliaThe firm recommends its world premiere manufacturing of Norm Foster’s comedy “Transferring In,” a few 50-something couple whose resolution to cohabitate will get a combined response from their grownup kids. The manufacturing, directed by Jesse Collins, performs via July 21. See orilliaoperahouse.ca or name 1-705-326-8011. Theatre by the Bay in BarrieThis Barrie theatre’s decide is the historic household drama “Bobbie” by Trudee Romanek, primarily based on the true story of Russian immigrant Fanny “Bobbie” Rosenfeld, who represented Canada on the 1928 Olympic Video games. The present runs Aug. 30 to Sept. 10 on the 5 Factors Theatre. See theatrebythebay.com or name 1-705-735-9243. The 1000 Islands Playhouse in Gananoque The Gananoque firm recommends the beloved musical “The Sound of Music,” directed and choreographed by Naomi Costain. The run of the present, which opened on July 4, has been prolonged to Aug. 12. See 1000islandsplayhouse.com or name 1-613-382-7020.SHARE:JOIN THE CONVERSATION Anybody can learn Conversations, however to contribute, you ought to be a registered Torstar account holder. If you don’t but have a Torstar account, you possibly can create one now (it’s free)Signal InRegisterConversations are opinions of our readers and are topic to the Code of Conduct. The Star
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