Soulpepper’s The Royale doesn’t pull any punches by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Marco Ramirez’s powerful play is based on the real-life story of boxer Jack Johnson, who became world heavyweight champion in 1910, sparking race riots.

The Men in White plays an uneven game at Factory Theatre by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Anosh Irani crams a lot of deep themes into his cricket-themed play, but the humour falls flat and the production feels unfinished, writes Karen Fricker.

Ain’t Too Proud pays a busy, sometimes breathtaking tribute to the Temptations by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Jukebox musical’s story of the Motown hitmakers stuffs a lot of events and songs into show dominated all the same by the music — especially the talents of the performers.

Last dance, new partner for Akram Khan by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

XENOS, Akram Khan’s last full-length work as a solo dancer came together with help of star Canadian writer Jordan Tannahill. It runs from Oct. 18 to 21 at the Bluma Appel Theatre.

Women, minorities take the reins at last by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

New theatre leadership at Soulpepper and beyond are part of trend in Canadian theatre, one with a chance to connect with new audiences and artists.

Judas Noir is something new and exciting for Toronto theatre by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Leighton Alexander Williams’ production delivers fabulous theatricality on what is surely not an enormous budget, Karen Fricker writes.

The Wolves is a gloriously frank and intense depiction of extraordinary young women by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

The much-lauded play about a girls’ soccer team was a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

‘There were tears’: The battle to bring Hadrian to the Canadian Opera Company stage by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Rufus Wainwright and Daniel MacIvor spent years fine-tuning their ambitious new opera before its world premiere Saturday at the Four Seasons Centre in Toronto.

Play performed in yurt at Aga Khan museum is personal journey fit for a nomad’s home by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Its creator, Erum Khan, says the play Noor’s open rehearsals provide a new kind of energy as interested museumgoers drift in and out.

After Albert Schultz, Soulpepper goes to Britain to find its new executive director by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Emma Stenning comes to Toronto, after scandal drove Schultz from his post, after serving as chief executive at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre in England.

A trio of female theatre friends tackle a play about an intimate female relationship by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Everything came together to allow Maev Beaty and Liisa Repo-Martell to appear in A Beautiful View, directed by Andrea Donaldson.

Portia’s Julius Caesar finds women’s story in remixed Shakespeare by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Outdoor Toronto show’s fresh perspective, partly created by writer Kaitlyn Riordan, shows us an unseen side of ancient Rome.

At SummerWorks, shows can learn from the audience, at an early stage by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

The theatre festival for works in development shows its merits as, while still evolving, two shows got valuable exposure to an audience’s responses and opinions.

Bed and Breakfast a satisfying farce with food for thought by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Real-life couple Gregory Prest and Paolo Santalucia play about 20 characters in Soulpepper run of Mark Crawford’s hit comedy.

Rick Miller’s Boom delivers boomer nostalgia in a slick package by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Shaw Festival’s Hound of the Baskervilles struggles to find its footing in genre and tone by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Is it melodrama, spoof, romp, homage, experiment in onstage cinematic storytelling, exploration of male friendship, or celebration of Holmes as a fact-based hero for our fake news era? write…

These lovebird Mamma Mia! stars aren’t just acting — they’re really in love by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Lucy May Barker and Phillip Ryan, who play Sophie and Sky in the ABBA musical now playing in Toronto, talk about their on- and off-stage relationship.

Shaw Festival’s Henry V is high concept but emotionally remote by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Actors portray soldiers who are rehearsing the title Shakespeare play, thus the whole production is kept at a consistent ironic remove, writes Karen Fricker.

Oh What a Lovely War’s ambitions pay off in dramatic fashion by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Shaw Festival production’s embrace of variety of perspectives makes century-old sacrifices and struggle resonate powerfully now.

New Stratford show Napoli Milionaria! has comedy, tragedy and a lot of Italy by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Festival’s artistic director has personal affection for his parents’ homeland and a beloved playwright there, Eduardo De Filippo.

Rosalynde cast and outdoor setting overcome any problems with tweaked Shakespeare by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Josephine Ridge explains her sudden departure from Luminato by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

“I still have a lot of ideas and energy to give,” says Ridge, who resigned last week as the festival artistic director, in an interview with the Star.

Got World Cup withdrawal? Watch this classic rivalry by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

It’s Montagues vs. Capulets in Shakespeare in High Park’s enjoyable soccer-inspired take on Romeo and Juliet, writes Karen Fricker.

Soulpepper’s Orlando comes to life with Sarah Afful’s lustrous performance by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

The production gains energy in the second act, as the title character becomes female and realizes she’s expected to behave the way she previously expected women to be: “obedient, chaste …

The man who put The King and I back on its musical throne by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Director Bartlett Sher dusted off the dated musical for an acclaimed revival that played Broadway and London before arriving for a run at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre.

Shakespeare’s Coriolanus brought to the present at Stratford by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Director Robert Lepage re-invisions William Shakespeare’s play Coriolanus in his latest production at Statford.

Brontë sisters get written into a corner in Stratford play by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Creative choices mean the lives of famed English writers seldom get very lively, writes Karen Fricker.

Shaw Festival’s O’Flaherty V.C. goes short and silly on a long and serious war by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Kimberley Rampersad’s charming production revives the tradition of a short lunchtime show at the Shaw Festival, writes Karen Fricker.

Pussy Riot’s Maria Alyokhina takes the Toronto stage in the urgent Burning Doors by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Burning Doors at Luminato, in part, tells the story of Oleg Sentsov, a Ukrainian filmmaker imprisoned in Russia on a hunger strike since May 14.

Clever play Nassim lets audience and performer experience it for the first time by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

While the play is not overtly political, writer Nassim Soleimanpour is making points about freedoms we have in the West that we may take for granted.

Stephen Fry tells great stories in Mythos: Men, but just what is he trying to say? by Karen Fricker - Theatre Critic

Stephen Fry’s account of the Trojan War is typically gripping, but Karen Fricker wishes for more personal commentary on the ancient mythology he knows so well.