Gracing The Stage

In Comedy,

Exuberant pop collective Hooded Fang (pictured) join The Sunparlour Players, Green Go, Gentleman Reg, and a half dozen other local bands at the Sonic Boom in-store show this Saturday, celebrating International Record Store Day.

Peter Oldring and Pat Kelly, the creators of the popular internet comedy series  “Good Morning World”, have been separated geographically for some time now, but the two comics are in the same city for a brief spell this month, and are celebrating with a one-off show this Saturday night at Comedy Bar, with heavy hitting (comedy wise) openers Pat Thornton and Kathleen Phillips. Pete and Pat also challenge new champs Alana Johnston and Kayla Lorette for the Catch 23 Improv crown this Monday.

Other shows of note this week include Brain Barlow’s “Dick Mime” hosting the Laugh Sabbath show on Sunday; The irrepressibly perky Ryan G. Hinds and the improbably naive Chelsea P. Manders sharing a bill on Tuesday at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre; a strong edition of the weekly Cagematch contest, featuring teams from Impatient Theatre Company squaring off; and the return of actor and comic Ron Pederson, fresh from a triumphant run in his one man show “Extinction Song” in Alberta. Pederson will be returning as a regular cast member to Wednesday’s “Carnegie Hall Show” at Bread and Circus, and to “Impromptu Splendor” at Comedy Bar on Thursday (there’s also a special edition of the Splendid show on Friday at Theatre Passe Muraille, featuring veteran stage actress Fiona Reid and the regular cast performing an improvised play based on Tennessee Williams‘ work).

Lastly, there’s a fundraiser next Friday for the ailing car that Sweetie Pie Press founder (and improviser) Becky Johnson uses to criss-cross the continent. A who’s who of the sketch, improv, and stand-up scenes will perform to help get the broken jalopy tuned up (the car has also transported Iron Cobra to several improv festivals, where the duo tend to claim various best-in-show prizes).

Peter Oldring and Pat Kelly, together again; the "Good Morning World" alumni play a one night only reunion show this Saturday at Comedy Bar. Photo by Kevin Thom.

(Music, Theatre, Film, and the week’s selective listings below.)

In Music,

It’s international Record Store Day on Saturday, and many of Toronto’s independent music emporiums are featuring sales and in-store performances, including Great Bloomers and Rock Plaza Central at Criminal Records, and nearly a dozen of Toronto’s best bands at new and used outlet Sonic Boom at Bloor and Bathurst. Later that night, eccentric music man Friendly Rich and his Lollipop People orchestra will play an early show (8pm-11pm) at the Tranzac Club.

Other shows of note this week in Toronto include a preview of the forthcoming Hamilton Trading Company EP at Keith Hamilton’s regular Sunday night music series “Gather ‘Round” at the Boat; a performance by internationally renowned electronic artist Four Tet at Wrongbar on Thursday; and a truly difficult choice on Friday, between locals Spiral Beach (headlining at the Horseshoe Tavern) and The Ghost is Dancing (releasing a new LP at Sneaky Dee’s), and the pride of Newfoundland’s rock scene, Hey Rosetta (headlining at Lee’s Palace).

In Theatre,

Actor Paul Braunstein, seen most recently on stage in Theatre Columbus' "And Up They Flew", reads new work by Theatre in Her Shoes this Saturday afternoon, and with the Actor's Repertory Company this Sunday night.

Closing shows this week include the drama “Mourning Dove” at Tarragon Theatre, Column 13’s David Mamet double bill at Theatre Passe Muraille, and Matt Gorman’s critically acclaimed turn in the one hander “Rum & Vodka” at the Cameron House.

Openings this week  include Alumnae Theatre’s production of “Closer” (which, fittingly, closes their theatre season); the dance theatre piece “Appetite“, an early version of which was a favourite of yours truly at the 2007 Summerworks Festival; Rick Miller’s new collaboration with Daniel Brooks, “Hard Sell“;  and Marjorie Chan’s new play about the Tianamen Square Massacre, “The Madness of the Square“. Those last three wrap up their previews and officially open this weekend, or early next week.

There’s also a number of interesting readings happening this weekend and next. Theatre in Her Shoes, founded by 5 local female theatre artists, gives a public reading of the newest work to come out of their Footprints series, “Frame“, on Saturday afternoon; The Actor’s Repertory Company has enlisted Janet Porter (fresh from her role in the large ensemble drama “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot”), Amy Rutherford, Paul Braunstein, and several more actors of note to read German playwright Roland Schimmelpfennig’s “Push Up” on Sunday evening at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre; and playwright/actor Rosa Laborde, muscian Jeronimo Acuña, and playwright/director Guillermo Verdecchia join Almeda Theatre’s new works showcase at Bread and Circus next Friday, presenting plays in progress by emerging Latin Canadian playwrights.

In Film,

Camera Bar continues it’s run of great classic free Saturday films, with “Easy Rider” screening this Saturday afternoon. Bruce Macdonald’s “Pontypool” has transitioned directly from the first run cinemas to the reps, with a short run this weekend at the Bloor before that cinema becomes the host to the Toronto Jewish Film Festival; and although they’re aren’t any opening films of note, I do want to point out that well reviewed comedy film “Adventureland“, a college-age “Superbad” by the same filmmakers, can be seen for a pair of toonies on Tuesdays at the Rainbow Market Square, and “Coraline“, the dark stop-motion animated film, can still be seen at the Scotiabank Cinemas – in 3-D.

Rick Miller's new one man + media show, "Hardsell", currently running at Canstage Berkeley Theatre. Photo by Michael Cooper.

Steve’s Weekly Picks for Apr. 17th – Apr. 24th, 2009:

FRIDAY Apr. 17th: Artistic Fraud presents “Afterimage“, @ The Harbourfront Centre Enwave Theatre, 8pm, $30 /        Steamwhistle Unsigned presents  Woodhands, w/ The Carps, Golden Girls, more, @ Phoenix, 9:30pm, $10     / Column 13 presents “Edmund“, w/ Scott Walker, Angela Hanes, Luis Fernandez, more, @ Theatre Passe Muraille, 10:30pm, $20

SATURDAY Apr. 18th Aft.: “Pontypool”, @ The Bloor Cinema, 1:30pm, $6     / Theatre in Her Shoes presents ” Frame” reading, w/ Maja Ardal, Paul Braunstein, Monica Dottor, more, @ Factory Theatre, 2pm, PWYC      /     “Easy Rider”, @ Camera Bar, 3pm, FREE /     Record Store Day in-store series, w/ Hooded Fang (5:30pm), Steamboat (5pm), Royal Wood (4pm), more, @ Sonic Boom (512 Bloor St. @ Bathurst), 4pm, FREE w/ food donation (ALL AGES)

SATURDAY Apr. 18th Eve: Record Store Day in-store series, w/ Lullabye Arkestra (7:45pm), The Sunparlour Players (7pm), Green Go (6pm), more, @ Sonic Boom (512 Bloor St. @ Bathurst), 4pm, FREE w/ food donation (ALL AGES) /     The Cody Rivers Show presents “Meanwhile Everywhere”, @ Comedy Bar,  8pm, $12     / Friendly Rich & The Lollipop People, w/ Mary Milne, @ The Tranzac Club, 8pm, $10     / “Pete & Pat’s Reunion Tour Show“, w/ Pat Kelly & Peter Oldring, Pat Thornton, Kathleen Phillips, @ Comedy Bar, 9:30pm, $10      /     Column 13 Actor’s Company presents “Edmond” closing show, w/ Scott Walker, Angela Hanes, Luis Fernandes, more, @ Theatre Passe Muraille, 10:30pm, $20

Comedian/craftmaker Becky Johnson's improv troupe Iron Cobra headlines the Brokeback Pontiac fundraiser next Friday April 24th at Comedy Bar; funds raised will get the Sweetie Pie Press tour car back on the road.

SUNDAY Apr. 19th Aft.: “Closer“, w/ Steven Burley, Tabitha Keast, Dave Lapsley, more, @ Alumnae Theatre, 2pm, PWYC      / “Coraline 3D”, @ Scotiabank Cinemas, 4:10pm, $11.95

SUNDAY Apr. 19th Eve:  Cahoots Theatre Projects presents “The Madness of the Square” final preview show, w/ Siobhan Richardson, John Ng,  Stephanie Jung, more, @  Factory Theatre, 7pm, $15      /      Actors Repertory Company presents “Push-Up 1-3” staged reading, w/ Amy Rutherford, Paul Braunstein, Janet Porter, more, @ Buddies in Bad Times, 8pm, PWYC      /      Cart & Horse Theatre presents “Rum & Vodka” closing show, w/ Matt Gorman, @ The Cameron House, 8pm, PWYC     /     “Gather Round: HTC EP listening party“, w/ The Strumbellas (10pm), Hamilton Trading Company (11pm), @ The Boat, 9;30pm, PWYC

MONDAY Apr. 20th: Necessary Angel presents “Hardsell“, w/ Rick Miller, @ Canstage Berkeley Theatre, 8pm, PWYC /      “Catch 23 Improv“, w/ Peter Oldring, Alana Johnston, Kurt Smeaton, host Fraz Wiest, more, @ Comedy Bar, 9pm, $5

TUESDAY Apr. 21st: “Adventureland”, @ Rainbow Market Square, 7:05pm (also 4:10pm), $6      /     “Manders & Hinds: Working Hard for the Money“, w/ Chelsea P. Manders & Ryan G. Hinds, @ Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 8pm, $5-$10     /      “Showcho“, w/ Mike Kiss, Laura Burns, Needlefoot, more, @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, PWYC

WEDNESDAY Apr. 22nd: Soulpepper presents “Glengarry Glen Ross“, w/ Eric Peterson, Jordan Pettle, Albert Schultz, more, @ The Young Centre, 7:30pm, $34-$68 ($5-$20 rush tickets 1 hr b4 show)      /     “Cagematch“, w/ Rob Baker, Mandy Sellers, Doug Morency, more, @ Comedy Bar, 8pm, $10     /     “Carnegie Hall“, w/ Ron Pederson, Heidi Michelle Thomas, Tony MacRae, more, @ Bread & Circus, 9pm, PWYC

THURSDAY Apr. 23rd:  Volcano Theatre presents “Appetite“,  w/ Claire Calnan, Adam Lazarus, Lineea Swan, @ Theatre Passe Muraille, 8pm, $20-$35 /      “Impromptu Splendor”, w/ Matt Baram,  Naomi Snieckus, Jonathan Wilson, more, @ Comedy Bar, 8:30pm, $10     /     Four Tet, w/ Vowls, @ Wrongbar, 11pm, $18.50

FRIDAY Apr. 24th: Almeda Theatre presents “The Intruder” & “Lizard Boy“, w/ Rosa Laborde, Juan Carlos Velis, Paula Riviera, @ Bread and Circus, 8pm, $12-$15    /     “Brokeback Pontiac“, w/ Sara Hennessey, Iron Cobra, Kathleen Phillips, host Chris Locke, more, @ Comedy Bar, 8pm, $10     /     “Macro Neato“, w/ Audrey Dwyer, Chris Gibbs, Carly Heffernan, more, @ Bad Dog Theatre, 10pm, $5     /       Spiral Beach (12am), w/ Hey Ocean (11pm), Foxfire(10pm), @ The Horseshoe Tavern, $12

Spiral Beach headline the Horseshoe Tavern next Friday April 24th. Photo by David Waldman.

Fine Print:

– All prices listed are advance ticket prices (where applicable). With many of these shows, especially music and theatre, if you show up at the door, you run the risk of being turned away due to a sell out.

- All times are start times, NOT door times. If you show up after the posted time, the show will likely already be underway.

- I typically cap the listed performers at three mentioned per show. The bill of bands / acts / performers is often much larger (particularly for comedy and theatre).

- Theatre and Comedy events are ALL AGES, unless otherwise noted. Music events are 19+, unless otherwise noted.