Weekly Update 282 (June 5th – June 12th, 2009)
In Comedy,
Comedy collective Laugh Sabbath celebrates the 4th year of monthly show “Let’s Get Hot ” (which has been in their Sunday night monthly rotation for the last three years), with two nights of special performances at the Factory Theatre Friday and Saturday, following Anand Rajaram and Bob Wiseman ’s “Cowboys and Indians “, and a special anniversary show Sunday night at the Rivoli (“Cowboys and Indians” closes earlier in the afternoon).
Also this weekend, Darryl Pring ’s “Don’t You Forget About John Hughes ” digs into that filmmaker’s more obscure catalog, playing fast and loose in an improvised manner with “Some Kind of Wonderful “. At Comedy Bar on Tuesday, there’s a strong edition of “Stand-Up Showdown “, featuring three time winner Tommy Patinkin (AKA Bob Kerr ) facing challengers like Greg Cochrane and Dawn Whitwell; following the contest, there’ll be a “live” screening of the second episode of The Comedy Network’s “Hotbox “, and a Stand-Up Show curated by that series’ creator Pat Thornton.
Also playing host to several strong shows this week is Kensington market hot spot Bread and Circus, which sees a revival of the “All Star Alumni Cafe “, featuring “”The Drowsy Chaperone” creator Bob Martin , and a special (late) edition on Wednesday of “The Carnegie Hall Show “, which fundraises this week for upcoming Fringe show “The Universal Wolf”.
Aaron Eves and Chris Locke co-host the Laugh Sabbath anniversary festivities this weekend, Friday and Saturday at The Factory Theatre after "Cowboys and Indians", and Sunday at their show "Let's Get Hot!" at the Rivoli. (Photo by Joseph Fuda.)
(Theatre, Film, Music, and the week’s picks, after the jump. )
Adam Paolozza and Ravi Jain star in the recession-focused clown turn "Spent", running this weekend as part of the Toronto Festival of Clowns.
In Theatre,
The Toronto Festival of Clowns wraps up this weekend, with a special edition of “Lunacy Cabaret ” and a bouffon showcase. Two of the theatres in town have a pair of remounts launching this week; Tarragon plays host to Judith Thompson ’s “Body and Soul “, a collective in praise of older women,and also the second return of one of their most critically successful shows in recent years, Wajid Mouwad ’s “Scorched “. Over at the Young Centre, Soulpepper reaches further back in time and outside Canadian borders, with productions of Joe Orton ’s black British comedy “Loot“, and Clifford Odet ’s powerful Depression-era drama “Awake and Sing!”.
Compared to previous weeks, however, it’s slow at most of the established theatres, and that’s mainly due to the grip that Luminato has over the city for the next week and a bit. There’s a festival all around (and also in) the Young Centre, and the Distillery District, this weekend and next, The New Waves Festival: it features performances like a reading of “Cellular ” directed by David Ferry , and a short solo piece by Melissa D’Agostino , known best for her alter ego Lupe. Other Luminato theatrical events include the production of Robert LaPage ’s 9 hour opus “Lipsynch “, and local work like Back Burner Production ’s “The Nightwood “; check Luminato’s website for more info.
In Film,
it’s a pretty scarce week; there is the day-after in Vegas comedy “The Hangover “, but for the most part, box office in T.O. is coasting along on the good (“Up ” & “Star Trek “), the bad (“Terminator: Salvation ” & “X-Men Origins: Wolverine “), and the ugly (“Drag Me to Hell “).
At the rep cinemas, I’m kinda curious to see “The Watchmen ” again on the big screen (it starts mid-week at the Revue Cinema).
There IS a film component to Luminato , with FREE screenings all week at the NFB’s Mediatheque at King and John; also, (though this perhaps best belongs in the Music category), experimental icons Do Make Say Think , Toronto’s own Owen Pallett (AKA Final Fantasy), and electronica icon Robert Lippok score the 1930’s German silent film “Tales of The Uncanny ” many of the artists also take part in a far less publicized showcase afterward at the nearby Imperial Public Library, hosted by former Republic of Safety frontwoman Maggie MacDonald .
In Music ,
Luminato ’s where it’s at for music, too; as well as high profile events like Randy Bachman ’s show Friday at the launch at Yonge and Dundas Square, there’s also the Artist Lounge, featuring blues sensations Raoul and The Big Time , who feature different guests every night (the band starts off their eight night run Saturday with their CD release), and other, less FREE shows, like the star studded (and impossibly sold out) Neil Young Tribute at Massey Hall on Wednesday.
Other shows this week (non-Luminato affiliated) include headline shows by The Lovely Feather s and the (Dave) Bindiniband on Saturday, as well as a “kegger” with local genre blenders like Curtis Santiago and PDF Format ; the last Tranzac residency show (for a while) from Megan Hamilton early on Wednesday, and a set by Merge Record signee’s Telekinesis at the ‘Shoe later that night; and two good shows to choose from next Friday – the only full band set by country balladeers One Hundred Dollars this summer at the Horseshoe, and a FREE show by Francophone popsters Maljube at Lee’s Palace.
Owen Pallett plays in the "Tales of The Uncanny" presentation at Yonge and Dundas Square as part of Luminato Thursday night, and then immediately afterward at the Imperial Public Library in "Tales of the Warm and Cozy", a showcase organized by Maggie MacDonald of Betty Burke.
Steve’s Weekly Picks for Jun. 5th – Jun. 12th, 2009:
FRIDAY June 5th: “Tired Cliches “, w/ Alex Eddington, @ Comedy Bar, 7pm, $12 / Grizzly Bear , w/ Here We Go Magic, @ The Phoenix, 8pm, $18 (ALL AGES) / “Catch 23 Improv ” 7th Year Anniversary Show, w/ Becky Johnson, Kurt Smeaton, Graham Wagner, host Fraz Wiest, more, @ Comedy Bar, 8pm, $5 / Toronto Festival of Clowns: “Masters of Clown “, w/ Helen Donnelly, Mark Andrada, Leah Cherniak, more, @ Pia Bowman School of Dance, 9:30pm, $20 / “Mantown “, w/ Rob Norman, Bob Banks, Adam Cawley, special guests The Imponderables, more, @ Comedy Bar, 10pm, $10
Melissa D'Agostino is one of the many performers participating in the New Waves Festival in the Distillery District this weekend and next, as part of Luminato.
SATURDAY June 6th Aft.: Luminato New Waves Festival: ‘Luminato Love “, w/ Melissa D’Agostino, Waylen Miki, @ The Young Centre, 2:30pm (also 3:30 & 4:30pm), FREE / The Dave BindiniBand, @ Soundscapes, 4:30pm, FREE (ALL AGES)
SATURDAY June 6th Eve: Don’t You Forget About John Hughes : “Some Kind of Wonderful”, w/ Adam Cawley, Lindsay Grant, Ken Hall, more, @ Comedy Bar, 8pm, $10 / “Lunacy Cabaret: Festival of Clowns Edition “, w/ Adam Lazarus, June Morrow, Sandra Battaglini, host Sarah Buski, more, @ Pia Bowman School for Dance, 9:30pm, $10 / Laugh Sabbath’s 4th anniversary special, w/ Levi Macdougall, Katie Crown, (film by) Adam & Dave, hosts Chris Locke & Aaron Eves, more, @ The Factory Theatre, 10pm, $5 / The Lovely Feathers(11:30pm), w/ The Ghost is Dancing(10:30pm), Boys Who Say No (9:30pm), @ Lee’s Palace, $8 / Rock and Roll Recession Keg Party, w/ Curtis Santiago, PDF Format, The Wilderness, more, @ Loft 364 (364 Queen St. E.), 10pm (7pm doors), $15-$20 ($15 for tee totalers, $20 =”complimentary food and beverages”)
SUNDAY June 7th Aft.: “John/Yoko Bed Piece “, w/ Sharon Marquez, Tom Smart, Erin Fleck, more, @ The Theatre Centre, 2:30pm, $25-$28 / “Cowboys and Indians ” closing show, w/Anand Rajaram, Bob Wiseman, @ The Factory Theatre, 4pm, PWYC
SUNDAY June 7th Eve: Toronto Festival of Clowns: “Spent “, w/ Adam Paolozza, Ravi Jain, @ Pia Bowman School for Dance, 6:30pm, $10 / Toronto Festival of Clowns: “An Exercise in Futility “, w/ Anand Rajaram, Edwige Jean-Pierre, @ Pia Bowman School for Dance, 8pm, $10 / Laugh Sabbath Presents… “Let’s Get Hot’s 4th Anniversary “, w/ Brian Barlow, Kathleen Phillips, Nathan Fielder, hosts Chris Locke & Aaron Eves, more, @ The Rivoli, 9pm, $5 / Steamboat, @ The Dakota Tavern, 10pm, PWYC
Raoul and The Big Time play every night this week as the host act of the Luminato Artist Lounge at the Hard Rock Cafe, with special guests nightly.
MONDAY June 8th: “Awake and Sing “, w/ Sarah Wilson, Ari Cohen, Nancy Palk, more, @ The Young Centre, 7:30pm, $$28-$68 ($5-$20 rush tickets 1 hour b4 show – get there early!) / “Trampoline Hall “, w/ Lisan Jutras, Noah Goodbaum, Derek McCormack, curator Carl Wilson, more, @ Sneaky Dee’s, 8pm, $5 / “All Star Alumni Cafe “, w/ Teresa Pavlinek, Bob Martin, Lisa Merchant, musical guests the Jazz Dogs, more, @ Bread and Circus, 8pm, PWYC / “The Last Comedy Show “, w/ Nick Flanagan, Andy Hull, Makesi Arthur, hosts Mack Lawrenz & Sara Hennessey, more, @ The Gladstone Hotel Art Bar, 9pm, FREE
TUESDAY June 9th: Luminato: “Lipsynch : PART 1″, @ Bluma Appel Theatre, 7pm, $75-$125 (for all 3 parts) / “Stand Up Showdown “, w/ Tommy Katinkin, Dawn Whitwell, Greg Cochrane, host Craig Brown, more, @ Comedy Bar, 8pm, $10 / Raoul & The Big Time , w/ guest Treassa Levasseur, @ The Luminator Artists Lounge (Hard Rock Cafe), 10pm, FREE / “Hotbox” & “The Stand-Up Show “, w/ host Pat Thornton, more, @ Comedy Bar, 10pm, FREE
WEDNESDAY June 10th: Luminato: “Lipsynch : PART 2″, @ Bluma Appel Theatre, 7pm, $75-$125 (for all 3 parts) / Megan Hamilton and The Volunteer Canola , w/ Matthew de Zoete, @ The Tranzac Club, 7:30-9:30pm, PWYC / “Scorched ” final preview, w/ Fabrizio Fillippo, Janick Hebert, Alon Nashman, more, @ The Tarragon Theatre, 8pm, $20 / “The Carnegie Hall Show Pays It Back ” Fringe Fundraiser, w/ Chris Gibbs, Naomi Snieckus, Matt Baram, more, @ Bread and Circus, 9:30pm, PWYC / Telekinesis (11pm), w/ An Horse (10pm), Oh No Forest Fires (9pm), @ The Horseshoe Tavern, $8.50
THURSDAY June 11th: Luminato: “Lipsynch : PART 3″, @ Bluma Appel Theatre, 7pm, $75-$125 (for all 3 parts) / Luminato: “Tales of the Uncanny “, w/ Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy), Do Make Say Think, Robert Lippok, more, @ Yonge & Dundas Square, 9:30pm, FREE / “Tales of the Warm and Cozy “, w/ Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy), Stevie Reverb (Belle & Sebastien), host Betty Burke (Hidden Cameras), more, @ The Imperial Public Library, 10:30pm, FREE
FRIDAY June 12: Luminato: “The Nightwood “, w/ Katarina Carey, Guy Doucette, Caitlin Morris-Caulfield, more, @ Lillian H. Smith Library (239 College St.), 7pm, FREE (130 seat capacity) / “Body & Soul”, w/ Lois Fine, Barbara Nichol, Joanna Anaquod, more, @ Tarragon Theatre, 8pm, $25-$35 (limited $10 rush tickets @ 6pm) / One Hundred Dollars (12am), w/ Deep Dark United (11pm), Jason Benoit (10pm), @ The Horseshoe Tavern, $10 / Malajube (12am), w/ Hollerado (11pm), Le Nombre (10pm), @ Lee’s Palace, FREE
Katrina Carey stars in "The Nightwood", a one night only remount of Back Burner's play, as part of Luminato.
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.
