Gracing The Stage

In Comedy,

theatrical improvisers Impromptu Splendor won a Canadian Comedy Award last weekend in Saint John, NB, for Best Improv Troupe (click HERE for a list of all the winners); the trio and their impressive roster of special guests resume local shows in October with several special one offs, including this Friday’s play not written by David French, with special guest Ted Dykstra, that will close The BUZZ Festival.

What with this being the Thanksgiving long weekend, there’s a few less comedy choices than usual, particularly on Sunday (both Laugh Sabbath and Sunday Night Live are taking a break), but there’s still plenty of swell shows. Saturday, there’s a stand-up show at the Yonge and Wellseley Fox and Fiddle location, featuring comics like Fraser Young, Kathleen Phillips, and Nathan MacIntosh; they’ll be competing against a just announced sketch show at Comedy Bar featuring Bull Hooey and The Bring Back Swayzes. On Sunday, Monkey Toast has a special holiday edition, with host David Shore interviewing restauranteur Zane Caplansky (I’ve fallen hard for his smoked meat knish), “The Drowsy Chaperone” creator Bob Martin, and “Hot Box” creator Pat Thornton.

Monday, the generous folks of PROJECTProject are hosting a Thanksgiving potluck, and will perform improv sets (at least until the triptophane kicks in); Tuesday, “Bitch Salad“’s Andrew Johnston hosts the first all black female stand-up show in Canada (really? The first?) at Buddies in Bad Times (there’s also a stellar line-up of gals on the “West End Girls” show on Thursday in Parkdale); and next Friday, Theatre Passe Muraille’s Elephants in the Room collective hosts a late night variety show, “Crapshoot!“, featuring 5 minute shows by almost a dozen performers at the upstairs TPM bar.

(The above video is the latest in Kathleen Phillip’s series of kitsch statue character monologues. The clever comedienne is on the Texas Comedy Massacre bill this Saturday. Theatre, Music, Film, and the weekly picks continue below…)

In Theatre,

I’ve been slowly catching up with theatre work around town; there’s over two dozen shows vying for my attention right now, and I’ve been rather overwhelmed. In the last two weeks, I’ve been lucky enough to see “True Love Lies” (Brad Fraser’s newest play brings back familiar characters for what could be his most comic work to date; the patter comes quickly, though I wished for a little more breathing room between the punchlines); “Antigone” (stellar performances as usual from the company in this Soulpepper production, with a beautiful set, though it was rather static and underutilized with the show as staged); “The Walworth Farce” (One of the best shows of the year, this touring production of Enda Walsh’s disturbing family portrait starts off howlingly funny, but the odd tone slowly mutates into something horrific); and “Mimi; Or, a Poisoner’s Comedy” (this darkly comic musical boasts gifted comedic actors who relish the witty repartee woven into the show by writers Melody Johnson, Rick Roberts, and Allen Cole).

Raymond Scannell as the dangerously unhinged thespian Blake in "The Walworth Farce", which ranks among my favourite plays of 2009 (photo by Robert Day).

It does seem that the theatrical offerings this month fall for the most part into two categories; horror, or musical. Theaterfront’s ambitious four play cycle about the dastardly deeds committed over 400 years in a sheltered spot by a Canadian river, “The Mill“, kicks off this week with Parts One (“Now We Are Brody“) and Two (“The Huron Bride“) running in repertory at the Young Centre (Soulpepper‘s own 3 repertory shows continue at least until next week); “The Walworth Farce” wraps its tragically short run this Saturday at Harbourfront Centre (it’s a truly terrifying piece of work); and site specific ghost tale “The Turn of the Screw” opens this week, as does Bent Out of Shape’s “The Drowning Girls” ( the story of three women murdered in the tub).

Those musicals I’m referring to are the aforementioned “Mimi” (though it’s also a little grisly), CanStage’s production of Tom Stoppard’s “Rock and Roll“, the return of phenomenally successful gay rap musical “Bash’d“, and dance series “Four at the Winch” (those last two both open as of Thursday).

The shows that don’t fit into either of those haphazard categories are the indie shows: Native Earth’s “Salt Baby“, a new play by Falen Johnson; Daniel Karisik’s new play “The Crossing Guard“; and a remount of Theatre Garguantua’s “fIBBER“. These three shows close as of next weekend; there’s a couple more (like brilliant clown recession satire “Spent“, and nerdcore buddy two-hander “Godzilla on Sundays“) that run for at least one more week.

In Film,

The hot film this week is the low-budget indie thriller “Paranormal Activity“, reputed to be the scariest shaky-cam faux documentary since “The Blair Witch Project”. I’m not keen myself on jump and fright films, so I’ll be giving it a pass, but if that’s your bag, they have special midnight screenings this weekend at midnight at the AMC (if they’re well attended, I don’t doubt it’ll be back in a wider release).

Of first release films still playing, I’d strongly recommend “The Informant!“, which has a terrific turn by Matt Damon as a pudgy and deluded whistle blower, and a strong supporting cast of comics in unusually deadpan roles.  There’s also Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut “Whip It“, with Ellen Page delivering a typically strong performance as a teen who becomes a roller derby star, and  “Zombieland“, starring Michael Cera and Woody Harrelson as mismatched zombie fighters.

The best bet at the repertory cinemas this week, IMO,  is the double bill of Sam Rockwell’s solo turn in the sci-fi psychological thriller “Moon“, and a film I’ve frequently lauded, Kathryn Bigelow’s Iraq bomb disposal actioner “The Hurt Locker“, at the Revue Cinema this Tuesday to Thursday.

In Music,

Recent XM Verve "Artist of the Year" winner Dan Mangan is in T.O. next Friday to play an afternoon in-store at Criminal Records, and headlining gig that night at the Rivoli (photo by Jonathan Taggart).

multi-talented musical pixie Maylee plays with her power funk aerobics collective Sweatshop Hop this Friday for an ongoing Concorde Cafe residency, and next Friday with her “pop-rock” band the Pegwee Power at Supermarket; The Ladyfest fundraiser this Saturday at the Tranzac features solo turns from members of The Bicycles, Township Expansion, Ghost Bees, and more; and Wavelength has a typically eclectic bill for Thanksgiving Sunday, with bands from Halifax, Victoria, and Oakville trying out the acclaimed music series’ new home at The Garrison.

There’s a number of high profile acts playing mid-week at larger venues, like Amy Milan at The Mod Club and Psychedelic Furs at The Kool Haus on Wednesday, and Emm Gryner at Hugh’s Room and The Most Serene Repbulic at the Mod Club on Thursday. But the toughest calls for music fans are on Friday when they’ll have to choose between headlining sets from The Diableros (who are releasing a new EP), Dan Mangan, Two Hours Traffic, Cuff the Duke, and Shout Out Out Out Out, all on the same night!

The one factor that could lessen Friday’s indecision is that 3 of the bands playing shows that night (Spiral Beach, Dan Mangan, and Two Hours Traffic) are also playing in-stores (at Sonic Boom, Criminal Records, and Soundscapes, respectively) that afternoon and evening as well.

Steve’s Weekly Picks for Oct. 9th – Oct. 16th, 2009:

FRIDAY Oct. 9th: Said the Whale in-store performance, @ Criminal Records, 6pm, FREE       /      “Mimi; Or, A Poisoner’s Comedy“, w/ Trish Lindstrom, Ron Pederson, Paul Braunstein, more, @ The Tarragon Theatre, 8pm, $20-$38 ($10 rush tickets avail. @ 6:30pm @ venue)       /      “Buzz Festival” closing night, w/ Erin Fleck, Daniel Karasik, Marie Beath Badian, more, @  Theatre Passe Muraille, 8pm, PWYC          /      Maylee and the Sweatshop Hop, @ The Concorde Cafe, 10pm, $5 /      “Impromptu Splendor“, w/ Ron Pederson, Naomi Snieckus, special guest Ted Dykstra, @ Theatre Passe Muraille, 10:30pm, $10

SATURDAY Oct. 10th Aft.: “The Walworth Farce” (closing day), w/ Michael Glenn Murphy, Tadhg Murphy, Raymond Scannell, more, @ Harbourfront Centre (Fleck Dance Theatre), 2pm, $15-40 /       “Script Superheroes“, w/ Jim Taylor, Melissa D’Agostino, Daniel Krolik, hosts Alison Broverman & Kristen MacGregor, more, @ Harbourfront Centre (Studio Theatre), 3:30pm, FREE

Naomi Snieckus of Impromptu Splendor shows off the new hardware after winning "Best Improv Troupe" at the Canadian Comedy Awards.

SATURDAY Oct. 10th Eve: “True Love Lies”, w/ Ashley Wright, Susanna Fournier, David Keeley, more, @ Factory Theatre, 8pm, $15-$35 / “The Texas Comedy Massacre 2″, w/ Nathan MacIntosh, Kathleen Phillips, Fraser Young, host Xerxes Cortez, more, @ The Fox and The Fiddle Wellesley (27 Wellesley St. E., 3rd floor), 9pm, $5-$10        / The Matavaras, Parks & Rec, Hot Panda, more, @ The Horseshoe Tavern, 9pm, $6        /        Ladyfest presents “Arthur Russell in the Kitchen: A Tribute”, w/ Jonny Dovercourt, Lisa Bozikovic, members of  The Adorables, more, @ The Tranzac Club, 9:30 pm, $5 (proceeds go to making Ladyfest wheelchair accessible)        / “Paranormal Activity”, @ The AMC Yonge & Dundas, 11:59pm, $13.50

SUNDAY Oct. 11h Aft.: “Zombieland”, @ Rainbow Market Square, 1:10pm (also 3:10 & 5:10pm), $6      /        “Spent“, w/ Ravi Jain, Adam Paolozza, @ The Factory Theatre, 2:30pm, PWYC         /         Evalyn Parry, w/ Kate Reid, the cast of SPIN, more, @ The Tranzac, 5pm, PWYC

SUNDAY Oct. 11th Eve: “Blackbird” closing show, w/ Isabel Farias, Jock MacDonald, & Haylee Wanstall, @ 245 Carlaw Ave, Suite 004, 8pm, $12-$15       / “Monkey Toast Thanksgiving Special“, w/ Bob Martin, Zane Caplansky, Pat Thornton, host David Shore, more, @ The Gladstone Hotel Ballroom, 8pm, PWYC             /        Wavelength 484, w/The GCDC Gang, Share, Rozalind MacPhail,  host Doc Pickles, more, @ The Garrison, 9pm, PWYC

Jamillah Ross is one of the fabulous ladies featured in Andrew Johnston's October edition of "Bitch Salad" (photo by Sylvia Pereira).

MONDAY Oct. 12th: “Project Project 2.8: Turkey Jam!“, w/ Bob Banks, Julie Dumais, Alex Tindal, more, @ Unit 102 (46 Noble St.), 7pm, FREE (Potluck)        / “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later“, w/ Kimwun Perehinec, Mark McGrinder, Jessica Greenberg, more, @ Bread and Circus, 8pm, PWYC        /     “The Mill, Part 2: The Huron Bride“, w/ Maev Beaty, Richard Greenblatt, Michelle Montieth, more, @ The Young Centre (Tank House Theatre), 8pm, $20-$35

TUESDAY Oct. 13th: “Moon”, @ The Revue Cinema, 7pm, $7      /        “The Drowning Girls” final preview show, w/ Daniela Vlaskalic, Natascha Girgis, &Beth Graham, @ Tarragon Theatre, 8pm, $19       /      “Bitch Salad goes Black to School!“, w/ Cocoa Brown, Zabrina Chevannes, Jamillah Ross, host Andrew Johnston, more, @ Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 8:30pm, $12      /        “The Hurt Locker”, @ The Revue Cinema, 9pm, $7

WEDNESDAY Oct. 14th: “The Mill, Part 1: Now We Are Brody“, w/ Maev Beaty, Richard Greenblatt, Michelle Montieth, more, @ The Young Centre (Tank House Theatre), 8pm, $20-$35 /       Amy Millan, w/ Bahamas, @ The Mod Club, 8pm, $15 (ALL AGES) /      The Happy Mondays, The Psychedelic Furs, @Kool Haus, 9pm, $30 (ALL AGES)

THURSDAY Oct. 15th: “Fibber” opening night, w/ Madeleine Donahue, Michael Spence, Kat Sandler, more, @ The Theatre Centre, 8pm, $22        / Emm Gryner, @ Hugh’s Room, 8pm, $20      / “West End Girls (October Editon)“, w/ Sandra Battaglini, Rhiannon Archer, Laura Cilevtiz, host Marilla Wex, more, @ Poor John’s Cafe (1610 Queen St. W.), 8pm, PWYC      / “The Turn of the Screw” preview show, w/ Christine Horne & Clinton Walker, @ Campbell House (160 Queen St. W.) , 8:30pm, $15       / The Most Serene Republic, w/ Grand Archives, @ The Mod Club, 8:30pm, $15 (ALL AGES)

FRIDAY Oct. 16th:   Dan Mangan in-store performance, @ Criminal Records, 5pm, FREE        / Two Hours Traffic in-store performance, @ Soundscapes, 5pm, FREE        / Spiral Beach in-store performance, @ Sonic Boom, 7 pm, FREE      / “Salt Baby“, w/ James Cade, Paula Jean Prudat, Micheala Washburn, more, @ Theatre Passe Muraille, 8pm, PWYC /       Cuff the Duke, w/ Srata, Boys Who Say No, @ The Horseshoe Tavern, 9pm, $12.50          /         The Diableros EP release, w/ Planet Creature, DJs Shandy & Andy, more, @ The Boat, 10pm, $5        / “Crapshoot!“, w/ Laura Burns, David Ackerman, Chloe Whitehorn, hosts The Elephants, more, @ Theatre Passe Muraille,  10pm, $1-$6        / Shout Out Out Out Out, w/ TMDP, @ Wrongbar, 10pm, $18.50 /       Spandex Effect, w/ Maylee & Pegwee Power, Circle Research, more, @ Supermarket, 10:30pm, $5-$8

Maylee Todd returns to Supermarket as of Friday with her band Pegwee Power.

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 (FREE in-store and outdoor performances are ALL AGES, due to the lack of alcohol service).