THE SURROGATE is pulpy and occasionally wobbles into melodrama, but I don't remember the last time I felt so energized in a theatre. Two killer performances at the forefront of Christopher Monousos' confident, crisp production, as well.
Critic's Pick from me: www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Also, announced after the fact: Monks. Long may they reign!
I'll always have a fondness for the Ottawa theatre scene (I'm here right now, in fact, for a story I can't wait to share in a few weeks), and I'm so pleased to see programming like this. Lucky, lucky capital.
Season here: www.gctc.ca/2627-season
WAITING FOR GODOT – INUKTITUT: So... road trip to Ottawa, anyone?
AGE IS A FEELING: Yes! New director (Lucy Coren, artistic producer for Outside the March), and poster suggests a new actor. (As an aside, Haley's performing this in the U.K. at the moment. Big fomo.)
HURRICANE DIANE, starring Margo MacDonald: Yay! I like Margo's solo work and I'm thrilled to see her in this sort of play. Fabulous.
ROGERS V ROGERS: A big get for GCTC that ought to sell out in seconds (with that many bureaucrats in the city, this is a no-brainer). Great choice (and yes, still starring Rooney).
LIARS AT A FUNERAL: Yeah, sure. Standard regional fare, nice farce for subscribers.
The winner of best regional season announcement so far: the Great Canadian Theatre Company in Ottawa. I've had mixed feelings about that company's programming since the pandemic, but this feels like a really smart blend of subscriber-pleasers, Toronto hits and wild cards.
Shall we? 🧵
Toronto Film Critics Association in turmoil after speech shortened and reference to Palestine omitted. www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/film...
Nice chat with the good folks over at Young People's Theatre, who are putting on an energetic (and sentimental) revival of LOVE YOU FOREVER AND MORE MUNSCH.
Q&A over on @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Found this on my travels today from an old Nappoholics (@intermissionmag.bsky.social) column, circa 2018.
(The irony, if you haven't seen The Neighbours, is that 100 per cent of that show is direct address.)
Oh, how lucky are we in Canada to have Ronnie Burkett. LITTLE WILLY is Burkett at his raunchiest (and least predictable) and I can't recommend it enough.
Critic's Pick for the show that made my belly hurt from laughing so hard:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
HEIST: Another Heist! (Arts Club is also doing it – doesn't appear to be a co-pro.)
Really decent season here – nice mix of an edgy big swing from Toronto, two crowd-pleasing musicals and two Canadian plays. Not mad at it.
Full season here: theatreaquarius.org/2026-2027-se...
MATILDA, starring Addison Wagman: Yessss. I'm bummed Addison's not in the Broadway BEACHES (I wondered if she'd transfer with it after appearing in the Calgary tryout), but this should be fun.
SISTERS OF '78 by Kristen Da Silva: Local playwright. Nice!
First, already announced by Crow's and Soulpepper: ALL'S WELL. Still thrilling.
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT, starring Kolton Stewart, who you may have seen on Heated Rivalry: Smart piece of programming. Not my favourite musical (god, the megamix), but I'm looking forward to it.
A juicy one today: Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton. 🧵
I liked THE NEIGHBOURS, sort of – Tony Nappo offers an understated take on a dad who knows more than he's letting on.
Not obsessed with all the direct address in Nicolas Billon's script, but it's a solid night of theatre.
Review in @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
oh ok cool thanks google
A mini-announcement today: Crow's Theatre and Soulpepper (Crowpepper) will produce an adaptation of Mona Awad's ALL'S WELL next year, written for the stage by Erin Shields and starring Maev Beaty. #canlit
www.thestar.com/entertainmen...
Had a nice chat with Drew Hayden Taylor about THE UNDENIABLE ACCUSATIONS OF RED CADMIUM LIGHT, playing in Winnipeg at @prairietheatrex.bsky.social until March 8.
Q&A for @theglobeandmail.com here: www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
It's a safe season, if a slightly snoozy one. Very excited about John Proctor Is the Villain, and curious to see which musical winds up dominating the regional circuit next year (other than Come From Away). Otherwise, no surprises here.
Full season here: artsclub.com/media/2025-2...
Other highlights: BEHIND THE MOON (I liked this show and I'm glad to see it living on in the Canadian canon!); BIG STUFF (really pleased to see this show continuing to tour and evolve); LITTLE DARLIN' (nice to see the REDBONE COONHOUND duo on a new project).
JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN: Yes. Yes. Yes. If it doesn't show up in Toronto (off-Mirvish, maybe?), I might have to hop on a plane and see this.
SHIRLEY VALTENTINE: 🤷🏻♀️
MUSICAL TBA: 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
DEATH OF A SALESMAN: The next year is shaping up to be a big one for Arthur Miller in Canada, between Salesman in China at Mirvish, Death of a Salesman at Stratford and now regional productions of Death of a Salesman (this one's a Citadel co-pro). Sort of antithetical to "elbows up," no?
HEIST, directed by Andrew Kushnir: I was bummed to miss this at the Grand Theatre (Citadel co-pro) last year — interesting to see it moving through the regional circuit.
ELF: Not my favourite holiday show — I don't love the music and I find the book clunky.
Another one today (and more on their way, so I'm told): Arts Club Theatre in Vancouver, BC. 🧵
If you're so inclined to support Canadian journalism, here's my interview with Playwrights Canada Press, which includes the play's sales numbers in the immediate aftermath of the Hudson Williams casting news.
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/book...
Fabulous to see more coverage of Canadian theatre in a publication like @variety.com, but Yaga is a play, not a screenplay, and The Globe got to this nearly a week ago.
variety.com/2026/shoppin...
If you somehow missed the news, Hudson Williams (Heated Rivalry) will appear in the TV adaptation of Kat Sandler's play YAGA.
Here's my chat with @playcanpress.bsky.social about the epic surge in sales that followed the casting announcement:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/book...
I just finished YAGA by Kat Sandler, and it’s a really great ride! (I didn’t know it’s all over Twitter since I’m not on that site now.)
It’s funny and feminist and folktale-y and freaky.
And it might be on your library’s Hoopla digital service. Support authors by using public libraries!
📚💙
