YPT - Minotaur

Absolutely fabulous show with an awesome script adaptation and really top notch talented cast. Fun and engaging, educational and appropriately thought provoking for the age group (9 and up), this is a must see show.

One of a Kind Spring Show

I keep insisting that this will just be "window shopping" with my best friend, but it has once again been a wallet draining experience. The wares available are just too irresistible - from clothing to jewelry to food to pottery and so on.

It is great to see my favourite artists and to also meet some new ones. The show was crowded, so clearly a favourite for many.

Acting Up Stage Company - Elegies

While one would not expect a series of elegies to be uplifting, I nonetheless thought we would be in for a evening of charming anecdotes about historical characters. It started off in that vein, but turned darker towards the end, closing with a poignant story from the twin towers. However, it was a charming piece of musical theatre and the talented cast were well worth the effort to travel to this out of the way theatre (Daniel Spectrum).

Knightwood Theatre - Carousel

Starting a little slowly, this is a moving monologue on how we live our lives and how we protect our children, reflected through the memories evoked at a bedside vigil.

As she comforts her dying mother, the daughter reflects on her life, her children's lives and her mother's life. Comparing and contrasting the various influences, good and bad, as filtered through the eyes of her mother, a generation that acquiesced to too many things....

Ripley's Acquarium of Canada

For fans of Disney, this attraction has the same look and feel, as you are greeted on your approach by the ubiquitous 'Disney" version of elevator music. My daughter and I really enjoyed the exhibits - the layout and reference items were very well done. We particularly liked the moving sidewalk along one very long tank, with sharks, stingrays and lots and lots of fish swimming all around you. A little icky seeing the underside of some of these guys but love the shark teeth. This is a terrific solution for the crowded window problem - we went around twice !

The price seemed a little high, for the amount of time we were there, so you definitely will want to look into family or city tour packages if you can. 

Mirvish - Arrabal

This is a story about one of the many sons who went missing during the brutal crackdown on dissidents in 1980's Argentina. Told entirely through dance and music, the incredibly chiseled dancers were a feast for the eyes.

Wasn't so impressed with the theatre - unfortunately the Panasonic does not have graduated seating - a large man was sitting in front of me, completely blocking the view of center stage. I got a little tired of moving my head from side to side when the action was crossing the stage.

Mirvish - American Idiot

An enactment of the Green Day album American Idiot, the story follows a rebel who wants to be a rock star, but ends up coming back home, more dejected than when he left. Entertaining interpretation, great vocals and very creative and aggressive choreography. Personally I favoured the ballods, my teenage son preferred the punk rock songs. The audience was as broad as the music.

Montcrest Players - Aquara of Atlantis

School plays can be good or barely bearable. This was one of the good ones and, as is usually the case with Montcrest, provided opportunities for many kids to shine in a large ensemble cast, prop and make-up club and backstage crew. 

Afternoon Tea with Arlene Dickenson

Bev Moir invited me to her afternoon tea with Arlene Dickenson and was kind enough to allow me to bring my teenage daughter, who turned out to be the youngest women in the room. Arlene's story is inspiring and she is so warm and giving, sharing the good and the bad and providing really good advice for those starting out. I was very pleased for my daughter to have been given the opportunity to hear some of those life lessons at this time in her life.

Factory Theatre - 6 Essential Questions

Was it a dream or was it reality. What kind of mother would abandon her children – clearly one who cares only about herself. This show is sufficiently surreal to be the dream of a child searching for an answer, but sadly the answers are not what she wants to hear. ‎ A little crazy at times, but good fun.

Toronto Raptors vs Golden State Warriors

We purchased tickets for this game for the whole family, primarily because our son's team were given the opportunity to play on the Raptors court after the game. Basketball is definitely a fun sport to watch, with lots of running around and excitement, particularly when one team is able to steal the other's ball. It was an exciting and close game, with the lead changing sides several times. Also, there were lots of breaks and distractions for those in our party who are not basketball enthusiasts.

Psyched from the Raptor's game, our youths played an aggressive series of games. My son was particularly thrilled that he actually dunked on the Raptor's court! Thanks to Coach Loucks of Albany Avenue Basketball, for making this happen. We all had a great time!

AGO - Art from the Guggenheim

The great Upheaveal: Masterpieces from the Gugenheim Collection, 1910 - 1918. I'm sorry I waited until the last minute to see this show, as it was (unsurprisingly) a little crowded. A fabulous show, with some well known pieces, and excellent progression from 1910 to the war years. Lots of early cubanism and variety of styles. Sorry if you missed it ......

TSO - Adams: Dr. Atomic

Down the Rivers of the Windfall Light was charming and light. The Dr Atomic symphony was really lovely. I was not so pleased with the Piano Concerto No 2.  The complex and demanding piano score was amazingly performed by a real virtuoso, however at times it felt as if the piano was yelling at me. But I loved the brass section on this piece. 

After party was fun, with a really good trio and nice chance to catch up with friends.