I knew The Christmas Market would be good when @glennsumi.bsky.social’s newsletter said it was a must-see. A beautiful piece where everything from the script, to the actors, to the set and sound, and the direction all work together perfectly. A new holiday classic for Toronto theatre? Yes please!

Wrapped up our trip to Montreal with a concert by the always incredible countertenor Jakub Jozef Orlinski (and pianist Michal Biel. What a talent! And so charming! He had the audience in the palm of his hand all night. A perfect reason to come to Montreal.

I can’t remember the last time we were in a church, let alone on a Sunday, but a wonderful concert by Thomas Dunford was worth it. Dowland, Satie, Bach, and even some Beatles music on the lute!

You know you’re at a fancy restaurant in Montreal when Leonard Cohen shows up in cocoa powder on the *second* dessert course.

You know Montreal is doing something right when a new 3.5 hour play about the AIDS crisis in the city in the 1980s sells out a 700+ seat theatre on a Saturday afternoon. Congratulations to the whole team behind Corps Fantômes!

How often do you get to see the same production of a play twenty five years later? I didn’t remember a lot about Robert Lepage’s The Far Side of the Moon. I remembered the breath-taking final scene of the main character drifting in zero gravity, achieved with beautiful simplicity and stage magic.

I will grudgingly admit that the first snowfall can be very pretty.

It’s official, it’s snowing in Toronto. The first of many months of this to come!

Choosing to focus on how nice it is to have sunlight in the morning instead of dreading sunset in the middle of the afternoon. 🥲

The Canadian premiere of Jeremy O. Harris’s Slave Play at Canadian Stage is so good. Jordan Laffrenier’s direction, together with a knock-out cast, smoothly and confidently handles the tonal shifts between each act. It’s funny, challenging, and still shocks just like the original production did.

Good evening, Denver!

This is the second revival of a Canadian play we’ve seen in just a couple weeks that was a) was new to us, b) directed or co-directed by 郝邦宇 Steven Hao. This production of Jordan Tannahill’s Concord Floral, co-directed by Alli Carry, is fascinating.

Really impressed with Byron Abalos’ solo performance in The Veil from @guildfesttheatre.bsky.social, Thought For Food, and Crow’s Theatre. A well-paced, subtly creepy show that starts and ends with a bang and leaves you with lots to think about as you leave the theatre. 🕯️

The production of Octet at Crow’s Theatre (another co-pro with the Musical Stage Company) is *stunning*. (That video floor? Next level!) The cast is flawless and working hard to make 95 minutes of a cappella singing and dancing about internet addiction look easy.

With so much theatre opening and closing in the next couple of weeks we needed a three-show weekend to squeeze them all in. You’d think we were on vacation!

Walked by Alan Ritchson filming Reacher on the walk home from work tonight. Just another day in Toronto! Can confirm Alan is a Very Big Man.

Sending the biggest thanks and hugs to @meakoopa.bsky.social and the talented team behind Marvel’s Avengers Academy. They put so much love and heart into this series and brought something wonderful, unique, and necessary to the world every week for sixty issues. Time to begin my re-read! ✨

Lucy Kirkwood’s The Welkin (Soulpepper/Crows/The Howland Company) blows open the doors to the Toronto theatre season. Featuring a huge cast of mostly women, this show is everything: smart, funny, challenging, and oh god the last 20 minutes are intense! Mayko Nguyen & Bahia Watson are next level.

Always in awe of Gaga’s commitment to her vision and her incredible presence as a performer. The Mayhem Ball was out of this world!

Homeward bound!

For our last night in London we couldn’t pass up the chance to see Vanessa Williams live on stage. She looked amazing, sounded great, and seemed to be having the time of her life. ✨

Last day in London so we went to Fortnum & Mason to check out their selection of Mary Berry cakes. We tried the Carrot and Walnut cake. @imjdid.bsky.social’s verdict: “Scrummy!”

What a treat to see Sue Perkins live on stage in Every Brilliant Thing last night. It was a more moving show than I expected. I suspect everyone in the audience feeling like Sue is an old friend (us included) makes a big difference. Many other actors in the run including Minnie Driver next month.

Born With Teeth was *fantastic* and well worth making the trip across the Atlantic. Ncuti Gatwa and Edward Bluemel both turned in excellent performances. Who knew Marlowe and Shakespeare could be so hot, sexy, and sweaty? 💦

I knew a West End recommendation from @tapeworthy.bsky.social would not disappoint, and wow did The Curious Case of Benjamin Button deliver! A very sweet musical with an incredible cast of performers who seemed able to play (and dance with) every instrument. Loved it!

Lots of interesting pieces at the Moco Museum.

As with most of our travels, we’ve come to London to see shows. First up was Laura Benanti’s show at the Underbelly. Her one-night-only in London happened to be the day we arrived, which was an unexpected surprise. We loved the show Off Broadway and laughed just as hard this time.

Had a lovely stroll through Queen Mary’s rose gardens which still have a lot of blooms for this time of year. Glad we were there yesterday when it wasn’t raining.

Good morning from day one of our holiday in London where the chameleon circuit seems to be malfunctioning again.

Skipping over the show by the famous director that was just awful, The Winter’s Tale was extraordinary. Three hours that flew by. Genuinely moving and funny, standout performances from some of the Stratford Festival’s best. A refreshing reminder that focusing on the text is all you need.

Starting our vacation at Ontario’s Stratford Festival where we loved the production of ‘Ransacking Troy.’ It’s a new play by Erin Shields that wonders what would happen if the women of the Iliad and Odyssey ended the Trojan War. A gorgeous, smart staging by Jackie Maxwell with a perfect cast.

After references to the War of 1812 and Laura Secord, @meakoopa.bsky.social continues to delight with Easter eggs for the Canuck audience in Avengers Academy. 🇨🇦💪🏻

Returned for a final trip to see “Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812” yesterday afternoon. We’ve seen this Toronto production five times (including the much-extended original 2023 run) and I love every minute of it. The new additions to the cast (Vanessa Sears!) are incredible.

The highlight of the long weekend was definitely @guildfesttheatre.bsky.social’s The 39 Steps. What’s nicer than watching a great show while also watching the moon rise? Bonus points for a tasty picnic box of show treats!

University of Toronto looking lush and feeling tropical after a morning rain. It’s already 25 Celsius with 88% humidity at 9am.

Took a stroll around Berlin this morning to see a bit more of the city before starting the long journey back across the Atlantic.

Day two in Berlin included a lovely couple of hours cruising down the Spree River with the team.

Trust @meakoopa.bsky.social to come up with a story perfectly suited to the infinity scroll format for the 50th issue of Avengers Academy. I hope the artists who have to figure out how to draw these things are excited and not terrified when they read the stories. 😬

Hello jet lag, my old friend (Berlin’s version).

At brunch on Saturday our server, a young trans woman, told us about marching in the Trans March the night before. She said being surrounded by people smiling and cheering for her was the most amazing feeling. I haven’t stopped thinking about it. Surely this is the best reason for Pride. 🏳️‍⚧️

Feeling grateful to have experienced a night of gorgeous music from Jeremy Dutcher and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Jeremy’s talent and generosity and love transformed Roy Thomson Hall last night.

Still thinking about Tim Crouch’s “An Oak Tree” last night, which is a good sign especially when I’m not sure I really got it. We were very lucky to see the iconic Allegra Fulton who absolutely wowed in her role. To be that good and grounded in a role you don’t know? Wow!

And suddenly every rose bush in Toronto is in bloom.

I wish I’d taken note of who on Bluesky recommended @deathbybadger.bsky.social’s “Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil” because I enjoyed it so much! A delightful story of wizards, goblins, and other magical things. The footnotes, and there are many, made me chuckle out loud. Perfect summer reading!

Home from a perfect weekend in Quebec City and already missing the adorable balcony in our hotel room with its iconic view of the old city.

Thrilled to get my own print copy of Avengers Academy Assemble after enjoying its weekly releases on Marvel Unlimited. And it’s always great to see its charming creator @meakoopa.bsky.social and gush about my admiration for his work in person.

There are still a few hours left to vote, fellow Canadians! Polls in Ontario are open until 9:30pm. Get it done! 🗳️🇨🇦

It’s cherry blossom and magnolia blossom season in Toronto!

Pretty exciting to see hometown musical theatre star Britta Johnson’s ‘Life After’ get a big and well-deserved Broadway-style staging in Toronto (directed by Annie Tippe no less!). Very impressed by Jake Epstein who was perfect in the tricky role of the father. Check it out Toronto friends!

After a day of snow, ice, rain, thunder and lightning I’m choosing to focus on the tulips.