The Bony Fiddle Theatre Group, a new company set up by east Danforth resident Blair Mueller, is presenting a double bill of two plays this weekend at the Tranzac Club in the West End.
A Man of Two Minds is described as “a comedy about the troubles and awkwardness of discovering yourself, dating, and living with a semi-psychotic mother.”
The play puts a twist on the comedy trope of a character who, through a series of mix-ups, ends up on a date with two people at once. In this case, the twist is that Casey, who has been dating the sweet Veronica, has also arranged to go on a first date with Jared.
Casey, who has been living in his mother’s basement, must deal with confusion upon confusion, as he tries to discover whether he likes guys or girls, with his two dates in the same restaurant at the same time conundrum, and with his overbearing mother, upset at the idea her son might not be the boy she thought he was.
In Lost Refuge, a father and daughter try to reconcile a stormy past in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. Richard and Rebecca must face the recent demise of Vivian, Rebecca’s mother and Richard’s wife, while they face up to the past and the undead pressures of the present.
“They have taken refuge in an old barn to escape the undead, but the old barn walls can only protect them for so long.”
Bony Fiddle is a small group of creative people with a passion for drama and theatre. The members’ combined skills have resulted in self-produced plays put on by a new independent theatre company.
A Man of Two Minds and Lost Refuge are each about 45 minutes; neither are recommended for young audiences, as they contain violence, harsh language, partial nudity and adult subject matter.
The double bill runs Thursday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 for Thursday night, which includes a pre-show party with live music, catered desserts and prizes, and $30 for Friday and Saturday evening performances. Saturday’s matinee is $25. Performances take place at the Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave.
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Celebrate the art of creative wordplay at the second East End Poetry Festival, from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13 at the Children’s Peace Theatre, 305 Dawes Rd.
Toronto poet laureate George Elliott Clarke will be on hand. The poet, novelist and professor has received more awards than can be counted in this space, and makes his second appearance at the festival.
Joining him will be the BAM Youth Slam Team of teenage competitive performance poets, spoken word artist and writer Dwayne Morgan, poet, motivational speaker and Reaching Intelligent Souls Everywhere Poetry Edutainment founder Randell Adjei, poetry teacher and Children’s Peace Theatre founding member Kate Marshall Flaherty, and writer and poet Rosemary Sullivan.
The afternoon will also feature an all ages poetry workshop, children’s activities, live music from Beacher Emily Steinwall’s trio, and free snacks. Admission is free, and the event runs rain or shine.
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A unique music and literature event is coming to the Beach this fall.
Centred on Vikram Seth’s An Equal Music, Beaches Reads will combine the book, discussions, and a concert by Toronto Symphony Orchestra musicians into a multilayered, unique experience.
Pick up a copy of the book now and read it by the end of the month, in time to take in a group discussion led by TSO musician Tim Dawson and CBC’s Tom Allen at an East End branch of the Toronto Public Library. Free book discussions will happen at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at the Taylor Memorial branch, 1440 Kingston Rd., and at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at the Main Street branch, Tuesday, Oct. 14 at the Gerrard/Ashdale branch, and Tuesday, Oct. 21 at the Beaches branch.
On Nov. 2, a quintet of TSO players will perform pieces from An Equal Music, while Allen will narrate passages during the concert at Kingston Road United Church. Tickets for the concert are $20.
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Tickets are still available for Diamond in the Rough, Joey Purpura’s tribute to Neil Diamond.
Purpura’s uncanny vocal resemblance to the long-lasting singer will make listeners feel like they’re hearing the singer himself perform hits like Cracklin’ Rosie, Sweet Caroline, America, Love on the Rocks, and Forever In Blue Jeans.
In between songs, Purpura tells tales to offer context and background on Diamond’s life and the stories behind the songs. Audiences tend to get involved, clapping, singing along and dancing to the hits.
Diamond in the Rough takes place at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12 at the Baron Byng Beaches Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, 243 Coxwell Ave. Tickets are $15 in advance from the legion or $20 at the door, with some proceeds going to the legion.
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