Don't Miss The Shakespeare-Tinged Modern Opera
Enter a world of whimsy and magic during Toronto Operetta Theatre's hotly-anticipated production of Michael Rose's Northern Lights Dream. Straddling the worlds of opera and musical theatre, the hybrid production also fuses comedy and heartfelt emotional exploration together with stunning results. Carrying hints of Jason Robert Brown and Stephen Sondheim in its score, it's a light-hearted romp littered with chucklesome wordplay and puns throughout.
At its heart is the story of a man coming to terms with his homosexuality, surprisingly told through the eyes of his wife. Set in the town of Shakespeare, Ontario, this dramatic tale journeys into the realm of magical realism with the introduction of a goddess who opens the eyes of these mismatched lovers, as well as Puck from the Original A Midsummer Night's Dream, now 400 years old and living in Canada. Sharing parallel's with the bard's tale of myth, mischief and mistaken identity, the production has been praised for its perfect balance of poignant perspective and comic relief.