Majid Jordan’s homecoming, a water-fight dinner and 10 other things to do this week
An overdue album release from Majid Jordan
OVO darlings and U of T buds Majid Al Maskati and Jordan Ullman started cranking out sensual R&B back in 2011, backed up Drake on “Hold On, We’re Going Home” in 2013 and finally dropped their debut album in February. It’s everything fans were waiting for: smooth and moody, filled with falsetto hooks and cameos from Jamie xx, Drizzy and more. They bring their sensitive stage presence to Toronto in this show, the penultimate date of their North American tour. Monday, April 4. $20. Mod Club, 722 College St., ticketmaster.ca.
Sleeping Giant, the Thunder Bay indie flick that crashed Cannes
After finishing Ryerson film school, director Andrew Cividino decided to make a movie inspired by the sticky adolescent summers he spent on the shores of Lake Superior. Through Kijiji call outs and skate-park visits, he cast local teens for the film, Sleeping Giant—and it turned out to be the sleeper Canadian hit of 2015. It’s a tale of juvenile one-upmanship: disaffected teens brawl on the beach, strap fireworks to skateboards and dare a shy city kid to steal booze from a gas station. The escalating competition lends the movie a loose narrative spine, but the beauty is in the authenticity of the partially improvised script and the three young stars—Jackson Martin, Reece Moffett and Nick Serino (who won a Canadian Screen Award for his role)—are vulgar and vulnerable as they negotiate the land mines of class, absentee parents and burgeoning machismo. Wide release Friday, April 8. sleepinggiantfilm.com.
An all-you-can-eat Thai dinner featuring Super Soakers
On the first of night of Khao San Road’s two-day Songkran celebration, guests will ring in the Thai New Year with an all-you-can-eat feast (fresh rolls, pad thai, pork ribs, green curry chicken) and an all-out Super Soaker war. If you snag a ticket to one of the four seatings, it’s probably wise to bring a poncho. $40. Sunday, April 10 and Monday, April 11. Nana, 785 Queen St. W., khaosanroad.ca.
A choreographed ode to the late Jackie Burroughs
In September 2010, mere days before rehearsals for this NextSteps production began, the Canadian actress Jackie Burroughs passed away. Her death gave the show its name, Jackie Burroughs Is Dead (and What Are You Going to Do About It?) and its form: local producer Danielle Baskerville and choreographer D. A. Hoskins shaped the piece into a contemporary ode to Burroughs with steps that are by turns grief-stricken and joyful. Thursday, April 7 to Saturday, April 9. $28–$37. Harbourfront Centre Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W., harbourfrontcentre.com.
Cover Me Urban, a delicious and diverse fundraiser
Non-profit Youth Without Shelter is packing every Toronto neighbourhood—Chinatown, Queen West, Little India—into 99 Sudbury for this fundraiser. On the menu: cochinita pibil tacos from Fonda Lola, Roman-style pizza from Levetto and 13 other street-food treats. Chow down while taking in beatboxing, violin performances and an urban fashion show. Wednesday, April 6. $99–$149. 99 Sudbury, 99 Sudbury St., yws.akaraisin.com.
The Terrible Parents, an absurd new play by Sky Gilbert
The postcard-perfect Johnson family is a mess upon closer inspection: son Cecil has an alarming Oedipus complex for his mutually aroused mother, Amelia, and their incestuous cravings leave daughter Odette feeling neglected. When Amelia suffers a head injury, she adopts a destructive, party-girl persona, sending the family deeper down the spiral. It’s as darkly absurd as we’d expect from writer, director and prolific provocateur Sky Gilbert. Friday, April 8 to Sunday, April 17. $32–$37. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St., buddiesinbadtimes.com.
A meta art exhibition by Cynthia Greig
The Detroit-based artist treats the gallery as its own work of art in her new show, Exhibitionism. Her minimalist, documentary-style photographs depict a number of contemporary art galleries across the world—in New York, Paris, Berlin, and more—highlighting the bright, stark spaces rather than the works that fill them. Artwork $1,800–$5,000 (U.S.). To Saturday, April 30. Stephen Bulger Gallery, 1026 Queen St. W., bulgergallery.com.
A taste of Haida Gwaii at Canoe
The latest in chef John Horne’s Taste dinner series focuses on the cuisine of B.C.’s Haida Gwaii islands. He highlights the flora and fauna of the “Galapagos of the North” with a tasting menu that includes a prawn-and-nettle chowder, fiddleheads, geoduck and Dungeness crab. For dessert: something called “salmon candy”—we’re sure it tastes better than it sounds. Ongoing. $115 ($165 with wine pairings). Canoe, 66 Wellington St. W., 54th floor, oliverbonacini.com.
An uplifting stage comedy from Nora and Delia Ephron
Nora and Delia Ephron—the superstar sisters behind a score of ’90s rom-coms—adapted Love, Loss and What I Wore from Ilene Beckerman’s imaginative 1995 memoir, which told her life story through items of clothing. Five women, seated on a bare stage, race through meaty monologues about womanhood, relationships and class with equal amounts of heartwarming sincerity and irreverent humour. Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9. $28–$45. Living Arts Centre, 4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga, livingartscentre.ca.
An evening of sizzling guitar licks courtesy of Joe Satriani
Shredders everywhere are indebted to the American guitarist’s work on the fretboard. As a teacher, he’s mentored Metallica’s Kirk Lee Hammett and Exodus’s Rick Hunolt; as a performer, he’s accompanied Mick Jagger and Deep Purple, and earned more than a dozen Grammy nods. In this concert, he’ll layer blistering solos over instrumental blues-rock. Friday, April 8. $68.50–$275. Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave., ticketmaster.ca.
The Great War, a satirical take on World War I
The ninth chapter of Canadian writer-director Michael Hollingsworth’s ongoing theatre series, The History of the Village of the Small Huts, begins in 1914, as prime minister Robert Borden is being briefed on Franz Ferdinand’s assassination. The satire switches between short scenes on the battlefront—where unprepared warriors crack jokes in the trenches—and the home front, where the follies of feckless leaders make a farce of warfare. To Sunday, May 15. $25–$56. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Ln., soulpepper.ca.
Spur Festival, the smartest event in town
This ambitious four-day fest tackles topics like political tribalism, transgender experience and migration to Canada through a series of book readings, panels and, on Friday night, a satirical talk show hosted by podcast personality Vish Khanna. CBC’s Gillian Findlay moderates the opening night, a performance and discussion about belonging in the modern era with authors Hadani Ditmars, Irshad Manji, Ben Rawlence and Omar Musa. Thursday, April 7 to Sunday, April 10. Prices vary. Various locations, spurfestival.ca.
—are vulgar and vulnerable as they negotiate the land mines of class, absentee parents and burgeoning machismo. Wide release Friday, April 8. sleepinggiantfilm.com.
An all-you-can-eat Thai dinner featuring Super Soakers
On the first of night of Khao San Road’s two-day Songkran celebration, guests will ring in the Thai New Year with an all-you-can-eat feast (fresh rolls, pad thai, pork ribs, green curry chicken) and an all-out Super Soaker war. If you snag a ticket to one of the four seatings, it’s probably wise to bring a poncho. $40. Sunday, April 10 and Monday, April 11. Nana, 785 Queen St. W., khaosanroad.ca.
[caption id="attachment_376113" align="alignnone" width="2000"] (Image: Maxine Bocken and Mike Moore)[/caption]
A choreographed ode to the late Jackie Burroughs
In September 2010, mere days before rehearsals for this NextSteps production began, the Canadian actress Jackie Burroughs passed away. Her death gave the show its name, Jackie Burroughs Is Dead (and What Are You Going to Do About It?) and its form: local producer Danielle Baskerville and choreographer D. A. Hoskins shaped the piece into a contemporary ode to Burroughs with steps that are by turns grief-stricken and joyful. Thursday, April 7 to Saturday, April 9. $28–$37. Harbourfront Centre Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W., harbourfrontcentre.com.
Cover Me Urban, a delicious and diverse fundraiser
Non-profit Youth Without Shelter is packing every Toronto neighbourhood—Chinatown, Queen West, Little India—into 99 Sudbury for this fundraiser. On the menu: cochinita pibil tacos from Fonda Lola, Roman-style pizza from Levetto and 13 other street-food treats. Chow down while taking in beatboxing, violin performances and an urban fashion show. Wednesday, April 6. $99–$149. 99 Sudbury, 99 Sudbury St., yws.akaraisin.com.
The Terrible Parents, an absurd new play by Sky Gilbert
The postcard-perfect Johnson family is a mess upon closer inspection: son Cecil has an alarming Oedipus complex for his mutually aroused mother, Amelia, and their incestuous cravings leave daughter Odette feeling neglected. When Amelia suffers a head injury, she adopts a destructive, party-girl persona, sending the family deeper down the spiral. It’s as darkly absurd as we’d expect from writer, director and prolific provocateur Sky Gilbert. Friday, April 8 to Sunday, April 17. $32–$37. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St., buddiesinbadtimes.com.
[caption id="attachment_376114" align="alignnone" width="2000"] (Image: Cynthia Greig. George Condo; Berlin, 2013. Copyright Cynthia Greig, courtesy of Stephen Bulger Gallery)[/caption]
A meta art exhibition by Cynthia Greig
The Detroit-based artist treats the gallery as its own work of art in her new show, Exhibitionism. Her minimalist, documentary-style photographs depict a number of contemporary art galleries across the world—in New York, Paris, Berlin, and more—highlighting the bright, stark spaces rather than the works that fill them. Artwork $1,800–$5,000 (U.S.). To Saturday, April 30. Stephen Bulger Gallery, 1026 Queen St. W., bulgergallery.com.
A taste of Haida Gwaii at Canoe
The latest in chef John Horne’s Taste dinner series focuses on the cuisine of B.C.’s Haida Gwaii islands. He highlights the flora and fauna of the “Galapagos of the North” with a tasting menu that includes a prawn-and-nettle chowder, fiddleheads, geoduck and Dungeness crab. For dessert: something called “salmon candy”—we’re sure it tastes better than it sounds. Ongoing. $115 ($165 with wine pairings). Canoe, 66 Wellington St. W., 54th floor, oliverbonacini.com.
An uplifting stage comedy from Nora and Delia Ephron
Nora and Delia Ephron—the superstar sisters behind a score of ’90s rom-coms—adapted Love, Loss and What I Wore from Ilene Beckerman’s imaginative 1995 memoir, which told her life story through items of clothing. Five women, seated on a bare stage, race through meaty monologues about womanhood, relationships and class with equal amounts of heartwarming sincerity and irreverent humour. Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9. $28–$45. Living Arts Centre, 4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga, livingartscentre.ca.
An evening of sizzling guitar licks courtesy of Joe Satriani
Shredders everywhere are indebted to the American guitarist’s work on the fretboard. As a teacher, he’s mentored Metallica’s Kirk Lee Hammett and Exodus’s Rick Hunolt; as a performer, he’s accompanied Mick Jagger and Deep Purple, and earned more than a dozen Grammy nods. In this concert, he’ll layer blistering solos over instrumental blues-rock. Friday, April 8. $68.50–$275. Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave., ticketmaster.ca.
The Great War, a satirical take on World War I
The ninth chapter of Canadian writer-director Michael Hollingsworth’s ongoing theatre series, The History of the Village of the Small Huts, begins in 1914, as prime minister Robert Borden is being briefed on Franz Ferdinand’s assassination. The satire switches between short scenes on the battlefront—where unprepared warriors crack jokes in the trenches—and the home front, where the follies of feckless leaders make a farce of warfare. To Sunday, May 15. $25–$56. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Ln., soulpepper.ca.
Spur Festival, the smartest event in town
This ambitious four-day fest tackles topics like political tribalism, transgender experience and migration to Canada through a series of book readings, panels and, on Friday night, a satirical talk show hosted by podcast personality Vish Khanna. CBC’s Gillian Findlay moderates the opening night, a performance and discussion about belonging in the modern era with authors Hadani Ditmars, Irshad Manji, Ben Rawlence and Omar Musa. Thursday, April 7 to Sunday, April 10. Prices vary. Various locations, spurfestival.ca.){kind=link}