Gael Larche

Review of Toronto Theatrical Producers (...

WHAT FRESH HELL IS THIS?

WHAT FRESH HELL IS THIS?

If you have spent your hard earned money on a ticket to a show, particularly an opera, be advised that gone are the glorious days of, until now, the innocuous cacophony of candy wrappers and chatter bugs. The Ed Mirvish Theate management has made the brilliant and money grabbing decision to allow drinks and "snacks" into the theatre, that can be conveniently purchased in the theatre lounge, to be happily consumed by ticket holders who cannot sit through a performance without feeling they are at home being potatoes on their couches. We recently attended an opera performance by the world renowned Opera Atelier. The potatoes sitting in front of us happily consumed coffee, wine and a bag of candy and, not surprisingly, tossed their garbage under their seats onto the floor. With my gob now seriously smacked, I approached an usher to ask if this was permitted and he answered "yes, people were complaining that they didn't have enough time to eat and drink their snacks and drinks, so they can bring them in. We have to clean it up." If you prefer to enjoy a performance in relative quiet, this may not be the theatre best suited to satisfy your aesthetic needs.