Kinky Boots sashays away from Toronto

And other choice events in the city from May 12–18, 2016


Thursday, May 12

Le Placard

François Pignon is an accountant for a condom factory — for now. When he learns he’s going to be fired, he tries to jump out of a window. A nosy neighbour stops him and suggests a scheme for keeping his job: pretend he’s gay. That way the company should keep him on out of fear of being thought homophobic. This is a production of a funny play by Francis Veber.

Runs until Sunday, May 29, various showtimes. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley St. theatrefrancais.com

Friday, May 13

Fire Song

Following his sister’s suicide, a young, closeted aboriginal man wants to leave the reserve, but there are a lot of things standing in his way. For the first time, Adam Garnet Jones’ movie will show in theatres. It won the audience choice award at the 2015 ImagineNATIVE festival, the best feature narrative award at the Reel Out Festival and was an official mention at several other festivals.

Runs until Thursday, May 19, various showtimes. Carlton Cinema, 20 Carlton St. rainbowcinemas.ca

Saturday, May 14

Smut in the 6ix

Toronto has a lively little alternative and feminist porn scene. In celebration of that, Playground Sexuality Events and the porn company Spit present a day of porn-related stuff. It includes an afternoon conference with sessions on a variety of subjects — DIY porn, stigma, representation and more — and an evening gala that includes a video screening and a DJ’d “porn dance party” (whatever that might be).

2pm. The 519, 519 Church St. For more info, visit Facebook.

 

Sunday, May 15

Kinky Boots: Final Performance of the Engagement

The show that just won’t stop is finally stopping. Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper’s musical opened in Toronto on June 2015, was extended repeatedly, and is now ready for the final performance. They promise it’s finally final, because afterward the theatre will close down for six months of major renovations. So, it’s your last chance to go and watch Lola boot around and sing all throaty-like.

7pm. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King St W. mirvish.com

Church Street Comedy

The still fairly new-ish monthly comedy night in the age-old Church Street bar returns with a special headliner: the lovely Martha Chaves. She’s fresh off her Winnipeg Comedy Festival taping. Hosted by Chantel Marostica and Adrienne Fish, this edition of the queer comedy showcase also includes performances by Amy Cunningham, Colleen Sibeon and Andrew Barr.

8pm. Pegasus, 489 Church St. For more info, visit Facebook.

Tuesday, May 17

Sheets

Salvatore Antonio’s play includes a lot of naked people — as in, most of the characters are naked most of the time. Plus, it’s the last production ever to happen at the soon-to-be-closed performance space in Kensington Market. In a series of disconnected scenes, the play explores how hotel rooms are at the same time public and very, very private. Antonio thinks that’s super weird.

Runs until Sunday, May 29, various showtimes. Videofag, 187 Augusta Ave. videofag.com

For more event listings, visit dailyxtra.com/lgbt-events

Jeremy Willard is a Toronto-based freelance writer and editor. He's written for Fab Magazine, Daily Xtra and the Torontoist. He generally writes about the arts, local news and queer history (in History Boys, the Daily Xtra column that he shares with Michael Lyons).

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