James Karas

DOG MAN: THE MUSICAL by Kevin Del Aguila and Brad Alexander at the CAA Theatre is a boisterous, hyper-kinetic and funny musical. You may enjoy it more if you bring a youngster with you. My review is here: jameskarasreviews.blogspot.com/2026/05/dog-ma…

CICADAS by Chris Thornborrow and David Yee at the Tarragon Theatre, Toronto. A couple buys a house in Trinity Bellwoods. It is haunted and some frightful, horrible, humorous and dramatic things happen. And the cicadas? Go figure. My review: jameskarasreviews.blogspot.com/2026/05/cicada…

COME FROM AWAY is the musical based on the experience of the people of Gander, Newfoundland dealing wit 7000 passengers who land there after the 9/11 attacks. All-Canadian production in London, Ontario. Have you not seen it? My review: jameskarasreviews.blogspot.com/2026/05/come-f…

EUGENE ONEGIN live from the Met in HD. Revival of Deborah Warner production. Excellent singing by Asmik Grigorian, Maria Barakova, Iurii Samoilov and Stanislas de Barbeyerac. I did not like the sets but they may mean little to some. My Review: operareviewsbykaras.blogspot.com/2026/05/eugene…

HOW TO CATCH CREATION by Christina Anderson at Soulpepper. The play deals with important themes like artistic ambitions and the need to leave a legacy. Talented cast gets bogged down by complicated plot but worth seeing. My review is here: jameskarasreviews.blogspot.com/2026/05/how-to…

BLUEBEARD'S CASTLE and ERWARTUNG. Two one-act operas that are infrequently produced are shown by the Canadian Opera Company in stellar productions. Read my review for details: operareviewsbykaras.blogspot.com/2026/05/bluebe…

THE DIVISION by Andrew Kushnir at Crow's Theatre, Toronto. A stunning play about the search for a grandfather's activities in WWII by Andrew Kushnir himself. He directs riveting production with a superior cast. Go see it. My review: jameskarasreviews.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-di…

MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL. Do you want to see a spectacular musica? Almost about Moulin Rouge is done on a grand, fantastic, extravagant, phantasmagoric scale. There is singing, dancing and comedy but all is subsumed by spectacle. My review: jameskarasreviews.blogspot.com/2026/04/moulin…

PELLEAS ET MELISAND by Claude Debussy. Opera Atelier gave a brilliant production of this complex opera. It adapted it to a smaller venue and got it in touch with French baroque opera composers. You missed it but read my review anyway. operareviewsbykaras.blogspot.com/2026/04/pellea…

Do you remember when you joined X? I do! 12 years ago James Karas

CLYDE'S is a moving play by Lynn Nottage dealing with the lives of abused people in a dumpy diner in truck truck stop. Superb cast directed by Philip Akin at the Bluma Appel Theatre, Toronto. My review: jameskarasreviews.blogspot.com/2026/04/clydes…

TRISTAN UN ISOLDE. The Met in HD transmitted a thrilling production of Wagner's treacherous work. Lise Davidsen is the rare dramatic soprano that can handle the role and Yuval Sharon delivers a an unforgettable production. My review: operareviewsbykaras.blogspot.com/2026/04/trista…

A NIGHT IN VENICE by Johann Strauss II. It's an operetta that you may not have seen. Toronto Operetta Theatre is staging it for three performances. Read my review here jameskarasreviews.blogspot.com/2026/04/a-nigh…

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNES at the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario. A stunning production. meticulously directed and superbly acted with excellent sets. What more do you want? My review: jameskarasreviews.blogspot.com/2026/04/the-im…

HENRY V done by the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford-upon-Avon. A grand production in yerms of crowds on the stage, good choreography and a good excuse to visit the town. My Review: jameskarasreviews.blogspot.com/2026/04/henry-…

RIGOLETTO at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, London. An outstanding production by Oliver Mears with George Petean, Aida Garifullina and Ivan Ayon Rivas singing their hearts out. My review: operareviewsbykaras.blogspot.com/2026/04/rigole…

SHADOWLANDS by William Nicholson in London, England. You may know the Narnia Chronicles by C.S.Lewis but a play about him? Yes, because in middle age he fell in love with a younger woman and tasted the pleasures of love and the pain of death. My review: jameskarasreviews.blogspot.com/2026/04/shadow…

THE TEMPEST at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London. Tim Crouch directs and stars as Prospero in a gentler and intimte Tempest. My review is here: jameskarasreviews.blogspot.com/2026/03/the-te…

BROKEN GLASS by Arthur Miller is not seen very frequently but it is a gripping play. Miller facing Jewishness. You have to be in London at the Young Vic to see it. My review: jameskarasreviews.blogspot.com/2026/03/broken…

A MIRROR by British playwright Sam Holcroft gives a reflection of censorship in a totalitarian country. Superb topic but not always treated clearly. At 918 Bathurst (name of theatre and address) in Toronto. My review is here: jameskarasreviews.blogspot.com/2026/03/a-mirr…