MetaPhysical Theatre

08/23/2025

More photos of costumes and masks from 'Carnival: the Spirit & the Soul' currently on display at the Joseph D. Carrier Gallery at the Columbus Centre (northwest corner of Dufferin and Lawrence Ave. W. in Toronto) running from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. until Wednesday, August 27th. See it before the carnival leaves town.

08/13/2025

Opening night of 'Carnival: the Spirit & the Soul' on July 31st at the Columbus Centre in Toronto brings these photos courtesy of Villa Charities Inc. Although few in number here, they are the tip of the iceberg of what's on offer, a feast for the eyes of masks, costumes, photos from carnivals around the world. As mentioned in a previous post, included in the exhibit are masks and costumes from MetaPhysical Theatre's outdoor pageant play 'The Seven Lively Sins'. The exhibit runs until Wednesday, August 27th at the Columbus Centre in Toronto, 901 Lawrence Ave. W. (corner of Lawrence Ave. W. & Dufferin). Hours are from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Admission is free.

07/27/2025

"Friends, artists, colleagues, lend me your eyes." Herewith your socially mediated invitation to attend an arts exhibit like no other, hors du commun, non pareil titled 'Carnival: the Spirit & the Soul' The exhibit features photos, masks and costumes originating from carnivals around the world. Of particular interest (to those familiar with MetaPhysical Theatre's work), are masks and costumes featured in the company's production 'The Seven Lively Sins.' Opening Thursday, July 31st and running until Wednesday, August 27th at the Columbus Centre in Toronto, 901 Lawrence Ave. W. (Lawrence Ave. W. & Dufferin), 'Carnival: The Spirit & the Soul' takes the viewer on a journey to carnivals around the world, from Toronto's 'Caribana' to the Venetian Carnevale. Masks, photos, costumes, oh my! The entire exhibit promises to be "una stravaganzza." N. B. Pictured here are three masks from 'The Seven Lively Sins': masks of Envy, Pride and Lust. Photo credit: Teodoro Dragonieri.

07/11/2025

Clockwise from upper left: 1/ A disguised Lelio (Dean Rideout), arriving for his wedding to Isabella, Pantalone's daughter, 'Fool's Gold', 2014 2/ Stephen Lafrenie (Pantalone) feigning illnesss 3/ David Langlois (Il Dottore), Stephen Lafrenie (Pantalone) plotting to trick his daughter Isabella into marrying rich Count Vi**ra 4/ Dean Rideout & Melissa Morris (Lelio, Isabella) caught red handed by Pantalone 5/ Dana Fradkin (Arlecchino) Masks by Teodoro Dragonieri and Trish Leeper. Photos by Larry Zacharko.

04/30/2025

Prithee, lend thine eyes to this constant? inconstant? telling of the tale of the Mad King -Lear. Let thy head and thy heart judge whether 'tis fair or foul

02/04/2025

The scope, imagination, power and impact of Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize winning play 'Angels in America' has not diminished with time. Starring Nathan Lane as corrupt lawyer of influence Roy Cohn, in this Royal National Theatre of Great Britain production, the play tackles the theme of politics in America during the AIDS epidemic with honesty and wit, never veering or shunning the truth. If you've not seen it, I recommend you do.

01/23/2025

Back home after gracing Mississauga's Cawthra Park Secondary School's student commedia dell'arte presentations and now available for rental is the set for MetaPhysical Theatre's production 'Fool's Gold.' Reed Needles is responsible for its design while additional embellishment was created by Stewart Simpson. The backdrop, that of Piazza San Marco in Venice, makes a colourful setting while the curtains offset the set's splendour with a formal touch, one that's ideal for photo shoots, themed events, Bigfoot sightings, Monster truck rallies and hot air balloon liftoffs. For prices and availability, please contact artistic director David Langlois at 905-735-3175 or at [email protected].

12/20/2024

An incisive and insightful profile of the work of my friend and colleague Teodoro Dragonieri, founder of Zanni Arte. If you're a wee bit curious about the role that masks play in theatre training, click on the following link. Who knows you might learn something!

Mask-maker Teodoro Dragonieri calls on viewers to keep art alive and relevant. The unconventional performer, artist and teacher, shows us the transformative power…

12/02/2024

Some would have it that poetry's dead. I say they're dead and poetry lives.

11/24/2024

Seven years have passed since I've posted information or photos regarding MetaPhysical Theatre's production 'Pierrot & the Moon'/'Pierrot et La Lune.' Due in part to the wretched impact of the pandemic, in part to caring for my mother, in part to the costs involved in staging the production - a cast of six including stage management and in part to what seemed like a dearth of opportunities to present it. The challenges seemed insurmountable. A pity because the production has been well received wherever it has played - the Toronto Fringe in 2012 where it received an Honourable Mention at the Fringe Festival Awards, the Montréal Fringe in 2013, a fantastic festival known as 'Puppets Up' in Almonte, Ontario in 2013 and Springworks in Stratford in 2017. With the prospect of presenting the company's work under the name Théâtre Qui Vive at an arts conference named Contact Ontarois in Ottawa in January (15th-18th), who knows? Hope springs eternal.

11/03/2024

An excerpt from 'Frankenstein' a 2011 production that starred Johnny Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch (in interchangeable roles) as Victor Frankenstein and his creation, directed by Danny Boyle. A more human, accurate portrayal of the novel by Mary Shelley, I cannot imagine.

11/02/2024

Before all the oxygen gets sucked out of social media with the results of the U. S. election, I invite you to take a look at MetaPhysical Theatre's revamped website: www.metaphysicaltheatre.ca. Years in the making - the pandemic scuttled the need for one, this once upon time, back from the dead, where has it been, whatever became of?' oeuvre is the handiwork of my brother from another mother/close personal friend Michael Kryton. Following his instructions, I dove deep into the company's archives, emerging cobweb strewn and covered in dust with the raw material. Michael then collated, structured and posted it on All Saints' Day, November 1st. And now it's yours to click and scroll through (or not) to your heart's delight. www.metaphysicaltheatre.ca