Mark Andrew Lawrence began his broadcasting career as music director for St. Catharines radio station CHRE. After six years there and eight years at classical station CFMX, he created FRONT ROW CENTRE to supply theatre reviews and articles to magazines, newspapers, and broadcasters across the greater Toronto area. Mark Andrew Lawrence maintains an extensive collection of over 3,500 Broadway show recordings in all formats (78 RPM singles, 45 RPM album, 10 & 12-inch Lps, and Compact discs) dating back to the early years of the 20th century.
 BWW Reviews: THE SOUND OF MUSIC - Finnie Jesson leads a fine cast in this reproduction of the original 1959 version.
December 11, 2012
Rodgers & Hammerstein's final show, The Sound of Music, has always had a reputation for being overly sentimental and unbearably sweet. Yet, as originally written, the show has much more of an edge. The Civic Light Opera Company has gone back to the original script by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse and it is very effective when done with straight-forward sincerity, as it is here.
* * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)
 BWW Reviews: ORDINARY DAYS
December 5, 2012
Angelwalk Theatre in association with Winnipeg Studio Theatre are presenting the Canadian premiere of Adam Gwon's musical ORDINARY DAYS. After a successful run in Winnipeg the show has opened at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. With a terrific cast and excellent musical direction this should be on your must-see list!
 BWW Reviews: Shaw Festival's RAGTIME Dazzles
June 5, 2012
The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake offers a dazzling new production of the 1996 musical RAGTIME that makes a case for the show as a great American musical. A terrific cast wins standing ovations nightly at the Festival Theater where the show plays until October 14.
 BWW Reviews: Jerry Herman's DEAR WORLD - Revised & Revived by The Civic Light Opera Company
May 29, 2012
Each season Toronto's Civic Light Opera Company revises and revives failed and forgotten shows from Broadway's past. This year it's the 1969 Jerry Herman musical DEAR WORLD based on the Jean Giraudoux play THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT. Barbara Boddy and David Haines lead the cast in making the case for this much neglected show.
 BWW reviews TARANTARA! TARANTARA! - The story of Gilbert and Sullivan at Fairview Library Theatre
May 18, 2012
Although they created many popular comic operas, the backstage relationship of W.S.Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan was anything but light-hearted merriment. The story of their tumultuous partnership is the focus of Ian Taylor's play Tarantara! Tarantara!, currently being presented by Stage Centre Productions at Fairview Library Theatre until May 19.
 BWW Reviews: MAN OF LA MANCHA - An Imaginative Staging from The Alexander Singers
May 8, 2012
A strong trio of leads ushers us into the world of Don Quixote as The Alexander Singers present the Tony-award winning musical MAN OF LA MANCHA at York Woods Library Theatre until May 13.
 BWW reviews CLYBOURNE PARK - a production from Canstage and Studio 180 that is not to be missed!
April 23, 2012
"Humans are territorial," states one character midway through the second act of CLYBOURNE PARK. That simple line sums up one of the key ideas at the heart of this Pulitzer Prize winning play by Bruce Norris. The play is being given its Canadian premiere in a brilliant production by Canadian Stage Company and Studio 180.
 BWW Reviews: Amicus Productions' PRELUDE TO A KISS is a Magical Romantic Comedy, thru April 21
April 17, 2012
Amicus Productions concludes their 2012 season with a magical and enjoyable rendering of the Craig Lucas play PRELUDE TO A KISS.
 BWW Reviews: MISS SAIGON - a Moving Production from Curtain Call Players
April 4, 2012
There was almost as much drama involved in getting Curtain Call Players' spring production of the musical MISS SAIGON to opening night as there is in the show itself. The recent strike by Toronto Public Library staff locked the company out of their usual venue Fairview Library Theatre. Fortunately, at the very last minute the troupe was able to make arrangements to present the show at Glen Rhodes United Church. For the run of this show teh venue has been dubbed the Rhodes Avenue Theatre.
 BWW Reviews: I LOVE YOU BECAUSE - A 'Gem' of a Show at Toronto Center for the Arts Studio Theatre
April 2, 2012
Angelwalk Theater has come up with a real gem with the romantic musical comedy I Love You Because. The show, playing in the cozy Studio Theater in the Toronto Center for the Arts boasts a top-notch cast, fluid direction, a tuneful score and clever, insightful lyrics.
 BWW Reviews: SONGS IN THE KEY OF STEPHEN - A Feast for Fans of Sondheim and Schwartz
April 2, 2012
A dazzling revue of songs by the two Stephens - Sondheim and Schwartz - performed by an enthusiastic cast.
 BWW Reviews: ALL SHOOK UP is Frothy Entertainment at Stage West Dinner Theatre
March 29, 2012
Familiar songs and some lively performances make the production of ALL SHOOK UP at Stage West Dinner Theatre a frothy entertainment.
* * * * (out of 5)
 BWW Reviews: SHREK = derivative drek at Toronto Center for the Arts
March 27, 2012
Strong leading performances, some tasty production values and well executed effects help compensate for many of the deficiencies in Shrek The Musical. The show is another sad reminder of how Broadway is currently bereft of creativity and imagination. Shrek is derivative drek.
* * (out of 5)
 BWW Reviews: THE LARAMIE PROJECT at Toronto Centre for the Arts Excites
January 30, 2012
Three items to note about Encore Entertainment's production of The Laramie Project:
1. Arrive early - evening performances begin a 7:30 and matinees at 1:30.
2. Plan to stay after the show for the talk-back with cast members.
3. Bring lots of Kleenexyou will need it!
* * * * * (out of 5)
 BWW Reviews: Not Your Typical HAIRSPRAY at Fairview Library Theatre
November 9, 2011
It is always great when the performers on stage are having such a good time that those watching can't help but get swept up in the fun, and that is exactly what happens in Curtain Call Players' tightly-paced production of Hairspray, making it a joy from start to finish.
* * * * 1/2 (out of 5)
 BWW Reviews: LOVE AND OTHER STRESSES at Toronto Centre for the Arts
November 1, 2011
Encore Entertainment presents an original revue built around a variety of show tunes and exploring the modern day stresses of love, marriage and family life. Featuring songs the scores of HAIR, WICKED, GUYS AND DOLLS, COMPANY and many other shows, LOVE AND OTHER STRESSES offers a program of sparkling entertainment.
 BWW Reviews: TWO PIANOS, FOUR HANDS - Touching and Screamingly Funny
November 1, 2011
When Two Pianos Four Hands premiered at Toronto's Tarragon Theater in 1996 it struck an immediate chord with critics and audiences that still resonates in this latest remount, which opened at the Panasonic Theatre for a limited engagement playing until November 20.
 BWW Interviews: Sahr Ngaujah talks about bringing FELA! to Toronto
October 25, 2011
Tony nominated for his performance in FELA! Sahr Ngaujah stars in the touring production, which will play at the Canon Theatre October 25 to November 6.
 BWW Reviews: THE WINSLOW BOY at Stage Centre Productions
October 3, 2011
Withe their latest production, The Winslow Boy, Stage Centre Productions - with a new Artistic Director at the helm - maintains the same high standards that has made the g4oup one of Toronto's finest repertory theatre companies.
* * * * * (out of 5)
 BWW Reviews: THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES
July 18, 2011
Stage West Dinner Theatre brings The Marvelous Wonderettes to Toronto audiences. The nearly endless parade of pop standards, novelty tunes and early rock'n'roll songs gives the show a built-in nostalgia factor that proves popular with Stage West audiences.
 Review: 'The Secret Garden'
February 19, 2011
This new production of The Secret Garden comes to us from The Festival Theatre in Edinburgh. A tighter, more effective first act is a decided improvement, and though the show remains somewhat problematic, it will entertain and delight your inner child.
* * * 1/2 (out of 5)
 Review: 'Cabaret'
January 26, 2011
A top-notch cast coupled with crisp direction makes Theatre Unlimited's revival of the Broadway musical Cabaret a powerful performance.
* * * * 1/2 (out of 5)
 Review: 'Butterflies Are Free'
January 26, 2011
Encore Entertainment is opening their production of Leonard Gershe's Butterflies Are Free this week. Reviewed at a dress rehearsal performance, I am happy to report the show is so good there's no need to wait until opening night to spread the word. You won't want to miss it!
* * * * * (out of 5)
 Review: 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels'
January 24, 2011
A thoroughly enjoyable production of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS from Hart House Theatre. Show has a clever book and a delightful score, and the cast makes the most of both.
* * * * 1/2 (out of 5)
 Auditions: ANYTHING GOES
January 24, 2011
The Civic Light Opera Company
Anything Goes AUDITIONS
Feb. 15 and 22 - 5:00 to 8:00 by appointment
RSVP by e-mail - CivicLightOpera@aol.com
 Review: '25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'
October 30, 2010
Encore Entertainment's production of the off=beat Broadway hit THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is a crowd-pleaser. Enriched by both crisp direction and fine performances, the musical seems a perfect fit for the cozy confines of the Studio theatre at the Toronto Centre for the Arts.
* * * * (OUT OF 5)
 Review: PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT Pre-Broadway try-out
October 27, 2010
After two weeks of previews, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT had its official opening in Toronto on Tuesday October 26. The production is in terrific shape and delivers both spectacle and spectacular entertainment. Even when it falters, as it does on occasion, the musical is lively and tremendous fun.
 Review: WICKED in Toronto
October 25, 2010
Wicked is a fun , entertaining show and the touring production on view at the Canon Theatre has enough magic to make one forgive some of the inadequacies, but it isn't as sharp a production as was previously seen here.
* * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)
![Review: '[title of show]'](http://images.bwwstatic.com/columnpic3/75170735title_of_show_logo.jpg) Review: '[title of show]'
September 29, 2010
Angelwalk Theatre presents the Toronto premiere of [title of show] at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. Though the production values are minimal, the dynamite cast take hold of the material and milk it for all it's worth!
* * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)
 Loretta Swit brings 'Shirley Valentine' to Stage West
September 29, 2010
Loretta Swit has played the title role in Willy Russell's Shirley Valentine everywhere from Chicago to Guam. Now she brings Shirley and her friends Wall and Rock to Mississauga's Stage West Dinner Theatre.
 Review: 'South Pacific'
August 16, 2010
This is one not to miss - a first rate touring edition of a much lauded Broadway revival of one of Rodgers & Hammerstein's most challanging and rewarding musical plays. Jason Howard, Carmen Cusack, Jodi Kimura and Anderson Davis head a settlar cast.
* * * * * (out of 5)
 Review: 'Rock of Ages' Toronto cast
June 2, 2010
A terrific cast and a score made up of 80's evergreens makes Rock Of Ages an energizing night out. The cliche-ridden plot serves solely as an excuse for the two dozen period songs, but the in the end it's the music that delivers the high-octane entertainment.
* * * * (OUT OF 5)
 Review: 'Funny Girl'
June 2, 2010
The Civic Light Opera Company wraps up their 2009-10 season with an enjoyable staging of the musical Funny Girl, anchored by a performer more than up to the task of the role of Fanny Brice.
* * * * 1/2 (out of 5)
 BWW Reviews: MAMMA MIA! National Tour at the Princess of Wales
May 5, 2010
Almost ten years to the day, Mamma Mia returns to the city where the show had its North American premiere. It isn't the happiest of homecomings, due to an annoying tendency for the cast to overplay the material. Still the songs are as effervescent as ever and the book cleverly weaves them into a slender story.
* * * (out of 5)
 Review: 'Titatnic' at Fairview Library Theatre
April 8, 2010
Curtain Call Players manage to successfully make the epic musical TITANIC work on a smaller stage. A huge ensemble of 50 ensures the choral aspects of the score are excitingly presented, and although the director cannot completely solve some of the show's more obstinate problems, the production generated an enthusiastic response from the opening night audience.
* * * * (out of 5)
 Review: 'Youg Frankenstein' National Tour at Princess of Wales Theatre
April 8, 2010
The Gene Wilder screenplay becomes the unsatisfactory basis for a failed Broadway musical. The star performance of Roger Bart goes a long way to making the performance endurable, but the show is far cry from being any kind of musical theatre classic.
* * (out of 5)
 Review: 'Grease' Tour at the Canon Theatre
April 8, 2010
A revival of GREASE offers a watered down version of the original stage script, needlessly interpolates four songs from the motion picture version, and pointlessly brings in Taylor Hicks to play Teen Angel. Some lively choreography fails to compensate.
* (out of 5)
 Review: 'Rex' at Fairview Library Theatre
February 24, 2010
Rex has a reputation as a big Broadway disaster. It is well known that the show had many problems on the rocky road to Broadway in 1976, but The Civic Light Opera Company's new production shows off the show's strengths. Sheldon Harnick attended the opening night performance and pronounced this production to be everything he had always hoped the show to be.
* * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)
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