Buddies Begins 2018 With Three Powerful Productions
Bryen Dunn
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre have announced their first round of 2018 theatre productions, and if these are any indication of what’s to come, this is going to be another stellar year at Toronto’s entertainment queer-plex See below for a brief description of each new work, then click through to get your tickets in advance for these limited engagement shows. The chill of winter in the air makes it the perfect time of year to find your way to Buddies and support live theatre and local talent. Kudo’s to Artistic Director, Evalyn Parry, and her team!
MY FUNNY VALENTINE
January 10 – 21
ZEE ZEE THEATRE
In February 2008, a fifteen-year-old boy asked another boy in his class to be his valentine. The next day, that boy shot and killed him during first period. My Funny Valentine enters the minds of people on the fringes of a murder that will forever affect them and examines the ripple effect of hatred in a community. Haunting, moving, and at times strangely comedic, My Funny Valentine cracks open the greater humanity of a town trying to heal.
A hilarious and provocative look at class, race, and family dynamics under the roof of a wealthy Jamaican-Canadian home. As Julie, a screenwriter, seeks to redress To Kill a Mockingbird through the perspective of Calpurnia “the Finch family maid” her tactics meet with explosive results at an important family dinner party. A brave, insightful, and outrageous new play.
For years, Zaya has balanced his relationship with religion and his queer identity; but as secrets from the past reveal themselves, and crisis strikes his family, he is torn between loyalties, culture, and time. Acha Bacha boldly explores the intersections between queerness, gender identity, and Islamic culture in the Pakistani diaspora. It is a show about the way we love, the way we are loved, and how sometimes love is not enough.
Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment, and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors, and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats. Reach out - bryen@thebuzzmag.ca