The big opening this week in Toronto comes from Mirvish, who are giving the Tony and Pulitzer-award winning show August: Osage County its Canadian debut tonight at the Canon Theatre. The buzz on this show is huge following its smash run on Broadway. Playing the lead role in this troubled-family drama is Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons, who every gay boy should remember as the Beverly Harris, the grandmother from Roseanne who came out as a lesbian in the final season of that show. Speaking of lesbian mothers, the Toronto Fringe festival hit My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding begins previews of its mainstage run at the Panasonic Theatre — also brought to you by Mirvish — on Saturday. More on this next week when the show officially opens. Also is Broadway transplants is Dancap’s production of Toxic Avenger: The Musical. Ironic musical movie adaptations have become a bit of a pop theatre phenomenon in the last decade, and this pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. As far as that goes, it’s a funny and fun show anchored by some really strong performances, particularly from the frequently-in-drag two-man chorus. It’s the sort of show that makes serious theatre people turn up their noses, while people just looking for fun insist it’s the best thing since sliced bread. So, in other words, it neatly fills the gap left since Evil Dead: The Musical closed last year. Tickets are only $15 for a limited time, so take advantage while you can. 
And don’t forget that tonight only, Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth will be performing at the Yorkville Holt Renfrew Christmas window unveiling at 6:30pm. Merry X-Mas! In other news, local activist Andrew Brett uncovers a Christian group at York University organizing a “prayer for homosexuals” and corresponding protest by campus queer groups taking place this afternoon.
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