Theatre in Toronto doens't get much better than the current Soulpepper remount of their successful 2001-2002 production of Uncle Vanya, on at the Young Centre until Saturday. With solid performances by Albert Schultz, Joseph Ziegler, William Webster, and Diego Matamoros as the evuncular Vanya of the play's title, here’s a Chekhov that positively hums in its harmony with contemporary life. Characters get hurt, get drunk, get heartbroken, get abused, get kicked out, and keep repeating......

Leave it to CanStage to somehow, in the midst of extreme internal upheaval what is maybe their darkest financial hour, be simultaneously running two of their strongest shows by far in recent memory. In fact, Palace of the End (which closes tomorrow night) and The Clean House (which runs until March 8) aren't just good shows for CanStage, they would be amazing shows for anywhere. Hopefully, they can win the audiences they deserve, but......