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Urban Planner: August 17, 2010
Urban Planner is Torontoist’s guide to what’s on in Toronto, published every weekday morning, and in a weekend edition Friday afternoons. If you have an event you’d like considered, email all of its details—as well as images, if you’ve got any—to [email protected].
Mirvish brings popular Irish comedian Brendan O’Carroll—and his matronly alter ego Agnes Brown—to the Toronto stage tonight in How Now Mrs. Brown Cow. Photo by Dave Cullen.
Today in Toronto: After Dark Fest offers more thrills and chills, an Irish sitcom takes to the Mirvish stage, a chance to show off your Simpsons knowledge, and an Italian reading series.
FILM: Toronto’s cinematic celebration of all things campy and macabre is halfway finished, so get your tickets for the After Dark Film Festival while you still can! Beginning tonight’s lineup is the anthology of Thai horror shorts Phobia 2, a sequel to the 2008 festival hit. Those with ironclad stomachs might want to check out the indie metacult comedy All About Evil, in which a would-be auteur develops a cult following by filming the gruesome murder of her fans. Director Joshua Grannell will be in attendance to judge a “gore couture” costume contest, so break out the corn syrup and raw hamburger. Bloor Cinema (506 Bloor Street West), 7 and 9:45 p.m., $13 each.
COMEDY: Irish comedian Brendan O’Carroll created his alter ego Mrs. Brown in 1990 for a short radio performance, not expecting the character to become an international phenomenon with novels, plays, and a television series to follow. Tonight marks the first time O’Carroll has brought the meddlesome mother of six to the Great White North in How Now Mrs. Brown Cow, a play that sees the extended Brown clan getting together for a hijinks-filled Christmas dinner. Staged in collaboration with Mirvish Productions, O’Carroll decided Toronto was the ideal spot to launch his North American tour when he discovered Canadian audiences were predominantly responsible for his YouTube popularity. Canon Theatre (244 Victoria Street), 8 p.m., $25–$75.
TRIVIA: Any child of the nineties worth their salt has a hidden cache of Simpsons knowledge taking up valuable mental real estate, with tragically few opportunities to apply their hard-gained wisdom. Do you remember the name of Bart’s elephant? Are you versed in the filmography of Troy McClure? Can you effortlessly rattle off Apu’s daunting surname? Then you may just want to check out Woo Hoo! Classic Simpsons Pub Trivia, an evening of stumpers from the first eleven seasons of the longest running cartoon in history. Go head to head with fellow fans, win some prizes, and enjoy favourite episodes between rounds of Duff. The Ossington (61 Ossington Avenue), 8 p.m., FREE.
WORDS: Tonight the (Not So) Nice Italian Girls & Friends will be taking over the Annex Live to promote the work of Italo-Canadian wordsmiths. Emceed by poet Giovanna Riccio, the evening will offer a number of works of poetry and prose by established and upcoming talents in the Italian community, including Journey Prize finalist Michelle Alfano and cabaret performer Sandra Battaglini. Annex Live (296 Brunswick Avenue), 8 p.m., FREE.