LISTINGS & EVENTS
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IN SPOT POSITIVE SPACE INTERIORS Story Paul Aguirre-Livingston
The average condo size in Toronto has shrunk by 100 square feet over the last five years. Despite experiencing the biggest condo boom in North America right now, space and livability are huge issues for Torontonians. We can’t solve all our storage quandaries by placing $10 plastic bins from Ikea underneath our beds. More often than not, elevating to custom can turn any shoebox into a home. Enter Positive Space Interiors on King Street East. This familyowned, Canadian-based manufacturer has been in the business of creating smart storage solutions for more than 35 years. With a larger, more extensive outpost already thriving in Mississauga, Positive Space’s downtown showroom opened in February with a scaled-down selection of city living separates to make any small space a wonder of real estate. The sparse shop is true to the showroom aesthetic, devoid of clutter and colour to highlight the brand’s key offerings and accent pieces as they may look in your own room. Find queen bed units featuring multi-level, built-in storage (from $1,800 to $10,000) to a standard, but slim, chest of drawers ($1,950) to gorgeous, barely-there night tables (starting at $650). All pieces are made with the company’s unique touch: raw wood treated with oil — with 22
May 2012
→ ROOM T O SPARE Great condo-sized design choices.
impeccably-stained espresso finishes that will last a lifetime twice over — featuring drawer spaces lined with taupe micro-suede bottoms to avoid colour transfer from garments and minimize wear and tear. While the downtown store caters mostly to the boudoir, there are also a few extras to consider, like an array of light fixtures (starting at $400) in an exclusive collaboration with Distillery District neighbour Eurolite (who recently completed a lighting project for Holt Renfrew). Positive Space also houses ALX Raw Design, a custom interiors firm from owner/ designer Alex Arcese, which produces everything from furniture to kitchens to powder rooms. Before you shop, check out the website and play with the Custom Bed Builder application. Otherwise, there’s always the option of importing an “off-therack” item from the brand’s suburban headquarters (look for collections dubbed “Condo” and “Studio”).
POSITIVE SPACE INTERIORS 167 King St E. (416) 360-8551. positivespaceinteriors.com.
Kicks off with singer Lisa Michelle and an art show curated by Sandra Brewster. PWYC. 8pm-10pm. Mon, May 7. Artscape Wychwood Barns. 601 Christie St. bcurrent.ca. HIGH Kathleen Turner stars as Sister Jamison Connelly, a nun and drug rehab counsellor who takes in a 19-year-old drug user. The Mirvishes present the National Tour of the Matthew Lombardo drama. Also stars Evan Jonigkeit and Timonty Atlmeyer; Rob Ruggiero directs. $50-$110. 8pm. Tue, May 8-12. 2pm. May 12. 2pm & 7pm. May 13. Royal Alexandra Theatre. 260 King St W. (416) 872-1212. mirvish.com. BEYOND THE CUCKOO’S NEST Young People’s Theatre presents the premiere of Ed Roy’s story about three teens with mental health issues as they battle school workloads, worried parents, their peers, their loves and social stigma. Starring Miranda Edwards, David Patrick Fleming, Brendan McMurty-Howlett and Soo Garay; Roy directs. $15-$20. 10:15am & 1pm (with some exceptions). Mon-Fri. 2pm & 4pm. Sat. Wed, May 9-17. Young People’s Theatre. 165 Front St E. (416) 862-2222. youngpeoplestheatre.ca. THE SHIPMENT World Stage presents the New-York based Jean Lee’s Theater Company and the Canadian premiere of Lee’s fiendish take on race in the US. $45. 8pm. Wed, May 9-12. Enwave Theatre. 231 Queen’s Quay W. (416) 973-4000. harbourfrontcentre.com. LUBA, SIMPLY LUBA Pleiades Theatre presents Luba Goy starring in an autobiographical journey that goes from the troubled childhood of Ukrainian immigrants to starring in the Royal Canadian Air Farce. Written by Diane Flacks, in collaboration with Goy and director Andrey Tarasiuk. Unexpected poignancy among the laughs. $33. 8pm. Wed, May 9-12, 14-19, 22-26. 2pm. May 19, 21 & 26. Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs. 26 Berkeley St. (416) 368-3110. canstage.com. SEMELE The COC presents the company premiere of GF Handel’s opera about the pitfalls of love between gods and mortals. The production from Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie near Brussels is directed by Chinese visual and performance artist Zhang Huan in a specatular blend of Chinese and western mythology and is set in an actual salvaged 450-year-old Ming Dynasty temple. Starring Canadian soprano Jane Archibald, US tenor William Burden and Canadian mezzo Allyson McHardy; Rinaldo Alessandrini conducts. $12-$318. 7:30pm. Wed, May 9, 11, 16, 19, 22 & 24. 2pm. May 13. 4:30pm. May 26. (Members of the COC Ensemble Studio take over the leads at 7:30pm on Wed, May 23. $22-$55.) Four Seasons Centre. 145 Queen St W. (416) 363-8231. coc.ca. WE’RE FUNNY THAT WAY The 15th — and final — queer comedy festival runs Thu, May 10 to 12. Broadway legend Betty Buckley headlines the $200 opening gala, a benefit for the WFTW Foundation, which this year supports Ten Oaks, connecting children and youth from LGBTQ communities. The rest of the fest features Gavin Crawford,
Lea DeLaria, Christopher Peterson and more. $20. Buddies in Bad Times. 12 Alexander St. (416) 975-8555. werefunnythatway.com. STOCKHOLM Seventh Stage, with Nightwood Theatre, presents the North American premiere of Byrony Lavery’s unsettling exploration of love, lust and victimization as told through the lives of a “perfect” couple. Starring MelissaJane Shaw and Jonathon Young. Kelly Straughan directs, with choreography by Susie Burpee. $15-$30. 8pm. Tue-Sat. 1:30pm. Wed. 2:30pm Sat & Sun. Tue, May 15-June 3. Tarragon Theatre Extra Space. 30 Bridgman St. (415) 531-1827. tarragontheatre.com. RENT Jonathan Larson’s groundbreaking musical about young people struggling to find their way is presented by a group of young people struggling to find their way, graduates of Sheridan College’s music theatre performance program. Lezlie Wade directs. $40-$60. 7:30pm. Tue-Thu. 8pm. Fir & Sat. 2pm. Sat & Sun. Wed, May 16-June 3. Panasonic Theatre. 651 Yonge St. (416) 872-1212. mirvish.com. DANCE MARATHON Toronto collective bluemouth inc reprises its wildly popular interactive theatre experience where audience members compete in marathon dances and other contests over four hours. Part of World Stage. $35. 7pm. Fri, May 18 & 19. Enwave Theatre. 231 Queens Quay W. (416) 973-4000. harbourfrontcentre.com.
Pop & Rock BLUEBIRD NORTH TORONTO Carole Pope, Tomi Swick and Matthew de Zoete share their songs and stories round-robin style, presented by the Songwriters Association of Canada. With host Blair Packham. $26. 8pm. Sat, May 12. Conservatory Theatre. 273 Bloor St W. (416) 408-0208. rcmusic.ca. LEONARD COHEN TRIBUTE The legendary poet and singer will receive the