A couple of tidbits from the paper's theatre briefs:
Looped, a bio-play about legendary actress Tallulah Bankhead, closed earlier than expected on Broadway this weekend, but will have new life in Toronto next season, according to producers. Press agents for the New York production confirmed reports that the comedy, starring Valerie Harper from TV's Rhoda, will have a 10-week engagement in Toronto at one of associate producer David Mirvish's theatres, though dates have not yet been determined. A representative of Mirvish Productions was less concrete, saying that if the show goes out on a North American tour and a Toronto theatre is available, they would be interested in presenting the show, but that nothing was confirmed yet.
Written by Matthew Lombardo, Looped offers a peek at Bankhead at work - inebriated - in a recording studio on her final film. While Harper's performance as Bankhead was reviewed favourably - and she is considered a contender for a Tony Award nomination - the play attracted mixed reviews and failed to attract a sustainable audience.
Esteemed actor Estelle Parsons is in talks for a possible visit to Stratford Festival in the summer of 2011, perhaps for two or three roles.
The 82-year-old veteran of stage and screen has had discussions with Festival artistic director Des McAnuff, but formal negotiations have not begun and nothing has been agreed yet, according to both a Stratford spokeswoman and Parsons's agent.
Parsons has recently earned numerous accolades for her role as Violet Weston in Tracy Letts's August: Osage County, which she performed at the Canon Theatre in Toronto last November.