Canuck heroes race around globe
TUESDAY
á It Might Get Loud at Yonge-Dundas Square
Watch this if: You want to rock out in the heart of the city. The title of this hard-rocking 2008 doc is very fitting for the latest edition of City Cinema, the annual program of free outdoor screenings at Yonge-Dundas Square. Directed by Davis Guggenheim,
It Might Get Loud dives deep into the lives, styles and inspirations of three guitar heroes: Jimmy Page, the Edge and Jack White. It’s a prime example of the rockumentaries that fill this summer’s slate. Upcoming picks include Standing in
the Shadows of Motown (July 17) and 20 Feet from Stardom (July 31), so there are good times ahead. (8 p.m.) — Jason Anderson
á The Amazing Race Canada
Watch this if: You’d like a post-Canada Day injection of Canuck pride. The “Heroes Edition” of this Canadian TV hit features teams who give back in some way, whether they’re first responders, military members, elite athletes or people who volunteer for good causes. Ten duos are competing for $250,000 and other prizes. As they race across Canada, as well as to international destinations, they’ll be tested mentally and physically, and who comes out ahead often has as much to do with luck as strength and skill. Olympic hero Jon Montgomery hosts. (CTV at 8 p.m.) — Debra Yeo
WEDNESDAY
á The Toronto Fringe Festival
Watch this if: You like the sound of the words “Theatre Christmas.” A 30th birthday is a big deal for anyone, including lottery-based performance festivals. The Toronto Fringe turns the big 3-0 with its 2018 edition and it’s as robust as ever: more than 150 shows will be performed in more than 45 venues through its 10 days. The Fringe has a balance of festival favourites and young up-and-comers to keep it fresh. And the rebranded Postscript patio in the Scadding Court Community Centre hockey rink is open to the public for food, drinks and nightly entertainment until 2 a.m. on weeknights and 4 a.m. on Saturdays. (Multiple venues, until July 15) — Carly Maga
THURSDAY
á Milla
Watch this if: You want to see a special kind of teen flick. The second feature by the gifted young French-Armenian filmmaker Valérie Massadian, Milla earned prizes at several European festivals last year for its sensitive portrait of a 17-year-old girl trying to make the best of tough circumstances in a grim port town in northern France. Local cinephiles will get their first chance to see it when it screens in MDFF Selects, the always-intriguing series of international fest finds. (TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., 8:45 p.m.) — JA
FRIDAY
á Greta Van Fleet
Watch this because: There’s evidently still a place in the world for hairy blues pilferers with big guitars. This Central Michigan band is “making rock relevant again,” at least according to the evergreen headline from Rolling Stone. All eye-rolling aside, they do make a pretty familiar dad-rock racket seem (almost) new again, starting with the impressive and instantly recognizable wailing of lead singer Josh Kiszka and the heavy riffage of his twin brother Jake on guitar (a classic four-piece setup, they’ve got another Kiszka brother in bass player Sam). “They are Led Zeppelin
I,” none other than Robert Plant told Loudwire. Toronto debuts rarely if ever come advanced by such hype. (Rebel, 11 Polson St., doors 7:30 p.m. Friday, also 7 p.m. Sunday) — Chris Young
á Shania Twain
Watch this for: A career-spanning trip with all the bells and whistles, the antifarewell tour. Her life has had more than its share of ups and downs: retirement and retreat, divorce and remarriage, health problems that for a time robbed her of her voice and her last time here three years ago, she was talking (for a while, anyway) of a farewell show. Instead, it was a prelude to this rebirth and one of the tightest, most glittering touring ships to come this year. Twain’s LP Now, her first in 15 years, has delivered hits to add to the collection on display here. She’s ever the survivor, as even her confessed Donald Trump fandom appears but a blip on this comeback. (Scotiabank Arena, 40 Bay St., 7:30 p.m., also Saturday) — CY
á Orlando Watch this if: You want a literary adaptation for 2018.
Of Human Bondage, another literary adaptation, was one of Soulpepper Theatre’s biggest recent hits. Virginia Woolf’s century-spanning, gendermessing epic Orlando feels like a bigger challenge and a worthier one. And considering its two leads are Sarah Afful and Maev Beaty in this adaptation by Sarah Ruhl, we’re willing to come along on the journey. (Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane, 7:30 p.m., on until July 29) — CM
SATURDAY
á PS: We Are All Here
Watch this if: You are, or want to be, a self-described dance nerd. TO Love-In began to promote a supportive, open environment in which practitioners and audiences could view and discuss contemporary dance. As the collective nears its 10th anniversary, it has several initiatives, including this series of local and international dance, where “dance nerds search to connect with their audiences and demystify dance.” This year’s festival features local performers such as Molly Johnson, Kate Nankervis, Ann Trépanier, Bill Coleman, Alvin Collantes and Sahara Morimoto. (The Citadel, 304 Parliament St., 6 p.m., repeats July 12 and 13) — CM
SUNDAY
á Sharp Objects
Watch this if: You want to see how a celebrated Canadian director handles another book-to-screen project. Montreal’s Jean-Marc Vallée won an Emmy and the undying devotion of its stars for directing TV miniseries Big Little
Lies for HBO. Now he’s behind the camera for this TV adaptation of the debut novel of Gillian Flynn ( Gone Girl), also for HBO. Like Lies, Objects boasts some serious acting talent — including Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson, Toronto’s own Henry Czerny, Port Colborne native Matt Craven and Chris Messina — and an A-list creator in Marti Noxon ( Buffy the
Vampire Slayer, UnREAL). The result is a compelling series that judiciously unravels its mysteries as alcoholic reporter Camille Preaker is sent home to Wind Gap, Mo., to write about the murders of two teen girls. (HBO at 9 p.m.) — DY