Rhinocéros at Berkeley Street Theatre

Eugène Ionesco's Rhinocéros still lands like a warning. Théâtre français de Toronto brings the absurdist masterpiece to Canadian Stage's Berkeley Street Theatre this fall, directed by Karine Ricard.

The story

In a quiet provincial town, rhinoceroses suddenly charge through the streets. Then the townspeople start turning into them. What begins as shock becomes epidemic as neighbours, colleagues, and friends yield to group pressure until almost no one remains human.

Why it matters now

The play is a political fable about conformity and dehumanization. Ricard (Les Filles du roi, Le Malentendu) keeps the focus on how fragile individual resistance looks when everyone else is changing shape.

Practical details

Performances run October 29 through November 8 at Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley Street. Tickets are through Théâtre français de Toronto's box office. The production is in French; check the company site for surtitle information if you need it.

Getting there

Berkeley Street Theatre sits east of downtown near King and Parliament. Streetcar and Distillery District walking routes both work; evening parking nearby is tight.