Bad Dog Theatre Company‘s Toronto, I Love You is an unscripted comedy about unexpected connections in our large city that will make you laugh and appreciate the nuances of living in this cosmopolitan city. The show is set in a variety of neighbourhoods in The Six as suggested by the audience, and features spontaneously-crafted storylines that intertwine and intersect in surprising ways through longform improv.

I am a fan of improv shows because they vary from show to show. In a way, it is fun to not know what to expect.

Toronto, I Love You starts off with an introduction from the show’s cast, and some minimal audience involvement to get ideas of settings in the city to use throughout the show. On the evening I attended, the cast took us to a man-made park near Evergreen Brickworks, Yitz’s Delicatessen (formerly at Avenue Rd. and Eglinton), and The Rock Oasis in the Leslieville neighbourhood.

Some hilarious sketches came out of these suggested neighbourhoods and settings. I laughed out loud several times. Let me just say that even Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber made an appearance because… well, cats. Hilarious!

Five reasons to check out Toronto, I Love You :

1. The cast: Rob Baker, Nadine Djoury, Connor Low, Nigel Downer, Devon Henderson, Lucy Hill, Paloma Nuñez, Anders Yates, Kyle Dooley, and Caroline Das. Live and improvised music & songs by Nick DiGaetano.
   
2. Improv is not easy and requires storytelling and timing skills. The cast of Toronto, I Love You know each other well… because of this, they work really well together. They use their bodies, voices and each other for each sketch/story they create.
   
3. It is not a regular comedy (read: stand-up) show. It is a different experience altogether. Give yourself time to get comfortable and go along wherever the story takes you. It is great to use your imagination as the cast creates different stories and settings in real time with no props, essentially.
   
4. Get out of the downtown core. Toronto has great neighbourhoods and comedy bars. Head over to the Ossington-Bloor area and head upstairs at Bad Dog Theatre. The vibe is super relaxed and inviting.
   
5. Last, but definitely not least, laughter is the best medicine. Sounds cliché yet so very true. Laughter/Humour releases stress, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded.
   

Before the holiday break head over to Toronto, I Love You. It continues until December 21, 2019 at Bad Dog Theatre.

For full schedule and advanced tickets, please visit baddogtheatre.com.