Operating on a smaller-scale – the Great Hall’s handful of rooms, corridors, and gathering spaces – than the Punchdrunks of the world, Transcen/Dance successfully evoked the sensation of being thrust back in time and across worlds; in that case, to a creaky Gothic castle haunted by vampires, ghosts, and other eerie figures.

Navigating that world (and resisting the urge to peer beyond the curtains out onto busy Queen West below), we enjoyed our ninety minutes (about half as long as Sleep No More) at the Eve of St. George, which took us from the heights of an ornate master bedroom down to the depths of a haunted crypt hidden in the Great Hall basement.

A year later, Transcen/Dance is back with a suitably mythological follow-up, this time inspired by the Medusa story. Stepping back from the nightmarish themes of St. George, this new production, Ophis, is billed as “an emotional journey through love, vulnerability, and self-discovery.”

Bloodletting is out; ambrosia is in.

Fittingly for their commitment to stretching the boundaries of Canadian dance, Ophis is an immersive theatrical experience that promises to “reimagine the myth” of Medusa, portraying her as a symbol of empowerment and resilience.

What that means in practice remains to be seen, though judging by our St. George experience audiences can expect epic choreographed dance numbers in the main hall, combined with the freedom to wander floor by floor, room by room, witnessing the worlds and interactions of a cast of characters drawn from familiar mythology. Going by the promise of a reimagination, one assumes the lead figure will not be losing her head at the climax of the piece.

Judging by past experience, it will also be something of a provocative affair. Expect sensual choreography, a gloriously diverse mix of sex- and gender-configurations, and plenty of risqué diaries and notebooks for the voyeuristic audience to poke around in.

Thanks to our experiences at St. George, we can offer some handy tips for those interested in attending:

First – though dealing with mature themes, these shows are not exactly frightening. Eerie, perhaps, but not really meant to scare you. It’s rated 14+ “due to the dark nature” of the show, but honestly, it’s not going to be a scare-fest.

Along those lines: the freedom of movement in immersive theatre means that you, as an audience member, never need to be anywhere you don’t want to. If you’re unnerved (or bored) by the scene playing out in front of you, you’re free, even encouraged, to wander off and see what is happening elsewhere.

Incidentally, the performers aren’t everything! This advice is tempting to ignore, but we strongly recommend spending time exploring the environments, in the absence of characters or any notable action. Last time, exploring a doctor’s quarters, we stumbled upon an old-timey dictaphone (in fact an iPod subtly tucked into the guts of an antique machine) with an old-timey audio receiver, playing back medical logs of the famous Prof. Van Helsing. (If you’ve seen the recent Nosferatu, the Willem Dafoe character.)

We also, just by wandering aimlessly, scored a handful of one-on-one interactions, where performers pulled us aside to whisper secrets or thrust arcane objects into our hands for safekeeping. Good stuff.

Much like Sleep No More, you should also be prepared to wear an uncomfortable plastic mask. It’s a wise touch – it helps to immediately differentiate the audience from the performers, while also adding to the sensation you’re at some kind of demonic masked ball – but if you have contact lenses, they’re a better choice than glasses.

Most importantly, though, is to enter the world of Ophis with an open mind.

Novices to the immersive theatre world might be wary of what this all entails. And sure, part of the appeal of Ophis is that tingle on the back of your neck when entering into a new, totally unpredictable space – so if you don’t find that appealing, Ophis might not be right for you.

But if that sounds intriguing, or if you like the idea of a Medusa story that toys with Ovid’s metamorphosed version of it (Ovid having introduced some noteworthy elements not present in the original mythology), Ophis is going to be one to check out.

***
Ophis runs at the Great Hall on April 4-6 and 10-13, 2025. Tickets available here.

The post Ophis Brings Greek Mythology to Immersive Life in the Latest from Transcen/Dance Project appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Embracing Greek Hospitality

“Myth is more than a restaurant; it is a true embodiment of Greek hospitality,” says Eileen Tsoumaris, co-owner of Myth. “As we eagerly reopen our doors, we are delighted to welcome back our cherished guests and invite them to once again experience our traditions and values. At Myth, every dish, every sip, and every moment of service is a heartfelt invitation into our home. Myth is your home away from home, where you can immerse yourself in the true spirit of Greece.”

Despite the temporary closure caused by a fire in February, the passionate team at Myth remains unwavering in their commitment to providing an extraordinary ambiance that reflects the roots of Greek culture.

A Delectable New Menu

With careful consideration of their loyal customers, the team at Myth has retained popular dishes that have captivated guests, including their signature Paidakia Lamb Chops entree and popular Mezzedes Saganaki and Myth chips. But the reopening also brings enticing additions to the menu, curated by visiting guest Chef Nikitas Pirgis and Myth’s Executive Chef, Sergio Abrunho. These additions showcase an exquisite fusion of Greek recipes and innovative culinary techniques, ensuring that guests can indulge in true traditional dishes, authentic to the Aegean Sea island of Cyleades.

Here are some of the delightful new menu offerings that await visitors at Myth:

• Tsipoura: A wild red sea bream carpaccio accompanied by a medley of flavors such as fennel, tomato, citrus zest, and fresh oregano.

• Astakomakaronada: For a pasta experience like no other, savor the Astakomakaronada, which blends long Greek pasta with a whole lobster, bisque, tomatoes, and fragrant basil.

• Moskari Kebab: Featuring a succulent filet mignon kebab enhanced by the combination of florina pepper, broccolini, smoked salt, and yogurt tahini.

A Drink Menu to Complement the Cuisine

In addition to the culinary additions, Myth has also introduced a new range of innovative cocktails that are a must-try. These carefully crafted drinks perfectly complement the flavors of the cuisine and immerse guests in a truly Greek experience.

Don’t miss out on these standout cocktails:

• Medusa’s Margarita: Meticulously crafted with Cazadores tequila, Cointreau, melon, lime, and cucumber, this refreshing cocktail will transport you to the shores of Greece.

• Breakfast in Mykonos: Indulge in the blend of Tanqueray no. Ten, grapefruit, lemon, fig, and soda that makes up this delightful drink.

Myth is eager to welcome back their valued guests, ready to create unforgettable memories through exceptional Greek cuisine, culture, and hospitality. The story continues at Myth, and the team can’t wait to share their passion for Greece with you once again. Yamas!

The post Toronto’s Myth Restaurant Reopens: A Culinary Journey to Greece appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Spending an evening with Krinos was a real eye opener; not only was I introduced to several tasty feta varietals, but no less than 9 dishes made with Feta.

Sitting down for a brief tasting, I discovered that there are some vastly different feta’s out there, some made with cow milk, some with sheep and others with goat. My favourite was cream and delicious Doric Macedonian Style Feta made with cow’s milk, closely followed by the sheep’s milk offering. YUM.

After a quick toast of traditional Greek Ouzo (hold on to your knickers, ladies and gents), we began our feasting, with the first offering being a crudité dish with a feta cheese dip. Dippable cheese is always a winner for me and I had to stop myself short of possessively hoarding the bowl and pouring it over everything forever more.

Along came a flatbread with Mediterranean vegetables and feta, which seems like a healthier pizza option and excellent for summer nights, swilled back with a glass of Pinot grigio rosé (I was drinking a beautiful glass of Fruli-Venezia Giuilia Italia rosé myself.)

Poutine with feta? You betcha! Served with sweet potato fries and feta rather than the classic potato fries and curds, I enjoyed the healthier variation.  I am not sure about healthy, but I was swooning over the baked feta with roasted red peppers, olive and capers.

Then of course, came the salads. Turns out, while I have been crumbling feta on my leaves for years I’ve been missing a trick; citrus fruits.  My favourite was a salad made up of arugula, blood orange, grapefruit and crumbled feta. Yum.

A fruit salad with feta for dessert, which is a good option, although I would personally prefer crème fraiche, but each to their own.  I was a big fan of the feta parfait (possibly because it was made with the glorious creamy Macadonian cheese), which was excellent complemented by fresh fig, fig puree, granola and honey. For me, it was a much lighter and just as tasty alternative to a cheese cake.

After spending some time with Krinos and a mountain of feta, I really feel like I judged the cheese too soon. Also, a handy tip I learned from the cheese gods that night: for those who don’t like the saltier varieties out there, soak your feta in water for 30 minutes before eating it – most of the salt will be gone, leaving a much, much healthier cheese!

Krinos have some excellent feta recipes on their website, so if you want to get inventive this summer, check them out!

The post Krinos Feta Culture showcases a very versatile cheese appeared first on Toronto Guardian.