The 2013 International Diaspora Film Festival includrd the premiere Canadian screening of Ciclo (Cycle), a story of two brothers who leave Mexico in 1956 and arrive in Toronto after an 82-day bicycle journey.
International Diaspora Film Festival
This year's edition of the annual exploration of migration and cultural diversity puts special emphasis on films from Latin America, including the premiere Canadian screening of Ciclo (Cycle), a story of two brothers who leave Mexico in 1956 and arrive in Toronto after an 82-day bicycle journey. After the screening (Nov. 3, 6:30 p.m., Innis Town Hall), CBC Radio One favourite Amanda Martinez, whose uncle and father are the subjects of the documentary, gives a concert of Latin pop and Mexican folk music (8:30 p.m.). To Nov. 5. $8 to $12. 2 Sussex Ave. and 20 Carlton St. 416-571-2150 or diasporafilmfest.com.
Bon Jovi
Tonight marks the New Jersey rockers' 17th appearance at Air Canada Centre, which is the most most musical performances ever by one act at the venue. As such, the Wanted Dead or Alive performers (and would-be gunslingers) will be the inaugural entry into the ACC's newly established hall of fame this afternoon. Expect a speech from the telegenic namesake singer Jon Bon Jovi, who will speak graciously and flash a world-class smile before excusing himself to ready his hair and voice for the night's arena-sized rock-and-roll exertion. Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m. $62.25 to $592. 50 Bay St., 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca.
Penn Jillette
Perhaps years of working with a silent cohort have caused Penn Jillette (of the comedy-and-magic duo Penn & Teller) to develop a blustery persona and booming manner. Tonight, in an event hosted by the Centre for Inquiry Canada, the professional myth-debunker will not pull a rabbit or anything else out of his hat. Instead he will gigantically discuss Every Day is an Atheist Holiday!, his 2012 book that promotes the disbelief of religion and the healthy skepticism of pseudo-sciences. Nov. 2, 7 p.m. $25. Macleod Auditorium, Medical Sciences Building, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, eventbrite.com.
The Double
Here we have an innovative adaptation of a Fyodor Dostoevsky novel, with two actors and a narrator/musical accompanist involved in a production billed as a "schizophrenic feast of site and sound." A double bass is involved in a show of mime, music and physical comedy, which are all used to tell a story involving a doppelganger and a search for identity in 19th-century Russian high society. The Double was nominated in 2012 for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for outstanding new play. To Nov. 24. $21 to $53. Tarragon Theatre's Extraspace, 30 Bridgman Ave., 416-531-1827 or tarragontheatre.com.
Joel Plaskett
The likeable Nova Scotia singer-songwriter further endears himself to his fans this evening at the Danforth Music Hall, where he shares the stage with his father for an acoustic set culled from his deep repertoire. The rail-thin artist is an industrious maker of thoughtful tunes and melodic rock, with a flair for working within his own conjured-up artistic constraints to keep things interesting. His musician father is no doubt proud, and the guess is that the feelings are mutual. Nov. 2, 8 p.m. $40. 147 Danforth Ave., 855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca.
Brad Wheeler