A goat looks for food at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
Daniel Lanois
The curious and uncontainable Daniel Lanois continues to percolate fresh ideas in sound and vision, here offering a concert that incorporates real-time sampling, dubbing and processing, along with the presentation of short films inspired by his ambient album Flesh and Machine. A near-fatal motorcycle accident in 2010 slowed him down only briefly; since then, the former U2 sound-maker has raced toward unique ventures destined to happen – God, flesh and machines willing. Nov. 9, 8 p.m. $50. Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave., 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca.
Arcadia
On the 1993 comedy from Tom Stoppard, the critics haven't spoken so much as they have convulsed favourably. While the New York Times has said "ravishing," The Globe, in a review of this Shaw Festival production, preferred "exquisite" and "sublime" as its adjectives. The waltzing play zigs in the current day and zags to the early 19th century, covering scandal, heartbreak, gardening and algorithms, all in timeless, entertaining and affecting ways. To Dec. 14. $25 to $99. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King St. W., 416 872-1212 or mirvish.com.
Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
The farm comes to the foodies. By all means bring your robust appetite to the annual hay-happy hoedown, but please refrain from any "I could eat a horse" declarations, for the equine component is cherished and time-honoured. New this year, however, is a food and lifestyle stage that hosts chef challenges, culinary demonstrations and various wining but, not whinnying, situations. To Nov. 16. $14.50 to $20 (family pass, $48). Exhibition Place, 100 Princes' Blvd., 416-263-3400 or royalfair.org.
Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition
Heeere's Stanley. In celebration of the filmmaker, an exhibit collects props, artifacts, wardrobe items and such things as a model of the war room in Dr. Strangelove, a Starchild prop from 2001: A Space Odyssey and various items associated with the scary Jack-Nicholson-starring classic The Shining. Mr. Nicholson will not be making any appearances, but film fanatics will be breaking down doors to get a closer look at the art and mind of an enigmatic auteur. To Jan. 25. $10 to $12.50. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., 416-599-8433 or tiff.net.
Manon
First danced by the company in 1996 but not performed since '98, Kenneth MacMillan's masterpiece makes its surprise return to the National Ballet's seasonal catalogue. Stylistically operatic, the steamy morality tale and study of class-and-gender concerns has to do with the ill-fated love of a courtesan for a callow student. As has often been said about this unsentimental ballet, Cinderella it isn't. To Nov. 16. $26 to $249. Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen St. W., 416-345-9595 or national.ballet.ca.
Brad Wheeler