Sting brings The Last Ship, a musical about his hometown of Newcastle, to a place where he’s always felt at home: Toronto...
February 13, 2019
This is not the winter of Sting’s discontent.
In fact, the singer was likely the only person actually looking forward to this week’s snowstorm, even though he had to trudge through it to get to work just like the rest of us.
The incredibly youthful-looking 67-year-old had settled into Toronto for preview performances of The Last Ship, the musical he wrote and is starring in at the Princess of Wales Theatre for the next six weeks.
Many in the media — including this reporter — have asked a variation of why on Earth he would want to be in Toronto in February and his answer, like the man, is broody and charming.
“I hear we are getting a big snowstorm and I’m looking forward to it. It’s a novelty. For me, the winter is a very interesting, reflective season. I’m from northern climes, we’re from the same latitude as Newfoundland, and so I know about dark winter nights and dark mornings. The winter is a helpful time for me, I do a lot of thinking, and I’m looking forward to six weeks of the Toronto winter.”
This Englishman who lives in New York says he was happy to be onstage here on Sunday night, even while his friend and collaborator Shaggy was in Los Angeles picking up their Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for last year’s 44/876.
“I was in the restaurant after a performance, and I got a call and it was Shaggy, and he was so happy. Then I watched his speech and it was a lovely moment for the two of us,” Sting says.
It’s the 18th time he’s won one of those particular statues. “But who’s counting?” he jokes.
