It’s time to put on your silly hat, leave the judging adult behind and surrender to delight - the Old Trout Puppet Workshop has arrived in Victoria for the first time since 2007 (Famous Puppet Death Scenes) with Ignorance (playing January 7-18th at Blue Bridge at the Roxy as part of the Presenter’s Series). If you believe that puppets are limited to characters like Casey on Mr. Dressup, or the traditional Punch and Judy, prepare to have your … [Read more...]
University of Victoria School of Music presents tribute to Mahler Jan 6 – 11 2014
December 13, 2013 By 1 Comment
A tribute to Mahler, presented by the University of Victoria School of Music, January 6 - 11, 2014, includes Song of the Earth (Das Lied von der Erde). My knowledge of Mahler - sadly - is limited to the 1974 biographical film by Ken Russell, so when Kristy Farkas, the Concert Manager for the UVic School of Music, contacted me with news of a week-long Mahler tribute, I knew that I had to add some of the events to my arts calendar. I've also … [Read more...]
Company C presents Zorba the Musical December 13-15, 2013
December 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Company C presents Zorba, the musical, December 13 – 15, 2013 in Victoria BC. I’ve got a very special spot in my heart * for the Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA), and for Company C, their Year III students who produce three shows in four months (September to December) taking on all aspects of production (choreography, costumes, publicity, lighting, stage management, sound) other than directing. For their final production of 2013, … [Read more...]
An Improvised John Hughes by Paper Street Theatre – review
December 12, 2013 By 1 Comment
John Hughes may have dropped out of the spotlight in 1991, long before his untimely passing in 2009, but the teen films he crafted continue to resonate with a younger generation, if this week’s An Improvised John Hughes, by Paper Street Theatre Company, is any indication. The audience bopped to the beat of the 80s montage laid down by master musical improviser - and erstwhile DJ - Dan Godlovich and laughed out-loud to recognize the many … [Read more...]
Books I Read in 2013
December 10, 2013 By 3 Comments
I got a Kobo for Christmas in 2012 and thus started the year, by fluke, reading Alice Munro's newest short story collection Dear Life. How fortuitous! I finished the year reading the 2013 Giller prize winner Lynn Coady's books, including Hellgoing. And added the short stories and novels of Lisa Moore, another east-coaster, who was on the Giller short list, to my repertoire. Along the way I re-connected with Joyce Carol Oates, Susan Musgrave … [Read more...]
My Gift is for the Trees, an Emily Carr Christmas. A review
December 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment
As a native West Coaster, all my life I have longed for Christmas iconography and tradition that celebrates Christmas and the holiday season as I know it – surrounded by nature, and often with an absence of snow. In creating My Gift is for the Trees: an Emily Carr Christmas, Tim Gosley has tapped into the current fascination with storytelling and trans-media. The performance is an inventive multi-generational “play within a play within a … [Read more...]
Arts Adventures for the Holidays in Victoria BC December 2013
December 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Arts Adventures for the Holidays in Victoria BC, December 2013 There is truly something for everyone in Victoria this up-coming holiday season. Whether you enjoy theatre, music or dance, local arts organizations have prepared wonderful holiday-themed events for your consideration. It's Christmas: a sparkling, musical, holiday revue continues Fridays and Saturdays throughout December at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. A talented cast of singers … [Read more...]
The Collected Works of Billy the Kid at Theatre Inconnu. My review.
November 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Some performances stay with us a lifetime, vivid memories sparked by visceral reactions to the sights and sounds onstage. The Collected Works of Billy the Kid by Michael Ondaatje is one such a show. First staged in Victoria by the Belfry Theatre in 1993, in the full theatrical version, it unnerved me with its force. The powerful language painted pictures beyond anything I’d experienced to that point. Ondaatje won his first Governor General’s … [Read more...]
“It’s Christmas” holiday revue at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel
November 27, 2013 By 2 Comments
The new Oak Bay Beach Hotel celebrates its first anniversary (December 1st) in style with many Christmas-themed events throughout the month. Whether you are of the Christian faith or not, Christmas for most people is tied up in remembrances and nostalgia, dreams of childhood and past celebrations. Since everyone has their own interpretation of the “perfect” holiday, it is extremely challenging to design a program that will appeal to the … [Read more...]
Canary Club Speakeasy a Fundraiser for Atomic Vaudeville November 28, 2013
November 25, 2013 By 1 Comment
It's hard to imagine - Atomic Vaudeville, co-founded by Jacob Richmond and Britt Small in 2004, is now in its tenth season. The collective of new and emerging local actors, writers, musicians, artists and performers has staged over 60 cabarets and new works, winning multiple awards in the process. With hits like Ride The Cyclone, Legoland, The Qualities of Zero, and The History of Everything to their credit, they are about to embark on another … [Read more...]
