Taking Off by Deborah Williams at the Belfry Theatre February 21-March 12, 2017. A review. Deborah Williams hasn’t lost the touch. If anything, after tapping into the zeitgeist for over 20 years, her comedic talents, already finely honed, reach vertiginous heights with zany, over-the-top reflections in her first solo show Taking Off (at the Belfry Theatre until March 12th). I remember sitting in the audience for the initial Mom’s the Word … [Read more...]
Taking Off by Deborah Williams at the Belfry Theatre February 21-March 12, 2017. A review.
February 27, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Age of Arousal at Theatre Inconnu February 14-March 4, 2017. A review.
February 23, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Age of Arousal at Theatre Inconnu February 14-March 4, 2017. A review. Theatre Inconnu has done it again! A powerhouse cast of accomplished actors whole-heartedly embraces Linda Griffiths’ rich and complex language and her particular style of externalized interior monologue ("thought-speak") to animate the lives of early British suffragists* in the hilarious and thought-provoking Age of Arousal (playing until March 4th). Wendy Merk’s … [Read more...]
Gut Girls at the University of Victoria Phoenix Theatre February 9-18, 2017. A review.
February 11, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Gut Girls at the University of Victoria Phoenix Theatre February 9-18, 2017. A review. They’re a feisty lot, the gut girls of the eponymously named play by Sarah Daniels, currently at UVic Phoenix Theatre to February 19th. Written to highlight the social, economic and gender inequalities of Victorian-era England (the gut girls—over 500 in number—worked long hours, in brutal conditions, in the slaughter sheds of the Foreign Cattle Market, … [Read more...]
Murder on the Agenda by Enigmatic Events January 27-February 11, 2017. Review.
January 31, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Murder on the Agenda presented by Enigmatic Events January 27-February 12, 2017. A review. The bar was set high last year with the inaugural Enigmatic Events live interactive murder mystery dinner theatre—Murder by Midnight—an event I described as being “the most fun I’ve had with a group of strangers in a long time”. In a year that saw me partaking of over 100 performances outside the Victoria Fringe, it remains one of my highlights—for many … [Read more...]
Ruddigore by Company C, the Canadian College of Performing Arts, January 27-February 4, 2017. A review.
January 30, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Ruddigore by Company C, the Canadian College of Performing Arts, January 27-February 4, 2017. A review. Ruddigore has it all—a sweet young thing abandoned at birth (Rose Maybud--Charlotte Thompson) , her swain—noble and true (Robin Oakwood—Forrest Elliot), an ancient curse, a traitorous foster brother (Richard (Dick) Dauntless—Derry Oshust), a maiden aunt (Dame Hannah-Victoria Stolting), a dastardly baronet (Despard Murgatrody-Devin Arams), a … [Read more...]
Gracie by Joan McLeod at the Belfry Theatre January 20-February 19, 2017. A review.
January 27, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Gracie by Joan McLeod at the Belfry Theatre January 20-February 19, 2017. A review. On a set dominated by a monolithic mountain (Catherine Hahn), under the deep blue arc of heaven, Lili Beaudoin gives voice to the voiceless as Gracie, in the world premiere of Joan McLeod’s latest work. By turns humourous and transcendent, the script pulls the audience into the world of a child—and anchors firmly there—laughing along with observations about … [Read more...]
Black History Month 2017 in Victoria BC.
January 26, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Black History Month 2017 in Victoria BC. Black History Month continues to grow from strength to strength in Victoria BC with organizations like the BC Black History Awareness Society, the Victoria African & Caribbean Cultural Society (VACCS), and the African Heritage Association of Vancouver Island (AHAVI)--together with partners Greater Victoria Public Library, Belfry Theatre, Intrepid Theatre, UVic Legacy Gallery, Garth Homer Centre, … [Read more...]
One Man Two Guvnors at Langham Court Theatre January 20-February 4, 2017. A review.
January 23, 2017 By Leave a Comment
One Man, Two Guvnors at Langham Court Theatre January 18-February 4, 2017. A review. After a particularly charged day in world affairs, opening night of One Man, Two Guvnors at Langham Court Theatre provided much needed relief and silliness—a perfect night for audiences who simply want to go to the theatre to relax and laugh copiously. It takes a steady hand and firm grasp to bring ages-old techniques of improvisation into the modern world … [Read more...]
Murder on the Agenda by Enigmatic Events January 27-February 11, 2017. Interview with Chris Rudram.
January 18, 2017 By 1 Comment
Murder on the Agenda by Enigmatic Events January 27-February 11, 2017. Interview with Chris Rudram. After last year’s successful Murder by Midnight, the team at Enigmatic Events are back again with Murder on the Agenda. Organizer Chris Rudram was happy to answer a few questions. Why did you take the leap into producing interactive, dinner theatre events? How do they differ from traditional dinner theatre? My passion is all about … [Read more...]
Ruddigore, presented by CCPA’s Company C, Jan 27-Feb 4, 2017. Interview with Glynis Leyshon.
January 18, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Ruddigore, presented by CCPA’s Company C, Jan 27-Feb 4, 2017. Interview with Glynis Leyshon. The sounds of bodhran, bagpipes and violin will join with keyboard, piano and guitar under the musical leadership of Heather Burns for the final production of CCPA’s Company C Studio Ensemble in Ruddigore, directed by the acclaimed, award-winning director Glynis Leyshon. This is Leyshon’s third foray with the students of the Canadian College of … [Read more...]
