Dispatches from the Victoria Fringe 2015. Day One. The 29th Victoria Fringe Festival August 26-September 6, 2015. Over the past few years, I have applied my fellow Fringe fanatic Arlene’s advice and stayed in one venue per night. The start of the 29th Victoria Fringe Festival saw me happily ensconced at Langham Court Theatre (Venue 6) for an evening with Jem Rolls (The Inventor of All Things), Caitlin McFarlane & Vince Leblanc-Beaudoin … [Read more...]
Victoria Fringe 2015. My “away” picks.
August 25, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Victoria Fringe 2015. My "away" picks. Victoria Fringe August 26 - September 6, 2015 I am an avid supporter of the Victoria Fringe Festival, now in its 29th year. It didn’t start out that way though. Other priorities took precedence and it wasn’t really until 2006 that I became a Fringe fanatic. That year was the 20th anniversary and I saw more shows than in the 20 previous years combined. In the intervening years, I’ve caught up—I volunteered … [Read more...]
Victoria Fringe 2015. My local picks.
August 25, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Victoria Fringe 2015 My local picks. I am an avid supporter of the Victoria Fringe Festival, now in its 29th year. It didn’t start out that way though. Other priorities took precedence and it wasn’t really until 2006 that I became a Fringe fanatic. That year was the 20th anniversary and I saw more shows than in the 20 previous years combined. In the intervening years, I’ve caught up—I volunteered from 2007 to 2013, regularly see 30-40 shows … [Read more...]
BOOM by Rick Miller at the Belfry Theatre August 4-23, 2015. A Review.
August 10, 2015 By Leave a Comment
BOOM by Rick Miller at the Belfry Theatre August 4-23, 2015 From the macro to the micro, Rick Miller’s BOOM, currently at the Belfry Theatre until August 23rd, is a sweeping, dazzling and entertaining display of creativity and research. Marrying historical, personal, musical and political observations of the defining moments in a sweeping 25 year overview of the Baby Boom generation this ambitious creation showcases Miller’s enormous talents … [Read more...]
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival 2015. A review.
July 9, 2015 By 1 Comment
A Midsummer Nights Dream by the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival 2015. A review. July 8-August 8, 2015 in Victoria BC. Is there any more enchanting story in all of Shakespeare’s canon than A Midsummer Night’s Dream with its interwoven tales of young lovers, workers, faeries and nobles? Oft interpreted, “Dream”, as it is sometimes called in short hand, is in the public mind of late with the film version of Julie Taymor’s stage production … [Read more...]
The Tempest by Victoria’s Shakespeare by the Sea July 2-August 2, 2015. A review.
July 7, 2015 By Leave a Comment
The Tempest by Victoria’s Shakespeare by the Sea July 2015. A review. Victoria is a city rich in outdoor sites for summer cultural events, and one of the most spectacular has to be the seaside from Dallas Road. Robert Light, founder of Victoria’s Shakespeare by the Sea, now in its fourth season, decided to capitalize on the amazing views of sea, mountains and passing ships for the staging of his festival, which joins the ranks of over … [Read more...]
Private Lives by Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre July 7-25, 2015. Interview with Victor Dolhai.
July 6, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Private Lives by Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre July 7-25, 2015. Interview with Victor Dolhai. Private Lives is a play by the celebrated writer and bon vivant Noel Coward, written in 1930. Coward is best known for his facility with the English language—his scripts are filled with “bon mots”, quips and seemingly impossible situations. The result is quick-paced and intelligent comedy, literally a “laugh a minute”. Private Lives focuses on a … [Read more...]
OUTStages Festival at Intrepid Theatre. An interview with playwright Kathryn Taddei (The Bad Touch)
July 6, 2015 By Leave a Comment
OUTStages Festival at Intrepid Theatre. An interview with playwright Kathryn Taddei (The Bad Touch). As part of Intrepid Theatre’s OUTStages Festival, there will be a reading Tuesday July 7th of Kathryn Taddei’s play The Bad Touch. I had a chance to connect with Kat for a Q & A. You first workshopped The Bad Touch at the Student Alternative Theatre Company (SATCo) at UVic in January 2015. What was the impetus for this work? Is there a … [Read more...]
OUTStages Festival at Intrepid Theatre: An interview with playwright Dave Deveau (My Funny Valentine)
June 30, 2015 By 1 Comment
OUTStages Festival at Intrepid Theatre: An interview with playwright Dave Deveau (My Funny Valentine). Intrepid Theatre present's Victoria's inaugural queer theatre festival July 5 - 12, 2015 in Victoria BC. As part of the outreach activities, there will be two play readings at the Intrepid Theatre Club July 7th--The Bad Touch by local playwright Kat Taddei, and My Funny Valentine by Dave Deveau of ZeeZee Theatre (Vancouver). I had the … [Read more...]
Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival Celebrates 25 years in 2015
June 30, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival celebrates 25 years in 2015 with 25 alumni. I can't imagine a more wonderful way to spend an evening outdoors than enjoying live theatre--I've written often about the experience at the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival on the grounds at Camosun College's Landsdowne Campus. Over the past few years the society has improved the staging (constructing the Camus portable stage) and in 2014 moved to a … [Read more...]
