Amadeus by UVic Phoenix Theatre March 12-21, 2015. A review. Modern history has not been kind to Antonio Salieri, a composer and Kappelmeister in the Hapsburg court of Emperor Joseph II. Despite his considerable musical influence in the development of Italian opera of the era, and the fact his students included Franz Schubert, Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Liszt, his life has been reduced to the portrait painted by Peter Shaffer in … [Read more...]
Boys With Cars and Let Me Borrow That Top at Belfry Theatre SPARK Festival 2015. A review.
March 12, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Boys With Cars and Let Me Borrow That Top by Anita Majumdar at the Belfry Theatre SPARK Festival March 10-15, 2015. A review. Majumdar’s Fish Eyes (performed at the Belfry Theatre SPARK Festival in 2012) first introduced us to the interactions of a group of teenagers at a fictional Port Moody high school through the eyes of Meena, a young Indo-Canadian straddling two worlds. Majumdar’s classical kathak dance training comes to the fore in … [Read more...]
Waiting for Godot at Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre March 5-15 2015. A review.
March 9, 2015 By 2 Comments
Waiting for Godot at Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre March 5-15 2015. A review. The entire arc of humanity onstage—life, death, love, hatred, indifference to the plight of others, boring mundanity and joy. Waiting for Godot at Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre March 3-15, 2015 is a brilliant microcosm. Laughter and horror co-habitate in exceptional performances by Peter Anderson (Vladimir), Brian Linds (Estragon), Scott Hylands (Pozzo) and Trevor … [Read more...]
The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Langham Court Theatre March 4-21, 2015. A review.
March 8, 2015 By Leave a Comment
The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Langham Court Theatre March 4-21, 2015. A review I never had the chance to see Jerry Gosley’s legendary Smile Show (which played in Victoria for over 40 years until the 1970s) but I’m sure his legacy is in good hands after seeing The Mystery of Edwin Drood at Langham Court Theatre (March 4-21, 2015). Drood (the original title of Rupert Holmes’ 1985 musical) is quick-witted, high-energy, expertly executed, fast … [Read more...]
A Spring of Theatre 2015 in Victoria BC. March-May.
February 25, 2015 By 2 Comments
A Spring of Theatre 2015 in Victoria BC. March-May. Spring is a busy time in the local arts calendar. It’s book-ended by two festivals—SPARK in March and UNO Fest in May—and features works by emerging and well-established companies—local, Canadian and international. There’s a chance to experience the classics (Waiting for Godot, Hedda Gabler), Shakespeare (Macbeth), musicals (Chorus Line Cabaret, Bye Bye Birdie, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, … [Read more...]
Dave Morris of Paper Street Theatre opens new studio March 2015.
February 25, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Dave Morris of Paper Street Theatre opens new studio March 2015. Dave Morris is an award-winning improviser, teacher of improv, magician and founder of Paper Street Theatre. I first came to know him at the Victoria Fringe Festival in 2010 when he presented the provocatively-titled Dave Morris is an Asshole. This full-length improvised show upended my preconceptions of the genre, and I have followed his career closely since then. After … [Read more...]
Waiting for Godot at Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre. Interview with director Jacob Richmond.
February 25, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Waiting for Godot at Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre. Interview with director Jacob Richmond. March 3-15, 2015. Victoria BC. Waiting for Godot has been called the most significant English language play of the 20th century. Written by the great Irish playwright Samuel Beckett in 1949, first in French and then translated by the playwright into English, it had its premiere in 1953 at the Théâtre Babylone in Paris. A “tragi-comedy”, it was one of … [Read more...]
Ring of Fire Project Johnny Cash at the Chemainus Theatre Festival February 20-April 11 2015. A review.
February 23, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Ring of Fire: Project Johnny Cash at the Chemainus Theatre Festival February 20-April 11, 2015. A review. It’s a long way from the wet west coast of Vancouver Island to the hills and fields of Arkansas, and the music halls of Nashville, yet music has the power to tie us together in a celebration of family and community. Mining this fundamental truth, Chemainus Theatre artistic director Mark DuMez opens the 2015 season with Ring of Fire: … [Read more...]
OUTstages Festival at Intrepid Theatre July 5-12 2015
February 19, 2015 By Leave a Comment
OUTstages Festival at Intrepid Theatre July 5-12 2015. Media release. Intrepid Theatre comes OUT with Victoria’s first queer theatre festival VICTORIA – For over 28 years, Intrepid Theatre has presented alternative, international theatre to audiences in Victoria, BC through Uno Fest, the Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival, and an annual presentation series. In July 2015, Intrepid Theatre will launch a new, curated theatre festival, OUTstages: … [Read more...]
Belfry Theatre SPARK Festival 2015. March 9-22.
February 19, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Belfry Theatre SPARK Festival 2015. March 9-22, 2015 in Victoria BC. The SPARK Festival is the Belfry Theatre's celebration of new plays and new ideas. It's an opportunity for experiences outside their regular programming. I saw Hawksley Workman's The Good That Comes at UNO Fest in 2012 and wonder how it has developed since then as it has toured around the world. Anita Majumdar brought Fish Eyes to the SPARK Festival in 2012--here's my … [Read more...]
