Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Langham Court Theatre June 11-28, 2014-a review.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Langham Court Theatre June 11-28, 2014. A review. As my friend Cheryl DeWolfe elegantly wrote recently in I’m Familiar With That Story , so often we are not—familiar; to our detriment. That is the case, I discovered, with my spotty knowledge of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  I know the major plot lines, and can probably quote a line or two from some of the more well-known soliloquies, but as for Rosencrantz and … [Read more...]

Wolf in the Mirror by Impulse Theatre June 19-22 in Victoria BC. An interview.

When Impulse Theatre’s Wolf in the Mirror opens at the Metro Studio Theatre June 19-21 it will be the culmination of a three-year journey for Artistic Director Andrew Barrett and Artistic Associate Emily Piggford. Photo: Pamela Bethel Wolf in the Mirror was originally created as a short piece for the University of Victoria Theatre program’s SATCo (Student Alternative Theatre Company) where it was awarded the best SATCo of 2011. It was then … [Read more...]

Songs and Stories of Davy the Punk by Bob Bossin. Uno Fest May 2014.

Folksinger, songwriter, author, poet, and activist— for over four decades Bob Bossin has deployed his considerable talents in service to community.  His skills as an entertainer are well-honed and evident in the easy-going way he approaches the formidable task of re-telling his father’s life in Songs and Stories of Davy the Punk (currently at Intrepid Theatre’s Uno Fest 2014). Bossin is dedicated to telling stories of what is really going on … [Read more...]

Stories of Love and Passion. Q & A with Miss Rosie Bitts. Uno Fest May 2014.

The incomparable Miss Rosie Bitts premieres her show Stories of Love and Passion at Intrepid Theatre's Uno Fest 2014 and kindly agreed to answer a few questions.   You first performed a solo show on the Fringe circuit in 2011—what did you learn from touring the Fringe that has benefited you as a solo performer? I toured my first solo show The Fabulous Miss Rosie Bitts on the Fringe circuit in 2011. That first fringe was like a … [Read more...]

Shangri-La by Judy Wensel. Uno Fest May 2014.

If life, through no fault of your own, has ever painted you into a corner from which there appears to be no escape—other than using your wits to rise above—you will empathize with Jean, the character at the heart of Judy Wensel’s wryly observational and bittersweet coming-of-age drama Shangri-La. (Currently at Intrepid Theatre's Uno Fest 2014) Small town family life is laid bare with painful precision through the surprisingly cogent … [Read more...]

Of the Causes of Wonderful Things. Uno Fest May 2014.

Of the Causes of Wonderful Things A web of lights joined together by inter-connected cords— standing or on desks, small floods on the floor, , miniature spots in glass cases—Of the Causes of Wonderful Things intrigues from the moment you step through the doors of the Intrepid Theatre Club and carefully navigate to your seat. The set consists of small vignettes and carefully considered tableaux, as if one were looking at museum exhibits, … [Read more...]

Weaksauce by Sam Mullins. Uno Fest May 2014.

A man and a chair, with no props and only a few lighting cues. It’s a testament to the captivating power of story as recounted by the exceptionally gifted Sam Mullins in Weaksauce. (Currently at Intrepid Theatre's Uno Fest) Mullins’ pacing is thoughtful, each word carefully considered.  He’s taken the pain and confusion of moving through the teen years, with all the inherent pitfalls and missteps, and translated his experiences into … [Read more...]

Antigone by Jean Anouilh at Theatre Inconnu May 8-24 2014. A review.

Antigone by Jean Anouilh at Theatre Inconnu May 8-24 2014. A Review. Antigone by Jean Anouilh is a modern classic, elegantly and subtly interpreted in the current Theatre Inconnu production (May 8-24, 2014). Antigone (Melissa Blank), a Theban princess, daughter of the late king Oedipus, defies the tyrant Creon’s (Clayton Jevne) decree and buries Polyneices, her rebellious brother. In so doing—she has sealed her own death. To most readers … [Read more...]

Atomic Vaudeville celebrates 10 years. Interview with co-founder Britt Small.

Atomic Vaudeville celebrates 10 years. Interview with co-founder Britt Small. Atomic Vaudeville was founded in Victoria BC in 2004 by Jacob Richmond and Britt Small (who was kind enough to answer a few interview questions). This is cabaret 65. Did you ever imagine that you would still be here 10 years later—producing your 65th cabaret? No, I don't think we imagined much beyond the first year when we started.  Then it just kept on … [Read more...]

Atomic Vaudeville celebrates 10 years May 8-10 2014. Preview.

Atomic Vaudeville celebrates 10 years May 8-10 2014. Preview. I was not an early adopter of Atomic Vaudeville, and only became acquainted with their cabarets shortly after my return to theatre-viewing in the latter part of the 2000s.  It was most definitely unlike more traditional theatre or even shows at the Victoria Fringe Festival.  Since then, I've become a volunteer, and follow closely the careers of many artists who have been, or continue … [Read more...]