Vancouver Fringe Festival 2013 suggestions (mostly) from the Victoria Fringe It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say I’m a bit of a Fringe fanatic – over the years since I got back in to fringing, I’ve gone from seeing a handful of shows to 33 shows at this year’s Victoria Fringe Festival. Here are my recommendations for shows that were in Victoria this year (or last), either at the Fringe Festival, Intrepid Theatre’s UNO Fest, or the Belfry … [Read more...]
Vancouver Fringe 2013 – suggestions (mostly) from the Victoria Fringe
September 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Victoria Fringe Festival 2013 – my “away” picks
August 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment
I'm a bit of a Fringe fanatic, seeing between 30 and 40 shows in any given year. For my "away" picks, I rely heavily on research, knowledge of past performances, and a network of fellow-Fringers (including Ottawa's Brian M Carroll who has greatly informed this year's picks). As always though, I encourage you to step outside your comfort zone, and take chances on shows you might not normally see - don't depend only on my picks; my tastes might … [Read more...]
Victoria Fringe Festival 2013 – my “local” picks
August 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment
When it comes to the Victoria Fringe, I’m a mere baby fringer. It wasn’t until the 20th anniversary in 2006 that I really got involved in this two week long festival of alternative live performance. I love the buzz, and hanging out with fellow volunteers, performers and like-minded “fringe addicts”. I see between 30 and 40 shows at the Victoria Fringe, and another 50 – 60 shows during the year. Here are my “local” picks based on performances … [Read more...]
Theatre SKAM presents Smalltown A Pickup Musical August 13 – 25 2013. A review.
August 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Theatre SKAM presents Smalltown A Pickup Musical, August 13 -25, 2013. If you grew up watching the antics of Rocky, Bullwinkle, Boris and Natasha on Saturday morning cartoons, or flickering silent films where the dastardly moustache-twirling villain tied pretty heroines to train tracks, you’ll feel right at home with the broad-brushed characters in Theatre SKAM’s Smalltown: A Pickup Musical (playing to August 25th in the Vic High field by the … [Read more...]
My Fair Lady by Blue Bridge Theatre, a review
August 11, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Simply magnificent. There are no other words to describe the wonderful production of My Fair Lady by Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre currently playing at the McPherson Playhouse until August 18th. From the moment the audience enters the theatre, to a glorious vintage view of London (a scrim specially commissioned by designer Patrick Du Wors) the sense of anticipation is palpable. Brian Richmond (Henry Higgins) and Amanda Lisman (Eliza … [Read more...]
When I’m 64. Playreading August 26th 2013
August 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment
First-time playwright, Comox resident JS Hill debuts When I’m 64 with a play reading Monday August 26th at Victoria’s Shakespeare by the Sea (Clover Point). Hill was invited by Robert Light, director of Shakespeare by the Sea. “This is artists helping artists - our way of giving back to the community,” he said. Faced with a lack of roles for women of “a certain age” Hill began writing When I’m 64. Although based on situations and … [Read more...]
Letter From Wingfield Farm, Belfry Theatre. A review.
August 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment
As far back as Aesop and Horace, people have been making comparisons between “city folk” and “country folk”. The 1960s TV show Green Acres, profiling the adventures of city slickers new to country life, was a massive hit. More recently, on an international scale, we have Peter Mayle and A Year in Provence. We’re fascinated with the differences in the ways of living. It’s a comfortable construct from which to poke fun at one another’s foibles and … [Read more...]
Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre Presents My Fair Lady
July 31, 2013 By Leave a Comment
If the respectful collegiality evident during my recent conversation with cast members of My Fair Lady (running August 6-18th at the McPherson Playhouse) is any indication, then Producing Artistic Director, Brian Richmond, and everyone involved with Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre have achieved their mandate of mentoring young artists, while creating a company that consistently aims for the highest levels of artistic excellence (as indicated by the … [Read more...]
Ocean Fox by Castlereigh Theatre Project – a review
July 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Verbatim playwriting brother-sister duo Francesca Albright and Jude Thaddeus Allen of Castlereigh Theatre Project mine the individual to present the universal in their latest project, Ocean Fox. Subtle in its delivery, true to its subjects, this tale of larger-than-life erstwhile rolling stone turned tropical entrepreneur hints at larger issues – environmental destruction, the cost of amenity tourism, legacy, and vantage point. Most of us … [Read more...]
Theatre SKAM Bike Ride 2013
July 11, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Theatre SKAM’s Bike Ride is a family-friendly mobile festival of performance along 4 kilometres of the Galloping Goose Trail, starting at Cecelia Ravine Park, July 6/7 and 13/14 in Victoria BC. I first met Matthew Payne, Artistic Director of Theatre SKAM in 2008 when he produced Schoolhouse Rocks at VISA (the Vancouver Island School of Art). When he announced plans for Bike Ride (loosely based on idea by the Hive Collective in Vancouver), I … [Read more...]
