Crimes of the Heart at UVic Phoenix Theatre. A review. In 2018, Beth Henley’s southern-based drama Crimes of the Heart (set in small town Mississippi in 1974 and at the University of Victoria Phoenix Theatre February 13-24, 2018) is problematic—on one hand, it’s the story of three sisters bonded through a troubled childhood, on uneasy terms with one another as adults; on the other it’s a fine example of racism so pervasive as to be invisible, … [Read more...]
Neva by Guillermo Calderon at Theatre Inconnu. A review.
February 16, 2018 By 1 Comment
Neva by Guillermo Calderon at Theatre Inconnu. A review. Three actors. One stage. Minimal set décor. Costumes, lighting and classical music. Neva by Guillermon Calderon (at Theatre Inconnu February 13-March 3 2018) as imagined by director Clayton Jevne and his ensemble, is theatre reduced to its essential elements; theatre relying solely on the director’s interpretation and the cast’s ability to carry it through ninety minutes of in-depth … [Read more...]
Pendulum An Indigenous Showcase. Interview with Lindsay Delaronde.
February 15, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Pendulum An Indigenous Showcase. Interview with Lindsay Delaronde. Lindsay Delaronde was chosen in 2017 as the City of Victoria’s first Indigenous Artist in Residence and over the past year has initiated a number of performances, workshops and talks. February 23/24 at the Belfry Theatre she presents Pendulum: An Indigenous Showcase. I wanted to learn more about her statement (emphasis mine) “Pendulum brings new life into the context … [Read more...]
Once at the Chemainus Theatre Festival. A review.
February 14, 2018 By 2 Comments
Once at the Chemainus Theatre Festival. A review. Once (currently at the Chemainus Theatre Festival to March 10) is a breath of fresh air in the world of the contemporary musical. Once had an unusual progression to the stage, and a backstory to rival the script—originally conceived by John Carney as a low-budget Irish film, songwriters Glen Hansard (frontman of The Flames, an indie rock group of some repute) and Markéta Irglová (a young … [Read more...]
Company C presents Cabaret at the Canadian College of Performing Arts. A review.
January 29, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Company C presents Cabaret at the Canadian College of Performing Arts. A review. The 2017 Company C of the Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA) caps off two years of training, and a solid 5 months of ensemble work, with the quintessential musical Cabaret. Packed with gravitas and grit, and featuring both bold ensemble numbers and punchy solos, this production whisks the audience away to the heady time between wars, when life in Berlin … [Read more...]
Forget About Tomorrow by Jill Daum at the Belfry Theatre. A review.
January 26, 2018 By 2 Comments
Forget About Tomorrow by Jill Daum at the Belfry Theatre. A review. Theatre is a gift that can allow an audience an experience far above mere entertainment, offering a way to examine the human condition, with all its challenges and difficulties. Playwright Jill Daum, who for decades has been entertaining generations of theatre goers with the questions and antics of motherhood as one of the co-creators of the Mom’s The Word series, turns her … [Read more...]
Intrepid Theatre YOU Show February 2018. Tusk Turns One! and Awkward Hug. Interviews with creators.
January 24, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Intrepid Theatre YOU Show February 2018. Tusk Turns One! and Awkward Hug. Interviews with creators. Tony Adams and Cory Thibert (May Can Theatre) first came to the attention of Victoria audiences at the 2016 Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival when they performed their hit satirical show Happiness TM. Soon after, Adams moved to Victoria permanently and has been performing with Monica Ogden as NicklePumpernickel. Now, they embark on another … [Read more...]
Urinetown at Langham Court Theatre January 17-February 3, 2018. A review.
January 22, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Urinetown at Langham Court Theatre January 17-February 3, 2018. A review. Fans of musical theatre are in for a treat with Urinetown, currently at Langham Court Theatre (January 17-February 3 2018)—a musical of musicals, replete with allusions to tropes, styles and stock characters, this cheeky take on a dire environmental catastrophe and concupiscent corporate greed is simply a delight. Featuring a large cast of 26 with stellar principals and … [Read more...]
Company C presents Cabaret. Interview with director and cast.
January 17, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Company C presents Cabaret. Interview with director and cast. The largest Company C cohort ever, 16 highly trained triple-threat performers, tackles the inimitable Cabaret for their final show January 26-February 3 at the CCPA Performance Hall. From the original 1966 Broadway production to the many subsequent revivals--1986 (Broadway), 1993 (London), 1998 (Broadway), 2006 and 2012 (London) and 2014 (Broadway)—and the iconic 1972 movie … [Read more...]
The Prisoner of Second Avenue by Bema Productions January 7-28 2018. A review.
January 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment
The Prisoner of Second Avenue by Bema Productions January 7-28 2018. A review. Now in their fourth season, and operating from the community space, turned black box theatre, at Congregation Emanu-El, Bema Productions continues to impress with their insightful interpretations of classic and often little-known comedies, beginning 2018 with The Prisoner of Second Avenue (playing Saturdays and Sundays January 7-28). Artistic director Zelda Dean … [Read more...]
