To this day the work of The Birdmann and Egg remains some of the fringiest at any festival, and is a reminder of the importance of the Fringe circuit. Arriving as The Birdmann in Victoria in 2011 (before beginning a serendipitous collaboration with fellow artist Egg--Sachie Mikawa), Trent Baumann quickly captured the hearts of audiences with his unique, quirky stylings that riff off classic vaudeville and busking routines. Never afraid to push … [Read more...]
The Birdmann and Egg: Finale at the Victoria Fringe 2018. An interview.
July 24, 2018 By Leave a Comment
St Luke’s Players celebrate 70 years with their 2018-2019 season
July 24, 2018 By Leave a Comment
2018 marks the 70th anniversary for St Luke’s Players intrepid band of thespians who have, since 1948, been producing community theatre, based out of St Luke’s Anglican Church Hall at the corner of Cedar Hill and Cedar Hill Crossroad. The season includes, typically, at least one murder mystery, a comedy and of course, the famous Christmas pantomime which is usually sold-out as soon as tickets go on sale in November. Performers and creative … [Read more...]
Rocko and Nakota Tales from the Land at the Victoria Fringe Festival 2018. An interview.
July 24, 2018 By 1 Comment
One of two plays centering Indigenous experience at the Victoria Fringe Festival 2018, Rocko and Nakota: Tales from the Land by Edmonton-based Anishinaabe artist Josh Languedoc is also the recipient of the CAFF lottery which allows entry into multiple Fringe festivals. I caught up with Josh on the road between Ottawa and Winnipeg. How long have you been producing work on the Fringe circuit? As an artist/company? As an artist I have … [Read more...]
The Measure of Love at the Victoria Fringe 2018. An interview.
July 24, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Ten years ago, The Measure of Love by Nicholas Billon, with veteran actors Jean Topham and Geli Bartlett, was such a hit at the Victoria Fringe Festival that many fans were turned away disappointed (it was scheduled in the smaller 60 seat Intrepid Theatre Club). In fact, festival organizers offered the company an extra night in a larger space to accommodate demand. Here’s your chance to find out what all the buzz was about in 2008 with this 2018 … [Read more...]
Fool’s Paradise by Blue Elephant Theatre at the Victoria Fringe 2018. An interview.
July 23, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Blue Elephant Theatre is a relatively new theatre company in Victoria BC, but, as you’ll read below, playwright/director Anna MacAlpine has surrounded herself with a team of recent grads and current students of the UVic Phoenix Theatre. This all-female cast and crew presents “the story of the most interesting person from history you’ve probably never heard of”—Julie d’Aubigny. Julie McGuire as Julie d'Aubigny and Hanna Seinen as Mathilde. … [Read more...]
#past #present #future by Enigmatic Events at the Victoria Fringe 2018. An interview.
July 23, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Third time's the charm for local company Enigmatic Events and its founder Chris Rudram. For an unbelievable third year in a row they've won the local lottery. Rudram is part of the small group of Fringe fanatics who migrate from viewing shows, to billeting artists, to writing reviews to producing their own work. During the year outside the Fringe, Enigmatic Events also runs interactive events and stages murder mysteries. Chris turned to … [Read more...]
Hedwig and the Angry Inch by Atomic Vaudeville July 20-29, 2018. A review.
July 23, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Hedwig has fans, and so too does Griffin Leonard Lea, as attested by the long line snaking from the top of the stairs at the Upstairs Cabaret on opening night of Atomic Vaudeville’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Those waiting spoke of seeing productions in London, New Year, San Francisco, Toronto and then went on to compare Lea’s performances in not only Hedwig (this show is a reprise of the last year’s inaugural run at the Metro Studio) but also … [Read more...]
The Boy In The Chrysalis presented by hapax theatre at the Victoria Fringe 2018. Preview.
July 17, 2018 By Leave a Comment
hapax theatre follows its successful production of A Beautiful View with the poignant and relevant The Boy In The Chrysalis by Canadian Playwright Liam Monaghan running August 24 - September 2 as part of the 32nd Annual Victoria Fringe Festival. The Boy in the Chrysalis tells the story of a broken-hearted man—a grade school teacher by day, a drag queen by night—whose long-term relationship has recently ended. Faced with the banality of … [Read more...]
AWKWARD HUG by Cory Thibert at the Victoria Fringe 2018. Interview.
July 17, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Cory Thibert and Linnea Gwiazda hit the jackpot when they won the coveted 2018 Canadian Association of Fringe Festival (CAFF) lottery—allowing them entry to a minimum of five Fringe festivals on the CAFF circuit. Victoria audiences will remember Cory from Happiness TM performed with Tony Adams at the 2016 Victoria Fringe. Now he is back with AWKWARD HUG a personal coming-of-age story with a difference. Gwiazda directs this frank and tender … [Read more...]
Theatre Al Dente presents Phantom of the Light Opera in Victoria BC. A review.
July 13, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Summer—a time for light reading, light clothing, light eating and—light entertainment, a welcome diversion from regular fare. Nothing too troubling or difficult—like the beach books we all love to read (even if we don’t want to admit it). Theatre Al Dente has it covered. For six season (2010-2015) a team helmed by the father/daughter duo of Gerald Schieven and Sasha Moriarty-Schieven (he directs, she writes and choreographs) produced a … [Read more...]
