Lion in the Streets at UVic Phoenix Theatre February 12-21, 2015. A review. Twenty five years have not dimmed the provocative power and searing intensity of Judith Thompson’s Lion in the Streets (currently at the University of Victoria Phoenix Theatre February 10-21). Written in 1990 as a heart cry to current events in her Toronto neighbourhood, this dark tale prowls on the edges of human story and experience, digging into corners most would … [Read more...]
Lion in the Streets at UVic Phoenix Theatre February 12-21 2015. A review.
February 16, 2015 By 1 Comment
CCPA Alumni at the Stratford Festival 2014. Interview.
February 14, 2015 By Leave a Comment
In 2014, I realized a long-held dream and travelled to Ontario for the Stratford Festival where my son, Elliott Loran, was performing in his first season. Elliott is a graduate of the Canada College of Performing Arts (CCPA) and it hadn’t escaped my notice that three other graduates—Matt Alano, Matthew Armet and Galen Johnson—were also members of the company. It’s a distinct honour for CCPA, a relatively small college situated far from the … [Read more...]
Theatre Inconnu announces 2015 season
February 10, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Theatre Inconnu announces 2015 season. Victoria BC. I'm a big fan of Theatre Inconnu since first being introduced to the company in 2005 when they produced George Riga's Ecstasy of Rita Joe. Consistently, over the years, I have come to rely on their programming for some of the most challenging theatre in Victoria. Working with minimal budget and a combination of community and equity actors and crew, artistic director Clayton Jevne continues … [Read more...]
People by Alan Bennett at Langham Court Theatre January 14-31, 2015. A review.
January 18, 2015 By 4 Comments
People by Alan Bennett at Langham Court Theatre January 13-31, 2015. A review. Alan Bennett is, at 80, a national treasure in Britain, and the opening of any new play a hot ticket at the National Theatre. Written in 2012, his latest work, People is a scathing indictment of the National Trust (among other sacred cows destined for his acidic pen). The Langham Court Theatre 2014-2015 production chair and play-reading committee are to be … [Read more...]
Sin City Season Five: Space, the funniest frontier
January 16, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Sin City: Season Five: SPACE (the funniest frontier). Kirsten Van Ritzen and Ian Ferguson of Broad Theatrics arrived in Victoria in 2010 and immediately set about shaking up the local theatre, improv and comedy culture. One of their first projects was to re-create a version of the extremely successful weekly improvised serial they had originated in Edmonton (Die Nasty--now in its 24th year), then taken to Toronto and Los Angeles. Seasons … [Read more...]
The Other Guys Theatre presents The Incompleat Folksinger January 8-18, 2015 in Victoria BC. A review.
January 14, 2015 By Leave a Comment
The Other Guys Theatre presents The Incompleat Folksinger January 8-18, 2015 in Victoria BC. A Review. The most recent production by The Other Guys Theatre Company (OGT) The Incompleat Folksinger by Pete Seeger featuring Mark Hellman (January 8-18 2015 at the Metro Studio Theatre) is a mini-history lesson with beautiful tunes, accomplished storytelling and an immense heart. OGT is well-known for their historical musical revues Good Timber … [Read more...]
Theatre SKAM celebrates their 20th season in 2015
January 12, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Theatre SKAM celebrates their 20th season in 2015. Founded in 1995 by four emerging artists (Sarah Donald, Karen Turner, Amiel Gladstone, and Matthew Payne) as a means for the creation and production of new work, Theatre SKAM celebrates 20 years in 2015. SKAM continues to push the boundaries of performance and provide opportunities for emerging artists. They begin with a huge birthday bash at the Atrium January 17th featuring the music of … [Read more...]
A Winter of Theatre 2015 in Victoria BC. January and February.
January 9, 2015 By Leave a Comment
A Winter of Theatre in Victoria BC. January and February. Do you remember in The Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy says “Toto, we aren’t in Kansas anymore?” That’s the way I feel about the Victoria theatre scene in January and February. It was only a few short years ago that my theatre viewing consisted of TWO shows. Last year there were a possible 25 if my memory serves me correctly (I saw 13), and this year is not going to be very different. … [Read more...]
Alice the Musical at Theatre Inconnu November 30-December 20, 2014. A review.
December 6, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Alice the Musica at Theatre Inconnu November 30-December 20, 2014. A review. Alice by Tom Waits, Paul Schmidt, Kathleen Brennan and Robert Wilson, currently at Theatre Inconnu (November 30-December 14, 2014) is a hallucinating and troubling journey into the relationship between Charles Dodgson (Graham Roebuck) and the young girl (Melissa Blank) who inspired his books—the children’s classics Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the … [Read more...]
Sense and Sensibility by Company C at St Ann’s Academy. A review.
December 3, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Sense and Sensibility by Company C at St Ann's Academy. A review. With crisp precision and nuanced flourish, under the inspired direction of Glynis Leyshon, CCPA’s Company C brings Jane Austen’s 200 year-old romantic comedy of manners Sense and Sensibility to life in the sumptuous setting of the chapel and grounds of St Ann’s Academy. As readers of my website know, I’m a big fan of site specific theatre; Victoria is fortunate to have … [Read more...]
