Life is a cabaret—or is it? There is plenty to ponder amid the hummable songs and intricate dance numbers of Cabaret currently playing at Langham Court Theatre to sold-out houses (January 15-February 1, 2014). At heart, Cabaret is the classic tale of a young American (Griffin Lea as Cliff Bradshaw) bound for Europe and adventure. Set in Berlin during the heady and decadent between-wars time of the WeimarRepublic, this on-the-surface … [Read more...]
Sci-Fi Double Feature at Winterlab 2014. Q&A with Brian Fidler.
I was first introduced to the work of Ramshackle Theatre of Whitehorse when Brian Fidler presented Broken at Intrepid Theatre’s UNO Fest in 2013 (my review is here). Now, Ramshackle returns for Winterlab (January 25th-February 1st, 2014) with Sci-Fi Double Feature—a cardboard puppet show for adults and children alike. I caught up with Brian when he was deeply immersed in a puppet intensive at the BanffSchool of the Arts (co-incidentally … [Read more...]
Home is a Beautiful Word at the Belfry Theatre. A review.
Home is a Beautiful Word, currently at the Belfry Theatre (January 7-19th), is proof positive that contemporary theatre is relevant. By turns stark, hard-hitting, sad, brave, uncomfortable and funny, this well-researched verbatim-theatre play challenges assumptions about homelessness by reflecting the points of view of a wide range of Victorians. Playwright and journalist Joel Bernbaum was commissioned by the Belfry Theatre, and has spent … [Read more...]
Ignorance by the Old Trout Puppet Workshop. Victoria BC review.
It’s time to put on your silly hat, leave the judging adult behind and surrender to delight - the Old Trout Puppet Workshop has arrived in Victoria for the first time since 2007 (Famous Puppet Death Scenes) with Ignorance (playing January 7-18th at Blue Bridge at the Roxy as part of the Presenter’s Series). If you believe that puppets are limited to characters like Casey on Mr. Dressup, or the traditional Punch and Judy, prepare to have your … [Read more...]
My Gift is for the Trees, an Emily Carr Christmas. A review
As a native West Coaster, all my life I have longed for Christmas iconography and tradition that celebrates Christmas and the holiday season as I know it – surrounded by nature, and often with an absence of snow. In creating My Gift is for the Trees: an Emily Carr Christmas, Tim Gosley has tapped into the current fascination with storytelling and trans-media. The performance is an inventive multi-generational “play within a play within a … [Read more...]
Arts Adventures for the Holidays in Victoria BC December 2013
Arts Adventures for the Holidays in Victoria BC, December 2013 There is truly something for everyone in Victoria this up-coming holiday season. Whether you enjoy theatre, music or dance, local arts organizations have prepared wonderful holiday-themed events for your consideration. It's Christmas: a sparkling, musical, holiday revue continues Fridays and Saturdays throughout December at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. A talented cast of singers … [Read more...]
The Collected Works of Billy the Kid at Theatre Inconnu. My review.
Some performances stay with us a lifetime, vivid memories sparked by visceral reactions to the sights and sounds onstage. The Collected Works of Billy the Kid by Michael Ondaatje is one such a show. First staged in Victoria by the Belfry Theatre in 1993, in the full theatrical version, it unnerved me with its force. The powerful language painted pictures beyond anything I’d experienced to that point. Ondaatje won his first Governor General’s … [Read more...]
“It’s Christmas” holiday revue at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel
The new Oak Bay Beach Hotel celebrates its first anniversary (December 1st) in style with many Christmas-themed events throughout the month. Whether you are of the Christian faith or not, Christmas for most people is tied up in remembrances and nostalgia, dreams of childhood and past celebrations. Since everyone has their own interpretation of the “perfect” holiday, it is extremely challenging to design a program that will appeal to the … [Read more...]
Canary Club Speakeasy a Fundraiser for Atomic Vaudeville November 28, 2013
It's hard to imagine - Atomic Vaudeville, co-founded by Jacob Richmond and Britt Small in 2004, is now in its tenth season. The collective of new and emerging local actors, writers, musicians, artists and performers has staged over 60 cabarets and new works, winning multiple awards in the process. With hits like Ride The Cyclone, Legoland, The Qualities of Zero, and The History of Everything to their credit, they are about to embark on another … [Read more...]
True West by Blue Bridge Theatre at the Roxy. A review.
True West, by Sam Shepard, currently playing at Blue Bridge Repertory’s Roxy Theatre until December 1st, is a searing tension-filled drama of sibling rivalry that crackles and sparks with male energy and disdain. Shepard was only 37, and already a Pulitzer Prize winner for Buried Child, when he penned True West, considered to be the final play in his Family Trilogy (Curse of the Starving Class 1976, Buried Child 1979). The structure is … [Read more...]