Bounce Dance Cabaret is back and I couldn't be happier. Mariko Ihara, Kimberly Tuson, Stacey Horton, Jung-Ah Chung, Lisa Milloy, Lori Hamar, Hugh MacPherson photo: Michael Barnes Treena Stubel, award winning dancer and choreographer, founded Bounce! in 2009 to support new work by independent dance and physical theatre artists. As a long time collaborator and friend of Victoria’s Atomic Vaudeville cabaret, she was inspired to create a … [Read more...]
Theatrical Treats for Halloween in Victoria BC
October 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Since time immemorial people have gathered together at this turn in the seasons, as night falls earlier and earlier, and conversation around campfires, hearths and living rooms has turned to spooky and scary tales. Victoria theatre companies have seized upon this desire for the frightful, and propose a panoply of plays for your viewing pleasure. In addition, the ever popular Ghost Bus Tours narrated by local historian John Adams, a fundraiser … [Read more...]
Cage 100 Festival in Victoria BC – a fine arts collaboration
October 25, 2012 By 3 Comments
I’m always looking to extend my cultural horizons beyond tried and true choices. The Cage Festival, November 8th – 22nd has definitely piqued my interest. Four Victoria arts institutions - the Victoria Symphony, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, University of Victoria (School of Music) and Open Space - are celebrating the 100th anniversary of John Cage’s birth by hosting a series of concerts, art exhibitions and special retrospectives … [Read more...]
Popular Belfry Theatre fundraiser Crush – cancelled – due to LCLB decision
October 22, 2012 By 1 Comment
Just as I was about to update my readers on a number of popular arts fundraisers, the Belfry Theatre is forced to cancel their popular CRUSH - A Fine Wine Affair, due to a Liquor Control and Licensing Board decision. This last minute decision has far-reaching implications for others arts groups as well. Ivan Habel, General Manager, announced this afternoon (October 22nd, 2012) that Crush, the Belfry’s fundraising event scheduled for Sunday, … [Read more...]
The Hobbit at William Head on Stage (WHoS) – a review.
October 19, 2012 By 1 Comment
It’s a fair journey through the country roads of Metchosin for William Head on Stage’s production of The Hobbit, but definitely not as epic as the one travelled by the intrepid band of thespians interpreting Tolkein’s classic for our viewing pleasure. Now in its 31st year (The Hobbit is their 51st), WHoS started as a final exam for prisoners taking the University of Victoria’s drama course, and is the only inmate-initiated, inmate-run theatre … [Read more...]
Peter N’ Chris – The Mystery of the Hungry Heart Motel. A review.
October 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Local fans of Peter Carlone and Chris Wilson, better known as the comedy duo “Peter N’ Chris”, will be pleased to know they’ve returned to Victoria and are currently the Alumni Spotlight at the University of Victoria Phoenix Theatre with The Mystery of the Hungry Heart Motel. Graduates (in 2008) of UVic’s Theatre program, Carlone and Wilson were already regulars of Itsazoo Productions and Atomic Vaudeville when they mounted their eponymous … [Read more...]
Dracula: The Blood is the Life – Craigdarroch Castle. A review.
October 10, 2012 By 4 Comments
As darkness falls earlier and earlier, comes a hankering for terrifying tales to entertain us during long evenings. At times, we stumble from the comfort of warm homes, enticed by the prospects of time spent wandering the hallways of a stately mansion in the company of accomplished thespians. Giggling Iguana Productions and Launch Pad Productions propose a creative re-telling and re-working of the Dracula legend for your pleasure. poster by … [Read more...]
84, Charing Cross Road by Langham Court Theatre – a review
October 9, 2012 By 2 Comments
In a world obsessed with real-time, instantaneous connection, it might seem quaint that two people could maintain a long distance business relationship over decades, and deepen their friendship as a result. 84, Charing Cross Road, the opening play of Langham Court’s 84th season, shows a modern audience just how this is possible. With erudite wit, and intellectual thrust-and-parry, writer Helene Hanff (Jennifer Hoener) and bookstore employee … [Read more...]
Announcing Reynolds High School Collegium Concerts (Oct 16 and Nov 1)
October 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Dave Flello, teacher and director of the Reynolds High School Band, contacted me recently about a very interesting development at the school. Staff and administration have created the Reynolds Fine Arts Collegium to help facilitate and support the efforts of Reynolds Fine Arts Students to: experiment in fine arts network with artists locally, regionally and nationally develop their individual crafts collaborate with other artists to … [Read more...]
Blackbird by Theatre Inconnu – a review
October 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
David Harrower’s play Blackbird, currently at Theatre Inconnu, brings to light the morally complicated lives of two individuals, linked previously in a power-imbalanced relationship when the female protagonist was 12. Now 27, Una (Jess Amy Shead) tracks down Ray (Graham McDonald), and confronts her abuser. What follows is a tense, staccato exchange where sympathies ebb and flow. Harrower’s dialogue has been compared to Mamet’s, and … [Read more...]
