Summer (replete with plays and festivals) is over, school and university are back in session, and the Victoria theatre community is pulling out all the stops for a fantastic fall that will see close to 30 shows and events. Belfry Theatre starts the season with the Tony-award-winning play Red, direction by Artistic Director Michael Shamata in a co-production with Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, and is followed shortly after by the Canadian College … [Read more...]
Illustrated Talk: The Art and Life of Ina D.D. Uhthoff – CACGV Gallery, September 26th
September 13, 2012 By 2 Comments
Thanks to social media, I made a connection with Mona Fertig, owner of Mother Tongue Publishing, now based on Salt Spring Island. Fertig has a long career as a passionate supporter of writers. She founded the Literary Storefront, then established a small press, Mother Tongue Books - a publisher of poetry chap books, and is now publishing a series of books promoting unheralded BC artists. The latest book in the series (The Art and Life of Ina … [Read more...]
Gametes and Gonads – A Fundraiser for Story Theatre, September 17th
September 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Jeff Leard last appeared locally in Gametes and Gonads at the 2011 Victoria Fringe Festival. This summer he toured across the country to great reviews. The apple did not fall far from the tree as far as Jeff is concerned – his father Jim is the founder of Story Theatre Company. Jeff shares his quirky and ribald sense of humour and performs multiple characters in rapid succession. He's bringing Gametes and Gonads back to Victoria as a … [Read more...]
Vancouver Fringe Festival 2012 – Suggestions from the Victoria Fringe
September 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I am not primarily a reviewer, but I do see a lot of theatre – 38 shows at this year’s Victoria Fringe Festival (and somehow I managed NOT to see all the shows from Victoria going on to Vancouver). Here are my recommendations for shows that were in Victoria this year (or last). The productions are uniformly excellent. However, my taste in theatre may not be yours. Caveat emptor! I’ve listed the shows alphabetically, as they are indexed … [Read more...]
Greek Fest, August 28th – September 3rd, Victoria BC
August 28, 2012 By 1 Comment
As summer slowly wends its way to a close, and the nights get a touch cooler, we have one last opportunity to experience the warmth of distant, sunnier climes. Perhaps you haven't had the chance to vacation in Greece this year, but you can definitely experience the hospitality of the local Victoria Greek community during the 11th annual Greek Fest, September 28th - September 3rd. I don't know how this well-attended local festival has remained … [Read more...]
Victoria Fringe Festival 2012 – my “local” picks
August 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I love the Victoria Fringe Festival! When my kids were growing up, I only attended the odd show here and there, but that all changed in 2006 when my second son moved away to take a job as a historical interpreter at the MacLean Mill in Port Alberni. Without two teenage boys to feed and house, there was suddenly disposable income. 2006 was the 20th anniversary of the Victoria Fringe, and I managed to see more shows that year than in all the … [Read more...]
Victoria Fringe Festival 2012 – my “away” picks
August 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Disclaimers first: In 2006 I was bitten HARD by the Fringe bug and have gradually increased the number of shows I see from 20 then to 38 shows at last year’s Victoria Fringe Festival. (There are people who see more than me - and they are my Fellow Fringe Fanatics). During the year I volunteer regularly with Atomic Vaudeville, Intrepid Theatre, The Canadian College of Performing Arts and Theatre SKAM. I attend the Belfry, Theatre Inconnu, … [Read more...]
Henry IV (Part One) by Keep it Simple Productions – a review
August 15, 2012 By 3 Comments
We've been very fortunate this summer (2012) to have three Shakespeare companies mount shows for Victoria audiences. For me, it’s been a case of too much theatre, too little time. I missed the opening weekend of Keep It Simple Productions Henry IV Part One at the Metro Studio due to holiday plans, so when KIS Artistic Director David Christopher contacted me with a request to come and see the show and write a review I was happy to oblige. Let … [Read more...]
Victoria Represents at the Edmonton Fringe
August 14, 2012 By 3 Comments
It was a chance comment by Morgan Cranny about taking his show ReRentless (co-produced with Wes Borg) to the Edmonton Fringe that got me thinking. I knew that Ingrid Hansen (Little Orange Man), Mike Delamont (God is a Scottish Drag Queen) and Peter ‘n Chris (The Mystery of the Hungry Heart Motel) had arranged a bring-your-own-venue at La Cité Francophone, but were there other Victoria-based or Victoria-connected performers appearing at this … [Read more...]
Little Shop of Horrors – Blue Bridge Theatre – a review
August 2, 2012 By 2 Comments
Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre has definitely knocked it out of the park with the final production of their 2012 season - Little Shop of Horrors. From the moment the curtain opens to reveal the incredible printed backdrop (featuring an iconic 1950s New York alley streetscape) to the closing number, the show is replete with an incredible array of stylistic and vocal elements that taken together, make it a banquet for musical theatre … [Read more...]
