Alice vs Wonderland. Blue Bridge at the Roxy. Review.

Alice vs Wonderland. Blue Bridge at the Roxy November 25-December 14, 2014. A review. Whether you are familiar with the 1951 Disney animated version of Alice in Wonderland or Alice Through The Looking Glass adapted by Canadian playwright James Reaney in 1994, and staged again to avid audiences at the Stratford Festival this summer—you’ll be surprised at Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre’s fresh take—which owes much to the aesthetic of music videos … [Read more...]

Early and Night Shift at the Royal BC Museum November 21, 2014

Early and Night Shift at the Royal BC Museum November 21, 2014. Media release and preview. This past year, the Learning Department has invited three Victoria artists—Aimee van Drimmelen, Lindsay Delaronde and Gareth Gaudin—into the Royal BC Museum for a year-long residency. In addition to taking part in our Wonder Sunday and Night at the Museum events, they went behind the scenes to creatively chronicle the extraordinary objects and … [Read more...]

Hubris in Athens, a new play by John Green, November 28/29 in Victoria BC.

Hubris in Athens, a new play by John Green, November 29 in Victoria BC.  Media Release. Electoral reform: a snore-making topic to be avoided in polite society, a cause worthy of passionate debate, or something to laugh about? Victoria playwright John Demmery Green suspects that most people would pick answer one, but for him the battle to achieve proportional representation is both a passion and something people should have fun with. Green’s … [Read more...]

17 Stories by Bema Productions November 29/30 in Victoria BC

17 Stories by Bema Productions November 29/20 in Victoria BC at Congregation Emanu-El Synagoge. Life is full of small happenstances.  I would not have known about Victoria's newest theatre company, Bema Productions, if I hadn't stopped to chat after RKO Productions' Rocky Horror Show.  Little did I know that Jessica Van der Veen, who I knew more for her political forays, was an actor. Following the great success of the arts festival celebrating … [Read more...]

The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs at Langham Court Theatre. A review.

Small Room at the Top of the Stairs at Langham Court Theatre. A review. The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs, currently at Langham Court Theatre, November 18-December 6, 2014 is rich, replete with interpretations and claustrophobic in its psychological intensity. Grace (Julie Forrest) has everything a young woman can desire—a rich husband, Henry (Justin Carter) who loves her and showers her with gifts, a beautiful mansion (28 rooms of … [Read more...]

Alice vs Wonderland at Blue Bridge Theatre. Interview with director Sara-Jeanne Hosie.

Alice vs Wonderland at Blue Bridge Theatre. Interview with Director Sara-Jean Hosie.  November 23-December 14, 2014 in Victoria BC. The second show in Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre’s “Gold Standards” seventh season features a re-mixing of Alice in Wonderland by Brendan Shea, Alice vs Wonderland billed as “Lady Gaga meets Lewis Carroll”. Sara-Jean Hosie last directed My Fair Lady for Blue Bridge in 2013, and was approached by Artistic … [Read more...]

Venus in Fur at the Belfry Theatre. A review.

Venus in Fur at the Belfry Theatre. A review. To portray Venus in Fur, currently at the Belfry Theatre November 11-December 14, as a play uniquely about S&M is akin to calling the Pacific Ocean a pond. Venus in Fur opens with a bang—to the rumblings and claps of a thunderstorm—and the sparks fly continually for the next 100 minutes without let-up. Vince Gale (Thomas) and Celine Stubel (Vanda Jordan) last appeared together at the … [Read more...]

James and Jamesy in High Tea. November 13-16, 2014 Victoria BC.

James and Jamesy in High Tea. November 13-16, 2014 Victoria BC. One of my favourite duos, the acclaimed, multi-award-winning James and Jamesy return to Victoria BC with their summer 2014 Fringe hit High Tea.  Unknown to Fringe audiences before 2013, their high energy physical performance attracted attention and garnered sell-outs from coast to coast.  In particular, I was struck with their ability to incorporate four audience members into the … [Read more...]

Fête Française avec Charlotte Diamond November 15 2014

Fête Française avec Charlotte Diamond November 15 2014. Presented by Canadian Parents for French in Victoria BC. My children who grew up in the francophone education system (Conseil Scolaire Francophone) rather than in the immersion stream, were nonetheless big fans of Charlotte Diamond.  I still remember hits like "Four Hugs a Day" and "May There Always Be Sunshine" and look forward to introducing this longstanding and prolific artist to my … [Read more...]

A Midsummer Night’s Dream at UVic Phoenix Theatre. A review.

A Midsummer Night's Dream at UVic Phoenix Theatre. A review. Boisterous, rambunctious and full of heart, the current UVic Phoenix Theatre production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (November 2 -22, 2014) is a treat.  Director Fran Gebhardt has set the play in 1970s New York City, imagining factions of hippies, punks and preppies, complete with an extensive collection of music of the time (Kieran MacNaughton sound design) The Duke—Theseus … [Read more...]