Looking back at our younger selves is always interesting, and can conjure all kinds of emotions. A lot of times, we may think, “What was I thinking?”. Seven Tyrants Theatre’s production of Samuel Beckett’s play, Krapp’s Last Tape, explores the mixed emotions we have when reflecting on the past, and how we may often think, “I wish I could tell my younger self what I know now – and maybe give them a shake as well”.
Read moreDoes our personality shape how we look, or does how we look shape our personality? That’s the question that Kit Redstone asks in the UK’s Rhum and Clay Theatre’s show, Testosterone, presented in Vancouver by The Cultch. Inspired by Redstone’s own experiences from transitioning to male in his early 30’s, Testosterone in an insightful look into adjusting to post-operation life and addressing pre-conceived assumptions about gender behaviour.
Read moreOur favourite Mormon boys and their pals are back in the Tony Award-winning musical comedy, The Book of Mormon, presented by Broadway Across Canada. This cheeky musical from the creators of South Park combines fun, adult humour with valid commentary and insightful perspectives on society – the perfect balance of lightheartedness and intelligence. And while this is the third touring production of the show, this version is as fresh as ever, pumped up with exciting, youthful talent.
Read moreWater is life. We’re basically made of it. Our body composition is roughly 50 – 70% water. Water also covers 71% of the earth. We’re mysteriously connected to water – and that’s something that Vancouver’s Vanessa Goodman, artistic director of Action at a Distance Dance Society, explores in her new work, Never Still, which will open the Firehall Arts Centre’s 2018/2019 season on Wednesday, September 26.
Read moreAs a society, we tend to expect our summertime entertainment to be spectacular. Epic Hollywood adventure movies (I recently watched the new Jurassic World), large scale stage shows (I recently reviewed Les Miserables, Cinderella and 42nd Street, and concerts and music festivals (I might have been to a couple of EDM festivals) are the norm. And all of that is great. But we can’t count out the other end of the spectrum. For example, intimate plays with minimal actors, sets and costumes…that are very well done. And Ensemble Theatre’s production of the acclaimed play, A Few Good Men, is a small-scale show that blows you out of the water.
Read moreTomo Suru’s The Dance Teacher, is an intriguing play that reads like a Gillian Flynn novel. If you’ve read any of Flynn’s work, or watched the film adaption of her story, Gone Girl, you’ll catch my drift. The Dance Teacher is a dark mystery that draws you in and keeps you hooked as piece the story together.
Read moreThe Broadway musical 42nd Street has tapped its way to Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park. The Theatre Under the Stars production opened to an appreciative audience who enjoyed the tremendous efforts put forth by the popular theatre company, which is celebrating its 72nd season. And while 42nd Street doesn’t quite knock it out of the park, there’s some great talent on display.
Read moreWith summer in full swing, many families and theatre fans will plan to visit Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park for Theatre Under the Stars’ annual Broadway musical offerings. But this year, audiences who have previously enjoyed the magical charm of fairy tale-inspired shows such as Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Mary Poppins will be disappointed with this year’s production of Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. This production lacks magic and appeal, and is instead a weird concoction of strange costumes, set pieces, and directorial choices.
Read moreThe musical sensation, Les Misérables has arrived in Vancouver, and on opening night, it was clear the show’s messages of redemption and love remain timeless. Broadway Across Canada’s (BAC) production is a new re-staging of the Tony Award-winning musical, with revised orchestrations, and new lighting and set designs, to keep the show fresh and relevant to current audiences. What remains the same is the show’s gorgeous score, which is performed brilliantly by the cast and orchestra and the story’s integrity.
Read moreThere are special times when something so captivating, imaginative and refreshing happens onstage, that you’re transported to another world. This is certainly the case with Vancouver Opera’s The Overcoat - A Musical Tailoring. This brilliant contemporary opera, co-produced with Canadian Stage and Tapestry Opera, is a whimsical interpretation of the 1942 short story by Ukrainian-born Russian author Nicolai Gogol.
Read moreWho is your ultimate fanboy or fangirl obsession? Ryan Reynolds? Taylor Swift? If they were in a car accident, would you come to their rescue? Would you bring them home and take care of them? Would you let them leave? Wow – did that just get creepy?Well, that’s the premise of Stephen King’s classic thriller, Misery. Also an Academy Award-winning film, Arts Club Theatre Company is bringing the stage version of Misery to the Granville Island Stage, and it’s guaranteed to give audiences a good scare.
Read moreLet’s face it, the dating world isn’t easy. Imagine if you had to scroll through all your Tindr matches and reflect on how each relationship panned out.In celebrating its 35th anniversary season, the Firehall Arts Centre has remounted Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen.
Read moreThere’s been much fanfare leading up to Ballet BC’s world premiere version of Romeo + Juliet, choreographed and conceived by Medhi Walerski. We’re not used to seeing Ballet BC do full-length story work. On top of that, the classic tale of the two star-crossed lovers is closely tied to classical ballet. So how does this primarily contemporary company fare with its own rendition of the iconic love story? Ballet BC’s Romeo + Juliet is a great production, showcasing the emotionally-moving, quirky and daring style the company is renowned for. Not all the pieces fit together, but it’s an interesting and valiant effort.
Read moreIn the recent aftermath of the Florida school shooting, Zee Zee Theatre’s remount of its one-man play, My Funny Valentine is hauntingly timely. Zee Zee Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director Cameron Mackenzie, decided to remount this play to mark the 10th anniversary of the tragic killing of 15-year-old Lawrence King on Valentine’s Day, 2008. While the pieces of the play don’t quite come together, the intentions are noble and this is an interesting interpretation of the event and its aftermath.
Read moreAlign Entertainment’s production of Legally Blonde The Musical is an entertaining and relatively well put together show. This production has a lot of fun moments and also sufficiently captures the deeper inspirational layer of the show. Though not as refined as other past Align productions, such as the outstanding Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Align’s rendition of Legally Blonde still manages to checkmark enough boxes to be considered a win at a community theatre level.
Read moreThe Cultch’s latest production is the world premiere of No Foreigners, about at the controversial issue of Chinese-Canadian immigration to Vancouver.This interdisciplinary work by local company Hong Kong Exile and Toronto-based fu-GEN Theatre, runs February 7 to 17 at the Vancity Culture Lab.
Read moreLooking for some sizzle to warm up from the rainy winter weather?Motown The Musical is a hot blast of fun. Full of crowd-pleasing renditions of classic Motown tunes such as “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “My Girl,” and “Baby I Need Your Lovin,” this musical bio on the life of Berry Gordy, the founder of the Motown record label, is burning up the Queen Elizabeth stage until February 11.
Read moreSuzy Kaitman has taken extraordinary leaps in 2017. The former ballerina, who transitioned into becoming a fitness coach, opened her own studio, Ballet Lounge, in 2016 - but she faced tough roads ahead. Determined to succeed, she took serious action in 2017 and her drive and dedication has paid off. Read about her inspirational journey.
Read moreBallet BC has graciously invited Alberta Ballet to perform its renowned production of The Nutcracker in Vancouver. This visually stunning production features all the opulence, majesty and grace that this classic story is known for. Complete with some stand-out dance performances, and accompanied by the magnificent Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Alberta Ballet's The Nutcracker is a special holiday treat.
Read moreThere’s a hidden gem shining brightly at the Kay Meek Centre in West Vancouver. The show is Little Women: The Musical. But the shining gem is the magnificently talented cast and the wonderful care that has been taken by director Lalainia Lindbjerg and her creative team in bringing this show to life. And the star of the show, young Michelle Creber, delivers an exceptionally brilliant performance that should not be missed.
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