The best way to cool off in Vancouver amid this summer heat is to treat yourself to Broadway Across Canada’s Frozen. Under the direction of Michael Grandage, this stage adaptation of the iconic 2013 Disney animated film is as spectacular an experience as one would expect, with jaw-dropping effects and scenic, lighting, and costume designs. But it’s the show’s inspirational messages about sisterhood and inner strength that make this experience truly impactful and unforgettable.
Read morePeter Pan Goes Wrong in all the right ways
The only thing as enjoyable as watching perfection is watching a complete train wreck. Arts Club Theatre Company’s production of Peter Pan Goes Wrong is as wacky and chaotic, as it is intelligent and polished. Only a production this thought out and meticulously put together can produce such an uproarious, “disaster” of a show. The two-act play is a hilarious delight, and includes a couple of emotionally uplifting subplots as well. And on top of all that, this show is as visually pleasing as it is funny.
Read moreFiery grace: “Tango, to the Pointe” is an artistic achievement
Erin Scott-Kafadar and Alexander Richardson in Tango, to the Pointe. Photo credit: Mark Ruddick
“Style is the answer to everything,” poet Charles Bukowski once wrote in his poem Style, which included the line, “To do a dangerous thing with style is what I call art.” And by that definition Tango, to the Pointe, presented by PointeTango is the epitome of art. I recently had the pleasure of watching dancers Erin Scott-Kafadar and Alexander Richardson perform their work at the 2022 Vancouver Fringe Festival. Tango, to the Pointe is not only an impressive fusion of Argentine tango and classical ballet, but also a breathtakingly beautiful celebration of art.
Read moreGrand delusions: The most beautiful type of delusions
In Delusions and Grandeur, Karen Hall says that people forget up to 80% of what they hear within 24 hours. But 24 hours after seeing her fascinating and brilliantly creative one-person show at the Vancouver Fringe Festival, I can’t stop thinking about what I heard, saw, and experienced. An accomplished cellist, and tremendous actress as well, Hall brings audiences into her world, sharing her head space, emotions, and exquisite musical talent.
Read moreJuliet is sweet as revenge!
Why did Juliet have to die at the end of Romeo and Juliet? After all, she only knew Romeo for two days and she was only 13-years-old. Instead, what if Juliet defied her fate as a tragic female heroine and lived? In Monster Theatre’s Juliet: A Revenge Comedy, currently playing at the 2022 Vancouver Fringe Festival, we get to see Juliet defy the odds. And it isn’t easy, if the Bard has his way.
Read moreBlockhead celebrates the childhood wonder inside us all
Zac Williams stars in Blockhead. Photo credit: Vancouver Fringe Festival
No matter how old we get, the little kid in us never disappears. While they may get buried and overshadowed by our never ending life issues and concerns, there’s part of us stays innocent and genuinely curious. Written, directed, and starring Zac Williams, Blockhead is a one-act play that sweetly commemorates childhood perspective, and the anxieties and over contemplation we love to thrust upon ourselves.
Read moreWe Will Rock You is a fun, thrilling adventure with heart
The company of TUTS’ We Will Rock You. Photo credit: Emily Cooper
Theatre Under The Stars’ (TUTS) production of We Will Rock You certainly had its work cut out for it recently when it premiered the evening after TUTS’ other show this season, Something Rotten!, which opened to excellent reviews. Fortunately, not only was We Will Rock You up to the challenge, it was ready to slay. This production of We Will Rock You is absolutely electrifying!
Read moreSomething Rotten!: A hilarious, uplifting celebration of musical theatre
The company of TUTS’ Something Rotten! Splitting centre is Katie-Rose Connors (left) and Kamyar Pazandeh (right), with Jyla Robinson (far right). Photo credit: Emily Cooper
After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, Vancouver’s iconic Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) recently reopened with a radiant production of the Tony Award-winning musical Something Rotten! at the Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park. And there is certainly nothing rotten about this hilarious and wonderfully polished production under the direction of Rachel Peake, with choreography by Nicol Spinola and musical direction by Brent Hughes.
Read moreWolves Are Coming for You: Enjoyably mysterious, with no bells and whistles needed
Fear has a way of stripping us down to our true selves, and it’s not always pretty. And while our ugly sides can surface, so too can virtues such as bravery, empathy, and teamwork. In short – the worst and best of us can come to light; and this message sang through in Stone’s Throw Production’s recent staging of Wolves Are Coming For You, a play written by Joel Horwood.
Read moreKinky Boots joyfully struts its stuff, celebrating inclusion and authenticity
The cast of Arts Club Theatre’s Kinky Boots. Photo credit: Moonrider Productions.
Broadway sensation Kinky Boots has kicked its way into the Stanley Theatre and my opinion of this production is: Shantay, you stay! (as RuPaul would say). Presented by Arts Club Theatre and under the wise direction of Barbara Tomasic, this staging of the Tony Award-winning musical offers high-energy, wit, poignancy, and above all else, an uplifting and inspirational message.
Read moreMasterful storytelling paints a dark, intriguing tale in Terminus
Terminus, a one-act play written by Mark O’Rowe, is a black comedy told through multiple monologues performed by the show’s three characters. Throughout this series of monologues, each character helps paint the story of a dark, fateful night in Dublin that dramatically changes many lives. This production, presented by Jeb Beach and Associates, and directed by Shane Savage, is an interesting 90-minute storytelling experience that leaves you a little more on edge each time a character finishes their monologue and the next one begins.
Read moreMen Express Their Feelings: Fun and insightful play examines what can get in the way
Photo credit: Tina Krueger Kulic
Men Express Their Feelings is a one-act play that examines pre-conceived expectations of male behaviour and emotional expression – or lack thereof. At the heart of this clever and insightful play is the generational divide between Gen Z and their Gen X parents, especially when it comes to sexuality and gender norms.
Read moreConstellations examines the infinite possibilities life holds
TheatreGarden’s production of the one-act play Constellations by Nick Payne, offers the concept of a multiverse, where parallel existences allow us to have infinitely different lives while still being the same person. Directed by Ricardo, this intimate two-person show features fine performances by Marie Isserman and Connor Riopel, and is an interesting experience.
Read moreAlice in Wonderland gets an East Van makeover in entertaining pantomime
Photo credit: Tim Matheson
You know it’s the holiday season again when The Cultch and Theatre Replacement light up the York Theatre with its annual pantomime. This year, the show is East Van Panto: Alice in Wonderland, and we get to watch Lewis Carroll’s famous heroine adventure through East Vancouver – as seen through a Wonderland filter.
Read moreArts Club's Noises Off is a three-part free fall into divinely crafted chaos →
A tight ensemble nails the comedic clockwork of Noises Off's farce. Photo credit: David Cooper
Good things come in threes. And so does great comedy. The Arts Club Theatre Company’s production of Noises Off is a hilarious farce about putting on a play, and the train wreck that can erupt when you combine personal misunderstandings, jealousies, and romantic affairs gone wrong. And in keeping with the rule of three that says a trio of events can achieve ideal comedic effect, the action in Noises Off happens in three acts—a three-part free fall into divinely satisfying chaos.
Read moreGirlfriend brings tenderness and sensitivity to the rock musical
Julien Galipeau and Scott McGowan in Girlfriend. Photo credit: Javier R. Sotres
Amid the abundance of glittery holiday entertainment right now, Fighting Change Productions has staged an intimate coming-of-age story with its production of Girlfriend. Set to American pop-rocker Matthew Sweet’s songs, this musical tells the story of a romantic relationship between two boys during the summer following their high-school graduation. Through their relationship, the teenagers gain a sense of identity and contemplate how they fit into their worlds.
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Arts Club's The Sound of Music offers more to revel in than just the famous songs →
Synthia Yusuf climbs every mountain in The Sound of Music. Photo credit: Emily Cooper
The Arts Club Theatre Company has unveiled an inspirational retelling of the classic musical The Sound of Music. This production certainly does what audiences will expect—serve justice to the famous score by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. But above and beyond that, director Ashlie Corcoran has brought to life a stunning reworking of the show whose messages will resonate with contemporary audiences, and sparkles with exciting performances and production values.
Read moreGreen Day-fuelled American Idiot channels high-energy, early-2000s angst →
From left to right: Tanner Ford, Colin Sheen, and Nick Heffelfinger in URP’s production of Green Day’s American Idiot. Photo credit: Robert Sondergaard
URP’s production of American Idiot is a spectacular celebration of punk-rock band Green Day’s music, told through a high-energy, theatrical experience. Soaring vocals and band accompaniment, visually stimulating staging, and rock-concert lighting make this a fun experience. And while the show’s story is flat and the directorial concept is a bit illogical, there’s much to enjoy in this electrifying, nostalgic ride.
Read moreSongs and puppets help outcast kids cope in Tomson Highway's The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito →
Photo credit: Lauren Garbutt
Feeling like an outsider is a universal hardship that many people experience throughout life, but that sense of otherness is usually felt most acutely in childhood.The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito is a one-act musical that offers some important messages on how to deal with feeling like an outcast, told through an engaging story and fun songs.
Read moreDancing Lessons' quirky take on the rom-com has mixed results at Jericho Arts Centre →
When two seemingly opposite people end up having to spend time together in an unusual situation, you have the basis for a romantic comedy. Dancing Lessons intends to give this genre quirky flair. But while this production has some sweet moments, the affection between the two characters isn’t quite believable and there a few too many loose ends in the story to make it truly satisfying.
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