arts club
The 39 Steps. A Thriller Comedy
Who knew Hitchcock could be hilarious
OK, The 39 Steps isn’t a straight-up theatrical rendition of the classic thriller film of the same name. And that’s just fine. The play is very funny, with compelling acting and imaginative use of stagecraft to keep the audience engaged.
Tear the Curtain: theatrical moment
Anyone who has had the misfortune of listening to me blabber on about playwrighting will have heard the following: theatre uses simplicity to convey complex ideas. In working through my own scripts I identify what I think of as “literary conceits” versus “theatrical moments”.
Episode 15 - Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story at The Arts Club
Our heroes review Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. It is not really a musical nor a work of theatre - it is something in between. Fun and filled with great performances and loud music. How could that be bad?
Becky's New Car: is no mexico city
In his review in the Georgia Straight, Colin Thomas describes Deborah Williams, who plays Becky in Becky’s New Car (on now at the Arts Club), as “so perfect for the role—she brings such warmth and comedic skill to it—that it feels like the part could have been written for her”. Thomas is bang on. I can’t imagine what this show would have been without Williams.
My Granny the Goldfish: weirdness
What a weird play. My Granny the Goldfish by Anosh Irani is at turns laugh out loud funny, casually racist, treats alcoholism with as much respect as a Foster Brooks’ routine and descends into a predictable movie-of –the-week plot featuring unearned moments of character transcendence/revelation.
Billy Bishop Goes to War: youthful and vigorous
Billy Bishop is back and this time it’s personal. The Arts Club Granville Island Stage presents a youthful, enthusiastic production of the classic Canadian musical, Billy Bishop Goes to War, more than 30 years after it was first performed by its co-creators, John Gray and Eric Peterson.
Mrs Dexter and her Daily: well acted but rambling
There is something quite special in seeing a good Canadian play for the first time; especially when it features two fine Canadian actors at the top of their game.
White Christmas: a celebration of the 1950s
I remember a review for an REM album – I think it might have been for New Adventures in Hi-Fi – where the reviewer started his critique with the following: “You already know whether you’ll like this album or not”.
Black Comedy: getting to the orgasm of farces
A Buddha statue sits prominently downstage centre, radiating out a message to the audience: “keep your eye on me, something terrible is about to happen to me”. The anticipation of disaster and predicting which of the various elements will likely go wrong is at the core of a work like Peter Shaffer’s Black Comedy, currently in production at the Arts Club.
