Bravo. Touchstone Theatre's world premiere of Influence demonstrates phenomenal ensemble work. All elements of the production - writing, acting, direction, and design - come together to create a show that is expansive, witty, intelligent, and moving.
Influence, Daniel Arnold, Colleen Wheeler, photo: David Cooper
When I was in high school, my English teacher delighted in torturing our class with impossible moral choices. His favourite scenarios involved cages suspended over vats of acid.
Kerry van der Griend in MOURNING DOVE; photo by Damon Calderwood
Your Plank Panel going to battle: Rachel Scott, writer and general troublemaker. Her nose is straight, small with a flare, and tilted slightly to the left. Michael John Unger, writer and performer with the sketch comedy troupe The Skinny. His nose would probably be described as medium to large, and has a tendency to bleed a lot.
Don't mention the nose! Carmen Aquirre looks on at David Mackay and Melissa Poll in Cyrano; photo: Emily Cooper
I’m tired of hearing about Joe the Plumber. The fact that his name is dropped ad nauseam is part of it, but the bulk of the reason is that this unlicensed pipe technician is held up as the little guy entrepreneur whose dreams are going to be crushed by the tax man. A laughable idea considering his six figure income puts him head and shoulders above the majority in terms of financial comfort.
David Hare’s Stuff Happens is the dense chronicle of America’s post 9-11 decision to invade Iraq. Running concurrent with the US elections, this Vancouver Firehall Arts Centre production offers a well-timed and potent examination of the American identity during Bush’s hawkish and flawed presidency. Stuff Happens is a three-hour beast of a play that includes testimony (some verbatim, some imagined) from the major political players of this era.
Your Plank Panel who are under the gun: Michael John Unger is a Vancouver based writer, performer and show off who can be seen with the sketch comedy troupe The Skinny. Ashleigh Dalton is a Vancouver-based writer and community development worker who is herself a bit of a show off.
First of all, it’s clever. In only 48 hours, there’s a script (mostly well-memorized), staging and props, lighting and sound cues, and synchronized dancing. There’s even, sometimes, character and meaning, or the achievement of a strongly theatrical moment.
Here Be Monsters|desc=Carnival of the Arts - but these monsters look kind of friendly
