touchstone

Mimi (or A Poisoner’s Comedy) set in seventeenth century France, is a modern musical, with a clever and creepy feel that I loved. In this Touchstone production currently on at the Firehall Arts Centre, lavish costumes and wigs transport the audience to a world where debauchery rules. The opening scene is a rich romp in a Paris boudoir with sex, music, and Louis XIV's lavish draped material. Even the pianist plays in costume and wig.

Debauchery is fun but when Mimi’s lover introduces death to her it proves even more titillating. Mimi uses pigeons to bake her poisonous pies so...

Mimi (or A Poisoner’s Comedy)

Last week I was asked to review the world premier of Herr Beckmann’s People by Sally Stubbs, produced by Touchstone Theatre. It was the second week of its run and I felt it behooved PLANK for me to not just repeat what had already been made known in other reviews. Taking a look at some of the other reviews I mused about a ‘cut & paste’ job that would include the compliments and criticisms identified by each so I could meet my overnight deadline. Then I read our own interview with Ms Stubbs and realized such glibness...

Herr Beckmann's People

In Conversation with Sally Stubbs

PLANK Magazine sat down virtually with Vancouver Playwright Sally Stubbs to talk about her new piece Herr Beckmann’s People which opens this Friday at the PTC Studio on Granville Island.

An award-winning playwright, teacher-director, and performer who loves to clown, Stubbs has just completed a graduate degree in writing at the University of Victoria.  Her scripts include Wreckage (Scirocco Drama), Faroland, Centurions, Eyes. Two, She’ll to the Wars, Home Movies and Spinning You Home, which she has begun to adapt as a novel for young adults. Herr Beckmann’s People has also been selected for a showcase at the 8th International Women’s Playwriting Conference in Mumbai, India, and is the winner of the third annual Canadian Peace Play Competition.

Author Name: 
Andrew Templeton
Photograph Caption: 
Herr Beckmann's People, Sally Stubbs' new play.
Photograph: 

I was very fortunate to attend the opening night of Touchtone Theatre’s world premiere Demon Voice.

Stephanie Belding and Kevin K James are wrestling with each other and their demons; photo by Tim Matheson