In act two Karin says of Romeo and Juliet “You know how it will end and yet you still feel for them.” That is exactly how I felt watching The Romeo Initiative at the Cultch by Touchstone Theatre.
Even knowing what to expect, my heart still broke. I still had hope for the lovers right up to the end. I like to think that this was due to the persuasive writing and electric chemistry between Lindsey Angell’s Karin and Daniel Arnold’s Markus more than to my naïve nature, I’m not usually one for happy endings.
Sometimes it is simply wonderful to see theatre with new eyes. It was my privilege to attend the Arts Club Theatre's new production of Mary Poppins with a young friend of mine (who is a seven year-old named Tania). Since Tania wasn't able to make the show on opening night (because the 8 pm curtain is getting past her bedtime), we went to the Sunday matinee at 2 pm.
We arrived at the Stanley Theatre and stood in line to collect our tickets from the box office. Once in the lobby (after waiting in another line), we pre-ordered orange juice for intermission (which Tania told...
Sean Devine has written an intentionally confusing play (and also stars in it). Directed by Richard Wolfe (who is also in the show), this incredibly slick production earned loud applause on opening night. Kudos to the cast and creative team for a job well done.
The play has two main storylines (well make that three). First, in 1965, a think tank of academics gather to discuss why war is good (based partially on Report From Iron Mountain click here for the Wikipedia entry). Then in 2015 (leading up to the next federal election), a conservative radio host...
Robert Maloney as Tommy Bane (photo by Tim Matheson)
Sarah McLachlan was in attendance at the opening night of Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, produced by Ballet BC and performed by Alberta Ballet. I think most of the audience was there for her more than the ballet and McLachlan’s music was certainly the predominant element of the performance. Unfortunately the result was more like a live balletic music video than a cohesive production.
The music IS beautiful. McLachlan’s hauntingly clear voice soared around the dancers and bounced off the walls: a sophisticated, poignant and stirring melody. Compared to that, the visual design felt clumsy. The animated graphics...
Alberta Ballet dancers in Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
Christian Barry of 2b theatre company (based in Halifax) has collaborated with musician Hawksley Workman to create a one-man show based on Euripides' The Bacchae. Workman plays multiple instruments and multiple characters in this 75-minute show which has been touring Canada as a work-in-progress, opened officially in Calgary this spring and now has landed at the Cultch Historic Theatre for two weeks.
For The God Who Comes, the theatre is set up cabaret-style with additional seating around tables and chairs on the floor near the stage. The small raised stage boasts lush red curtains, a plethora of musical instruments and mannequin heads wearing bright wigs. Rather...
Hawksley Workman - channeling ancient history through modern rock'n'roll
Vancouver Opera’s current production of Puccini’s Tosca is passionate, well-executed and highly atmospheric. The cast and technical team have created a truly moving piece. I often find myself at the opera trying to forget my acting training to focus instead on the music, costumes and set, but Tosca drew me in completely. It was the most enjoyable evening I have spent at the Vancouver Opera yet.
At 6:30pm (I’m not sure if this is exclusive to opening night) Vancouver Opera does this great thing: a preview talk to provide historical context for the plot and production history not necessarily included...
Last night my friend and I attended Ballet BC’s Tilt, a three piece performance comprised of two world premieres (Jorma Elo’s I and I am You and Emily Molnar’s 16 + and a Room) and a remount of Johan Inger’s Walking Mad. It’s only gracing our city for three nights. Go see it if you can. Check out the trailer at http://www.balletbc.com/movies/2013_14_tilt.html
D: As far as I’m concerned Ballet BC is the strongest performing arts company in Vancouver. I know the Queen Elizabeth Theatre is a large venue, but I can’t believe opening night wasn’t full to bursting. At...
From now until October 26, 2013, you can see David van Belle FLY in the Gateway Theatre. He tumbles and turns, floats and flaps, takes off and falls down. And who doesn't want to see that?
Courtesy of Ghost River Theatre from Calgary, The Highest Step In The World opens the Gateway's 2013-14 season. Artistic Director Jovanni Sy made a solid choice to bring this incredible production to the mainstage of the Gateway. It looks beautiful and the technical team has done a great job in getting everything working for opening night (apparently this show hasn't been staged in the past two years)...
Here’s what is going to happen. For 80 or so minutes Bruce Horak is going to stand on stage and paint a portrait of you; by you I mean the whole audience, but it will feel like it is just you. While he is painting your portrait, he’s going to tell you a long beautiful story that interweaves his life story, information on visual impairment and blindness, some Canadian art history, some instruction on art making, facts about the Group of Seven, philosophies and many theories on what happened to Tom Thomson on July 8, 1917.
The creative...
An Original Painting circa Opening Night (photo by Kristina Lemieux)
The Arts Club is producing Venus In Fur by David Ives. A hit Off-Broadway that transferred to the Great White Way where it garned significant acclaim (including a Tony award for the female lead), this play offers its audience an intriguing 21st century take on a novel from 1870.
We meet Thomas (Vincent Gale) first - a playwright and first-time director who is attempting to adapt this same novel by Austrian author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch for the stage. Thomas has seen a number of young women that day who are all vying to play Vanda and none are satisfactory. As he starts to walk out...
