musical

“Damn,” I thought to myself in the queue on Commercial Drive, smelling the melange of odours donated by several restaurants in mid-Drive business, various herbal vapours wafting past from patrons in need of their pneumonic medications, and a bit of bike smells, perfumery and human aromas. We had to line up on the curb to avoid blocking the strollers and becoming invalided by bikes on the sidewalk. I wished I knew more of One Crazy Frenchman’s first take on his alter ego. I wished I had seen it performed at that earlier Fringe.  

Havana is one of the Drive’s...

Toronto indie musician “Gentleman Reg” is Regina, a self-assured drag queen who tells her story of growing up in Guelph. She begins with how she got “out of the closet” that she was the last to know she was in. Now Regina, a true diva, is ‘out’ and taking audiences on a first date full of ‘80s inspired song, style and dance. She performs some original songs from her album as well. Her monologues are literally glamorous as they engage us with witty lyrics that poke fun at everything we want to poke fun at, including ourselves.

This play is...

The opening night production of Spamalot at the Arts Club Stanley Theatre was exactly what I was hoping it would be, a hilarious spectacle dripping in silliness. Self described as “lovingly ripped off ” from the comic genius 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, this musical ‘extravaganza’ includes many iconic scenes from the film. 

It opens with King Arthur scouring his kingdom, servant Patsy closely in tow banging two coconut shells together to mimic the hoof sound of Arthur’s “horse”, in an effort to recruit Knights to his Round Table in Camelot.  Once assembled, and at...

Josh Epstein (photo by David Cooper)

I have been to Thailand but never seen Rodgers & Hammerstein's classic musical The King and I. Based on a fictionalized account of a true story, the plot involves a young widowed British schoolteacher who moves to the kingdom of Siam with her young son to teach the children of the King. Events of this story occurred in the 1860s and the musical premiered nearly 100 years later in 1951. As the fifth musical created by Rodgers & Hammerstein, there were high expectations that it would be a Broadway success... which it was.

Jovanni Sy, the new Artistic Director of...

Cast members of The King & I (photo by David Cooper)

Ever heard the following expression: “In trying to please everyone you will please no one"? It applies as much to theatre as it does to life in general. The Epitome of Regret has a lot of potential, but it really does need to figure out what it is. My experience was something like a cross between sketch comedy, satire musical and an off-beat love story, all of which could have been great, but in the confusion it ended up missing all the marks and not being much of anything. All I took away from it were a few clever lines,...

Genre Definition = Funny · Weird · Musical

 The Cultch hosts this musical-dance production by the 49th Parallel Dance Company out of Calgary was energetic, and full of colourful, sexy movement.  The performance is set in a tavern with all the usual suspects. A bar-maid, tender, group of party girls,a player, a couple, and of course...a lush. 

Through a series of dance skits set to an amazing soundtrack, we are taken through "a day in a life" at The Watering Hole. Love, lust, pain, brawls, and celebrations. All beautifully displayed with grace, and athletic precision. The plot is soft...on purpose I suspect. So this is all about the...

Genre Definition = Funny · Silly · Musical

Welcome to The Minsky Follies..."40 Girls...and only 39 Costumes!" Backed by the stellar five piece band from Vancouver's Pandora and The Locksmiths, a bevy of this fine city's burlesque performers come together to tell the story of Gypsy Rose Lee at Minsky's Burlesque.

Burgundy Brixx is more than up to the task in her fine portrayal of the legendary Seattle-born intellectual striptease artist letting us in on the private thoughts of a stripteaser all the while teasing her way out of several absolutely thrilling costumes.  She begins the musical number "It Was A Pear" dressed head to...

Genre Definition = Funny · Naughty · Musical

Promise and Promiscuity is simply a wonderful production. This one-woman musical is full of laughs, clever remixes of musical hits through the ages and double entendres, especially involving the word balls. Not being a fan of Victorian era writing, I was expecting to be bored.

How wrong I was.

This exceedingly clever satire shines its comedic light on the many differences and similarities between our time and the Victorian era. No area is left out: capitalism, feminism, classism, romance, music, art, and marriage. Each made into song and poked fun at. Vancouvershire is woven into...

Funny · Silly · Musical

Theatre artist and musician Chase Padgett has been traveling with the “6 Guitars” show for a long while. I saw it as a preview at Havana Theatre (its Fringe run is at The Cultch), but this was not a preview from the artist’s perspective.

Although it is called "6 Guitars", but it's really about musical philosophy, as viewed from the perspective of six archetypal American musicians in six genres (Blues, Jazz, Rock, Classical, Folk and Country). I enjoyed the musical philosophy, and the bits of music theory scattered throughout.

This is a theatre artist who loves music, who loves thinking...

Funny · Musical · Intimate

Does the name Jean-Francois evoke a charming, graceful speaker of French who moves elegantly and lithely across the stage as he acts, sings, and dances? A stereotype, yes, but it is true here. This one-man musical gains an immense degree of its charm from its lead actor, playwright, and composer Jean-Francois Plante-Tan.

I was assigned to review La cravate bleue, and I was immediately hesitant. My understanding of French is quite limited. I love hearing Charles Aznavour, Edith Piaf, Fatoumata Diawara, and many other Francophone singers, but I don't understand their songs, at least the first time around....

Genre definition = Musical

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