Better known from past shows as Birdmann, Trent Baumann is back this year as himself in a cloudy, sky-blue suit. It’s hard to see this as a departure from past performances—Birdmann’s distinctive style of carefully choreographed foppishness and anti-humour mixed with self-reflection and true physical virtuosity is very much preserved (along with a couple of his gags). The new performance builds on this underlying formula with a standout new segment (which I won’t give away) and an aesthetic direction that aims to be a deeper and more sombre reflection on life, the universe, and everything.

At one point, Baumann shows...

James Jordan: Vaudevillian is billed as family-friendly, and James Jordan delivers on that promise in spades! It’s a magical comedy show for more than just the kids—the adults in the audience were certainly having a fabulous time watching card tricks, trying to understand how sleight of hand is faster than the eye and being amazed by a man who is willing to let live mousetraps snap onto his fingers. His expressions alone are enough to make you laugh out loud!

We enter the theatre to see James Jordan vamping upbeat tunes at the piano. He welcomes us to the show,...

The Common Era presents the full-length comedy The Four of Us by Itamar Moses as part of the Dramatic Works Series at The Cultch – Vancity Culture Lab. The Dramatic Works Series was developed to produce previously published dramatic works. This is a great addition to the Vancouver Fringe Festival as it promotes and assists artists to present full-length plays, something that has been lacking from the festival in recent years.

The Four of Us is a kind of buddy comedy with an edge. Moses’ play...

Have you ever been sitting in the audience waiting for a play to begin when you notice a small piece of paper in the program announcing that one of the characters will be played by the understudy? I have and was instantly disappointed. I mean, what if they were not as good as the original actor or what if their performance was not perfect? My thoughts at that moment were all about me as an audience member. My thoughts never ventured to the understudy who was about to take the stage. Is she excited, is...