How Star Wars Save My Life gives witness—and could save lives
How Star Wars Saved My Life is an important personal witness. Structurally, it could be stronger, but that almost doesn’t matter. Nicholas Harrison is a well-known Vancouver fight choreographer. He’s got a PhD in directing from UBC. He lectures at Capilano University....
On Criticism
(This is a repost of an essay that I wrote a while back.) A few years ago, I was talking with a local director in a theatre lobby. I had recently given a show of his a mixed review and, as we spoke, he became so enraged that I braced myself for a blow to the head. He...
The set and costumes star in East Van Panto: Snow White & the Seven Dwarves
Every year, when I go to the East Van Panto, simply walking into the York Theatre is one of my favourite parts. Because of all of the kids in the audience, life suddenly becomes like bubble tea: sweet and devil-may-care. This year’s panto, Snow White & the Seven...
Almost, Maine is almost enough
Almost, Maine is like the world’s best greeting card: it’s very, very clever, charming, and thin. In the nine scenes of John Cariani’s script, we meet as many sets of lovers, would-be lovers, and former lovers. Aside from the couple who appear in the framing device,...
The Shipment: brains, innovation, and a stylish production
It’s a mirror. And a prism. Also a workout. These are all good things. In The Shipment, Young Jean Lee, who is Korean American, takes on the cultural representation of African American identity. Structurally, she has assembled a surrealist collage. She combines a...
The Society for the Destitute Presents Titus Bouffonious: Just how dark do you want it?
At the beginning of The Society for the Destitute Presents Titus Bouffonius, I was so stimulated—so shocked, laughing so hard—that I was afraid I was going to start shouting things. Unplanned, random shit. You’ve got to love a show that makes you feel like you might...
The New Conformity: juggling as an exploration of bullying—and, compellingly—physics
There is so much physical beauty in The New Conformity that, watching the show, I found myself moaning. To be clear, I’m not talking about the three jugglers who perform The New Conformity—although Chris Murdoch, Ryan Mellors, and Yuki Ueda are all handsome, which...
Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth: How much fresh light does this revered play shine?
This is a guest review from Deneh’Cho Thompson. The Firehall Arts Centre first brought Drew Hayden Taylor’s Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth to Vancouver in 1997, and now it’s back. Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth follows a pair of sisters as they...
Wilderness is a thicket of good intentions and overstatement
This production makes a weak script worse. The subject matters. Wilderness is about young adults who are struggling with mental health issues, including addictions. Against the young people’s will, in many cases, their parents have sent them to a therapeutic camp in...
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