2014: some of the best of this year in theatre

Corina Akeson, Leontes, The Winter's Tale

Don’t mess with Corina Akeson when she’s cross-dressing: she makes one serious dude

People often say to me, “You must get so sick of going to the theatre!” But I don’t. I love my job. Not to put too fine a point on it, but my job is fucking spectacular: I get to think and feel for a living.

As a way of saying thank-you to everybody who makes theatre in Vancouver—and to everybody who cares about theatre in Vancouver—here’s a list. It’s not an inventory of my favourite shows; it’s a selection of some of the performances and moments that embedded themselves most deeply in my psyche during 2014. [Read more…]

Vancouver Fringe Festival: Fresh Sheet Sept 9

Vancouver Fringe Festival, Moonlight After Midnight, Martin Dockery

Written by Martin Dockery (L), Moonlight After Midnight is one of the most ambitious scripts at the Fringe. Dockery co-stars with real-life partner Vanessa Quesnelle.

From what Kathleen Oliver and I have seen in covering the Fringe for the Georgia Straight, here are our top ten shows—and a couple of other tips.  [Read more…]

Vancouver Fringe Festival Fresh Sheet: Sept 6

Vancouver Fringe Festival, Magic Unicorn Island

Don’t make this child shoot. Buy tickets to Magic Unicorn Island

So far, I’ve seen 15 shows that are playing the Vancouver Fringe Festival: four are stand-outs.

Topping my list is Jayson McDonald’s Magic Unicorn Island, a  satire in which the kids of the world all move to an isolated island to protest their elders’ culture of hate—and the adults turn their weapons on the young ones. McDonald is such a smart and charismatic storyteller that everybody I talk to is in love with him.  [Read more…]

Top nine sight-unseen picks for the Vancouver Fringe

Peter n' Chris and the Kinda OK Corral, Vancouver Fringe

Peter n’ Chris will tickle you stupid in Peter ‘n Chris and the Kinda OK Corral

The number of choices offered by the Fringe program guide can be overwhelming. To help you out, here are my top nine (sight-unseen) picks for the Vancouver Fringe. [Read more…]

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