Theatre 2011

No doubt real fans of Patsy Cline already know her life story and her rise to fame as one of the first country/pop music cross-over stars.  Good thing, because in Dean Regan's A Closer Walk at Patsy Cline, currently on stage at the Arts Club’s Granville Island Stage, that story is all but lost. Fortunately Sara-Jeanne Hosie gives such a stellar performance, singing from Cline's rich songbook, that one is almost willing to forgive Regan for that omission.

Local gay playwright Dave Deveau was among the winners last night at the 29th Annual Jessie Awards, which honoured the artistic achievements of Vancouver’s professional theatre community over the past year.

Rachel Ditor is one brave director.  Not only does she take on Shakespeare's anti-Semitic The Merchant of Venice without apology, she revels in a sensual relationship between Antonio and his friend Bassanio.

We could think of few better ways to forget the riot than with ABBA!  Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ Mamma Mia! returns to Vancouver in August and we want to dance you (queens) to the head of the line for tickets!

Fast, dark and thrilling may not be the first words that come to mind when describing Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but that is what local gay actor Chris Cook says audiences will get in The Verona Project, a new adaptation of this classic love-story opening at the Pacific Theatre beginning June 29.

The press material for ITSAZOO and Enlightenment Theatre's Bridge Mix tells us the title refers to "bridging communities".  For me though it is more relatable to the boxed candy of the same name – an assortment of theatre shorts where individual pieces might not always be to your taste, but combined it makes for a satisfying treat of unique site-specific theatre.

George Bernard Shaw once accused Shakespeare of writing As You Like It as a mere crowd pleaser.  And while some may take his comment as a negative, it was evident last night that the Bard on the Beach production has embraced Shaw's comment, presenting an evening of theatre that was indeed pleasing.

Men can only go around measuring the size of their dicks for so long before it just gets tiresome.  Fortunately, playwright Daniel MacIvor has enough skill as a writer to do it 13 times in Never Swim Alone.

There's something not quite right in the Land of Oz. But it is in this slightly off center view of the land of the Munchkins, coupled with some terrific performances by the women, which makes Wicked so enjoyable.

Fearless. That’s the one word that stuck with me as I walked out of the Arts Club Theatre Company production of Mom's the Word: Remixed last night.  But the five women (Jill Daum, Beverley Elliott, Alison Kelly, Barbara Pollard, Deborah Williams) of this funny and sometimes poignant comedy, come by it honestly; after all, they are real moms.