Theatre

The rain fell in Stanley Park’s Malkin Bowl last night during the Theatre Under the Stars production of Singin’ in the Rain but it was through a little theatre magic and not because of our unpredictable Vancouver weather.  And while this second show of TUTS' 64th season can't quite live up to its source material, the cast works hard to entertain.

With three productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the Vancouver area in less than a year, there is always the chance local theatre-goers might be just a little tired of this coat of many colors. But thanks to an amazing performance by Erik Ioannidis and as diverse a cast as any you will see on any Vancouver stage, the Theatre Under the Stars production currently on stage at Malkin Bowl manages to breathe some new life into this ubiquitously produced musical theatre staple.

Cameron Mackenzie and Dave Deveau want children.  Three in fact.  And they aren’t afraid to let Vancouver audiences know it as they present Deveau’s Tiny Replicas, with partner Mackenzie directing, as part of the inaugural Neanderthal Arts Festival beginning July 21st.

For seven years actor Omari Tau has been traveling North America as Banzai, one of the trio of hyenas in Disney’s The Lion King. As the show makes its way to Vancouver this week we find out that, contrary to the character he plays, there is nothing remotely villainous about him.

Who would have guessed that nearly three hours of Shakespeare, in a tent, could be so much fun!  But fun is exactly what I got (and a whole lot more) from the Bard on the Beach presentation of Falstaff now playing under the Studio Stage tent in Vanier Park through September 22nd.

It occurred to me last night that the essence of Newton’s third law can just as easily be applied to theatre as it can to physics, for it is in a balanced relationship between actions and reactions that separate a merely good production from being a great one.  Such is the case with the IN TWO (The Zoo Story and At Home), currently on stage at the Havana through July 11th.

For local actor Sean Parsons the whole idea of being part of the upcoming Fighting Chance Productions presentation of the 1960s musical Hair is intriguing.  That and the nude scene, of course.

Gay American Playwright Edward Albee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning The Zoo Story, with its underlying queer sensibility, will be paired with Michael Weller’s At Home in a production titled IN TWO at the Havana beginning July 7^th.

With Vancouver's theatre companies each vying for our entertainment dollars, we set out to find which of the local companies with programmed seasons to see what GLBTQ themed shows they might be planning.  First up is the Vancouver East Cultural Centre (The Cultch) who will present the award-winning Agokwe as part of its 2010/2011 season.

Vancouver's theatre scene definitely gets a little quieter over the summer but that doesn't mean there still isn't plenty to see when you're ready for some inside fun. Here is the line-up of some of the shows, including those with a QUEER! connection, set to play local stages in July and August 2010.