Mirrors art exhibit

Come by this evening 6-9pm for the opening night reception of the latest art exhibit at the Queer Arts Festival's Sum Gallery in Chinatown! 

Register here for your free ticket! 

"Mirrors presents a series of watercolour nudes created by Michael Morris during his Berlin residency in the 1980s. Unique in Morris’ predominantly abstract oeuvre, these paintings depict hustlers, artists, and friends, many of them posing in front of a mirror, so that their form could be captured from different angles. Some three dozen nudes, none of which have ever been exhibited publicly, are presented alongside six newly commissioned paintings — “reflections” on Morris’ work — by West Moberly First Nations artist Dion Smith-Dokkie."

Mirrors is on until April 4 at the Sum Gallery. 

Wonderful Joe

 Well, if you don't already have a ticket for Ronnie Burkett's Wonderful Joe at the Cultch by now, then you are out of luck, as the show has completely sold out its run! 

Ronnie Burkett needs no introduction in these parts. If you've never gone to one of his shows, then you need to get with the program and grab a ticket as soon as they go on sale, as many Vancouverites seemed to have done! They've caught on to his remarkable talent as an artist and puppeteer. 

In Wonderful Joe, Burkett takes a break from the antics and hi jinx of his Daisy Theatre cabaret to return to a more linear story that will make you laugh and also break your heart. My first introduction to Burkett was his show 10 Days on Earth, which had a profound sadness to it, and I'm thrilled to see a bit of that melancholy heart brought back here in his latest outing. 

Wonderful Joe is on at the Cultch until February 23 and is sold out. 

Heathers: The Musical

Dear Diary, quelle surprise! Studio 58's production of Heathers The Musical at Langara is just so... VERY. 

I was fortunate enough to catch the premiere of this show in NewYork on Broadway where they had electric blue Liquid Drano shots for sale at the bar. Alas, Langara does not serve booze, otherwise that would've been a fun addition to what is already a fully entertaining night out! 

If you're not familiar with the cult 80s classic, this is the original Mean Girls but darker - I'm talking guns, suicide, and school bombings. A standout for me was Evan Andersen Sterns as the moody bad boy, J.D. He is charming and cute in Act One, and spirals into psychopath manic territory by the end, while dragging along Saidi Mader's Veronica with him. 

Normally with musicals, I find Act One to be the stronger half. But with this show and production, it's actually Act Two that has some serious stand out moments. When Carol Chu as Heather McNamara gets a shot in the limelight, she takes it and runs away with it. Her mini solo was a delightful surprise. But then with the 11 O'Clock number is Stella Jack-Rennie, who in true 80s fashion removes her dumpy eyeglasses to reveal a beautiful soul underneath as her Martha Dunnstock character takes flight in a touching and sombre suicide song, that left the audience gasping as the lights went out. 

Apparently this is the 5th time that Heathers The Musical has been done in our fair city! I had no idea. If you too had no clue, and wanted to see this show, then there's no better spot to go than Studio 58! 

Heathers The Musical runs until February 16.  

The Height of the Storm

There is a gem of a show playing right now at a gem of a theatre over on the West side. 

I have been a fan of Florian Zeller's writing for awhile now, having read several of his novels translated from the French. When I heard that United Players of Vancouver had secured the rights and were going to mount a production of his play The Height of the Storm, I was definitely intrigued. 

It's been a while since I've seen anything at the Jericho Theatre, so what a great welcome back this was! Wonderfully directed by Adam Henderson, the show nails it on every detail, from the set design to the lighting to the sound. All the actors are just fantastic as well. 

The story is slightly murky, making the audience work for the viewing. It blends memory with the present, dementia with reality. At 80 minutes with no intermission, the show is a welcome addition to Vancouver's theatrical landscape. 

How lucky are we that the opportunity to see a wonderful production of  a Florian Zeller play is right at our doorstep? 

The Height of the Storm is on now until February 9. 

East Van Panto: Robin Hood

 I don't even know how to review this year's East Van Panto: Robin Hood, because it was SO GOOD. 

Stella Jack-Rennie, Munish Sharma, Hayley Sullivan, Sewit Eden Haile, Carol Chu

I was lucky enough to attend last week and brought along the perfect person to watch it with me, cause we both work in a library. Basically, libraries were one of the main things under attack in this year's show, thanks to the evil villain "Prince Ken" which I'm pretty sure everyone in Vancouver knows who that is referring to! 

It's not just libraries he wants to privatize, but also Trout Lake park. A timely jab about the dismantling of the Parks Board hit a little too close to home but was well-placed. With only three weeks to tech and rehearse the show, this production is a bonafide good time from start to finish. 

Steffanie Davis

Steffanie Davis downright steals the entire show as Toni the Pony. Last year she was impressive as Belle, but as one of this year's villain, she downright shines. Or as the kids these days might say, she ate!! 

Mark Chavez

Mark Chavez also returns in multiple roles, and delighting in every single one of them. My favourite was his turn as a Robobrarian. 

Hayley Sullivan & Munish Sharma

Finally, Munish Sharma as Little Jaan seems relatively reliable and safe for most of the show, until we reach Act 2 and its eleven o'clock number, when he gets a turn to solo. People of Vancouver, when this man opens his mouth to sing.... the most beautiful sound in the world will be gifted upon your ears. Why were they hiding this the entire time??? Our jaws dropped. What a gorgeous sublime voice! Sing on maestro, sing ON!

Veda Hille

And the songs this year are fun and current! Of COURSE they had to do some Chappell Roan. Perhaps a song from BRAT would've been just that one more cherry on top but kudos to Veda Hille for reimagining popular hits to fit this homegrown story. 

Go catch these superstars and the rest of the stellar cast of East Van Panto: Robin Hood, on now at the York Theatre until January 5!! 

(all photos by Emily Cooper)

Billy Bishop Goes to War

 I was lucky enough to observe Remembrance Day weekend last week with the premiere of Billy Bishop Goes to War, on now at the Metro Theatre. 

Damon Calderwood plays an immense 18 characters in this near-one person production of Billy Bishop Goes to War. Pianist Chris Robson lends a hand with some characters but is also supplying the live soundtrack to this Canadian-born musical. 

I'd always heard of this show, but had never had the opportunity to go see it until now. I don't know if other productions are also as minimalist as this one, but it works with the storytelling and Calderwood's transformations from character to character are seamless and you will be absorbed into the storytelling in no time. 

Billy Bishop Goes to War is on now  until November 30 at the Metro Theatre. 

Eastside Culture Crawl

 Happy November everyone! Did you make it through Halloween season alright? Thanksgiving Dinner anxiety is over and done with!  

This month brings us the annual Eastside Culture Crawl, which is ALWAYS a fun time, no matter where you go! 

Apparently, this year "is one of the biggest years ever, with more than 500 registered artists, including nearly 100 artists participating for the first time. Artists will be showcasing a variety of artistic mediums, from jewelery, sculpture, and pottery, to painting, textiles, photography, furniture, and so much more!" 

Photo-credit-Joshua-Wright: Georgia-Art-Studios - 

Provided-by-Eastside-Arts-Society_One-Time-Use

Annette-Nieukerk_Photo-credit-Joshua-Wright

Provided-by-Eastside-Arts-Society_One-Time-Use

Yaron-Bareli_Photo-credit-Joshua-Wright

Provided-by-Eastside-Arts-Society_One-Time-Use

And the best part is that all of this is FREE to go visit and see! 

Don't miss out on the Eastside Culture Crawl from November 14 - 17 !