Raven

A trio of German women are currently owning the stage down at the York Theatre with their show Raven, a circus performance on the regrets of motherhood. 

Wait, what? A circus with a storyline? I was intrigued to see how this was going to go and was extremely impressed with this piece. We are treated to scenes that involve a contortionist who elevates body dysmorphia to a whole new level or a laundry-folding session turned into a party for one. There are moments dealing with judgement when it comes to being a mom. The main thorough line is that high-wire balancing act of juggling motherhood with a career, the guilt of being seen as selfish and not a good maternal figure. 

There is so much in this tightly packed show runs; it an hour with no intermission. You will find humour, joy, and sadness, alongside daring feats of circus performance, in this reflective and entertaining show sure to make you gasp and sigh and smile. 

Raven by Germany's still hungry is on now at The York Theatre until April 30. 

Chor Leoni explores mental health and music as a tool for healing in 'The Turning'

 "Chor Leoni and its star ensemble The Leonids celebrate strength and vulnerability in The Turning: Chor Leoni & The Leonids, on stage at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United (1022 Nelson Street) on May 11, 2023 at 7:30pm. This concert is one highlight of the annual VanMan Summit – a gathering of more than 200 singers of all ages for a full week of mentorship, rehearsals, and performance with Chor Leoni and The Leonids. The week culminates in the VanMan Summit Concert on May 13, 2023 at 7:30pm at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts.

  

The Turning features commissioned and existing works that explore mental health and wellness, allowing audiences to experience music as a healing force - Chor Leoni’s guiding tenet of transformation through music. One highlight of the concert will be the world premiere of Sarah Rimkus’ The Watcher of the Wood, a deeply personal and poetic exploration of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), performed by Chor Leoni, The Leonids, and its Emerging Choral Artist Program.

  

Chor Leoni, and by extension its choral music, has long been a place of support and acceptance for its members and audiences. These two events will create joyful spaces for singers and audiences of all gender identities to experience music as a powerful agent of holistic healing, driven by a spirit of collective vulnerability and strength."

 

For tickes to The Turning, check out the Chor Leoni website.

Tickets also available for the VanMan Summit Concert. 

Bird

 Maybe it's been done before, but for me, it was my first time seeing a stand-up comedy type act at the Cultch, and I think it's a genius move for them and they should have more of that! 

Kylie Vincent's BIRD is currently gracing the stage in the intimate Vancity Culture Lab space. With table seating at the front, we are taken into a cabaret style environment where all you need is a performer, a microphone, and a spotlight.

Kylie's BIRD is part memoir and part stand-up comedy. There were definitely some jokes that I laughed out loud to, and wish she had continued along those lines, especially with the more hard-core and politically incorrect stuff which I definitely appreciated. But she seemed a bit uncertain at some points, maybe it was nerves or maybe that's just her shtick? There were some animal analogies that took me a bit to get into, as I found it confusing at first. But given that the name of the show is BIRD, I was able to grasp onto what she was meaning. 

Discovered by The Cultch's Executive Director Heather Redfern during a trip to Edinburgh, Kylie was introduced to the crowd by an enthusiastic Redfern, who exclaimed that the show "blew her socks off!" 

Bird by Kylie Vincent is on now at The Cultch all week until April 22. 

Crazy For You

"For its 31 st season Royal City Musical Theatre (RCMT) is excited to present the riotously entertaining musical Crazy for You at the Massey Theatre from April 27 – May 14, 2023. A classic romantic comedy about a boy, a girl, and a theatre in need of salvation, it is full of humour, larger-than-life characters, and some of the greatest show tunes of all-time.

Starring Todd Talbot (Love It or List It, Vancouver)  and his wife, Rebecca Talbot! 

With beloved tunes from George and Ira Gershwin including the romantic “Someone To Watch Over Me” and “Shall We Dance”, “I Can’t Be Bothered Now” and the high-energy dance number, “I Got Rhythm”.

This highly acclaimed big Broadway musical will have you tapping your toes and humming as you leave the theatre. We promise!" 

Crazy For You runs at the Massey Theatre April 27 - May 14! 

White Noise

Truth and Reconciliation is not fun, nor is it easy. In Taran Kootenhayoo's play, White Noise, that topic is front and centre in all its pain and ugliness and importance. 

In 90 minutes, with no intermission, we are introduced to two families living in the posh Point Grey area of Vancouver. One is a family of white settlers, and the other is a First Nations family. The two come together one night over dinner, where tempers flare, sparks fly, and a lot more than dinner is left out on the table. 

The show is a technical marvel, with projections and LED lights helping create an ambiance throughout the play. But it's the struggle to come to terms with what Truth and Reconciliation really means that is at the heart of it all.  

I made the mistake of missing this show when it premiered last year, so don't miss out on this much needed and much appreciated revival. 

White Noise is on now at the Firehall Arts Centre until May 7, including several Pay What You Can nights. 

Stupid F*cking Bird

 

Photo by Emily Cooper

Based on Chekov's The Seagull is a contemporary retelling currently unfolding in Vancouver's East Side. 

I went to see The Seagull on Broadway many years ago, and hated every single last minute of it. Perhaps I was too young. Perhaps I didn't get it. Or perhaps it just wasn't my thing. When the opportunity arose to go see Stupid F*cking Bird from Vancouver's theatre group The Search Party, I can't say I was jumping at the bit. 

But it had been awhile, and I don't remember what The Seagull was actually about, and thought, okay maybe it's time to revisit that story and see if it is more palatable with this modern take. 

Stupid F*cking Bird is way more accessible than what I remember The Seagull being. I could actually follow along the storylines that were going on! I don't recall the interactive nature of the play, but that is definitely going on here and must make for a unique experience each night of the performance. 

Amir Ofek offers up a wonderfully sparse and appealing set. We are treated to a stirring musical interlude courtesy of Emma Slipp and Anton Lipovetsky near the beginning of Act One.  The lighting and technical aspects of the show are smooth. Everything just seems to work symbiotically. 

Stupid F*cking Bird is on now at The Cultch until April 23! 

Graveyards and Gardens

 

Vanessa Goodman in Graveyards and Gardens, Salt Spring February 2023 performance, Photo credit: Dayna Szyndrowski, Photo courtesy of: Music on Main, One-time use 

On April 12-15, 2023 at the SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (in the Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre), Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw and Vancouver-based choreographer Vanessa Goodman have collaborated on this atmospheric sound-and-dance installation entrancing meditation on the cyclical nature of embodied memory.

Surrounded by vintage lamps, plants, retro record and cassette players, and 400 feet of orange cables, "Graveyards and Gardens" begins with a Goodman's cacophony of sounds, merging with Goodman’s supple and hypnotic movement. Both song, sound, and dance meet at one point in the ultimate performance. 

As well, local dance icon Vanessa Goodman has composed and/or produced music for symphonies, theatre, ballets, films, and television including the Showtime hit series,"Yellowjackets," and films such as Beyonce’s "Homecoming". " 

Visit here for tickets and more information about Graveyards and Gardens. 

All We Want Is More : The Tobias Wong Project

 If you haven't heard of Tobias Wong, the art world's enfant terrible whose life was cut short in 2010, then you must go visit the Museum of Vancouver for All We Want Is More: The Tobias Wong Project. 

This is the second retrospect that the museum has down for this hometown hero - yes Tobias Wong hails from Vancouver, but made his splash into the art world during his time in New York City. Curated by his friends and family, this is a thrilling world class exhibit that honours the sensibility of an artist who had his finger on the pulse of society. 

From his famed Bubble Chair to the iconic Sun Jars, there is something for everyone here. My personal favourites include the Anus sign that appeared in his apartment window across the street from gay bar The Cock in New York, the 9/11 matchbook, and the gold plated McDonalds "coke" spoon.

All We Want is More: The Tobias Wong Project is on now until July 23 at the Museum of Vancouver. 

The How And The Why

 If you want to head out to Coquitlam, here's an excuse to make your way there! Aenigma Theatre is putting on their 2019 Jessie-nominated show The How And The Why: 

Evolution, Feminism and Destiny collide in Sarah Treem’s (House of Cards,The Affair) poignant play about science, family, and the difficult choices that women face.  Why do women menstruate? Modern science has supplied us with the “How”, but no one seems to have answered the “Why”. Rachel, a young grad student in Evolutionary Biology visits Zelda, a pioneer of the field.  She posits a radical new hypothesis to answer this very question, which just happens to challenge Zelda’s own ground-breaking work. As the two brilliant women spar over their contrary views on science, career and generational divides, the ulterior motives surrounding their intense meeting slowly begin to unravel… 

The How And The Why runs from April 11-15 at the Evergreen Cultural Centre. 

The Kitchen

 

Welcome to the behind-the-scenes look at an industrial kitchen acted out by the current cohort at Langara's Studio 58. This is a great vehicle to showcase all the various talents in the group. In this show, there is a LOT going on. They are able to capture the stress and insanity that goes on in a restaurant kitchen. Imagine the tv show The Bear, on steroids. 

There were a few side stories that highlighted some of the characters, allowing those actors to shine just a little bit longer in the spotlight. For the purpose of the play however, I found that there was too much going on and I couldn't really connect fully with many of the characters, even those that were given an elevated push forward. 

The set and the renovated theatre itself are a wonder to behold. Also kudos to the choreographer for running all the various movements. A definite highlight of the show is the musical interlude that features singing and kitchen instrument playing. A beautiful segment in a chaotic sensory overload of a show. 

The Kitchen is on now at Studio 58 at Langara until April 9.