FlyOver Canada - Christmas Edition!

by Meaghan Smith

As an admittedly rather jaded person I went into my Flyover Canada experience expecting some amusement and some cool visuals, but came out giggling like a small child and using far too many “so”s to explain just how much fun I had to everyone who asked.

Flyover Canada, located at the back of Canada Place, is a flight simulation, which I described to friends as “part amusement ride, part cinematic experience.” The incredible organization of the team at Flyover Canada made every step of the process quite simple and fun. We got to enjoy the Christmas version of the ride, which starts when you enter the first room, decorated with a beautiful winter scene, and an introduction from Santa Claus who enlists you on a mission to find his elves. The scene ends and we were surprised to find it snowing! In Vancouver! I guess the fact that we were indoors should be more shocking to me, but I figure that’s almost the only way I’ll see snow out here!

The ride, or flight simulation, or whatever you’d like to call it, was one of the most dazzling and exciting things I’ve ever done! I had a blast trying to place all of the locations we were swooping over. The ride made it feel like we were on a roller coaster while we were safely jostled around in our seats. The visuals were stunning and who could complain about the landscape? Canada is such a beautiful country and it was fantastic to have a fifteen minute tour while following Santa, searching
for elves, and crashing through the clouds! 

One small warning I do have, after the ride had begun I hilariously discovered my companion on the trip’s extreme fear of heights. Thankfully she was a trooper and we came out giggling. If you share this fear, you may want to bring a hand to hold because it can at times feel like you’re about to fall off the side of a mountain, but rest assured, you are completely safe!

The Wizard of Oz

The iconic musical The Wizard of Oz lands at the Gateway Theatre from December 10 - January 3. Brought to you by the same team who did last season's award-winning Crazy For You, this show is bound to be a spectacle of fun for all ages!

If you don't already know the story of Dorothy and the Wicked Witch of the West, then this is the perfect opportunity for you to find out everything about Oz at what is bound to be a thrilling and beautifully done show. I can't wait for it! Tickets can be purchased online!

SHOWTUNES

Hey it's that time of month again! SHOWTUNES NIGHT at 1181 Davie St!  Come on by for some festive Broadway tunes to help get you into the holiday spirit!

Follow us on Facebook for more info and a big thank you to YELP Vancouver this month for helping spread the word! Check them out for the latest news in dining and entertainment in Vancouver!

Peter and the Starcatcher

What a fantastic evening! Not only did I get to check out the brand new Goldcorp Stage at BMO theatre down in Olympic Village, but the latest Arts Club production, the Tony-nominated Peter Pan prequel Peter and the Starcatcher, was a wonderful show!

Admittedly, at first, I kinda hated it. I mean, I was definitely impressed with the set design and amazed by the ship masts going up. It looked like I was in for a good time! But the first few minutes of the show, I wasn't really feeling it and wondered what I had set myself up for. Perhaps I was busy being too much of an adult and needed to quickly find my inner child? Once I had given in to that notion, things got a LOT better. I found myself chuckling at the copious amounts of fart jokes. But then something else happened. I realized, hey wait a minute, this is a really SMART PLAY. There were all these hidden gems that were littered throughout the lines that if you weren't quick to catch, would um,... fly right past you.

The scene stealer of the evening had to be Colleen Wheeler, who played Captain Black Stache, the poetic pirate who eventually becomes Peter's arch nemesis. When she was on stage, I was living for every moment of her scenes. I didn't even realize it was Colleen Wheeler until after looking at the program to see who the actor was. I'd seen her in several other shows around town and she is definitely a Vancouver treasure.

This show is perfect for the entire family. There were little kids loving the show and giggling throughout, and then there were the "adults" who, once they rediscovered their childlike wonder, thoroughly enjoyed both the elementary and the elevated humour.

Peter and the Starcatcher is on now until January at the brand new Goldcorp Stage at BMO theatre! The show has been selling out so get your tickets now!!

Murder Ballad : A New Musical

Fighting Chance Productions is back with its new season and continues to bring shows to Vancouver that we may not get to see otherwise. Starting things off with a bang is the hit off-Broadway crime musical Murder Ballad: 

"A love triangle gone wrong, MURDER BALLAD tells the story of Sara and her two lives, the former a hard-drinking party girl, and the current a hardworking mother of one married to a NYU Literature professor. When her past and current lives explode one person will not be leaving alive. This new rock musical features music by two-time Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist and Jonathan Larson Award winner Julia Jordan and music/lyrics by indie rock singer/songwriter Juliana Nash. Fighting Chance promises an immersive theatrical experience, with this steamy thriller."

Murder Ballad runs November 25 - December 6 at the Odd Fellows Hall. Tickets available online. 

Once

I've seen Broadway's Tony award winning musical Once twice now (both times on the Great White Way), so when I found out it was actually going to be in Vancouver, I knew I had to round up everyone I knew and make them go see it, even if it meant that I had to go for a third time. Okay, twist my rubber arm!

Broadway Across Canada has brought us one of the most beautiful and touching musicals of the decade. Based on the indie film and featuring the Academy Award winning song, Falling Slowly, amongst a backdrop of other equally beautiful songs, the story is one of boy meets girl and but boy is still not over previous girl but current girl has a husband anyway, so really, what's going to happen.

With all the actors playing instruments live on stage, this is an experience not to be missed. Who knows when it will hit town again? Also, get there early for a chance to get up on the stage and get a drink from the show's "bar" and then witness some wonderful pre-show entertainment!

ONCE is on for one more day - Sunday, Nov 22 - matinee and evening performances. There are also half price tickets available at Tickets Tonight.

52 Pick-Up

There's a charming little show going on right now at the Havana Theatre, which if you've never been, is itself charming because it's in the back of the Havana Cafe restaurant on Commercial Drive. Tj Dawe and Rita Bozi's 52 Pick-Up is an exploration of a relationship gone awry.

Presented by Twenty Something Theatre, the simple yet effective production involves two characters and a deck of cards. Writen on each card is a different scene. They throw the cards in the air at the start of the show, and then proceed to play an actor's game of 52 pick-up, where they must act whatever scene it is they pick up from the scattered deck.

More than a gimmick, it's also representative of the pieces that make up a relationship, the good, the bad, the jumbled memories of love and heartache, first kisses and final goodbyes. By doing the show in this way, each night will likely make for a different experience!

52 Pick-Up is on now at the Havana Theatre until November 29th!