The Motherfucker With The Hat

Well, fuck.

Haberdashery Theatre Company's inaugural show, The Motherfucker With The Hat, is fucking good.

I've been wanting to see this show ever since it was nominated for a Tony award in 2011. Sure, the local Vancouver production met with some controversy over the casting choices and the lack of diverse representation in the city's theatre scene overall.

Having said that though, the latest show now playing at the Firehall is definitely worth going to. The story centers on recovering alcoholic Jackie and his fiery girlfriend Veronica, his sponsor Ralph, his cousin Julio, and Ralph's scene-stealing wife Victoria, played by Lori Triolo, who managed to garner spontaneous applause during one of her scenes. The rest of the cast were all equally as superb. Kyra Zagorsky's fiesty Veronica was supremely entertaining, while Francisco Trujillo brought tears to my eyes during one of his scenes as Cousin Julio. John Cassini's Ralph is deliciously duplicitous, while Stephen Lobo turns in a passionate performance as the lead character Jackie. With Lauchlin Johnston's elaborate set design and the drumming soundtrack of Eric Banerd, I felt like I was in New York City watching the show - that's how good the caliber of this production is!

For fuck's sake, what are you waiting for? The Motherfucker With The Hat is on now at the Firehall Arts Centre until January 30th.

Dirty Dancing

I was afraid. Very afraid. The last time that Broadway Across Canada brought along a non-Broadway musical based on a famous movie, the results were disastrous. I'm talking to you, Flashdance. With Dirty Dancing, however, let's just say... you'll have the time of your life.

Perhaps it's because the show knows it is being ridiculous at points, but strives to give fans the iconic scenes that the movie is so well known for.  It pretty much manages to hit every checkbox, if you're a big fan of Johnny and Baby. Not as much a musical as one might think, the songs are mainly used as background for the stellar dancing numbers. There are a few singers on the stage though, who manage to show off their pipes during songs such as You Don't Own Me, In The Still of the Night, and (I've Had) The Time Of My Life.

Perfectly cast and with an audience that was rather randy and vocal, Dirty Dancing was a fun evening out at the theatre that Vancouver needs more of!

Dirty Dancing is on at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre until January 17th.

Postcards: Wish It Were Sunday

Looks like it's officially Rain-uary as we make way for the torrential downpour that's in store for us the next few weeks.

This photo was taken last Sunday at 4:30pm... Hard to believe it was only two days ago when it was absolutely gorgeous out...

Foreshore Park, South Burnaby, North Arm Fraser River

Photo by YVR-51