Love You Wrong Time

 Come fulfill your Asian Fantasy at the test offering at the Warrior Festival happening now at The Cultch! 

The Bad Muse Collective brings together Deanna H. Choi and Maddie Bautista in Love You Wrong Time, a stand up comedy / cabaret act that deals with the fetishization of Asian women. Presented by The Cultch and Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre, this is a hilarious, touching, smart, and poignant show that will have you laughing and crying in all of 90 mins. 

This extremely talented duo not only sing and play various instruments (piano, violin, ukelele, guitar), but they also perform skits and stand-up that incorporate important messages. To be honest, cabaret-style comedy is not usually at the top of my list, but this show was exceptional. I kept thinking, Saturday Night Live needs to hire these two - or better yet, give them their own show/platform! 

I learned about "banana-rangs" and took part in the "guess what kind of Asian am I" in the opening "rice-breaker" before morphing into a K-pop duo to sing about model minorities. My favourite moment was their send-up of the popular "mukbang" trend! 

At the end of it all though, what really held this show together was the bond of sisterhood that was palpable between these two friends / soulmates. If you don't think you can relate to any of the above, then at least go and witness what the power of friendship can produce. 

Love You Wrong Time is on now until May 11 at the Cultch. 

(photos by Helen Yung)

Lxdy Parts: Babes

 I honestly did not expect much when I realized I was walking into a comedy based around motherhood. What did I, as a gay child-free single male, have to relate with being a parent? Turns out, it didn't matter!

The Lxdy Parts: Babes show on now as part of the Warrior Festival at the Cultch is a downright hoot! Four women doing sketch comedy that was unique, funny, and poignant. Saturday Night Live wishes they had sketches like this!  

The only misstep I felt, was the guest stand-up comedian performer, whose material was funny and poignant in its own way, but the energy was completely different from the rest of the show and I could feel the air being sucked out of the room momentarily. Luckily, the troupe was back to get things back on track! 

It's a short run for this hilarious and talented show, so don't miss out! LXDY PARTS: BABES is on now at the Cultch until April 19! 

Fringe Fest!!

What better way to herald in the Autumn season than with the annual Vancouver Fringe Festival!? It takes place September 7 - 17. 

Fringe can be hit or miss, and that's part of the fun! But here are some featured shows to help you on your way: 

Femmillenial

Thursday, Sept 7th, 8:45pm, Friday, Sept 8th, 5:00 pm, Saturday, Sept 9th, 6:30 pm, Monday, Sept 11th, 8:45 pm, Tuesday, Sept 12th, 7:15 pm

Femmillennial explores the intersection of the modern femme persona and generational evolution. A third question also persists: what do we value as work? Three virtuosic Toronto-based dance artists will invite you into this world: Kiera Breaugh, Dana MacDonald and Claire Whitaker.

This Show Will Change Your Life

September 8th at 8:00pm / September 9th at 9:30pm / September 10th at 2:30pm / September 13th at 9:15pm / September 15th at 5:00pm / September 16th at 3:30pm

Inspired by the deep well of vapid internet gurus, and aggressive self-help books yelling at

you to “Get Your F**king Sh*t Together!!!” Anesti Danelis has decided that he will also add

his voice to the oversaturated void of unsolicited advice. With catchy songs on guitar, piano,

and violin (yes, a violin), you will be serenaded about: stealing from work, living at home,

goats, bisexual revenge, healing crystals, mental health breaks, how to spot a cheating

partner, and so much more!

Anne Geddes: The Unauthorized, Untrue Biography

Friday, September 8 at 6:15 p.m / Saturday, September 9 at 3:00 p.m / Monday, September 11 at 5:15 p.m.
Tuesday, September 12 at 9:00 pm / Saturday, September 16 at 7:15 pm / Sunday, Sept. 17 at 6:15 pm

Anne Geddes’ iconic baby photography is known around the world... but we’ve never truly known the woman behind the camera. Until now. This is the untold, unverified, unresearched story of an artist’s life: her career highs, her complicated upbringing, her relationship with her son, and everything else that goes into making a multi-dimensional artiste. 

Shawshank: The Musical

September 8, 2023 10.05pm / September 9, 2023 8.30pm / September 10, 2023 12.45pm / September 13, 2023 5.00pm / September 14, 2023 8.45pm / September 17, 2023 3.35pm

Follow Andy Dufresne as he navigates the Shawshank prison system along with Red and the gang, while singing parodies of the greatest hits from the incomparable Johnny Cash. Laugh, cry, and tap your feet as we respectfully ridicule the film that is still rated #1 on IMDb.com.

Private Parts: The Secrets We Keep

FRI Sept 8 @ 6:15 PM / SAT Sept 9 @ 4:15 PM / SUN Sept 10 @ 4:30 PM / TUES Sept 12 @ 8:50 PM / THUR Sept 14 @ 5:00 PM / SAT Sept 16 @ 6:45 PM

A one-woman storytelling show about the private parts of her life told through secrets. A funny, touching and thought-provoking show that takes the audience on a journey of love, loss and secrets. Will she find a path to forgiveness and stop history from repeating itself? We all have secrets, all of us, some are just bigger than others.  

Three Acts of a Woman: Birth - Life - Tomorrow

September 7, 2023 5.00pm / September 9, 2023 8.10pm / September 13, 2023 7.00pm / September 15, 2023 7.00pm / September 16, 2023 4.15pm / September 17, 2023 4.45pm

This episodic play powerfully portrays the lives of women reclaiming their power in the face of oppressive forces, aiming to create a better future for themselves and society. Inspired by the real-life Woman-Life-Freedom movement led by Iranian women, who rose up following the tragic death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the morality police. Each of the three episodes: Birth, Life, Freedom, draws inspiration from iconic female characters in history: Joan of Arc, Antigone, and Medea

Puffy Hair

September 7, 2023 5.45pm / September 10, 2023 6.15pm / September 11, 2023 7.00pm / September 13, 2023 7.15pm / September 16, 2023 10.15pm / September 17, 2023 4.30pm

A night of existential stand-up performed by an id. Using Vaudeville-cum-Fosse dance moves to investigate one woman's ambivalent and tortured relationship to the male gaze, which she alternately cozies up to and execrates, it is a catharsis of self-hatred, body dysmorphia, and self-aggrandizement. A vigorous dose of lipstick smears and shoulder pads. A marriage between Joan Rivers and gastrointestinal turbulence. A struggle to hold space for the existential pressure of a bun. A boopity boop.

Emilio's A Million Chameleons

September 8, 2023 5.00pm / September 9, 2023 6.30pm / September 11, 2023 5.00pm / September 15, 2023 6.45pm / September 16, 2023 2.00pm / September 17, 2023 2.00pm

The only Kids Fringe show this year! A family-friendly musical spectacular, about embracing what makes you special, and letting that inner sparkle shine.

Generic Male: Just What We Need, Another Show About Men

September 9, 2023 2.45pm / September 10, 2023 9.00pm / September 14, 2023 6.45pm / September 16, 2023 6.00pm / September 17, 2023 3.00pm

The Generic Males’ multi-award winning Off-Broadway show comes to Vancouver Fringe for the first time to give us just what we need: another god-damn show about men. It’s fathers and sons, it’s war and death. It takes us into the beating heart of the failing patriarchy as it descends into acrobatic absurdity.

Grease, Too! 

Friday Sept 8, 5:15pm / Sunday Sept 10, 7:20pm / Monday Sept 11, 9:45pm / Thursday Sept 14, 6:40pm / Friday Sept 15, 8:25pm / Saturday Sept 16, 2:45pm

Welcome to this one-woman world of whimsy, where Greased Lightning meets Cool Rider! It’s Grease and Grease 2, all smooshed together in a musical love letter where you can be even more what you feel. Eleven-year old Megz (with a Z, get it right!) is having a Grease viewing party… and when people show up, the fun begins!

Larry

September 7, 2023 5.00pm / September 9, 2023 9.40pm / September 10, 2023 1.00pm / September 13, 2023 7.15pm / September 14, 2023 10.10pm / September 16, 2023 8.00pm

Candice Roberts claims to be a recovering people pleaser and says that Clown School Saved Her Life. LARRY is used to explore her experiences growing up as a female in rural BC, Canada in the 1980s and to transform family challenges into laughter and joy. Culled lovingly from the male archetypes that surrounded her during her upbringing, Larry compassionately examines the limitations of the gender binary, aging as a woman, and the complexities of being human.

All tickets for the Fringe are available online! 

 

Just For Laughs !!

The Just For Laughs Northwest festival is now upon us!!

Starting today until February 25, there are copious amounts of comedians to choose from and I wanna go see all of them!

I've actually never been so excited for the Just For Laughs festival before. This year, I'll be going to see Margaret Cho, whom I have seen several times before and know it'll be a good evening. I really wanted to see Ronnie Chieng but alas, both his shows are sold out. There are also several past and present cast members of Saturday Night Live stopping into town. And of course, Hannah Gadsby is another big name I would love to see.

So many choices! Who are you going to go check out at Just For Laughs?

Fringe: The Lady Show

The hilarious Lady Show has been selling out all over the place at the Fringe Festival this season. Have you seen it yet? It's four feminist comediennes who will bring you sketch comedy, stand-up, and more!

One of the hottest shows at the Fringe, not to be missed! You only have two more chances to see it and tickets are going fast!

Margaret Cho in Vancouver - Just For Laughs Northwest

This Friday, Margaret Cho storms into town at the Vogue Theatre (10pm) for the Just For Laughs Northwest festival!

Also on the roster for the festival are Wanda Sykes, Tim Meadows, Trevor Noah, and Janeane Garofalo, to name a few.

For more information and tickets, check out the Just For Laughs Northwest website!

SHOWTUNES - Fight Night

You mad, bruh? The gloves are off and the battle lines are drawn! So let's get ready to rumble at SHOWTUNES NIGHT! Got some pent up frustration? Nothing like a show tune to help you let off some steam! Put 'em up! Are you a Jet or a Shark? A Mary or a Rhoda? And the first rule of Fight Night is you DO talk about FIGHT NIGHT cause it's just a noisy hall where there's a nightly brawl and you know, all that jazz! Come belt it out at 1181 on Friday November 6 for SHOWTUNES FIGHT NIGHT! 

We've got great prizes to give out tonight, including tickets to The Wizard of Oz at Gateway Theatre, tickets to the off-Broadway crime musical Murder Ballad from Fighting Chance Productions, a pair of passes to see the Leonard Cohen musical Chelsea Hotel at the Firehall Arts Centre, a $100 gift card to 1181 Lounge, and a pair of tickets to see Bianca Del Rio (winner of Rupaul's Drag Race) on her comedy tour, Rolodex of Hate, which rolls into town on December 8th at the Vogue Theatre (tickets available here)! 

For further updates, be sure to check out the
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ShowtunesYVR

Bianca Del Rio - Rolodex of Hate

Drag superstar and winner of Rupaul's Drag Race, Bianca Del Rio storms into town on December 8th at the Vogue Theatre with her comedy special, Rolodex of Hate! This will be the last chance to see her on tour this year, so get your tickets early as it is likely to sell out!

For a taste of her acidic tongue, here's the best of Bianca Del Rio from her season on #RPDR

Tickets are on sale today, get them online!

VIFF: Very Semi-Serious

Oh my goodness, Very Semi-Serious is SO MUCH FUN. It was definitely the most light-hearted film I've seen yet at VIFF this season. This documentary about cartoonists trying to get published in New Yorker magazine and the people behind the scenes who work to get it done is downright wonderful. The audience were rolling in the aisles laughing so hard. If you need a good break from the drama and the foreign film subtitles and the heavy documentaries, then definitely, definitely, go and see Very Semi-Serious. It will tickle your funny bone and provide thoughtful insight into the world of New Yorker cartoons.

Very Semi-Serious shows again on October 8th at 9:15pm at the Vancity Theatre. Don't Miss It!

High Tea

Playing NOW in Vancouver at the Jericho Arts Centre is “High Tea,” starring the British comedy duo James & Jamesy, in a show that can boast winning FIVE Fringe awards including Best Comedy, Best Script, and Best of Fest. The handbill describes the show as interactive, and they mean it!


From the lovely free Tetley’s tea in real teacups we drank in our seats to the exuberant audience participation encouraged, everyone looked to be having a grand time. James is the buttoned-up straight man to the silly antics of Jamey, his pal with a HUGE imagination and a unique view of the world.  This show had wonderful physical humour but clearly had a team of clever talent behind its creation.  I would recommend this show to all ages, from families to adults out for the evening. Good silly fun!


High Tea is playing at the Jericho Arts Centre now through May 24.  Tickets can be found online.

(written by guest blogger Roxanne Kalenborn)

Asians on Stage & Screen Talk

Want a guaranteed celebrity sighting? Then why not head up to the UBC campus on Tuesday March 24th for a panel discussion on Asians on Stage and Screen? It features members of the local comedy troupe Assaulted Fish, who are hilarious!You might recognize a few of the actors too from some of their cinematic works, including actress Diana Bang, who was most recently in the controversial Seth Rogen film The Interview. Also appearing will be Nelson Wong and Kuan Foo. For more information check out this link!

Margaret Cho in Vancouver

Comedienne Margaret Cho hits town to rock the mic on November 1at the River Rock Casino.

Tickets on sale via Ticketmaster.

Vancouver TheatreSports

With the summer months mainly a dry spell when it comes to shows and performances in Vancouver, one can always count on the comedy stylings of TheatreSports, which has been around for 24 years! This is Vancouver's version of Second City, Chicago's improv school where future Saturday Night Live alum are farmed from.

Adding to their repertoire of improv shows, TheatreSports gives us TripImproviser, which "bring the highlights and lowlights of people’s travels to life in this interactive comedy, inspired by you and your travels. Watch the “worst trip ever” re-enacted onstage. Learn more about these exotic lands and people. Where will we end up? From city to jungle, bungee jumping to bird watching, the possibilities are endless because it’s totally improvised and totally unpredictable."

TripImproviser runs until August 30 at the Improv Centre on Granville Island.

The Foreigner - at Pacific Theatre

Yes, yes, and more yes! Please more shows like this in Vancouver!

First of all, I saw a production of The Foreigner years ago in New York starring Matthew Broderick. I absolutely adored the show and  its ingenius storyline and messaging. When I heard that the Pacific Theatre was doing it, I was pretty surprised! But according to the program, this is their second time mounting the show!

So I went in hoping that this was going to be a good production. My first impression was the amazing set design done by Lauchlin Johnston. Kudos to him for creating such a warmth feel with his wooden lodge and cozy decor. It fit the show to a tee.

Then there were all the actors - each one of them bringing something special to the stage, not one weak link amongst them. This is one solid show that is not to be missed! The story revolves around a visitor to the southern United States who ends up posing as a "foreigner" and pretending he doesn't know English. This leads to unbridled confessions and secrets revealed amongst a slapstick comedy that will have you laughing all night and pondering the way we treat outsiders.

The Foreigner is fantastic, and you simply must go see it! It runs at the Pacific Theatre now until October 12.

Assaulted Fish at the Fringe!

I love love love comedy group Assaulted Fish! And so will you. And so did the SOLD OUT crowd last night at their 10 year anniversary show at the Vancouver Fringe Festival. They've received rave reviews for their intellectual, slapstick, political, thought provoking, and most importantly, side splittingly funny show. Get your tickets while you still can!

Assaulted Fish: Sacred and Profane has one more show to go. Saturday Sept 14 at 8pm at Studio 16! Tickets here!

A+ for "A... My Name Is Alice" !

I had never before heard of the musical, A... My Name Is Alice! What could this possibly be, I wondered.

Turns out, it's a fantastic frolic into the lives of the everyday woman. Conceived back in 1983 and debuting in New York City, this hidden gem finds new life right here in the Lower Mainland at the Studio 1398 theatre on Granville Island!

(photo from The Georgia Straight)

Each song seemed to be better than the next - a good sign where musicals are concerned! There isn't much of a storyline, if you're looking for your traditional Broadway show. Rather, it's more of a revue, with each song telling a different story of its own - whether it's about two sisters being there for each other, a first date, or a bored secretary, each number is completely different from other, shedding light on the diverse variety of the lives of women.

My favourites included the "For Women Only Poems" executed with the utmost deadpan by Michelle T. Baynton and "The French Monologue & Song" sung "tres bien" by the hilariously talented Rosie Simon.

A... My Name is Alice is a much welcomed breath of fresh air in these desolate days of August. It had us laughing uncontrollably at one point, then near shedding a tear in the next. Thank you to director Rick Tae for dusting off this forgotten show and bringing it right to the forefront!

A...My Name Is Alice runs now until August 25 at Studio 1398 (Granville Island)! Go See It! !

Clinton Leupp Comes to Vancouver!

If you're a fan of the online web series Girls Will Be Girls, you can't miss this Friday's event when Miss Coco Peru herself (aka Clinton Leupp) comes to Vancouver for a one-person show at the Stanley Theatre!

Tickets still available!

Avenue Q

Hope everyone had a great long weekend, whether you were at Pride, Powell Street, fireworks, out of town, or doing something else just as fabulous even if it was chilling at home.

Now that the main festivities of the summer have climaxed, let's not forget there is still a lot more to do around the city. One thing going on that I've noticed this year is the presence of more summertime theatre! The Arts Club theatre has just extended its run of the hilarious Avenue Q until the end of August! This is a Tony award winning musical that's like Sesame Street for Adults. Warning: This is not a family friendly affair, so unless you want your kids to see puppets having sex, this will likely not be PG-Friendly!

However, the calibre of the production is definitely on par with the New York show that I saw years ago. It's just as much fun to watch the amazing skills of the puppeteers as it is to just sit back and enjoy the puppets, who will have you literally in stitches!

It will definitely "suck to be you" if you miss out on Arts Club Theatre's Avenue Q, playing now at the Granville Island Stage!

Etch Your Sketchoff 5 !

As fast and furious as they come, it's time for another year of Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre's annual Etch Your Sketchoff comedy night!! Come on out to tickle your funny bone with some sketch comedy acts from across North America!

Etch Your Sketchoff 5 takes place May 29 - 30 at 8pm at the Roundhouse Community Centre. Buy your tickets online here!

Happy Asian Heritage Month!

So May is Asian Heritage Month, and what better way to celebrate than by attending the annual Sketch Comedy night presented by Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre!?

I have gone to this evening on more than one occasion and it is usually a riot! Make sure to check it out, either on May 29 or May 30 at 8pm at the Roundhouse Community Centre. You can buy your tickets here!