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! 

 

Free Outdoor Movies !

Even though Starbucks released their Pumpkin Spice Lattes onto the masses today, summer ain't over yet! There are still some weekends of free outdoor movies left, including: 

The Lost City (August 25th - 8pm at Bob Prittie Library / Metrotown) 

West Side Story (August 30th - 8pm at Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza 

                            & September 1st -8pm at Bob Prittie Library / Metrotown)  

Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (August 30th at Lansdowne Centre in Richmond) 

Bullitt (August 31st at North Vancouver's Cates Deck) 

Lantern Procession

 I miss the days of Illuminares, put on by the now-defunct Public Dreams Society. I remember heading to Trout Lake for the Summer solstice and being immersed into a magical land of fairies and sirens singing in the trees, while being surrounded by a plethora of creative home-made lanterns. 

That's why I was intrigued to find out that they do still have a lantern celebration in the summer at Trout Lake, so I ventured out last night to attend it. Instead of a full on festival, it's a procession, led by a joyful band of musicians and lantern-folk. Everyone jostled behind them, as we all made our way around the lake, following our pied piper of the night. 

Theatre Under the Stars: Matilda

The thought of going to a musical where much of the singing is done by children terrifies me. The only show I would go to willingly would be Annie, based on the strength of the songs. Plus they have Miss Hannigan! 

So when I learned that the alternate show at Theatre Under the Stars this year was going to be Matilda, I was not overly thrilled. But hey, give them a chance right? And boy am I glad I did!

If I was hankering for a dose of Miss Hannigan, well I got it in spades with Matilda's headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, played by Jyla Robinson. Add in a pair of hilariously child-hating parents, played by Victor Hunter & Madeleine Suddaby, and you've got a winning recipe for a terrific family night out! 

Siggi Kaldestad does a fantastic job portraying the lead character, Matilda, and brings new inspiration to young actors everywhere. 

Much like the counterpart show this season, The Prom, there is also a Netflix movie version of this musical, and it too falls flat in comparison to seeing it live, especially outdoors under a shimmering summer sky. 

Matilda is on now at Theatre Under the Stars until August 26! Don't miss out! 

 

Theatre Under the Stars: The Prom

 I was very hesitant to go see The Prom at Theatre Under the Stars for two reasons. One, I had seen the movie The Prom on Netflix and thought it was terrible. I had friends tell me they've seen the Broadway production and that it was way better than the movie adaptation. Okay, fine. 

The second reason is that I remember Theatre Under the Stars from many years ago when I would go to a show and be disappointed, though I have heard that they have gotten a lot better since the days I used to attend. 

Opening night on Tuesday for The Prom was filled with excitement. It was a lovely summer evening. The perfect one really to go out and catch an outdoor musical theatre production. Ambiance, check. 

When the show began, I still had my reservations. The material itself wasn't strong, at least not for an opening number. But then the leads all came out, including Caitriona Murphy as divalicious Dee Dee Murphy. 

The story revolves around a group of New York actors continually failing and flailing on Broadway, who take it upon themselves to do a good deed in order to get audience approval. Their good deed turns out to be a teenage lesbian trying to take her girlfriend to the school prom in smalltown, Indiana. Anna Pontin charms as the teenage lesbian. 

By the end of the show, I was a complete recruit. I thoroughly enjoyed the musical The Prom, and this production from Theatre Under The Stars was of the highest calibre. It was funny and touching and everyone in the show was talented and gave it their all. Keep an eye out for a backflip that will leave you gawking in awe. 

Pride in Vancouver is coming up and this celebratory show about fighting for LGBTQ2+ rights is the perfect way to kick off the season. And you're outdoors in this lovely summer weather, watching a musical underneath the night sky! How perfect is that?! 

The Prom is on now at Theatre Under the Stars at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park, alternating with the musical Matilda, now until August 25th! Don't miss out! 

Dirty Laundry

Up from down under is the theatre / circus / drag troupe Briefs Factory International with a show that's been six years in the making! Landing at the York Theatre is their piece, Dirty Laundry. 

Instead of clowns, you've got hilarious drag queens. You've also got some spectacular circus acts to witness as well, from a cheeky Aussie juggler to a literal sword swallower. 

Honestly, I could not stop smiling for the entire show! I was wowed and delighted and at times, terrified. I screamed and kicked my feet in pure enjoyment as well as disbelief! 

Tell all your friends, cause I've already told mine! Go see DIRTY LAUNDRY now! It's on at the York Theatre until June 25. What better way to celebrate Pride month!? 

Unexpecting

Touted as being a play about modern motherhood, I wasn't quite sure I was keen to go see Unexpecting, on now from Zee Zee Theatre. As someone who is not a parent, let alone a mother, would I be able to relate to this show? 

Turns out, the plot revolves around that time in your life when you're about to make big life-changing decisions such as, "Should I take a risk and follow my dreams or go for stability?" Now that I could relate to! 

We are introduced to a lesbian couple who are in the midst of a pending adoption. One woman is up for a big life altering job promotion, while her wife is torn between being a successful sellout commercial artist and staying true to her artistic visions. Throw in a young pregnant lawyer who is uncertain about whether or not to give up her child for adoption, and a scene-stealing best friend (played by Melissa Oei), and you have a recipe for some good old fashioned lesbian drama with top notes of slapstick comedy! 

And the set is intricately designed, transporting you from a Vancouver loft to a night out at a trendy restaurant. All in all, Unexpecting was an unexpected fun night out!  A perfect treat for Mother's Day!! 

Unexpecting is on now at Studio 16 (1551 West 7th Avenue) until May 21st.