At Studio 1398 until March 2, 2013
If you were watching TV in the 60s, The Girl in the Frame (book, music and lyrics by Jeremy Desmon) will remind you of I Dream of Jeannie. That half-hour show was light and romantic and silly and this is light, romantic and silly, too.
Synthia Yusuf in The Girl in the Frame
At the Firehall Arts Centre until March 2, 2013
There’s nothing funny about a 14-year-old boy shooting a 15-year-old classmate twice in the back of the head with a .22 caliber revolver. But Vancouver playwright Dave Deveau finds humorous little personality quirks in his half dozen or so characters that keep this dark story from sinking under the weight of its own tragedy.
Anton Lipovetsky in My Funny Valentine. Credit: Brandon Gaukel
At Studio 58 until February 24, 2013
Daffodils are thrusting through the ground and the buds on the maples are swelling. Spring, in all its fecundity, is rushing in. But what’s happening in the garden and forest pales in comparison to what’s happening on the Studio 58 stage.
Lauren Jackson in Spring Awakening. Credit: David Cooper
At Jericho Arts Centre until February 17, 2013
If you wonder what possible relevance Hecuba, written by Euripides in 424 BC, has for us today, consider Hecuba’s words from Scene 2: “Failing justice, there is only rage.”
Joan Bryans and and Robert Ruttan in Hecuba. Credit: Lee Buckley
At Presentation House until February 10, 2013
If I ever find myself in the position Ernie (Jay Brazeau) finds himself in, let me have a speech therapist as compassionate and perceptive as Her Royal Highness (Alison Kelly) and an adult child like George (Haig Sutherland) to hold my hand.
Jay Brazeau in The Secret Mask. Credit: Chris Van Der Schyf
At the Firehall Arts Centre until February 17, 2013
“Jesus, Joseph and Mary”, as Marg Delahunty would exclaim, Mary Walsh is the funniest woman from sea to sea to shining sea.
Mary Walsh in Dancing With Rage
At Havana Theatre until February 9, 2013
Cold Comfort is a deliciously funny and nasty play by Jim Garrard. And it’s the first offering of YOGURT Theatre Co (tagline: Get Cultured) with Studio 58 grad Chris Cochrane at the helm. It’s reminiscent of John Patrick Shanley plays like Savage in Limbo and Danny and The Deep Blue Sea with its deeply wounded or just plain crazy characters but it’s Canadian, eh?
Chris Cochrane and Katey Hoffman in Cold Comfort. Credit: Jason Lang
At The Stanley until February 24 , 2013
The house lights had no sooner gone down than a fellow behind me chortled, “Al-right Let’s laugh.” And once the curtain went up on Boeing-Boeing, he – and many others – laughed uproariously for a couple of hours.
Jonathon Young and Kimberley Sustad in Boeing-Boeing. Credit David Cooper
At The Cultch until February 10, 2013
It’s about time somebody took the mickey out of Shakespeare: all those male actors pretending to be women pretending to be men. Were Elizabethan audiences all blind and stupid? And the ridiculous romances: strangers that meet in the morning, in love by noon and married by dinner? Good grief.
Tim Crouch in I, Malvolio. Credit: Bruce Dalzell Atherton
At Pacific Theatre until February 16, 2013
Actor/playwright Lucia Frangione wrestles with the relationship between sexuality and spirituality in Leave of Absence – the same concern that was at the heart of her 2003 highly successful Espresso.
Karyn Guenther in Leave of Absence. Credit: Ron Reed