At The York Theatre until October 8, 2016
The miracle of Helen & Edgar is that novelist, poet and playwright Edgar Oliver not only survived his very peculiar childhood but went on to turn life with his mad mother Louise Gibson Oliver and his year-and-a-half-year older sister Helen into theatre.
Edgar Oliver in Helen & Edgar.
At Pacific Theatre until October 15, 2016
Pacific Theatre kicks off its 2016-2017 season with the world premiere of dark and dirty A Good Way Out. Written by Cara Norrish, it’s a family story but a family with a real difference. Think Hell’s Angels or Red Scorpions. That kind of family.
Evelyn Chew as Carla and Carl Kennedy as Joey in A Good Way Out. Credit: Matt Reznek
At The Stanley until October 9, 2016
You don’t have to be a fan of Sherlock Holmes but you might enjoy this send-up at The Stanley more if you have at least a smidgeon of familiarity.
Alex Zahara as Sherlock Holmes in Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
Vancouver Fringe Festival 2016
At Jericho Arts Centre until September 25, 2016
Not a fan of Restoration Comedy? Don’t worry: this United Players’ production of George Farquhar’s 1707 comedy is an adaptation that has been tweaked by two of the best – first by American playwright Thornton Wilder and later by another American, Ken Ludwig.
Gregory Radzimowski as Jack Archer and Jessica Wagstaff as Mrs. Kate Sullen in The Beaux’ Stratagem. Credit: Doug Williams
The Book of Mormon: The Musical at the QE Theatre until September 4, 2016
There are so many sacred cows slaughtered in The Book of Mormon: The Musical that it’s a wonder the QE isn’t knee-deep in (metaphorical) blood.
Cody Jamison Strand as Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon: The Musical. Credit: Joan Marcus 2016
At the Italian Cultural Centre until August 20, 2016
Until two years ago, the Tremors Festival used to be Rumble Theatre’s way of presenting the work of emerging theatre companies. Now Rumble chooses the plays, assembles the creative teams and produces the shows – giving a leg up to emerging artists rather than emerging companies.
Shauna Griffin and Anais West in Dry Land. Credit: Tim Matheson
At Waterfront Theatre until August 26, 2016
Forget Scottish heaths, kilts and bagpipes, these Heathers are all-American, bitchy teenaged girls lording it over their Westerburg High School classmates.
Julia Ullrich (as Veronica) and David Z. Cohen (J.D.) in Heathers: The Musical. Credit: Chayse Crowley
At Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) until August 27, 2016
Under the direction of Shel Piercy, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is the complete TUTS package: hot chocolate or coffee, popcorn, the stars overhead, the stars onstage and a really great show. Super family entertainment.
Jaime Piercy (Belle) and Peter Monaghan (the Beast) in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Credit: Tim Matheson
At the Jericho Arts Centre, in repertory, until August 20, 2016
Even Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus doesn’t come close to the body count in The Romans in Britain now running in repertory with Betrayal and The Country Wife on the Jericho Arts Centre stage
Yurij Kis in The Romans in Britain. Credit: Adam Beauchesne