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
At Bard on the Beach until September 18, 2016
Director Lois Anderson was a big part of the much-loved, much-missed Leaky Heaven Circus and this production is, at times, clever and playful in the way Leaky Heaven was. Her Pericles is a treasure trove of invention.
Sereana Malani and Kamyar Pazandeh in Pericles. Credit: David Cooper and Emily Cooper
At Theatre Under the Stars (alternating with Disney’s Beauty and The Beast) until August 20, 2016
There are a couple of absolute requirements when it comes to producing West Side Story: there must be a fantastic performer in the role of Puerto Rican Anita; and the choreography has to be terrific. This Theatre Under the Stars’ production, directed by Sarah Rodgers, has both.
Matt Montgomery as Tony and Jennifer Gillis as Maria in West Side Story. Credit: Tim Matheson
At the Jericho Arts Centre (in repertory with The Romans in Britain and The Country Wife) until August 19, 2016
There’s a line in this 1978 Pinter play that’s absolutely explosive. It comes in the second of nine scenes and you’ll know it when you hear it.
James Gill, Corina Akeson and Tariq Leslie in Betrayal. Credit: Thorsten Gohl
At Bard on the Beach until September 17, 2016
If Desdemona’s death doesn’t bring tears to your eyes, Othello’s frailty might.
Luc Roderique as Othello and Kayla Deorksen as Desdemona in Othello. Credit: David Blue
Downtown Vancouver. Tuesdays and Fridays until September 30, 2016
There’s not a whole lot that’s surreal about Surreal but there are a couple of things: Tom (Luke Sykes), the so-called ‘nerdy’ male character in this romantic two-hander, is so Armani-advertisement handsome that it’s surreal to think he’s having a hard time getting a girl.
Darby Steeves and Luke Sykes in Surreal. Credit: George Lawson Photography
At Bard on the Beach until September 24, 2016
This Bard production is a foot-stomping hoot and about as far from traditional as you can go. If you think you hate Shakespeare, check this one out.
Amber Lewis (Mistress Ford) and Katey Wright (Mistress Page) in The Merry Wives of Windsor. Credit: David Blue
At The Firehall Arts Centre until July 25, 2015
Apart from how engaging – and often funny – Quelemia Sparrow is, one of the most exciting aspects of O’wet/Lost Lagoon is that it’s a breakthrough for westcoast First Nations women playwrights. The production is so northwest coast you can smell the smoked salmon and salt air.
Quelemia Sparrow in O’wet/Lost Lagoon
At The Shop Theatre until July 2, 2016
At the preview it was all I could do to stop myself from clambering out of my seat at the finale and joining the “be-in” onstage.
Julien Galipeau, Alex Gullason and Jacob Woike in HAIR: THE MUSICAL