At The Firehall Arts Centre until June 11, 2016
Do people really talk like these characters? Not in my circle of witty, articulate friends. But Jen (Claire Hesselgrave) talks like she’s scripted by someone very smart, funny, hip, and totally up-to-date on pop culture.
Sebastien Archibald and Claire Hesselgrave in How To Survive An Apocalypse. Credit: Emily Cooper
At The Firehall Arts Centre until May 28, 2016
I don’t often review short two or three-day festivals but the SHIFT One Act Festival is irresistible with its tagline: EMPOWERED WOMEN, EMPOWERING WORDS.
Mily Mumford and Sean Harris Oliver in Fall-Out Picnic
At Pacific Theatre until June 11, 2016
This Pacific Theatre production succeeds in spite of the play’s difficult material thanks to stellar performances.
Katharine Venour and Julie Casselman in W;t. Credit: Damon Calderwood
At The Warehouse (3681 Victoria Drive) until May 22 (2PM matinees on May 21 and 22) and May 25-29 (matinees on May 28 and 29)
Revolutions only asks that you put your expectations aside, open your mind and let it be blown away.
Sean Marshall Jr. in Revolutions. Credit: Jay White
At The Stanley until July 10, 2016
As the curtain rose on opening night of Billy Elliot, I was actually choked up knowing how excited a handful of youngsters on the Stanley stage were. Some of them were making their Arts Club debut (and probably their professional debut) that night.
Kristi Low, Avril Brigden, Arta Negahban, Julia MacLean, Taylor Dianne Robinson and Nolan Fahey. Credit: Mark Halliday
At PAL Theatre until May 28, 2016
BF stands for Brad Fraser, Canadian badboy playwright, and it also stands for Best Friends. That’s the combination in 5@50.
Deborah Williams as Olivia and Beatrice Zeilinger as Norma in 5@50. Credit: Tina Krueger
At The Cultch May 13, 14 (matinee and evening) and 15, 2016
Berlin 1919. Violin prodigy and composer Sophie Carmen Friedman meets expressionist painter and war veteran Walter Gramatté.
Christine Quintana as Sophie Carmen Friedman in Never The Last. Credit: Ryan Alexander McDonald
At The Cultch May 14, 15, 17 and 22
Billed as a “brand new, grown up puppet show”, Kolejka (koh-LAY-kah) goes back to the 60s and 70s when there was a shortage of consumer goods, including food, behind the Iron Curtain.
Babushka. Credit: Jalen Saip
At The Cultch until May 15, 2016
Marriage can sometimes feel as if it should be taking place in a boxing ring; gloves, a referee and a bell to bring rounds to an end might keep the couple out of divorce court.
Manuela Sosa as Stella in Mis Papás. Credit: Will Martin
At Havana Theatre, May 3-7 and May 10-14, 2016
So believable is Lanie, an ex-Marine and the play’s main character, it’s hard to believe Portland playwright Andrea Stolowitz didn’t serve in in the armed services in Afghanistan.
Stefania Indelicato as Lanie and Adam Lolacher as Bill in Ithaka. Credit: Andy Scheffler