At the Arts Club Granville island Stage until March 9, 2019
Playwright Morris Panych presents a premise so off-beat and persuasive that you find yourselves rooting for the bad guys. Or in this case, the bad gals.
Dean Paul Gibson as Otto and Patti Allan as Alma in The Shoplifters. Credit: David Cooper
Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre until February 24, 2019
Fascinating, enigmatic, provocative, True Crime runs ninety-five uninterrupted minutes. It takes work but the premises are interesting. Criminals, actors and the rest of us: whose fault is it anyway?
Torquil Campbell in True Crime. Credit: Dahlia Katz
At Studio 58 until February 24, 2019
Cabaret is a terrific choice for Studio 58: it’s rowdy and sexy and marks a great directorial debut for Josh Epstein.
Paige Fraser (centre), as the Emcee, with the Kit Kat Girls in Cabaret. Credit: David Cooper
Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre
Sad but beautiful in its way and technically impressive, Zvizdal is highly recommended. Two more performances.
Nadia and Pétro Lubenoc. Photo provided by BERLIN
At The Stanley until February 24, 2019
Taming of the Shrewd. Not only does Dolly Gallagher Levi, a.k.a. The Matchmaker, make matches but she tames the Scrooge-like Yonkers businessman Horace Vandergelder. “Money is like manure”, Dolls tells Horace. It’s no good unless you spread it around.”
Nicola Lipman as Dolly Gallagher Levi in The Matchmaker. Credit: David Cooper
At Pacific Theatre until February 9, 2019
Originally produced by Ensemble Theatre Company last summer at the Jericho Arts Centre, A Prayer for Owen Meany is being remounted as a guest production at Pacific Theatre where, because of the titular Owen Meany who believes God speaks through him, and Pacific Theatre’s mandate to produce theatre that ‘rigorously explores the spiritual aspects of human experience’, it’s a good fit.
Chris Lam as Owen Meany in A Prayer for Owen Meany. Credit: Emily Cooper
At The Cultch until February 3, 2019
Hands down, Mrs. Krishnan’s Party is the best-smelling show in town. Also the most fun.
Kalyani Nagarajan as Mrs. Krishnan in Mrs. Krishnan’s Party. Credit: Ankita Singh
At The Vancouver Playhouse until January 12, 2019
Exposed to the scrutinizing light of the-day-after-opening-night, The Full Light of Day is still fabulous.
Gabrielle Rose as Mary in The Full Light of Day. Credit: Don Lee
At Havana Theatre until December 16, 2018
This may not be the best Christmas pageant ever but it sure is the rowdiest.
Amelie Love, Melissa Oei and Madeline Angel in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Credit: Angelo Renai
At The Stanley until January 6, 2019
Under the direction of Bill Millerd, Arts Club Artistic Director Emeritus, this show is enchanting and colourful, heartwarming and uplifting for the whole family. A story about seeing the best in others is probably a timely reminder for those who want to get on Santa’s ‘nice’ list.
Michelle Bardach as Belle and Jonathan Winsby as the Beast in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Credit: David Cooper