WET
At the Russian Hall until May 27, 2018
ITSAZOO Productions is in-your-face theatre. There’s no getting away from it. And it can be scary.
Genevieve Fleming as Burns in WET. Credit: Matt Reznek
The Overcoat: A Musical Tailoring
At the Vancouver Playhouse until May 12, 2018
With apologies to writer/director Morris Panych and the twelve-piece Vancouver Opera Orchestra under the baton of Leslie Dala, the real stars of The Overcoat: A Musical Tailoring are the design team: Wendy Gorling (movement), Ken MacDonald (set), Alan Brodie (lighting) and Nancy Bryant (costumes).
Geoffrey Sirett as Akakiy and the the Mad Chorus in The Overcoat: A Musical Tailoring. Credit: Dahlia Katz
The History of the World (Based on Banalities)
At the York Theatre until May 5, 2018
I love Canadian theatre and how it reflects and challenges our values but it’s so stimulating to see something ‘from away’ – far away. The History of the World (Based on Banalities) comes from Belgium’s Kopergietery, a theatre company known for innovation.
Titus De Voogdt in The History of the World (Based on Banalities). Credit: Phile Desprez
Métis Mutt
At the Firehall Arts Centre until May 5, 2018
‘Mutt’ is usually used fondly but dismissively: “Oh, he’s just a mutt”, dog owners might say when asked about the breed of their dog. But mutt lovers can tell you crossbred dogs are robust and interesting and, if you’re lucky, the dogs get the best of all that colourful, mixed-up gene pool.
Sheldon Elter in Métis Mutt. Credit: Marc J. Chalifoux
Me and You
Arts Club Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre until
May 6, 2018
While there’s lots of revelry between siblings there’s also rivalry and the pendulum swings back and forth over the years.
Patti Allan and Lois Anderson in Me and You. Credit: David Cooper
The Explanation
At the Vancity Culture Lab at The Cultch until April 29, 2017
Who knew you could find love in the literature DVD section of the Central library? That’s where Dick (from the West End) finds John (from Burnaby).
Kevin MacDonald as John and Evan Frayne as Dick in The Explanation. Credit: Emily Cooper
Cabaret
Massey Theatre until April 29, 2018
It’s Sunday, 2 PM and, wonder of wonders, it’s sunny: a rare day in this rainy, rainy April. Yet New Westminster’s Massey Theatre is packed. What’s that about? How do you get a full house in Vancouver on a sunny Sunday afternoon?
Andrew Cownden (centre) as The Emcee in Cabaret. Credit: Emily Cooper
Misery
Arts Club Granville Island Stage until May 5, 2018
I have never read a Stephen King novel and I probably never will. Horror is just not my thing. But hair-raising horror, adapted for stage by William Goldman from Stephen King’s novel Misery, is another thing: creepy and hilarious in equal quantities.
Lucia Frangione and Andrew McNee in Misery. Credit: David Cooper
The Humans
At The Stanley until April 22, 2018
All through Stephen Karam’s The Humans, the Blake family keeps saying they’re okay but they’re not. Things are going bump in the night and it’s not just the “little old Chinese lady” living upstairs.
Kevin McNulty, Nicola Lipman, Briana Buckmaster, Parm Soor, Samantha Rose Richard and Gina Stockdale in The Humans. Credit: David Cooper
Butcher
At The Cultch until March 31, 2018
Karma is good: what goes around comes around. But it’s slow and by the time the bad guys get their comeuppance, you might not be around to relish it. Revenge, on the other hand, can be quick and satisfying.
Peter Anderson and Daryl Shuttleworth in Butcher. Credit: Tim Matheson