At the Jericho Arts Centre until March 12, 2016
As Ryan Mooney, Cats director and Fighting Chance Productions’ artistic director writes in his program notes, “What is it about this odd show?” Odd, indeed.
Four of the cast of Cats. Costumes by Fairlith Harvey. Credit: Allyson Fournier
No more Vancouver performances. March 11-12, 2016 at the Royal Theatre, Victoria
Heartbreaking. Harrowing. But eventually there’s a little light at the end of a very dark, very frightening tunnel.
Tiffany Tregarthen and Jonathon Young in Betroffenheit. Credit: Michael Slobodian
At Pacific Theatre until March 5, 2016
How many parents tell their kids, “You can be anything you want”? Then comes the reality check for a lot of them after post-secondary education: McDonalds, Yellow Cabs, waiting tables if you’re lucky, unemployment if you’re not.
Dimitry Chepovetsky, Curtis Tweedie, Rachel Cairns and Genevieve Fleming in Bright Blue Future. Credit: Mark Halliday
At The Cultch until February 27, 2016
James Long and Marcus Youssef haven’t killed each other yet. And that’s pretty amazing since they have been publicly insulting each other since November 2012.
Marcus Youssef and James Long in Winners and Losers. Credit: Simon Hayter
At the York Theatre until February 21, 2016
BigMouth is an extraordinary performance by Valentijn Dhaenens, produced by SkaGeN (Belgium) and Richard Jordan Productions (UK), and presented by The Cultch. BigMouth. Big performance. Big message.
Valentijn Dhaenens in BigMouth. Credit: Maya Wilsens
At the Wong Experimental Theatre, SFU (149 West Hastings) until February 21, 2016
Dust off all the superlatives: Robert Lepage is back in town. A national treasure – in French and English – Lepage is not to be missed.
Robert Lepage in 887. Credit: Erik Labbé
At the Arts Club BMO Theatre Centre (162 West 1st Avenue) until February 28, 2016
She’s short and buxom and has a pair of lungs that puts the roof on the new Arts Club’s Goldcorp theatre to the test. She is Patricia Cano; she sings in four languages – English, French, Cree and Spanish; she comes loaded with credentials and has a wild and crazy comedic edge.
Patricia Cano as Marie-Louise Painchaud in The (Post) Mistress. Credit: Emily Cooper
At The Stanley until February 28, 2016
In Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy does not kiss Miss Elizabeth Bennet at the end. That would have been ungentlemanly of him – and he certainly is a gentleman.
Naomi Wright as Elizabeth Bennet and Eric Craig as Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. Credit: David Cooper
At the Firehall Arts Centre until February 6, 2016
Huff is one of those shows that leaves the audience quiet, unable or reluctant to applaud for several moments. It’s not the kind of show that you ‘like’; it’s the kind of show that, even when laughing, fills you with deep sorrow.
Cliff Cardinal in Huff. Credit: Akipari
At the Western Front until February 6, 2016
After an uninterrupted hour-and-a-half into the two-hour, intermission-free show, I was beginning to have a physical reaction to Eternal, part of the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival.
Christina Rouner in Eternal. Credit: Thomas Dunn