Raincity Theatre’s Cabaret seduces, mesmerizes, and chills

October 16, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

Kit Kat Klub dancers Vicente Sandoval, Cassandra Consiglio, and Joaquin Little in *Cabaret*. Photo credit: Nicol Spinola

The theatre world is obsessed with Cabaret. But even after seeing numerous productions and performing in one myself, it wasn’t until seeing Raincity Theatre’s version that I finally really understood the show. This production hits in all the right ways, getting to the heart of what Cabaret is all about. It’s an up-close-and-personal experience that provokes thought, rips at your emotions, and completely captivates you.

The Café is a fun, choose-your-own adventure theatrical experience

October 16, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

Cast of The Cafe — *Photo credit: Chelsey-Stuyt

The Café, an immersive new theatrical work is a creative, clever, and fun experience. Presented by ITSAZOO Productions and Aphotic Theatre, in partnership with PuSh, the show is performed at one of the Kafka’s (a Vancouver coffee shop) location. Seven different scenes happen throughout the coffee shop and audiences choose-their-own adventure, roaming around and sitting in on whichever conversations they want. Overall, the production is well-acted and polished, and there are few nuggets in the scripts that are meaningful and provide great takeaways. Above all else, this is a really enjoyable experience as an audience member.

Cultural differences in friendship are examined and celebrated in Frozen River nîkwatin sîpiy

October 1, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

Carousel Theatre for Young People (CTFYP) has opened its 2022/23 season with a play that’s timely, educational, entertaining, and very suited for children. Frozen River nîkwatin sîpiy’s kid-friendly story is brought to life with skilled acting and creative puppetry and visuals to inform on Indigenous experience, while teaching what it means to truly listen to others.

Hot Brown Honey sweetly fights oppression

September 24, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

Poster image of the show Hot Brown Honey

“We have been told that our silence will save us, but it won’t. So, we will make noise,” proclaims Busty Beatz during Hot Brown Honey – The Remix. This one-act presentation of hip hop-infused dance, singing, circus variety, and political commentary is a timely, important, and fun artistic work that celebrates feminism.

Peter Pan Goes Wrong in all the right ways

September 20, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

The only thing as enjoyable as watching perfection is watching a complete train wreck. Arts Club Theatre Company’s production of Peter Pan Goes Wrong is as wacky and chaotic, as it is intelligent and polished. Only a production this thought out and meticulously put together can produce such an uproarious, “disaster” of a show. The two-act play is a hilarious delight, and includes a couple of emotionally uplifting subplots as well. And on top of all that, this show is as visually pleasing as it is funny.

Fiery grace: “Tango, to the Pointe” is an artistic achievement

September 18, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

The 2 dancers from the show Tango the Pointe — Erin Scott-Kafadar and Alexander Richardson in *Tango, to the Pointe*. Photo credit: Mark Ruddick

“Style is the answer to everything,” poet Charles Bukowski once wrote in his poem Style, which included the line, “To do a dangerous thing with style is what I call art.” And by that definition Tango, to the Pointe, presented by PointeTango is the epitome of art. I recently had the pleasure of watching dancers Erin Scott-Kafadar and Alexander Richardson perform their work at the 2022 Vancouver Fringe Festival. Tango, to the Pointe is not only an impressive fusion of Argentine tango and classical ballet, but also a breathtakingly beautiful celebration of art.

Grand delusions: The most beautiful type of delusions

September 17, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

Karen Hall playing the cello in Delusions and Grandeur

In Delusions and Grandeur, Karen Hall says that people forget up to 80% of what they hear within 24 hours. But 24 hours after seeing her fascinating and brilliantly creative one-person show at the Vancouver Fringe Festival, I can’t stop thinking about what I heard, saw, and experienced. An accomplished cellist, and tremendous actress as well, Hall brings audiences into her world, sharing her head space, emotions, and exquisite musical talent.

Gerald Williams honours his mother’s life with grace

September 15, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

Poster image of the show How I Murdered My Mother

In this touching and insightful one-man show, written and performed by Gerald Williams, he discusses how he had to “murder” (essentially forget) the version of his mom that was affected by Alzheimer’s, so he could focus on loving the real version of his mom in her final days.

Juliet is sweet as revenge!

September 13, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

Poster image of Juliet: A Revenge Comedy

Why did Juliet have to die at the end of Romeo and Juliet? After all, she only knew Romeo for two days and she was only 13-years-old. Instead, what if Juliet defied her fate as a tragic female heroine and lived? In Monster Theatre’s Juliet: A Revenge Comedy, currently playing at the 2022 Vancouver Fringe Festival, we get to see Juliet defy the odds. And it isn’t easy, if the Bard has his way.

Blockhead celebrates the childhood wonder inside us all

September 12, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

Zac Williams stars in Blockhead — Zac Williams stars in *Blockhead*. Photo credit: Vancouver Fringe Festival

No matter how old we get, the little kid in us never disappears. While they may get buried and overshadowed by our never ending life issues and concerns, there’s part of us stays innocent and genuinely curious. Written, directed, and starring Zac Williams, Blockhead is a one-act play that sweetly commemorates childhood perspective, and the anxieties and over contemplation we love to thrust upon ourselves.

We Will Rock You is a fun, thrilling adventure with heart

July 13, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

The company of TUTS’ We Will Rock You. Photo credit: Emily Cooper

Theatre Under The Stars’ (TUTS) production of We Will Rock You certainly had its work cut out for it recently when it premiered the evening after TUTS’ other show this season, Something Rotten!, which opened to excellent reviews. Fortunately, not only was We Will Rock You up to the challenge, it was ready to slay. This production of We Will Rock You is absolutely electrifying!

Something Rotten!: A hilarious, uplifting celebration of musical theatre

July 11, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

The company of TUTS’ Something Rotten! Splitting centre is Katie-Rose Connors (left) and Kamyar Pazandeh (right), with Jyla Robinson (far right). Photo credit: Emily Cooper

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, Vancouver’s iconic Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) recently reopened with a radiant production of the Tony Award-winning musical Something Rotten! at the Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park. And there is certainly nothing rotten about this hilarious and wonderfully polished production under the direction of Rachel Peake, with choreography by Nicol Spinola and musical direction by Brent Hughes.

Wolves Are Coming for You: Enjoyably mysterious, with no bells and whistles needed

June 30, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

Fear has a way of stripping us down to our true selves, and it’s not always pretty. And while our ugly sides can surface, so too can virtues such as bravery, empathy, and teamwork. In short – the worst and best of us can come to light; and this message sang through in Stone’s Throw Production’s recent staging of Wolves Are Coming For You, a play written by Joel Horwood.

Marjorie Prime is an enjoyably dark, unsettling glimpse into the future

June 19, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

Marjorie Prime is a Pulitzer Prize-finalist play currently being presented in Vancouver by Ensemble Theatre Company, that is haunting and clever. If you love watching futuristic stories that make you feel disturbed, this is the play for you!

Kinky Boots joyfully struts its stuff, celebrating inclusion and authenticity

June 19, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

The cast of Arts Club Theatre’s Kinky Boots. Photo credit: Moonrider Productions.

Broadway sensation Kinky Boots has kicked its way into the Stanley Theatre and my opinion of this production is: Shantay, you stay! (as RuPaul would say). Presented by Arts Club Theatre and under the wise direction of Barbara Tomasic, this staging of the Tony Award-winning musical offers high-energy, wit, poignancy, and above all else, an uplifting and inspirational message.

Emotional narrative and heartfelt music delivered in Once

June 15, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

Show poster for Renegade Arts Co's production of Once

Once, the 2012 Tony Award-winning musical, is a gem of a show, and thanks to Renegade Arts Co, Vancouver audiences are being treated to a taste of this work. This production is a bare bones production, but the hard-working and talented company and creative team have tried their best to deliver every ounce of quality from this show. Despite its limited resources, this production succeeds in embodying the emotions and spirit of Once.

Masterful storytelling paints a dark, intriguing tale in Terminus

June 4, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

Terminus, a one-act play written by Mark O’Rowe, is a black comedy told through multiple monologues performed by the show’s three characters. Throughout this series of monologues, each character helps paint the story of a dark, fateful night in Dublin that dramatically changes many lives. This production, presented by Jeb Beach and Associates, and directed by Shane Savage, is an interesting 90-minute storytelling experience that leaves you a little more on edge each time a character finishes their monologue and the next one begins.

Men Express Their Feelings: Fun and insightful play examines what can get in the way

March 26, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

Men Express Their Feelings is a one-act play that examines pre-conceived expectations of male behaviour and emotional expression – or lack thereof. At the heart of this clever and insightful play is the generational divide between Gen Z and their Gen X parents, especially when it comes to sexuality and gender norms.

Constellations examines the infinite possibilities life holds

February 13, 2022 Vince Kanasoot

TheatreGarden’s production of the one-act play Constellations by Nick Payne, offers the concept of a multiverse, where parallel existences allow us to have infinitely different lives while still being the same person. Directed by Ricardo, this intimate two-person show features fine performances by Marie Isserman and Connor Riopel, and is an interesting experience.

5 new Canadian dance works you can watch for free, virtually on December 15

December 6, 2021 Vince Kanasoot

Choreographer and dancer Zahra Shahab performing. — Choreographer and dancer Zahra Shahab. Photo credit: Yvonne Chew.

NEXT: New Dance in Development features creative new works from 5 emerging Canadian choreographers. You can watch the free presentation virtually on December 15, 2021.