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Ronnie Burkett Returns To The Cultch December 5th With The Little Dickens

7 Nov

LittleDickensThe ever popular Ronnie Burkett brings the Daisy Theatre back to The Cultch for his production The Little Dickens December 5 to 22, 2017. If you don’t know about the Daisy Theatre, you are missing a laugh your ass off good time. This is an adult puppet show performed By Ronnie Burkett.  If you think you might not be interested in seeing puppets, think again. The Daisy Theatre is unlike anything you have ever seen. Ronnie Burkett, puppeteer provocateur and his company of over 40 marionettes, will not only entertain you, but will be sure to have you riding a wave of emotion as he brings his puppets to life. The energy he brings to his puppetry is rather awe inspiring and how he seamlessly transitions between all the characters. In his new production The Little Dickens, the cast of The Daisy Theatre take on the beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, in the merriest marionette mash-up ever. Faded Daisy diva, Esmé Massengill, plays the role of miserly, drunken, bitter Esmé Scrooge, in this Burkett-esque retelling of the Dickens classic. As always with an improvised Daisy show, there is no set script, and in the journey of Esmé Scrooge toward redemption, she encounters all the Daisy favourites portraying Dickens’ familiar characters. In keeping with the vaudeville show theme of The Daisy Theatre, popular Christmas songs will feature in a burlesque opening and sultry jazz solos.  Ronnie Burkett brings a sharp wit to his characters when he needs to, but he can be as soft as kitten when playing the character Schnitzel who usually begins and finishes his show. Each performance is different, daring and ridiculous.  The Georgia Straight has previously called it “one of the best shows you’ll ever see”.  Tickets start at $22 and are available online at The Cultch.  Note, due to the mature content this is a 19+ show.

What people are saying about Ronnie Burkett:

“Ronnie Burkett’s creations are remarkable feats of both manipulation and imagination” — The Guardian (UK)

 “One of the geniuses of the world…seeing his troupe every few years has just become a necessity of civilized theatre going”
— The Village Voice (NY)

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Review Of Girls Like That On Now Until November 10, 2017

6 Nov

 

 

Shameless Hussy Productions tackles modern day girl on girl crime in Girls Like That at Templeton Secondary School. The 10-person cast, entirely made up of teenage girls (many of whom are Templeton students), impress the audience with their ability to grapple with the intense subject matter which frankly, many adults struggle with. No doubt, this is in part due to the school’s “Girls in Leadership” club.

“Slut, skank, scuzz – you deserve everything coming to you.”

The play follows a tightly knit group of girls from childhood through high school, jumping back and forth in time and showcasing the judging and shaming that takes place at every age of a girl’s life. However, in the same vein as the 2004 film Mean Girls, the play turns your attention not to the way women are oppressed by men, but to the crimes girls commit against each other.

The main storyline is interwoven with explosive musical ensembles and monologues from women of different generations throughout. The cast dances in sync to songs heavy in their message of girl power like Beyonce’s “Run the World (Girls)” and Little Mix’s “Wings,” drawing a stark contrast with the way the girls gang up on and slut-shame their “friend” in the story. Moreover, the comedic monologues from a flapper girl, a World War II air pilot, a hippie and a Melanie Griffith-style working girl serve to demonstrate the adversity women have faced through the ages and the way women have had to stick together to overcome oppression. This again points a disappointed finger at the way girls treat each other in the present.

The play’s main objective is clear, to blatantly show the way sexism and misogyny are indoctrinated by the girls themselves and how this is all aided by modern technology. It’s not that bullying has never existed and girls have never been mean to each other, but the game has changed. It is so easy to anonymously harass someone from behind a screen or to like and share gossip with the tap of a button. What’s easier is to blindly accept discourse like “she was asking for it” and “boys will be boys.” It’s hard to challenge authority, to go against the mob, but these young women, mature beyond their years, display the dramatic consequences of not doing so.

For tickets to this impressive and important production at Templeton Secondary School on now until November 10th visit Eventbrite.

Review by Contributing Writer: Nicole Alivojvodic

Photos Credit: Tim Matheson

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What’s On East Van: November 3, 2017

3 Nov

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Lots happening in East Van this next week.  Our weekly feature What’s On East Van sets out cool events for the upcoming week. Beyond the week, we invite you to check out our Event Listing which is updated daily and futures events for the month and beyond.

Girls Like That – Templeton Secondary School – November 2 – 10, 2017

Growing up a girl is frought with pitfalls, in the digital age they have become land mines.  Girls Like That showcases what it’s like growing up a girl in this technological age, but there are many other messages hidden in this production for everyone.  If you are a woman, any age, you should see this. Tickets are a very reasonable $10 and available through Eventbrite. The cast features high school students from the Lower Mainland including several from Templeton Secondary School. This is about as real as it gets. See it.

Icons Vintage Market – 1024 Main Street – November 3, 2017

Love vintage? Head over to ICONS Vintage Market this Friday, November 3rd at the Eastside Flea, 1024 Main Street. The event features vintage clothing, vinyl records, housewares, music, unique finds, food and drink specials along with pinball and a DJ.  Doors open at 6:00 pm. Admission is $3. This is an all ages event.

Square Dance – Wise Hall – November 3, 2017

If you always wanted to learn how to square dance, now’s your chance.  Professor Bango, Paul Silveria, is hosting an evening at the Wise Hall this Friday. This is a beginner friendly event. Tickets are $15 online or $20 at the door. 

Take Flight – Arts Factory – November 4, 2017 

You are invited to come celebrate 21 years of art creation at Eastside Culture Crawl’s 2017 launch party and benefit this Saturday. The first part of the evening is a reception with cocktails and appetizers and the first to get your hands on our 2017 program guide. At 8:30 pm, they open the doors to the public opening of the LIT Preview Exhibit  featuring 2017 Culture Crawl artists. 

East Van Opry – Rio Theatre – November 4, 2017 

Lots of local talent packed into the East Van Opry happening Saturday night at the Rio Theatre.  This event now in its 5th features country music and much more. Tickets are $24 in advance or $28 at the door.

Winter Farmers Market – November 4 & 5, 2017

Vancouver Farmer Markets kick off their winter markets this weekend.  Saturday’s market is at Nat Bailey Stadium from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Sunday’s market at Hastings Park on the PNE centregrounds also from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Come out and support your local growers and makers

Big Top Tuesday – Libra Room – November 7, 2017

Starting Tuesday, November 7th, Big Top returns to their famed weekly residency at The Libra Room. Music kicks off at 8:00 pm and winds down at 11:00 pm. 

Entertainment, Comedy + Live Theatre 

This Friday, Rio Theatre is hosting Fairytale Burlesque.  If you looking for a movie to check out to say indoors, the Rio is showing V For Vendetta with Natalie Portman this Sunday at 6:00 pm. Fets Whiskey Kitchen on the Drive is hosting a Whiskey Dinner this Sunday. To see more of what’s on, check our Events Listing.

Image Credit: June Hunter

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Portuguese Festa! With Dinner, Music & Show At Casa Verde – December 1, 2017

1 Nov

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If you missed out on the rather funny 2016 Vancouver Fringe Festival Show Festa!, you are in luck it’s back for one night only Friday, December 1, 2017.   This show was created by two Portuguese ladies, Maria J. Cruz and Sandra Medeiros. Maria and Sandra grew up in East Van and met at Charles Tupper Secondary School. They have fond memories of growing up in East Van, but felt there was a bit of stigma living in East Van, which made them tough, scrappy and resourceful. We think this applies to many of us that grew up in East Van. We once asked Maria and Sandra what they loved most about growing up in a Portuguese family. “The food was always amazing! We have the ability to laugh and joke around, even when you don’t have much. Knowing that your family is fiercely protective and will always have your back. Portuguese families are tight knit and loving, even while driving you crazy!”  Now getting back to the food, like many cultures, this is a big part of theirs and experiencing the food is part of the Portuguese Festa happening December 1st. The dinner and show takes place at Casa Verde located at 3532 Commercial Street just off the Victoria Diversion and steps away from the Commercial Street Café. The evening includes a 3 course dinner, an entertaining show and live music. Tickets are $50 and available through Eventbrite.

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East Van Panto – Snow White & The Seven Dwarves At The York Theatre

30 Oct

SnowWhiteEastVanPantoWe were going to wait until after Halloween to tell you about this upcoming holiday tradition, but we just can’t wait. The East Van Panto is a favourite event we look forward to every year and this show never ceases to disappoint. Celebrating its 5th year, the East Van Panto is back with an outrageous take on Snow White. In this East Van tale, our hero flees the Queen of North Vancouver across the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge and lands straight into the madness of the PNE, where she dances with SuperDogs, hops a ride on the Wooden Roller Coaster, and befriends washed-up ‘80s rock stars “The Seven Dwarves”. Pure Panto hilarity ensues as they do everything they can to escape the Queen’s wicked clutches.

“It is really hard to believe that we are doing the East Van Panto for a fifth year!”, says The Cultch’s Executive Director, Heather Redfern. “So many people tell me that it’s a holiday tradition for their family and friends, and that just warms my heart because the Panto is all about celebrating local artists, local places, and local families. This year, we are presenting Snow White & the Seven Dwarves – who just happen to have landed at the PNE! I mean what could be more fun to sing and dance about than that?! The East Van Panto is for everybody and it’s made here especially for us.”

There is amazing cast of talent behind this production.  The East Van Panto is open to all ages 5 and up. Tickets start at $22, family packs are available which include 4 tickets for $135.  Note, all seats for ages 18 and under are $22.  Tickets are available at The Cultch either in person, by phone or online. The shows previews November 29th and November 30th and continues until January 6, 2018. For those looking for a matinee, there are many 2:00 pm shows. For more information on tickets, visit The Cultch. See you there!

Photo Credit: Tim Matheson

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Girls Like That At Templeton Secondary School November 2-10, 2017

17 Oct

Flash. Click. Buzz. “Did you get the picture?”

“Slut, skank, scuzz – you deserve everything coming to you”

Do you have a daughter,  niece or granddaughter? Even if you don’t, you need to see this production.  The writer grew up in a time before social media and honestly, I am grateful for it every day. To have every move of your life documented in print and/or photo which includes every mistake or poor judgment for all to see is honestly unfathomable.  Who of us has not made a mistake, misjudged someone, trusted the wrong person? I doubt there’s one of you that haven’t crossed a line that you wished you hadn’t, even if there weren’t major repercussions from your decisions. You realize later, possibly years later, whew I was lucky there. The hope is we learn from our mistakes and not repeat them, but now every mistake can be glorified, vilified and go viral without your knowledge or consent.  That’s why we think the upcoming production of Girls Like That is a must see.  The show coming to Templeton Secondary School from November 2nd to the 10th is a collaboration between Shameless Hussy Productions, Theatre Temp’s Dream Big Productions and Girls in Leadership Club. It features a cast of 10 teenage performers. The characters are familiar and relatable and the scenes are intercut with short, comedic monologues from women of different eras such as a flapper girl, an air pilot, a hippie, a Melanie Griffith-style working girl, basically women who broke convention, championing over oppression with style and sass. These women represent generations of oppression by the opposite sex as well as the wider society, and ultimately contrasted by the current generation of girls, selling itself short and oppressing themselves through slut-shaming and bitterness.

The production showcases 5 explosive musical ensemble numbers aGirlsLikeThatSMIconsnd tackles a contemporary subject in a theatrically exciting way, exploring gender equality, self-image, friendship, and the pressures on today’s digital generation. The play is written by award-winning Canadian-British playwright Evan Placey and one that will be on our definite list to see.  Growing up a girl has always been frought with challenges, but smartphones and the electronic age have brought a whole new meaning to Girls Like That. To purchase tickets in advance, visit Eventbrite, or you can purchase tickets at the door.

 

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Encounter Comes To The York Theatre October 17 – 22, 2017

10 Oct

EncounterChristopherJosephThe best in physical theatre comes to the Cultch in conjunction with Diwali. Encounter is a story about an Indigenous woman, Dopdi, and her communities’ struggle to uphold the Indigenous life and her defiance against injustice. Created for the stage by Aparna Sindhoor, S M Raju, and Anil Natyaveda, Encounter is a tribute to the Indigenous people’s history. It is a passionate story of female power that delves into the struggles and challenges of the indigenous communities of India. Aparna Sindhoor, co-writer of Encounter says “The word ‘Encounter’ has a specific meaning in the Indian (South Asian) context. It is a euphemism for the state orchestrated ‘chance meetings,’ to get rid of (kill, or torture and kill) the so-called enemies of the state.” The performance features acrobatics and original music which pays tribute to Indigenous peoples’ history from around the world. The show runs October 17 – 22, 2017 at the York Theatre. Tickets are available at The Cultch.

Contributing Writer Tiva Quinn reviews Encounter:

Encounter is a dance-play that is political, sensual, humorous and informative. There’s a bit of every possible emotion along the way, but, ultimately, it’s also a story about an enormous tragedy.

The dancers portray members of an indigenous group in India who find that their land is being taken for mining, while their water is being diverted for factories. In order to survive at all, they have no choice but to “steal” water from the wells of a wealthy landowner nearby, and so the military is called to put a stop to this crime.

The dancers also portray members of the military who have been sent to break up the “rebellion.” At one point, they tell us stories about why they joined the armed forces, and most of the stories are relatable – one needs to feed his family, one is saving to send her daughter to college, and of course one is in love with his gun, but there’s no distinction among them when their leader asks them to do “the needful” and try to get information from a prisoner.

In the South Asian context, “encounter” refers to times when the army captures suspected rebels and tortures or kills them. The story opens and closes on a scene of one such torture, and yes, it’s told through dance. The troupe are all very talented and they create some visually arresting tableaus out of these scenes. And in a world where a show like 24 asks us to identify with the torturer, why shouldn’t we have art that asks us to identify with both the torturer and those who are tortured?

If you’re looking for a note of hope, a sense of closure, or a call to action that makes you feel like you can make a difference, there isn’t one. It wouldn’t be especially true to the reality of the situation if there was.

Do I recommend seeing it, though? Yes.

Photo Credit: Christopher Joseph

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What’s On East Van: October 6, 2017

6 Oct

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Lots happening in East Van this next week.  Our weekly feature What’s On East Van sets out cool events for the upcoming week. Beyond the week, we invite you to check out our Event Listing which is updated daily and features events for the month and beyond.

The Goblin Market – York Theatre – On Now Till October 14, 2017

A well known poem, Goblin Market, by Christina Rosetti forms the basis of this performance and what a performance.  To say contemporary circus doesn’t quite do it justice, it is so much more. The art, the music, the athleticism of the performers, the sexuality, the sisterhood. It’s something to see. We highly recommend seeing this show. Tickets are available through The Cultch.

Oktoberfest – The Alpen Club – October 6 & 7, 2017

Want to get your fill of German beer and food along with some live music? We suggest you check out Oktoberfest at The Alpen Club. Pull out those lederhosen and dirndls and get ready to dance.  Event happens Friday and Saturday night kicking off at 8:00 pm.   If you can’t make it this weekend, the festivities carry throughout the month on Fridays and Saturdays.

 Vancouver Mural Festival: Official Guided Tours – October 7, 2017

Check out some of the amazing street art in Mount Pleasant and False Creek Flats this Saturday. The guided tour connects you with the beauty that is their work but also some background about the artist’s vision, medium and creative process for each piece. Tour kicks off from Kafka’s Coffee & Tea on Main Street. Tickets available from Eventbrite.

Vancouver Rare Book, Photograph & Paper Show – Heritage Hall – October 7&8 2017

The Vancouver Rare Book, Photograph & Paper Show happens October 7th & 8th at the Heritage Hall. Expect some of Canada’s top dealers in collectible, antiquarian and rare material including maps, photographs and interesting paper items.

Drive-In Movie – River District – October 7, 2017

This Saturday is a last in a series of Drive-In Movies being held in SE Vancouver along the Fraser River. River District hosts this double feature movie event with a 7:00 pm showing of Cars 3 after which follows a 9:15 pm showing of Baby Driver. Cost is $20 per carload for one movie, $30 per carload for both movies.

Mount Pleasant Farmers Market – Dude Chilling Park – October 8, 2017

This is the last market of the season at Guelph Park/Dude Chilling Park. Perfect spot to stock up for delish eats for Thanksgiving dinner.  Market runs from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Entertainment, Comedy + Live Theatre

The 36th Annual Vancouver Film Festival continues until October 13th. The Rio Theatre is one of the venues hosting and has a great line up of films. To see more of what’s on, check our Events Listing.

Image By June Hunter

 

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Our Review Of Goblin Market On Now At The York Theatre Until October 14, 2017

5 Oct

 

Goblin-Market-1-Photo-by-Loork-1-982x1024Recounting Christina Rossetti’s celebrated 1862 tale of temptation, sacrifice and salvation, New Zealand’s premier circus theatre company, The Dust Palace’s “Goblin Market” receives a standing ovation on opening night.

“Morning and evening

Maids heard the goblins cry: “Come buy our orchard fruits, come buy, come buy…”

Tantalizing and passionate, “Goblin Market” not only captures the mood of the original poem by combining stunning athleticism with jarring music and sound effects, but thrusts the content into the contemporary. Where Rossetti draws on themes of Christianity and sorority, Mike Edward directs this production further into a commentary on mental well-being and modern-day dating.

“We must not look at goblin men, 

We must not buy their fruits”

Beautifully performed by Rochelle Mangan, Eve Gordon, and Edward Clendon, the audience is kept on the edge of their seats in awe of the daring acrobatics and bold visual effects. As notable excerpts from the poem flash and flicker on the backdrop, the performers make use of ropes, a trapeze, each other, and even dangerously stacked chairs to tell this haunting story of lust and temptation. To catch this amazing performance, visit The Cultch for tickets.

By Contributing Writer: Nicole Alivojvodic

Photo Credit: Loork

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Hyperlink At The Firehall Arts Centre October 4 – 14, 2017

4 Oct

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Vancouver’s TJ Dawe is back with Itai Erdal for a collaborative performance in Hyperlink.  Hyperlink is the act of jumping from space to space, always exploring new territory but often not staying still for long enough to truly connect. This production showcases the online persona you’ve created. Does it match you the real life version of you? TJ Dawe and Itai Erdal perform as themselves and perform themselves, argue, debate and intertwine their personal experience on everything from internet scams, to love, to hate crimes, to like-farming, in order to get the bottom of what it means to live a life online.  Hyperlink kicks off at the Firehall Arts Centre this Thursday, October 5th. Tickets are available online from Firehall Arts Centre.

Contributing Writer Nicole Alivojvodic Reviews Hyerlink

The world premiere of Elbow Theatre’s Hyperlink at the Firehall Arts Centre leaves the audience laughing, crying and contemplating. Written and performed by TJ Dawe and Itai Erdal, Hyperlink delves into life online and the limits of digital empathy. As the title suggests, the performance jumps from topic to topic without ever staying in it long enough to feel that it has been fully fleshed out. The effect this has is that instead of pushing their own opinions on a topic, Dawe and Erdal present a commentary, based on their personal experiences, and let the audience make up their own minds about it.

With topics ranging from “like farming” to internet fads to hate crimes, Hyperlink keeps the audience entertained and thinking. Everything from the visual and sound effects to the cheeky “Instamission” (in lieu of a traditional intermission) are crafted to make a point. While Dawe and Erdal speak candidly and incorporate lots of silliness – including getting the audience to participate in a “Harlem Shake” – they never fail to intellectually question what it means to live a life online.

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