The October To-See List

It’s officially fall. The leaves on the tree beside my balcony are turning yellow and the theatre season has kicked into high gear.  As I began going through the lists of what is playing in Vancouver this month I was overwhelmed by the sheer amount happening.   It seems to me that the volume of good theatre in Vancouver is increasing, and this can only be a good thing (though I’m not sure how I’m ever going to have time to see everything I want to). There are also a number of productions happening at post-secondary institutions that I am going to try to fit in.  This is in part because I have friends in this productions, but it is also because it is an opportunity to see the people who will be shaping our theatre community within the next couple of years.

Lot’s Wife (Studio 58) – A modern re-telling of the biblical story of Lot & his family (from the Soddom and Gommorah period – She of the famous pillar of salt).

Love You Forever…and More Munsch (Carousel Theatre) – 6 favorite Robert Munsch stories on stage. And this time featuring the first book I ever memorized: Love you Forever. (I still have the copy my parents were given when I was born).

Any Night (DualMinds, Touchstone & The Cultch) – The team behind this production is outstanding, the play itself won the “Best New Work” award at SummerWorks 2008 in Toronto.  It’s a psychological thriller that looks at privacy, paranoia & the role of the subconscious.

Gift of Screws – It’s two one act plays by local playwright Bill Marchant. And it is already allowing you to be a part of the process with videos from behind the scenes.  Just see it.

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Pacific Theatre & Pound of Flesh) – It’s a staged reading, but with a cast of Vancouver’s most well know and respected performers, it’s sure to be interesting. The concept:  Judas is on trial for betraying Jesus, but the witnesses span the centuries.

The Miracle Worker (Vancouver Playhouse) – It’s a classic. It’s also being done in Kamloops this year.  But this production is directed by Meg Roe, whose directorial debut with The Tempest last year remains one of my top theatre experiences.

Anatomy of Gray (Trinity Western Theatre) – Trinity is my alma matter so I always try to see their shows, but department chair Angela Konrad is a fantastic director and is at the helm of this play. I always look forward to shows she directs.

Evil Dead – The Musical  (either of the two productions)  - I don’t want to get political about this, choosing one production over the other. If you want more details about what’s happening with this, check out Rebecca’s blog.

The House of Kosa (TigerMilk Collective) – I love seeing shows at Vancouver’s PAL theatre because it is such a unique performance space.  The play is about haute couture and is by another local playwright.

In addition to my regular Vancouver list I’m hoping to see a couple of shows in Portland. I have plans to head down for a week to visit friends from University and I always try to take in a show when I am down there. We’ll see what I can fit in this time. If you know of any great shows playing in Portland mid-October, drop me a note and let me know – I’d love to check them out.