Theatre Archives | Page 27 Of 29

[Victoria, BC] Chasing After Vampires at Craigdarroch Castle

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Holmes Sussex Vampire Poster Note: This production continues until April 12, 2014 at Craigdarroch Castle (1050 Joan Crescent). Performances are on April 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11 and 12 at 8 pm. For more information, visit the Giggling Iguana Productions official website here.

Giggling Iguana’s theatrical production of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Sussex Vampire is one show that requires no garlic for audiences to keep in their pocket, should they be afraid of being bitten. In this adaptation of the short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, only those in the know will realize that perhaps no real occult science is afoot here. Instead, it is in seeing just how soon will Sherlock (David Radford) will solve this mystery. His authoritative and quick mind is skillfully played by Radford, and perhaps this casting was intentional to give long time theatre-goers of this company’s works a bit of a chuckle. He played Dracula in a previous production, Dracula: The Blood is the Life.

But the laughs in The Case of the Sussex Vampire is also well earned. A touch of light humour is written into the script when Holmes enters the scene dressed as a woman to fool Dr. Watson (Ian Case). The added yuk-yuks give these two crime-solving partners a different interpretation of the famous duo to act like the odd couple, getting into some fun, tossing rumpled up letters about until they eventually hit upon a letter from an old chum of Watson’s, Robert Ferguson (Michael Glover). These two are old schoolmates, and he invites the duo to come visit because there is a problem at the homestead.

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[Victoria, B.C.] Sherlock Holmes faces Vampires at Craigdarroch Castle!

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Holmes&Lens1 (1)

Craigdarroch Castle
1050 Joan Crescent
Victoria, BC V8S 3L5

Ticket Reservations:
250-592-5323

Showtimes:
April 3-5 and 9-12 at 8pm.

Two of the greatest icons from the Victorian age may well get to square off in the hallways and byways of Craigdarroch Castle this Spring. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are off to solve “The Case of the Sussex Vampire” in Giggling Iguana Productions’ latest site specific offering playing April 3-12.

Okay, so there is no Dracula, but this adventure takes place, interestingly enough, in different season of the 2014 year than as a Halloween treat. “The Case of the Sussex Vampire” is adapted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s tale of the same name by Tony Hubner and Iguana founder Ian Case. Previous works Case adapted includes E.A. Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher,” H.G. Wells‘ “The War of the Worlds,” and Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”

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Heavy Metal – The Dondero Way

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

If you’ve never heard of Royal Oak Dondero High School from Royal Oak, Michigan then know that they’ve produced two greats: Glenn Frey of the Eagles and an enthused cover of Sweet’s song “Fox on the Run.”

When it comes to this tune, I love both versions. While Sweet’s version is considered mainstream, Dondero’s cover is considered outsider music. That means it’s either an oddity that exists or no one wants to admit that Dondero’s cover stands on its own merits.

Every year Dondero’s A capella group would put on the annual Pop Concert for friends and family. Aided by pyrotechnics, coloured lights and a smoke machine or two, it was up to the budding artists on stage to wow the crowd using a selection of songs both old and new.

In this concert from 1982, Dondero’s students perform their own version of the title track from the Gerald Potterton directed film, Heavy Metal. At the time of this concert the film was still playing.

I love Dondero’s version of the Sammy Hagar song and one of the reasons is the number of guitars used. It gave this song a harder, grittier, feel. I’m sure you could bang your head to Hagar’s original tune, but this version has so much power behind it that it would be like banging your head against a wall. To some this would be considered bliss.

On guitars (from left to right) are Paul Prange, Jim Zagone, Jon Houghton, Andy Rosenzweig and Jon Synnestvedt.

I only wish I could’ve seen just one performance by Dondero’s talented students. If Dondero High School still existed, then a trip to see their annual concert is needed. Sadly this institution is now Royal Oak Middle School. For the A capella alumni, there is no revisiting the past but with the body of work they created people can praise them for it.

The Neverending Story Delivers An All-Age Fantasy

The Neverending Story
University Centre Farquhar Auditorium
University of Victoria
December 12 – 18, 2013

J: Whenever The Neverending Story is mentioned, people will most likely remember the film more than Michael Ende’s book that this play is based off. The film is on many lists of the “Top 100 Family Films of All Time.” It comes as no surprise that David S. Craig was under tremendous pressure to adapt Ende’s work for the stage while staying true to the book. Perhaps it was even equal pressure that Kaleidoscope’s Artistic Director, Roderick Glanville, present a show that both fans of Wolfgang Petersen’s film and their children could enjoy.

In this adaptation, Atreyu (Ayden Turpel-Stewart), a young warrior from the plains, is chosen by Fantastica’s ruler, the Childlike Empress (Emily Van Oosten), to take up a quest to save the land and its people from an enveloping black emptiness called The Nothing. Atreyu seeks the aid of many of the land’s inhabitants to stop The Nothing, but the one person who plays the biggest role is Bastian (Stuart Cameron), a boy from a different world who uses his imagination to keep his loneliness at bay.

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Monty Python Reunion to hit the UK in a Stage Show!

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Monty Python Reunion Announcement - Press Conference — Photograph: Ian Gavan/Getty Images

Hold on to your hats! The surviving members of Monty Python are reuniting and they are going to put on a show at the O2 Arena in London on July 1, 2014. The show will contain some of their greatest hits “with a modern, topical, Pythonesque twist” and feature some new material. But for a fan like me, I’m looking forward to wondering what kind of wonderful animation Terry Gilliam is going have play during this stage production. The big question is if I should plan a vacation to go see them, or hold out in hopes the Pythons will tour.

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[Victoria, BC] Rocky Horror Show: Its Good To Relieve a Little … Tension

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)
Revisions by Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

rockyhorror2 Rocky Horror Show
McPherson Playhouse
Oct. 31 – Nov. 1, 2013

Kaleidoscope Theatre lets it all hang out as sexual promiscuity mixes with fetishes, classic Hollywood horror and a little alien fun. With Rocky Horror Show — a benefit performance in support of continuing this groups effort to bring the Arts to the youths of Victoria — lines are blurred between hero and villain. And perhaps we are all just people wanting to be understood.

The Rocky Horror original stage show saw success at London’s Royal Court Theatre before going on to greater success in the United States, thanks in part to producer Lou Adler. With UK show director Jim Sharman and original star Tim Curry as Frank N’ Furter (later replaced by Paul Jabara) transferred to the US, the rest of the cast was filled with Hollywood and Broadway performers. Pre-Bat Out of Hell Meat Loaf would play the roles of both Eddie and Dr. Scott.

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