Tag: Interactive Theatre

“It’s Very Deep & Groovy” When Launch Pad Theatre Dances to E.A. Poe’s Red Death

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Show times:
October 20, 21, 27, 28 at 7:00pm and 9:00pm
October 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 at 8:00pm

Tickets available via www.thecastle.ca or call 250-592-5323 to book.
This show will also return for 2018 during the same month. Interested? Consider making a trip to Victoria, BC to experience Halloween 2018 like never before.

Launch Pad Theatre‘s adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe‘s best known stories into one work is not wrapped under the masque of, but with the approach of the Red Death. This seminal work is also the title of this production. It acts as a container for other narratives as audiences are treated to a partial tour of the historic Craigdarroch Castle located in Victoria, BC. A few new areas are used so the hosts of this gathering — Prospero (David Radford), Virginia (Christina Patterson), Christopher (Jared Gowen), Elizabeth (Diana Nielsen) and Vincent (Trevor Hinton) — can divert everyone from the chaos outside. Instead of the gothic, this take is set in the 70’s at the height of the disco craze.

Life in this palace is pretty groovy. Prospero tells us why we have all gathered and to prevent discord from happening, folks are broken up into smaller groups so the party can continue in other chambers. Here and away from their leader’s prying ears, personal stories are shared and they are from the master of the macabre’s library of works. Three out of the eight tales will get heard in one night. As for which of them will be known depends on the colour-coded key folks get to choose before the start of the show.

Continue reading ““It’s Very Deep & Groovy” When Launch Pad Theatre Dances to E.A. Poe’s Red Death”

[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.

Continue reading “[Victoria, BC] Chasing After Vampires at Craigdarroch Castle”

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

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

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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.”

Continue reading “[Victoria, B.C.] Sherlock Holmes faces Vampires at Craigdarroch Castle!”

[Victoria, B.C.] You’ll have to Wait … for Dracula: Blood is Life if you Dare

And no October can go without some kind of horror themed experience until Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolfman are here

Dracula2-300x287Two shows have been added on Oct 28th to Giggling Iguana‘s production of Dracula: Blood is Life. This interactive theatre show is playing at Craigdarroch Castle, located in Victoria, B.C. Canada. At time of press, tickets are available via wait-listing by phoning the Castle and these added shows are reportedly to have been sold out. All other shows are at capacity as people planned for their All Hallow’s Eve fun during last weekend.

I reviewed this play last year for 28DLA.com. In summary, this site-specific theatrical show proves that even a complex novel like Bram Stoker’s Dracula can be distilled down to its very essence. To see it performed without missing the most important themes from this Irish novelist’s work in under an hour is very impressive. This year, this production is kicking the terror up a notch with what I hope to be more supernatural delights in the form of poltergeist activity. More bite is definitely going to be added.

Despite what the Castle management tells its tourists and staff, this building is indeed haunted!

And no October can go without some kind of horror themed experience until Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolfman are here. Well, maybe next year. The full moon has passed. At least there is no holding the terror down. If the popularity of this particular play is an indication, Dracula: Blood is Life might become a staple for the Halloween tradition here in Victoria. But Ian Case, director of Giggling Iguana Productions, has confirmed that there will be a new show next year.

At least for the time being, all Dracula can say, “Fangs for the memories!”

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