Tag: Vancouver Island

[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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Tsukino-Con Day 3: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

TsukinoDay35When at a weekend convention, such as Tsukino-Con, if there is one thing I learned this year it is to take a freakin’ vacation in 2015. Working eight hours days across town and then hopping two long bus rides to make it in time for the last two hours of convention is a bit of a whirlwind. There is no time to relax and unwind from the trip, no time to chat to the con goers, no time to browse the tables of our dealers and talented artists and no time to truly appreciate the final day of a great con such as this.

On reflection, 2014 was a record-breaking one in terms of attendance for Tsukino. And I can understand why. It is a very active con and there is always something for the fans to enjoy. The University of Victoria (UVic) is the perfect setting for such a con, everything from food to transportation is within reach. With the growth in attendees over the last year, someone suggested the con should move off campus. To them I say “nay!”

From the facilities available in Victoria, UVic is the perfect place for such a con. No other place can house such an event that looks busy but still feels open and free. And besides, UVic benefits from the money spent on their campus and enrolled students get in for free. Why ruin such a good thing?

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Tsukino-Con Day 2: Panels, Panels and More Panels

By James Rovbert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

TsukinoDay22I had a late start on the second day for Tsukino-Con. I had what is known among us older con-goers as the con hangover. That is when a man like me stays up too late, drinks little water eats even less and wakes up with one huge hangover. It’s not a pretty sight and it made me realize I can’t pull it off like I did way back in 1995, at Anime Expo.

The second day appeared to be the most active of the con fan-wise. Many people were out in droves wearing a wide variety of costumes. They came dressed as Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz, Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones and also as members of the Attack on Titan recon team (the most popular cosplay at Tsukino-Con this year).

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Tsukino-Con Day One: Cosplayers & Smiling Artists

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Tsukino-Con
February 14 – 16, 2014
University of Victoria
Gordon Head
Saanich, British Columbia

Tsukino2I’ve always wanted to attend Tsukino-Con but the attitude among my friends were that of disdain. They believed Tsukino was a cosplay event directed at pre-teens and teens than adults who some consider the “real fans.”

I had listened to them for years but secretly I yearned to be among the people who had the same interests as I did. I couldn’t afford to travel to the big cons like Dragon Con or Anime Expo (again), and Tsukino is closer and cheaper. GottaCon is mostly for gamers but I’m an anime fan at heart.

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Qualicum’s Three Hour Tour

To be honest it’s really a two-hour stay. And Dawn Wells best known and loved for portraying Mary Ann Summers from 1960s TV series Gilligan’s Island will be spending those two hours (4 – 6 pm) meeting fans at Qualicum Foods as part of their annual Customer Appreciation Day.

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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)

rockyhorror2Rocky 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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