[Victoria, BC] Melissa Taylor Announced for “Winnie the Pooh” Fringe Play

MelissaTaylorBy James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

The Hundred Acre Wood has become a little more populated recently. In an earlier article, we announced the reuniting of Langham Court Theatre‘s Pride and Prejudice actors Ellen Law and Ian Simms for Winnie the Pooh and Tales of 100 Acre Wood. Today, production company Outpost 31 announced a new cast member Melissa Taylor. She is an actor, writer and director. She created Bereavement (produced by the University of Victoria’s Student Alternative Theatre Company in 2011) and The Oldest Trick in the Book (as part of Theatre SKAM‘s SKAMpede in 2015).

Her one-act play Macramé will be performed next month (August 4 and 5) at Intrepid Theatre. Taylor has garnered critical praise for her portrayal of Mia in the Victoria Theatre Guild’s edgy production of Polly Stenham’s That Face. Times Colonist newspaper’s resident critic Adrian Chamberlain wrote, “[Taylor] captured the truth of her character, Mia, in a tremendously convincing manner. It was a skilled performance.”

She will be juggling the roles of bouncing Tigger and the respected Owl.

Continue reading “[Victoria, BC] Melissa Taylor Announced for “Winnie the Pooh” Fringe Play”

[Victoria, BC] Pride & Prejudice Actors Reunited for Fringe’s Winnie The Pooh

Illustration by E. H. Shephard
Illustration by E. H. Shephard

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Actors Ellen Law and Ian Simms, who performed together in Langham Court Theatre’s hit production of Jane Asuten’s Pride and Prejudice, are reuniting on stage for Winnie the Pooh and Tales of 100 Acre Wood. University of Victoria alumni Law and Simms played Kitty Bennet and Charles Bingley in Janet Munsil’s adaptation of Austen’s novel and will be taking on roles of Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh for this production. Theatre critic Janis la Couvee wrote of Pride and Prejudice:

“My guest for the evening is more familiar with rock and roll than the genteel considerations of Austen. The genius of this production of Pride and Prejudice is that it captured his attention completely. Bravo to cast and crew for a job well done—you have breathed new life into an undisputed treasure of the English language canon.”

Continue reading “[Victoria, BC] Pride & Prejudice Actors Reunited for Fringe’s Winnie The Pooh”

[Victoria Fringe Festival ’15] Tracking the Birdmann’s Flight to Vancouver Fringe, A Review

tumblr_inline_ntvsohKT7B1qmrca7_500

LOCATION:
Performance Works
1218 Cartwright St.
Vancouver, BC

SHOWTIMES:
Sep 11 | 10:40 pm
Sep 12 | 4:30 pm
Sep 13 | 12:10 pm
Sep 14 | 6:55 pm
Sep 17 | 8:30 pm
Sep 19 | 7:25 pm

DURATION: 50 minutes

The nose knows that even on the last day of this act’s performance at the Victoria Fringe Festival, The Birdmann in Momentous Timing must not be missed. If he has flown the coup in one city, at least his show can be found at the next stop. In this festival circuit’s case, that’s Vancouver Fringe Festival, in British Columbia! This product is certainly offbeat, blending a variety of stage shows — balancing acts, dance, magic tricks and standup — into one show. A few bits felt unneeded (like the lacklustre transmogrifying box of tricks) and others more compelling, like being able to juggle plastic bags. If there’s a metaphor behind an ironing board and a clothes iron, no one is telling about what it is.

Continue reading “[Victoria Fringe Festival ’15] Tracking the Birdmann’s Flight to Vancouver Fringe, A Review”

[Victoria Fringe Festival ’15] Why Don’t You Stay Awhile at the Casino Royale? A Review

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

casinomp-jpg

LOCATION:
St Andrew’s Gymnasium
1002 Pandora
Victoria , BC

SHOWTIMES:
Sept 2 | 5:45 pm
Sept 5 | 10:30 pm
Sept 6 | 3:00 pm

DURATION:
54 minutes

No fan of Ian Fleming’s work will want to escape from Casino Royale lest James Bond strips him or her cash bare. This story by Ian Fleming is what launched a franchise and this play directed by Ian Case (a very respected theatre veteran in Victoria, BC) and written by David Elendune (who is equally getting renown) did a great job in pacing out a story that works very well on stage. Usually cold war dramas are tough to manage in a medium outside of film, and for Bond … James Bond, the early works certainly looks very adaptable. His adventures were told in comic strips before. On stage, at the Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival, experimentation is highly encouraged!

Continue reading “[Victoria Fringe Festival ’15] Why Don’t You Stay Awhile at the Casino Royale? A Review”

[Victoria Fringe Festival ’15] Dirk Darrow Returns to Victoria with Two Ruby Knockers, A Review

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

2-Ruby-Knockers-1-Jaded-Dick-A-Dirk-Darrow-Investigationcred-James-Penlidis-2

VENUE:
Victoria Event Centre
1415 Broad Street

PERFORMANCE DATES:
Sept 2 | 6:15 pm
Sept 4 | 10:00 pm
Sept 5 | 4:45 pm
Sept 6 | 6:30 pm

LENGTH:
60 minutes

Any criticisms I had before about Tim Motley‘s characterization of the gumshoe, Dirk Darrow, are moot after seeing him in 2 Ruby Knockers, 1 Jaded Dick. This newest show by this Australian performer is a solid tribute (done as a parody, complete with puns) to the noir stylings from the golden age of cinema, with a few terrific magic acts buried within. When compared to what I wrote on 28DLA.com years ago investigating the supernatural aspects that drew me to this show, there were other parts in the production I had to question. This review is reprinted with permission (see below) where I noted his jokes included modern cultural references. I love the fact this new act stayed 100% in period.

Continue reading “[Victoria Fringe Festival ’15] Dirk Darrow Returns to Victoria with Two Ruby Knockers, A Review”

[Victoria Fringe Festival ’15] Adapting Neil Gaiman’s Fortunately, the Milk to Stage, A Review

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

IMG_3352 GOOD small

LOCATION:
The Roxy Theatre
2657 Quadra Street
Victoria, BC

SHOWTIMES:
September 1 | 6:00 pm
September 4 | 9:30 pm
September 5 | 8:30 pm
September 6 | 7:15 pm

DURATION: 60 minutes

Anyone familiar with Neil Gaiman‘s Fortunately, the Milk will find Windwhistle Theatre’s adaptation for the Fringe festival circuit captivating. Marion Jeffery is excellent giving life to the spoken word, and she commands the stage. When considering her background includes working at Birmingham Children’s Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama, and performing at The Kennedy Center, no one should be surprised. Both adults and children will be enthralled in how vividly well she can recall the text.

Continue reading “[Victoria Fringe Festival ’15] Adapting Neil Gaiman’s Fortunately, the Milk to Stage, A Review”