Royal City Musical Theatre presents Singin’ in the Rain at the Massey Theatre.
There’s lots happening in Vancouver theatre this April. Shows include a stage adaptation of a beloved move musical, a local take on a classic Chekhov play, and an original story about a real-life Canadian women’s hockey team. Scroll below to see what’s coming up.
The Orchard (After Chekhov) (until April 21, Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, 2750 Granville St.) – Arts Club’s production of a new version of the Chekhov classic. Written by BC playwright Sarena Parmar, it moves the action to the mid-seventies in the Okanagan and features a Punjabi-Sikh family. ($29 at artsclub.com and 604.687.1644)
The Tashme Project: The Living Archives (April 2 – 13, Firehall Arts Centre, 280 E. Cordova St.) – Montreal actor Julie Tamiko Manning and Ottawa theatre/performance artist Matt Miwa perform verbatim excerpts from interviews with Japanese-Canadians sent to internment camps during the Second World War. ($25 at firehallartscentre.ca and 604-689-0926)
Tashme Project: The Living Archives.
New Cackle Sisters: Kitchen Chicken (April 2 – 6, York Theatre, 639 Commercial Drive) – Award-winning Quebec company L’orchestre d’hommes-orchestres returns to Vancouver with a musical and culinary show. According to the media release, “In New Cackle Sisters: Kitchen Chicken, the songs of the American ‘30s yodel queens, Mary Jane and Carolyn DeZurik, known as The Cackle Sisters, contend with the ovens for an improbable meal. Melodies made famous by the 1930s radio sensations are reborn in true L’orchestre d’hommes-orchestres form. The acts fly by at an astonishingly fast pace while the team hustles to roast a chicken, mash potatoes, and prepare appetizers—which may or may not eventually be served up—all while captivating audiences with the songs of The Cackle Sisters. An undisciplined ode to rural America, and the music of the incomparable DeZurik Sisters.” (from $24 at 604-251-1363 or tickets.thecultch.com)
New Cackle Sisters.
Glory (April 4-13, Gateway Theatre, 6500 Gilbert Road, Richmond) – The tale of the real-life Preston Rivulettes, a women’s team that dominated Canadian non-professional hockey in the 1930s. Written by Vancouver playwright Tracey Power. ($29 at tickets.gatewaytheatre.com and 604-270-1812)
Glory.
Singing’ In the Rain (April 4-20, Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave., New Westminster) – Royal City Musical Theatre presents Broadway quality shows, with a big talented cast, big dance numbers, and a full orchestra in the pit. Its latest production, helping celebrate the company’s 30th anniversary, is a musical based on the classic movie. (adults $49, seniors/students $39, children 13 under $19 at ticketsnw.ca or 604-521-5050)
Cherry Docs (April 5-28, Pacific Theatre, 1440 W. 12th Ave.) – An ambitious Jewish defense lawyer is assigned the case of an unrepentant neo-Nazi accused of murder in this guest production from Cave Canem (last year’s well-received The Lonesome West). Canadian David Gow wrote the play in 1998. ($20-36.50 at 604.731.5518 and pacifictheatre.org)
Cherry Docs.
Never The Last (April 9-20, Annex, 823 Seymour St)—Delinquent Theatre presents the world premiere of Never the Last as part of the SeeMore Theatre Series. Inspired by the life story of Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté, an early 20th-century composer, the drama follows her 10-year marriage with the celebrated expressionist painter Walter Gramatté. Set to a live score of Eckhardt-Gramatté’s solo violin works, the multimedia presentation blends movement and text. Local playwright and actor Christine Quintana and violinist Molly MacKinnon collaborated on the piece. (Tickets: $30/25 students and seniors at theatrewire.com)
Never the Last.
The Young King (April 13 – 21, Performance Works, 1218 Cartwright Street on Granville Island) – Australian theatre company Slingsby presents the Oscar Wilde story about a young goatherd who finds out that he is heir to the throne. Dazzled by the riches and finery of his new life, he discovers that everything comes at a price. The Young King is recommended for ages 8 and up. ($35 general; $29 seniors/students; $18 young people (3-18 years) at tickets.carouseltheatre.ca and 604-685-6217)
Act of Faith (April 11-21, Cultch Historic Theatre, 1895 Venables St) – “After years living with paraplegia, Faith can suddenly walk, and believes she has been healed by a miracle. But, what about those closest to her? What about her friends and family? What happens when everything we believe to be true about ourselves, or those closest to us, is challenged by new information?” A multi-disciplinary world premiere from one of Canada’s foremost playwrights, Janet Munsil, this new play was inspired in part by the true story of the mysterious recovery by a young Vancouver woman who lived with paraplegia for 13 years. (from $24 at 604-251-1363 and tickets.thecultch.com)
Act of Faith.
King Richard and His Women (April 11-19, Tyrant Studios, 1019 Seymour St. above Penthouse Nightclub) – Adapted by from Shakespeare’s RICHARD III, this modern take features the titular character confronted by the women he has loved, hated and destroyed. “Together, the ghosts of his deeds create a dark and fantastical world in which he, Richard, is called to account. Shakespeare’s beautiful language spoken through an absurdist allegory of corrupting power that is sure to resonate with the times.” ($29 at tickets.tyrantstudios.com)
Jack and the Magic Bean (April 11-28, Presentation House, 333 Chesterfield Ave, North Vancouver) – A gardening tale for 3 – 8-year-olds (and their guardians). From the award-winning creative team of Where the Wild Things Are, Baking Time and other shows for the very young. ($20/15/10 at 604-990-3474 at tickets.phtheatre.org)
Dead People’s Things (April 17-May 5, Studio 16, 1555 W. 7th Ave.) – Based on true events, this dark comedy from Zee Zee Theatre Company is a “reflection on the stories behind the things we collect as we go through life.” It “tells the story of Phyllis, a millennial who inherits a house and all of its contents after her estranged hoarder aunt commits suicide. Phyllis must then collaborate with her neighbour Beatrice, who has been named executor of the estate, to understand the life of a woman she barely knew through the myriad, eclectic items she left behind.” ($28–34 at theatrewire.com)
Dead People’s Things.
BLANK (April 30 – May 4, PL1422 at 1422 William St.) – The Canadian premiere production of BLANK by Nassim Soleimanpour, “an interactive experience where audience and performer collide and collaborate to spark a new, moving life story each night.” Iranian playwright Soleimanpour (White Rabbit Red Rabbit) is known for creating plays without directors, sets and rehearsals. “BLANK reverses the typical theatre experience: A script riddled with blanks leaves the audience in charge of how the story will unfold.” ($20 at rumble.org)
