Author Archives: Ed Sum

08.26.16
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[Victoria Fringe Festival 2016] SMUS Shake It Up with Disney’s Camp Rock!

CAMP-ROCK_4CLOCATION:
St. Michaels
University School
3400 Richmond Road
Saanich, BC

SHOWTIMES:
Fri Aug. 26 – 7pm
Sat Aug. 27 – 2pm
Sat Aug. 27 – 7pm

Sometimes it is tough to decide on what to take on as the first Victoria Fringe Festival presentation for the 2016 season. This year, the decision was a no-brainer and I had to see the results of what St. Michaels University School (SMUS) Summer Musical Theatre program produced. The folks involved always deliver a quality educational curriculum to teach the next rising stars the basics while having fun at the same time. On opening night, they put on the musical version of Disney’s Camp Rock.

This show highlights the musical stylings of bands like The Jonas Brothers and the modern sounds of the past decade. Like ’em or not (every generation has their favourite musicians), those who grew up with them had a rollicking time with this production. Opening night was not without a few chuckle-worthy moments, gaffes included; the group was able to roll with it and continue on. They also helped each other out on stage when lines were forgotten and I believe that’s the heart of what this program extols than to provide a higher calibre show other local professional theatre schools like Canadian College of Performing Arts works on. I’ve seen their production of Little Shop of Horrors years ago, and that was a memorable show to which I grinned like a Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland when rubber bands were shot towards audiences!

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08.10.16
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Identifying “Sour Grapes” is Not Easy; Documentary Premiere @ VanCity Aug 12

Sour-Grapes-Rudy
August 12
Vancity Theatre
1181 Seymour St.
Vancouver, BC

  • Spoiler Alert

Not to be confused with the 1998 comedy, there’s a new Sour Grapes. This documentary is touring the festivals and art house theatres and it had its world premiere at Hot Docs. It is now making its way to Vancouver for its official Western Canadian Premiere, opening August 12 at Vancity Theatre in Vancouver. The City of Victoria had a prestigious showing during Feast, Food and Film with local winemakers de Vine offering tastes of both this sparkly film and local cheeses.

This feature by Jerry Rothwell and Reuben Atlas slowly but surely examines the personality behind one of the world’s greatest wine frauds. Rudy Kurniawan was not caught until March of 2012 where he was indicted for allegedly selling fake wines at auction. Many bottles made in the Burgundy region of France were relabelled and sold as expensive wines, like Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Clos St. Denis.

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08.04.16
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Ed’s Victoria Fringe Festival Picks of 2016

FringeBadgeA few fond favourites are back at this year’s Victoria Fringe Festival, and in my picks, I hope to do more than a few “Dick Tricks” to get to each venue spread around the city to get my theatre nerd on. This year is special as this event is celebrating its 30th anniversary! I’m betting there will be cake, and a whole lot more surprises! In order to feast upon the entire list, I do recommend that for locals, to check out the opening ceremonies which takes place at Centennial Square. An entire preview will take place then and if that is not enough to salivate the taste buds, perhaps drinks will be offered too (at cost). This preview night will take place August 24th.

In the following, I offer my selection in what caught my eye and hope you can join me. If not at this particular festival, then perhaps at another Fringe that’s closer to where each person lives. This unique style of theatre can be found nearly worldwide. From Vancouver to Edinburgh (where it first started), this small-scale production offers a better, if not intimate, experience.

Passes can be bought at the Intrepid Theatre’s office on 1609 Blanshard or online through Ticket Rocket:

ON THE FRINGE (DOCUMENTARY FILM)
BROKEN TURTLE PRODUCTIONS

DATES:
Sep 3, 2016

LOCATION: Victoria Event Centre (Fringe Venue 1)

Still don’t know what Fringe Festivals are about? Well, this documentary should tell all! This video documentary began as a chronicle of artists doing the Canadian Fringe Festival circuit and it evolved from there. It goes on a road trip and shows what life is like on the other side of the stage! Best of all, this screening is by donation! All you have to do is present your badge.

6DickTricks

6 QUICK DICK TRICKS:
A DIRK DARROW INVESTIGATION
RACING SLOTH PRODUCTIONS

DATES:
Fri Aug 26 – 5:00pm
Sat Aug 27 – 8:00pm
Sun Aug 28 – 10:00pm
Wed Aug 31 – 8:00pm
Fri Sep 2 – 9:45pm
Sat Sep 3 – 2:00pm

LOCATION: The Roxy Theatre (Fringe Venue 7)

I’ve chatted with Tim Motley in the past about his previous shows, and I’m glad to see that he’s coming back to show a few new magic tricks along with a noir narrative to appease the Sherlock Holmes in me to solve. Not every show is going to be exactly the same, as audiences can sometimes trip him up. The laughs are great, and I’ll be in line to see what he has up his sleeve for this year.

Playful8

AN IMPROVISED
QUENTIN TARANTINO 2 –
THE PLAYFUL 8

DATES:
Thu Aug 25 – 6:45pm
Fri Aug 26 – 10:15pm
Sat Aug 27 – 2:30pm
Wed Aug 31 – 10:15pm
Thu Sept 1 – 8:15pm
Sat Sept 3 – 8:45pm

LOCATION: Victoria Event Centre (Fringe Venue 1)

The first time I saw Paper Street Theatre‘s show, I laughed myself silly. With a title implying that this sequel of sorts is inspired by the latest Tarantino movie, I have to wonder what can go wrong. I suspect a basic plot will keep the night merrily moving along, but as for what happens, feedback from audiences will dictate the performance. Dave Morris leads his ensemble cast and I wonder how fast the eight will get whittled down to one?

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07.31.16
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Harry Potter & the Cursed Child Midnight Release Party in Victoria, BC!

cursedThe love for Harry Potter has never waned for many a fan, and people of all ages lined up Saturday night for the midnight release of J.K. Rowling’s look at the adult life of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. No spoilers are going to be offered about this book, as it’s fresh in this author’s hands who decided not to look at any info online leading up to this release. While I would love to see the play, not everyone can afford to travel to London just for a show. As much as I’d like to, well, if only magic was real so I could apparate there!

Bolen Books at Hillside Centre in Victoria held its own celebration, and they had the Paper Street Theatre Company, an improv theatre group and the University of Victoria Valkyries Quidditch Club, playing a short game, to entertain 400 folks here for this book. A local stage magician appeared to entertain the masses with his tricks and may have been the same person who demonstrated his talent previously at Cherry Bomb Toys. Unfortunately he disappeared before I could get his name! The enthusiasm was everywhere and the excitement shows we still love the boy who became … well, and adult. Now a new generation is going to the school and I suspect the tale will be about him growing up under the shadow of a very famous father. At the same time, the energy is there for another item of note. All three Pokemon GO teams were vying for control of the virtual gym that existed at the bookstore. The battle was intense, and even I tried to participate. The battle for wireless is just as competitive as my cell could not decide between Telus and ShawOpen.

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06.09.16
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[Victoria, BC] 4th Annual Kaleidoscope Family Theatre To Paint Centennial Square with Fun June 11-12th

familytheatrefestivaljpg

$12.00 Adults
$10.00 Children, Students & Seniors

Victoria’s Centennial Square will soon be transformed into more than just a Kaleidoscope of fun, thrills and joy! Not only is this seminal theatre production company hosting this theatre festival in the heart of downtown, but also Puente Theatre, Outpost 31 and The Purple Pirate will participate. Together, they will be offering productions which includes The Little Prince, Gruff (based on the Norwegian fairy tale “Three Billy Goats Gruff”), Winnie the Pooh and Magic & Mayhem being displayed by these respective performance groups. There is more than one show, so families can check their whimsy in nearly any time of the day from 11am to 5pm.

Music by Ride the Cyclone creator Brooke Maxwell will be part of the show.

The 4th Annual Kaleidoscope Family Theatre Festival takes place June 11-12 and it will be inviting audiences to free their imagination and celebrate the best in what the performing arts can offer for young people.

“The stories being told at the 2016 Festival encourage families to experience the magic of live theatre,” said Roderick Glanville, Artistic Director of Kaleidoscope. “From a rocking musical for two goats and a troll, to the exploration of the unknown, these plays will inspire audiences of all ages and invite them on a journey to a new way of imagining, thinking, and being.”

For two full days, audiences will enjoy unique theatrical experiences alongside free performances from beloved Victoria entertainers Cam and Daisy. The Festival’s Activity Village makes it easy for the whole family to be creatively adventurous together with such activities as mask making, face painting, dress up booth, and more.

The festival marks the first official use of Kaleidoscope’s Igloo theatres. The largest of the two igloos measures 15.2 metres wide and 7.3 metres high will feature three productions seating 150 audience members, with the smallest of the igloos housing Kaleidoscope’s The Little Prince in an intimate 50 seats performance. The igloo’s are inflated through continued forced air and will create a whimsical theatre environment in Centennial Square.

Tickets can be purchased online at rmts.bc.ca, by phone at 250-386-6121, in advance through the McPherson Playhouse Box Office or during the Festival at the on-site box office. The schedule of performances is as follows (please click to enlarge):

 

FTF-Schedule

06.08.16
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This Old Fork lies in Duncan, BC

IMG_4175

The Old Fork
140 Trans-Canada Hwy
Duncan, BC
(250) 597-3027

The Old Fork can easily be missed when driving through Duncan, BC to further points beyond. This diner is tucked inside the Travelodge and although established in 2013, the feel of this place is rustic. Photos of Duncan from its historic days decorate the entryway and inside, I thought I’d find a ghost or two to tell some tales. I had to wonder what stood here before this motel. Perhaps the land has history but not necessarily the building.

The waitress was welcoming and on a quiet day, I could sit anywhere and enjoy the old world ambience. Looking at the photos reminded me of the fact that there is more to this town. Wayfarers should be reminded there more to this township than just a highway. The Whippletree Junction may well be a more colourful and desirable place to visit in the tourist sense but sometimes the best secrets lay on the beaten track. You just have to stop, listen and look.

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