Full review

Coldwater Communications
COCK by Mike Bartlett
WHEN & WHERE June 14 – 19, 2021 | Streamed via Broadway on Demand^TM

Directors Caitlin Styker & Carmel Amit
Cast Troy Mundle Nathan Witte John Prowse and Lee Tomaschefski

Reviewer John Jane

Bartlett has created an interesting and provocative triangle with John, the only character referred to by name, at the centre.
The protagonist seems continuously confused: both about his sexual predilection and the core of own person, while both his male partner (Nathan Witte) and his newly acquired heterosexual interest retain no doubts about who they are and what they want. Full review

The Cultch & Neworld Theatre
The Boy in the Moon Written by Emil Sher based on the story by Ian Brown

WHEN & WHERE May 6 - 8, 2021 at 7.30pm; May 9 at 12pm | streamed live from the Historic Theatre

Director Chelsea Haberlin Assistant Director Kelsey Kanatan Wavey Costume Designer Carmen Alatorre Set and Prop Designer Drew Facey Assistant Set and Prop Designer Stephanie Wong Lighting Designer Andrew Pye Projection Designer Candelario Andrade Composer/Sound Designer Marc Stewart

Reviewer John Jane

The Boy in the Moon is a three-handed, single act play developed from Canadian journalist Ian Brown’s series of Globe and Mail articles that deals with his son Walker's rare genetic disease, Cardiofaciocutaneous Syndrome (CFC). The play is essentially a conversation between Brown (Marcus Youssef) himself, and his wife Johanna Schneller (Meghan Gardiner). Full review

The Cultch
The Essentials (Soft Cedar)

WHEN & WHERE April 16-17, 2021, 7.30pm & 2pm on April 18 | Online, partially live-streamed from the York Theatre

Musicians Khari Wendell McClelland, Gordon Grdina, Tanika Charles, Jeanette Reed & Faye Mallett Spoken Word Performers Cecily Nicholson, Hari Alluri, Mia Birdsong, Jarrett Martineau, Ashon Crawley, Kathleen Gallagher, Andrew Kushnir, Harsha Walia & Seth Klein Dancer Henry Seaweed

Reviewer John Jane

Detroit native, now an adopted Canadian and a member of the gospel trio Sojourners, Khari Wendell McClelland asks his audiences to think about what is essential. He is joined on the York Theatre stage, in-person by international musicians and virtually by some eclectic spoken word performers. Full review

United Players of Vancouver
Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson

When & Where 26 March – 18 April 2021 | Jericho Arts Centre, 1675 Discovery, Vancouver

Director Laura McLean Technical Director Leighton Taylor Producer Fran Burnside Lighting Design Mark Carter Set Design R. Todd Parker Costume Design Julie White Sound Design Nico Dicecco Stage Manager Jonathon Paterson

Cast Henrietta Leavitt - Jenna Hill, Margaret Leavitt - Rebecca deBoer, Peter Shaw - Karthik Kadam, Annie Cannon - Anna Bui, Williamina Fleming - Rhona McCallum Lichtenwald

Reviewer John Jane

The play doesn’t just explore fact-based scientific matters, but also, at least, it attempts to portray the subject’s human relationships. Alas, Gunderson has to rely on her imagination to provide the characters that define Leavitt not just as an aurally challenged workaholic, but a woman who was spiritually passionate and dedicated to family and close colleagues. Full review

The Cultch & Off The Corner Productions
Mx

WHEN & WHERE February 18 - 21, 2021 | Livestream online from The Cultch

Co-Directors: Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, Jiv Parasram; Dramaturg: Joanna Garfinkel; Producer: Shanae Sodhi; Co-Producer: Lili Robinson; Costume, Makeup, Hair: C.S. Fergusson-Vaux; Lighting: Fil Wiatrak; Sound: Todd Simmons; Sets & Props: Ariel Slack; Choreography: Marisa Gold; Stage Manager: Heather Barr; Technical Director: Cody Biles; Audio: Kyra Soko & Chris Engleman; Video: Kaden O’Reilly; Head Electrician: Nicole Weismiller; Videographer: Cameron Anderson; Camera: Cristian Oriak

Reviewer Christian Steckler

Mx is an exploration, within this reality, of identity and belonging through a personal lens. Lili Robinson’s writing masterfully lays out the confusion of the issue of racial identity for mixed-race individuals, and carefully inserts sexual identity into the mix to highlight the commonality of misunderstandings regarding both. Full review

The Cultch and Musical Stage Company
do you want what i have got? a craigslist cantata by Veda Hille, Bill Richardson, and Amiel Gladstone

WHEN & WHERE February 5 - 7, 2021; Feb 5 & 6 at 4.30pm & 7.30pm, Feb 7 at 12pm | live-streamed online from The Cultch

Director Amiel Gladstone Assistant Director Anjela Magpantay Musical Director Veda Hille Choreography Amanda Testini Stage Manager Kelly Barker Design Consultant John Webber

Cast Meaghan Chenosky, Josh Epstein, Kayvon Khoshkam, Amanda Sum, Andrew Wheeler

Musicians Veda Hille, piano Barry Mirochnick, drums

Reviewer John Jane

do you want what i have got? a craigslist cantata started off as part of the PuSh Festival back in 2009. Its lengthy, lower case title is designed to attract attention in much the same way as the classified ads do on the Craigslist internet site. The show is a genuine ensemble piece, and yet might also be described as an assemblage of solo performances. Full review

United Players
She Sells Sea Shells by Helen Eastman

When & Where 22 January – 14 February 2021 | Jericho Arts Centre, 1675 Discovery, Vancouver

Director Sarah Rodgers Assistant Director Cameron Peal Producer Joan Bryans Executive Producer Toph Marl Technical Director Leighton Taylor Lighting Design Brad Trenaman Set Design Brian Ball Costume Design Catherine E. Carr Sound Design Christopher King Fossils & Props Linda Begg & Ben Clark Choreographer Melissa Sciarretta Stage Manager Mariana Munoz

Reviewer John Jane

Helen Eastman’s single act, three-handed play begins in present time at the 72nd meeting of the Paleontological Society. In the middle of a lecture on Mary Anning, the subject precipitously injects herself into the proceedings, at which point the action switches back a couple of centuries to Lyme Regis on the English south coast. Full review