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The Province
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Province
2025 Bard on the Beach opens with Shakespeare's first play, and a set of rom coms
The Two Gentlemen of Verona has the smallest cast of any play by the Bard Bard on the Beach The Two Gentlemen of Verona Emily Cooper Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Bard on the Beach returns this summer with a pair of rom coms that couldn't be more different from one another. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors For its 2025 season, the not-for-profit professional Shakespeare festival presents Much Ado About Nothing and the Two Gentlemen of Verona on the BMO Mainstage in Vancouver. Much Ado About Nothing is a classic work believed to have been written sometime in the period of 1598-1599. This comic romp in the Sicilian city of Messina follows the couple Benedick and Beatrice through a labyrinth of mistaken identity, battles between the sexes and ribald wit. The play has been adapted into numerous film and TV versions, as well as into young adult fiction. It is a clear classic of the canon. The Two Gentlemen of Verona, believed to have been written sometime between 1589-1593, is considered to be Shakespeare's first play. Dealing with themes of friendship, infidelity and love's labours, the play has the smallest cast of any work by the playwright. Everyone has to start somewhere, and the production budget usually reflects that fact. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Two Gentlemen of Verona doesn't typically receive equal billing compared to other Shakespeare works. In fact, some refer to it as 'one of Shakespeare's weakest plays.' But the comedy has one of the most scene-stealing non-speaking role in all of Shakespeare's plays, performed by a dog called Crab. There will be a dog playing Crab in the local production, which alone might be worth checking out. What really makes this take on The Two Gentlemen of Verona sound appealing is its turn as this year's Bard on the Beach 'jukebox Shakespeare' jaunt. After past successes with The Beatles' music-infused As You Like It and Bollywood-themed All's Well That Ends Well, the company has a proven track record of turning any play into a song-and-dance delight. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Bard on the Beach director Dean Paul Gibson Dean Paul Gibson For The Two Gentlemen of Verona, director Dean Paul Gibson has decided to place the play in the shoulder pads and pouffy-haired heyday of the 1980s. Shakespeare wrote the play in 'the pocket of his youth' in his 20s, and Gibson was at the same age in the '80s. 'Choosing to set it in the soundscape of my youth felt like a great hit with a lot of people of a certain generation feeling some nostalgia about it,' said Gibson, noting it's his fourth time with this play. 'The 1980s seem to be in the zeitgeist again, and a strong connection with the music — complete with Easter eggs throughout the production for the '80s kids and fans of the era — make it a lot of fun.' Gibson admits the Two Gentlemen of Verona explores the 'frankly dumb, sometimes transgressive choices' that one makes in their youth. While the playwright would revisit such things as characters hiding their identity and confusing plot twists with more depth and detail in later works, there is something fresh and vigorous in the play that the cast and crew are making their own. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I was watching Pretty in Pink when I started thinking about doing it, and right away realized that there is a direct line from John Hughes to Shakespeare in this comedy,' he said. 'It's a ripe play for the excess and indulgence of the era to be put up on stage at a time when getting the mullets working is just the kind of distraction we need. It's also a bit of a love letter to misspent youth.' Vancouver actor Agnes Tong is new to Bard on the Beach this year. She plays Silvia, beloved of Valentine, one of the two gents from Verona. With a lengthy Hollywood North TV and film resume, the Studio 58 graduate fondly recalls attending Bard on the Beach in the past. Bard on the Beach's Agnes Tong Agnes Tong 'It's an event with beautiful language floating over to the mountains you see through the open back of the stage,' said Tong of the famous seaside setting. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Noting she's still somewhat new to Shakespeare, having previously been directed in Julius Caesar at Studio 58 by current cast mate Scott Bellis, Tong says it has been a complete delight diving into the work. 'It looks hard, but the iambic pentameter rhythm of the writing mirrors a natural speaking rhythm that makes learning the language of the Bard easier,' she said. 'But, yes, there are still some words that are hard to get your mouth around and ensure the image and emotion in what you are saying resonates. We are having the best time with the big hair, bigger shoulder pads and drawing on my previous career as a dancer.' Bard on the Beach The Two Gentlemen of Verona (l-r) Agnes Tong and Jacob Leonard are directed by Dean Paul Gibson (cap) in the Two Gentlemen of Verona. Photo by bard / Taylor Kleine-Deters Tong plays opposite Matthew Ip Shaw as Valentine. Jacob Leonard appears as Proteus, Valentine's best mate and the other gent of Verona, who is in love with Julia (Tess Gegenstein). The love story between this foursome follows them on an adventure that spans several royal courts, locations, and encounters. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. By end of show, the audience will be able to know the answer to the question posed by the Human League in its 1981 smash, Don't You Want Me? Along with two Shakespeare-adjacent works at the Douglass Campbell smaller stage, tickets and information for all Bard on the Beach dates can be found at Bard on the Beach The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] (Again). What's playing at Bard on the Beach in 2024? There are four plays at the 2025 Bard on the Beach festival. Two Shakespearean classics are presented in the BMO Mainstage. Two Shakespeare-adjacent works are presented at the Douglas Campbell Theatre smaller stage. Tickets/info: BMO Mainstage: Much Ado About Nothing: A romp that is 'as merry as the day is long.' Featuring sparring couple Beatrice and Benedick and star-crossed young lovers Claudio and Hero, this is one of Shakespeares most-loved comedies directed by Johnna Wright. With Sheldon Elter as Benedick, Jennifer Lines as Beatrice, Angus Yam as Claudio and Jennifer Tong as Hero. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Two Gentlemen of Verona: Venture back to the weird and wacky era of the 1980s for a music-filled frenzy of rom-com mix-ups and eventual matches in what is considered Shakespeare's first play. Directed by Dean Paul Gibson. With Agnes Tong as Silvia, Tess Degenstein as Julia, Matthew Ip Shaw as Valentine and Jacob Leonard as Proteus. Plus Mason the dog as Crab, the dog. Douglas Campbell Theatre: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] [Again]: A sprint through all of the Shakespearean canonical plays in record time with no shortage of laugh out loud moments. A fan fave whether you love or loathe the Bard. Directed by Mark Chavez. With Tess Degenstein, Craig Erickson, Arghavan Jenati and Nathan Kay in many, many roles. The Dark Lady: Playwright and actor Jessica B. Hill's story of England's first published female poet, Emilia Bassano, asks if she was the 'Dark Lady' of Shakespeare's sonnets and more. Directed by Moya O'Connell. With Arghavan Jenati as Emilai Bassano, Nathan Kay as William Shakespeare, Sebastian Kroon and Synthia Yusuf as understudies. sderdeyn@
Calgary Herald
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
2025 Bard on the Beach opens with Shakespeare's first play, and a set of rom coms
Article content Vancouver actor Agnes Tong is new to Bard on the Beach this year. She plays Silvia, beloved of Valentine, one of the two gents from Verona. With a lengthy Hollywood North TV and film resume, the Studio 58 graduate fondly recalls attending Bard on the Beach in the past. Article content Article content 'It's an event with beautiful language floating over to the mountains you see through the open back of the stage,' said Tong of the famous seaside setting. Article content Noting she's still somewhat new to Shakespeare, having previously been directed in Julius Caesar at Studio 58 by current cast mate Scott Bellis, Tong says it has been a complete delight diving into the work. Article content 'It looks hard, but the iambic pentameter rhythm of the writing mirrors a natural speaking rhythm that makes learning the language of the Bard easier,' she said. 'But, yes, there are still some words that are hard to get your mouth around and ensure the image and emotion in what you are saying resonates. We are having the best time with the big hair, bigger shoulder pads and drawing on my previous career as a dancer.' Article content Article content Article content Tong plays opposite Matthew Ip Shaw as Valentine. Jacob Leonard appears as Proteus, Valentine's best mate and the other gent of Verona, who is in love with Julia (Tess Gegenstein). The love story between this foursome follows them on an adventure that spans several royal courts, locations, and encounters. Article content By end of show, the audience will be able to know the answer to the question posed by the Human League in its 1981 smash, Don't You Want Me? Article content Article content Much Ado About Nothing: A romp that is 'as merry as the day is long.' Featuring sparring couple Beatrice and Benedick and star-crossed young lovers Claudio and Hero, this is one of Shakespeares most-loved comedies directed by Johnna Wright. With Sheldon Elter as Benedick, Jennifer Lines as Beatrice, Angus Yam as Claudio and Jennifer Tong as Hero. Article content The Two Gentlemen of Verona: Venture back to the weird and wacky era of the 1980s for a music-filled frenzy of rom-com mix-ups and eventual matches in what is considered Shakespeare's first play. Directed by Dean Paul Gibson. With Agnes Tong as Silvia, Tess Degenstein as Julia, Matthew Ip Shaw as Valentine and Jacob Leonard as Proteus. Plus Mason the dog as Crab, the dog. Article content Douglas Campbell Theatre: Article content The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] [Again]: A sprint through all of the Shakespearean canonical plays in record time with no shortage of laugh out loud moments. A fan fave whether you love or loathe the Bard. Directed by Mark Chavez. With Tess Degenstein, Craig Erickson, Arghavan Jenati and Nathan Kay in many, many roles. Article content The Dark Lady: Playwright and actor Jessica B. Hill's story of England's first published female poet, Emilia Bassano, asks if she was the 'Dark Lady' of Shakespeare's sonnets and more. Directed by Moya O'Connell. With Arghavan Jenati as Emilai Bassano, Nathan Kay as William Shakespeare, Sebastian Kroon and Synthia Yusuf as understudies.
Vancouver Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
2025 Bard on the Beach opens with Shakespeare's first play, and a set of rom coms
Bard on the Beach returns this summer with a pair of rom coms that couldn't be more different from one another. For its 2025 season, the not-for-profit professional Shakespeare festival presents Much Ado About Nothing and the Two Gentlemen of Verona on the BMO Mainstage in Vancouver. Much Ado About Nothing is a classic work believed to have been written sometime in the period of 1598-1599. This comic romp in the Sicilian city of Messina follows the couple Benedick and Beatrice through a labyrinth of mistaken identity, battles between the sexes and ribald wit. The play has been adapted into numerous film and TV versions, as well as into young adult fiction. It is a clear classic of the canon. The Two Gentlemen of Verona, believed to have been written sometime between 1589-1593, is considered to be Shakespeare's first play. Dealing with themes of friendship, infidelity and love's labours, the play has the smallest cast of any work by the playwright. Everyone has to start somewhere, and the production budget usually reflects that fact. The Two Gentlemen of Verona doesn't typically receive equal billing compared to other Shakespeare works. In fact, some refer to it as 'one of Shakespeare's weakest plays.' But the comedy has one of the most scene-stealing non-speaking role in all of Shakespeare's plays, performed by a dog called Crab. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. There will be a dog playing Crab in the local production, which alone might be worth checking out. What really makes this take on The Two Gentlemen of Verona sound appealing is its turn as this year's Bard on the Beach 'jukebox Shakespeare' jaunt. After past successes with The Beatles' music-infused As You Like It and Bollywood-themed All's Well That Ends Well, the company has a proven track record of turning any play into a song-and-dance delight. For The Two Gentlemen of Verona, director Dean Paul Gibson has decided to place the play in the shoulder pads and pouffy-haired heyday of the 1980s. Shakespeare wrote the play in 'the pocket of his youth' in his 20s, and Gibson was at the same age in the '80s. 'Choosing to set it in the soundscape of my youth felt like a great hit with a lot of people of a certain generation feeling some nostalgia about it,' said Gibson, noting it's his fourth time with this play. 'The 1980s seem to be in the zeitgeist again, and a strong connection with the music — complete with Easter eggs throughout the production for the '80s kids and fans of the era — make it a lot of fun.' Gibson admits the Two Gentlemen of Verona explores the 'frankly dumb, sometimes transgressive choices' that one makes in their youth. While the playwright would revisit such things as characters hiding their identity and confusing plot twists with more depth and detail in later works, there is something fresh and vigorous in the play that the cast and crew are making their own. 'I was watching Pretty in Pink when I started thinking about doing it, and right away realized that there is a direct line from John Hughes to Shakespeare in this comedy,' he said. 'It's a ripe play for the excess and indulgence of the era to be put up on stage at a time when getting the mullets working is just the kind of distraction we need. It's also a bit of a love letter to misspent youth.' Vancouver actor Agnes Tong is new to Bard on the Beach this year. She plays Silvia, beloved of Valentine, one of the two gents from Verona. With a lengthy Hollywood North TV and film resume, the Studio 58 graduate fondly recalls attending Bard on the Beach in the past. 'It's an event with beautiful language floating over to the mountains you see through the open back of the stage,' said Tong of the famous seaside setting. Noting she's still somewhat new to Shakespeare, having previously been directed in Julius Caesar at Studio 58 by current cast mate Scott Bellis, Tong says it has been a complete delight diving into the work. 'It looks hard, but the iambic pentameter rhythm of the writing mirrors a natural speaking rhythm that makes learning the language of the Bard easier,' she said. 'But, yes, there are still some words that are hard to get your mouth around and ensure the image and emotion in what you are saying resonates. We are having the best time with the big hair, bigger shoulder pads and drawing on my previous career as a dancer.' Tong plays opposite Matthew Ip Shaw as Valentine. Jacob Leonard appears as Proteus, Valentine's best mate and the other gent of Verona, who is in love with Julia (Tess Gegenstein). The love story between this foursome follows them on an adventure that spans several royal courts, locations, and encounters. By end of show, the audience will be able to know the answer to the question posed by the Human League in its 1981 smash, Don't You Want Me? Along with two Shakespeare-adjacent works at the Douglass Campbell smaller stage, tickets and information for all Bard on the Beach dates can be found at . There are four plays at the 2025 Bard on the Beach festival. Two Shakespearean classics are presented in the BMO Mainstage. Two Shakespeare-adjacent works are presented at the Douglas Campbell Theatre smaller stage. Tickets/info: . BMO Mainstage : Much Ado About Nothing : A romp that is 'as merry as the day is long.' Featuring sparring couple Beatrice and Benedick and star-crossed young lovers Claudio and Hero, this is one of Shakespeares most-loved comedies directed by Johnna Wright. With Sheldon Elter as Benedick, Jennifer Lines as Beatrice, Angus Yam as Claudio and Jennifer Tong as Hero. The Two Gentlemen of Verona : Venture back to the weird and wacky era of the 1980s for a music-filled frenzy of rom-com mix-ups and eventual matches in what is considered Shakespeare's first play. Directed by Dean Paul Gibson. With Agnes Tong as Silvia, Tess Degenstein as Julia, Matthew Ip Shaw as Valentine and Jacob Leonard as Proteus. Plus Mason the dog as Crab, the dog. Douglas Campbell Theatre : The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] [Again] : A sprint through all of the Shakespearean canonical plays in record time with no shortage of laugh out loud moments. A fan fave whether you love or loathe the Bard. Directed by Mark Chavez. With Tess Degenstein, Craig Erickson, Arghavan Jenati and Nathan Kay in many, many roles. The Dark Lady : Playwright and actor Jessica B. Hill's story of England's first published female poet, Emilia Bassano, asks if she was the 'Dark Lady' of Shakespeare's sonnets and more. Directed by Moya O'Connell. With Arghavan Jenati as Emilai Bassano, Nathan Kay as William Shakespeare, Sebastian Kroon and Synthia Yusuf as understudies. sderdeyn@
The Province
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Province
Vancouver theatre: Here are the six best plays to see in June
The summer theatre season kicks off this month with Bard on the Beach, Theatre Under the Stars and more Jennifer Lines as Beatrice and Sheldon Elter as Benedick in Bard on the Beach's Much Ado About Nothing. Photo by Emily Cooper / Bard on the Beach Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Ah, June. Summer sunshine (maybe) and summer theatre. Musicals, comedies, more musicals and comedies, and a few outliers. June in Vancouver means Bard on the Beach — three shows this year are comedies. And Theatre Under the Stars — two musicals. And the Arts Club's summer musical. Funnyman Colin Mochrie at the Improv Centre. Theatre in the Country's musical. A post-apocalyptic musical from Renegade Arts. An embarrassment of musical and comic riches. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Here are my picks for June: Hayley Sullivan and Kyla Ward in An Ideal Husband. Photo by Amber Lewis An Ideal Husband When: To June 22 Where: Jericho Arts Centre Tickets & Info: $15-$35 at No one is funnier than Oscar Wilde, who here applies his incomparable wit to a fin de siècle tale of political scandal and blackmail. The kind of material the Vancouver Playhouse would once have produced now frequently gets done, and done well, by United Players. Starring Hayley Sullivan, Cat Smith and Chris Cope. After 11 seasons at the Shaw Festival, d irector Moya O'Connell knows the period style. Haus of Yolo When: June 5-15 Where: York Theatre Tickets & Info: From $29 at From New Zealand's The Dust Palace, The Cultch's season-ender features acrobats creating their own costumes onstage in real time: 'from sewing machine to circus routine.' In this 'anti-cabaret cabaret,' the show's four performers take turns playing the designer and the Sexy Meat Puppets who wear the clothes and do the routines. One reviewer described it as a celebration of 'the half-naked body in the tiniest leotards I have ever seen.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. When: June 10-Sept. 20 Where: Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park Tickets & Info: From $35 at Bard on the Beach opens its season with one of Shakespeare's finest romantic comedies, featuring witty lovers Beatrice and Benedick. A couple of Bard veterans, the divine Jennifer Lines as Beatrice and hilarious Scott Bellis as goofy Constable Dogberry, make this a guaranteed winner. I don't know about the 'additional text by Canadian playwright Erin Shields' to enhance the near-serious subplot. But director Johnna Wright has a good track record with Bard comedies. Rachel Drance stars in Waitress. Photo by Moonrider Productions Waitress When: June 12-Aug. 3 Where: Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage Tickets & Info: From $39 at Local TV star Rachel Drance (The Flash, Virgin River) plays a pregnant small-town waitress in a bad marriage whose pie-baking skills save her. Warning: Extramarital sex! Adapted from the 2007 movie, the stage play has music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Sara Bareilles and an A-list supporting cast including Ben Elliott, Josh Epstein, Jennie Neumann and Tom Pickett. The Arts Club's Ashlie Corcoran directs. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. eWorld Theatre presents the documentary production Eyes of the Beast. Photo by Sewari Campillo Eyes of the Beast When: June 18-22 Where: SFU Goldcorp Centre Tickets & Info: $5-$50 at Neither musical nor comedy, this Neworld Theatre documentary production partners with Victoria's Climate Disaster Project and SFU students to share the stories of Canadians who have lived through climate change disasters, and help individuals and communities cope. Created by Sebastien Archibald, Gavan Cheema and Kelsey Kanatan Wavey, and directed by Chelsea Haberlin with a facilitated talkback after each performance. Madeleine Suddaby as Paulette and Abby Woodhouse as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. Photo by Emily Cooper Legally Blonde When: June 29-Aug. 16 Where: Malkin Bowl, Stanley Park Tickets & Info: $35-$69 at When I reviewed Theatre Under the Stars' production of Legally Blonde: The Musical in 2012, I called it sexist, silly and riddled with stereotypes. But also funny, clever and utterly delightful. Malibu princess Elle wreaks havoc at Harvard Law School (as if they don't have enough troubles right now). With Abby Woodhouse as Elle, Madeleine Suddaby as Paulette, and Peter Jorgensen as Professor Callahan. Jayme Armstrong directs. Read More Sports Junior Hockey Vancouver Whitecaps News Local News
Calgary Herald
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Vancouver theatre: Here are the six best plays to see in June
Article content Ah, June. Summer sunshine (maybe) and summer theatre. Musicals, comedies, more musicals and comedies, and a few outliers. June in Vancouver means Bard on the Beach — three shows this year are comedies. And Theatre Under the Stars — two musicals. And the Arts Club's summer musical. Funnyman Colin Mochrie at the Improv Centre. Theatre in the Country's musical. A post-apocalyptic musical from Renegade Arts. An embarrassment of musical and comic riches. Article content Article content Article content Article content No one is funnier than Oscar Wilde, who here applies his incomparable wit to a fin de siècle tale of political scandal and blackmail. The kind of material the Vancouver Playhouse would once have produced now frequently gets done, and done well, by United Players. Starring Hayley Sullivan, Cat Smith and Chris Cope. After 11 seasons at the Shaw Festival, director Moya O'Connell knows the period style. Article content Article content Haus of Yolo Article content From New Zealand's The Dust Palace, The Cultch's season-ender features acrobats creating their own costumes onstage in real time: 'from sewing machine to circus routine.' In this 'anti-cabaret cabaret,' the show's four performers take turns playing the designer and the Sexy Meat Puppets who wear the clothes and do the routines. One reviewer described it as a celebration of 'the half-naked body in the tiniest leotards I have ever seen.' Article content Article content Article content Bard on the Beach opens its season with one of Shakespeare's finest romantic comedies, featuring witty lovers Beatrice and Benedick. A couple of Bard veterans, the divine Jennifer Lines as Beatrice and hilarious Scott Bellis as goofy Constable Dogberry, make this a guaranteed winner. I don't know about the 'additional text by Canadian playwright Erin Shields' to enhance the near-serious subplot. But director Johnna Wright has a good track record with Bard comedies. Article content Article content Waitress Article content Local TV star Rachel Drance (The Flash, Virgin River) plays a pregnant small-town waitress in a bad marriage whose pie-baking skills save her. Warning: Extramarital sex! Adapted from the 2007 movie, the stage play has music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Sara Bareilles and an A-list supporting cast including Ben Elliott, Josh Epstein, Jennie Neumann and Tom Pickett. The Arts Club's Ashlie Corcoran directs.
