The 39 Steps Langham Court Theatre Directed by Keigh Digby and Cynthia Pronick Adapted by Patrick Barlow from Alfred Hitchcock and John Buchan Ends March 23, 2024 Reviewed by Leah Callen Langham Court’s The 39 Steps is North by Northwest meets Laurel and Hardy. One part old Hollywood and two parts vaudeville, it gives a […]
Leah Callen
Reasons to be Pretty @ The Phoenix Written by Neil Labute Directed by Christine Willes Feb 14-23 Reviewed by Leah Callen Reasons to be Pretty presents a world where people change relationships as easily as they shed overalls. Here, men and women take swings at each other while searching for their ideal other. Reasons to […]
In the Next Room (The Vibrator Play) @ Theatre Inconnu until March 2/13 Directed by Naomi Simpson Written by Sarah Ruhl Reviewed by Leah Callen Sparks fly in the 1880s when Dr. Givings electrifies women with his revolutionary therapy for hysteria-a vibrator. His wife, Mrs. Givings, is a live wire desperate to plug in to […]
Speaking in Tongues By Andrew Bovell Directed by Philip Riccio January 22 – February 24 The Belfry Theatre Reviewed by Leah Callen Meet Pete, Jane, Sonja, and Leon. Pete and Jane are married; Sonja and Leon are married. But Pete wants Sonja, and Jane wants Leon. Thus, two one-night stands overlap in time and space […]
The Good Person of Setzuan By Bertolt Brecht Directed by Conrad Alexandrowicz Set by Simon Farrow Costumes by Kat Jeffrey The Phoenix Theatre Reviewed by Leah Callen Imagine three gods touring Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, instructing the locals on the path to Enlightenment. In Bertolt Brecht’s play, three aspects of Buddha find no room at any […]
The Mystery of the Hungry Heart Motel Written and performed by Chris Wilson and Peter Carlone Phoenix Theatre, 8 p.m. Until Oct. 20 The comedy pair Peter N’ Chris, UVic alumni Peter Carlone and Chris Wilson, take audiences for an energetic ride in The Mystery of the Hungry Heart Motel. The play is a creepy […]
Blackbird, the preview Theatre Inconnu (Oct. 5 through 20) Written by David Harrower Directed by Graham McDonald Reviewed by Leah Callen Blackbird, written by David Harrower, is a psychological drama in which two people flirt dangerously with the past behind a closed door. Una, who lost her virginity at the tender age of twelve to […]
Red by John Logan Directed by Michael Shamata Until October 14/12 Seeing Red Reviewed by Leah Callen Red, The Belfry’s latest offering, highlights the relationship between Master and Initiate in the infernal chapel of artistic genius. Ken, a young artist, starts out as the assistant to the “high priest of Modern art,” Mark Rothko. We […]