Kate Dion-Richard, Matthew Macdonald-Bain, and Carmela Sison star in Christmas at Pemberley. Costumes designed by Amy McDougall. Photo by David Cooper
A double dose of Jane Austen, a post-apocalyptic samurai drama, the return of East Van Panto (this time with Dorothy, Toto and those ruby slippers) and more make November an eclectic month for theatre in Vancouver. Scroll below to see what’s happening.
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Nov. 13-18, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 630 Hamilton St.)—The Broadway hit comes to Vancouver. Read more here.
Songwriters Cynthia Weill, Carole King, Barry Mann and Gerry Goffin write the hits that make the whole world sing.
Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (Nov. 15-Dec. 30, Granville Island Stage)—A festive follow-up to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, co-written by American playwright Lauren Gunderson. (Tickets from $29 at artsclub.com or 604-687-1644)
Sense and Sensibility (Nov. 15-24, Capilano Theatre at Capilano University, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver)—And speaking of Jane Austen, here’s a production of the British author’s 1811 novel from Exit 22, the university’s production company. (Tickets: $22/$15/$10 at capilanou.ca and 604-990-7810)
Merry Kiss-mas (Nov. 21-Dec. 24, Improv Centre, Granville Island)—Improvised comedy celebrates/parodies holiday movie clichés.
TheatreSports’ improvisers send-up holiday movie clichés in Merry Kiss-Mas.
Hir (Nov. 22-Dec. 8, Vancouver Civic Theatres Annex)—Canadian premiere of a play about a dysfunctional family by American playwright Taylor Mac. The New York Times called it an “audacious and uproarious black comedy.”
Jordan Fowlie, Andrew Wheeler,
Victor Dolhai, and Deb Williams star In Pi Theatre’s production of Hir. Photo by Emily Cooper.
Blind Date (Nov. 22-Dec. 30, BMO Theatre Centre, 162 W. 1st Ave.)—Tess Degenstein stars as Mimi, one-half of a blind date; the other half is a member of the audience. The show has played sold-out runs in New York, London’s West End, and Toronto. (Tickets from $29 at artsclub.com or 604-687-1644)
East Van Panto: Wizard of Oz (Nov. 28-Jan 6 at the York Theatre, 639 Commercial Dr.)—For its sixth year, this Vancouver tradition welcomes award-winning playwright Marcus Youssef (recipient of 2017 Siminovitch Prize) to the creative team. Christine Quintana plays Dorothy who, along with trusty companion Toto, is flung to the magical Land of Oz—Nanaimo and Hastings. (Tickets at thecultch.com)
Soul Samurai (Nov. 23-Dec 2, Studio 1398, 1398 Cartwright St, Granville Island)—Described as “a multi-media fight-infused love story,” Soul Samurai follows a young samurai named Dewdrop in a post-apocalyptic Manhattan. The samurai is on a mission to avenge the death of her lover at the hands of the Long Tooth Gang. This show has been expanded from a version performed in 2017 at the Vancouver Fringe Festival. (Tickets: theatrewire.com)
Doubt (Nov. 23-Dec 14, Tyrant Studios, 1019 Seymour Street above Penthouse Nightclub)—John Patrick Shanley’s 2005 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, in which Sister Aloysius suspects the young Father Flynn of improper relations with one of the male students. (Tickets: $32 at box office and tyrantstudios.com)
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (Nov 30-Dec 29, Pacific Theatre, 1440 W. 12th Ave.)—Adapted by Ron Reed from the novel by C.S. Lewis. A signature piece for the theatre. Two-actor adaptation staged since 1998. (Tickets $20-36.50 at pacifictheatre.org or call 604.731.5518)
