What’s happening in theatre in Vancouver in January

Here comes 2019, like two seniors in a car. Image from The Full Light of Day.

What’s going on in theatre in January? We’re glad you asked. Actually, it’s probably the last thing on your mind in the post-Christmas haze.

Still, what better way to bring in the New Year than with some theatre? Below we have choices ranging from a big-deal world premiere to a New Zeland production to a Joni Mitchell feelings-fest. Find out more below.

Full Light of Day (Jan 7-12 at the Vancouver Playhouse)—This is kind of a big deal. For one thing, it’s a world premiere of a new play by celebrated Canadian playwright Daniel Waters. For another, it’s produced by celebrated local theatre force Electric Company Theatre. For a third, it’s at the celebrated Vancouver Playhouse, which last featured regular live theatre in 2012. The cast is nothing to sneeze at, either; Jim Mezon, Gabrielle Rose (The Sweet Hereafter and Kingsway), Jillian Fargey, Dean Paul Gibson, John Ng, Jenny Young, and Jonathon Young. So what are you waiting for? Tickets starting from $19.99 at electriccompanytheatre.com.

Mrs. Krishnan’s House Party (Jan 15-Feb 3, Vancity Culture Lab, 1895 Venables St.)—The Cultch presents this production from New Zealand’s Indian Ink Theatre Company. All we know about it is that it’s a sequel, of sorts (to something called Krishnan’s Dairy) and there’s (awkward) dancing. Tickets from $24 at 604-251-1363 or tickets.thecultch.com.

Mrs. Krishnan’s Party. Ankita Singh image.

PuSh Festival (Jan 17—Feb 3, various locations)—We’ve already previewed the 2019 edition of Vancouver’s international performing arts festival, so be sure to check out our PuSh Festival 2019 preview posts here and here.

Circle Game: Reimagining the Music of Joni Mitchell (Jan 12-Feb. 9 at Firehall Arts Centre 280 E. Cordova)—It’s back! For all you Joni heads out there, East Vancouver’s Firehall Arts Centre brings back Circle Game. It features six musicians playing 18 instruments and covering Joni Mitchell songs. Tickets from $25 at firehallartscentre.ca and 604-689-0926.

Circle Game image by Stephen Rutherford.

The Matchmaker (Arts Club Jan 24-Feb. 24, Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage)—The Arts Club presents a new production of The Matchmaker, a 1954 play by Thornton Wilder (perhaps best known for Our Town). The play opened on Broadway in 1955 with Ruth Gordon in the title role. According to Wiki, The Matchmaker is “a widow who brokers marriages and other transactions in Yonkers, New York at the turn of the 20th century” and who “sets her sights on local merchant Horace Vandergelder, who has hired her to find him a wife.” Tickets start at $29 at artsclub.com.