It's no secret amongst her students who Michèle Lonsdale Smith's all-time favourite playwright is. Well, okay, in truth it's probably a tie between John Patrick Shanley and Chekhov, but it's Shanley that she hands out more of in class. Michèle heads up the Lyric School of Acting here in Vancouver, and is also the artistic… Continue reading Vancouver premiere of Doubt opens tonight
Fringe wrap-up: Is everybody satisfied?
And so, with the announcement of the 2008 Pick of the Fringe, the curtains fall on yet another Fringe season, and the overarching humor in the air seems to indicate a general feeling of success amongst its perpetrators. Just how successful was it? How do we measure the success of this festival in today's theatrical… Continue reading Fringe wrap-up: Is everybody satisfied?
New on the V-list: Gabrielle Rose on Doubt
Click here for full details on this production
Everyone’s a critic
As we roll into the last weekend of the Van Fringe, I'm proud to say that the Plank review team managed to tuck 60 reviews under our belts, which is actually way better than I'd hoped for. Congratulations gang, you done good, reviewed from the gut, and did it all for the sheer love of… Continue reading Everyone’s a critic
Canadian playwright’s letter to P.M. scorches
Governor General award-winning Lebanese-Québécois playwright Wajdi Mouawad, whose Dora-award winning play Scorched is on tour now, has written an eloquent and scathing open letter to Stephen Harper in opposition to his government's crippling of public arts funding. It's a veritable clinic in oppositional letter writing, and the most galvanizing argument that I've read to date.… Continue reading Canadian playwright’s letter to P.M. scorches
Hamlet
Hamlet by Harry Venning
Sweet news! Cactus returns for one night only!
This is entirely too awesome. Melbourne Fringe entertainer Jonno Katz, who's in town performing his new not-to-be-missed piece The Spy (Click here for the gushiest review I've ever written), has announced that he will perform his 2004 pick of the Fringe winner Cactus - the Seduction... for a special one-off fund raiser for the Fringe… Continue reading Sweet news! Cactus returns for one night only!
Hey Fringers, where’s the party at?
I have a Fringe question. I've just spent the weekend rolling around Granville Island - the epicentre of our Fringe - and I'm struck by the distinct absence of any kind of carnival atmosphere down there, of any indication of 'fest' from this festival. Yes, there's a few performers doing the traditional line-up flyer-and-pitch, some… Continue reading Hey Fringers, where’s the party at?
In Tow
We’re looking for a few honest opinions…
Okay Fringers, you've walked the walk, now it's time to talk the talk. With the Van Fringe solidly underway, we can take advantage of indie theatre's highest profile period of the year to really kick start a city-wide conversation about the great art. After you hit up a show, head on over to the Plank… Continue reading We’re looking for a few honest opinions…
The Mechanical Bride
Talking Point
We pin our hopes to the sporting public. Make no bones about it, we have our eye on those huge concrete pans filled with men and women of every variety of class and physiognomy, the fairest and shrewdest audience in the world. There you will find persons paying high prices and working things out on… Continue reading Talking Point
Barry Smith’s Baby Book
At least we can throw a petition at their heads…
To no one's surprise, it seems our national leaders have been slicing and dicing more of our arts funding of late. With extreme prejudice. MK blogged about it. As did Ian. So now PACT is making the rounds with a petition to to fire off to the good ol' Tories, suggesting that perhaps they give… Continue reading At least we can throw a petition at their heads…
Simon Ogden 