Demi-chan wa Kataritai (Interviews with Monster Girls) firmly establishes itself as lighter fare this episode, something that some viewers might have pegged it for weeks ago.
‘Sister Sister’ Theatre Review For Vue Weekly in November
This review is for one of my all-time favourite pieces of modern theatre. I critiqued Northern Light Theatre’s Sister Sister for Vue Weekly back in November.
When it comes to Northern Light Theatre’s mandate of dark and provocative productions that challenge audiences, Sister Sister delivers and satisfies.
Playwright Barbara Blumenthal-Ehrlich’s script about two sisters’ reconnection after 15 years sets a grim theme, as the women come together to celebrate their deranged mother’s death. Read more
The two-woman performance from Louise Claire Lambert and Arielle Rombough was intense, and I’m glad I got to share my opinion with the community.
Edmonton’s Struggle with its Secondary Sports Feature for The Griff in October
Edmonton’s got a mixed record when it comes to attending its smaller professional sports teams. I broke down the complex issues back in October for The Griff magazine.
Kyle Brodziak of the Edmonton Road Runners had the greatest wrist shot of all-time — or so my 12-year-old self would tell you. Caught in the midst of the NHL lockout during the ’04-’05 season, I was exposed to great athletes in person for the first time in my life. My jaw dropped and I tugged at my friends’ Road Runner hoodies every time Raffi Torres laid a big hit. Those hoodies were $20. The tickets to Rexall Place were free via a promotion with my minor hockey team.
And the arena was only half-full. Read more
There are so many interesting things to do in our city, so while writing this feature I found it interesting to consider why Edmontonians don’t widely patronize the little guys in the sports world — whether they’re winning, or not.
Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid Ep.8 Review: Anglerfish Elma Bento
Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid (Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon) introduces a new dragon furthers the main couple’s relationship this week. It’s warm. It’s what we’ve come to expect, and it’s funny too.
Monster Pro Wrestling Profile for Vue Weekly Last September
This week, I’m fleshing out my clips directory with some older freelance work I completed in the last six months.
Here’s a profile of the Edmonton’s Monster Pro Wrestling that I wrote and shot for Vue Weekly in September.
Only a handful of active independent Canadian wrestling promotions can say they’ve been going strong for 14 years with no signs of slowing. Edmonton’s Monster Pro Wrestling, founded by Sean “Massive Damage” Dunster in 2002, just crested that milestone. Read more
Dunster and his team run a truly entertaining monthly docket of fights. You can find out more about all their upcoming events on the Monster Pro Wrestling Facebook page, Twitter, and website. The promotion has a big event coming up this Saturday at 7pm. Tickets are $20 in advance, and $25 at the door at The Ranch Roadhouse.
ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Department Ep.8 Review: Disappearance
Like previous episode of ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Department (ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka), this one picks up right where the last left off, but it does so in much more depth than you might have expected.
Demi-chan wa Kataritai Ep.8 Review: Mediocre and Rote Slice of Life Fare
Demi-chan wa Kataritai (Interviews with Monster Girls) eschews the small amount of momentum it regained last week, and grinds almost entirely to an uninspired halt.
BalletBoyz’s ‘Life’ Preview for Vue Weekly
This week I previewed a contemplative ballet called Life from London-based company BalletBoyz. The preview just went live this morning on Vue Weekly.
The 10-member, all-male BalletBoyz company comes to entertain this weekend with physical questions about what it means to be alive.
The company’s 80-minute performance, Life, is split into two halves, separately choreographed by Swedish artist Pontus Lidberg and Venezuelan Javier de Frutos. Edmonton marks the last stop on the North American leg of its current international tour. Read more
The company is putting on two performances on Friday and Saturday at the Northern Jubilee Auditorium, organized by Alberta Ballet. You can snag tickets on their site.
‘La Cenerentola’ Opera Review for Vue Weekly
I reviewed Edmonton Opera’s production of La Cenerentola for Vue Weekly earlier this month. I’ve never heard so many laughs in an opera house.
Edmonton Opera’s rendition of Cinderella is a funny, modernized take on Gioachino Rossini’s 1817 masterpiece La Cenerentola that’s as much a display of great theatre as it is a demonstration of the beautiful limits of the human voice.
Every acting performance in Cinderella is superb. Don Magnifico (Peter McGillivray) is great as a bumbling idiot who respects food and wine more than he respects people, and Tisbe (Sylvia Szadovski) and Clorinda (Caitlyn Wood) play their obnoxious sister roles perfectly. But it’s Dandini (Michael Nyby) who really steals the show. Read more
The La Cenerentola production already finished it’s run, but Edmonton Opera already announced its 2017-2018 line up. You can check it out on their website, featuring Les Feluettes, HMS Pinafore, and Don Giovanni.
Wildfire Teen Improv Festival Preview for Vue Weekly
I missed this preview going live on Vue Weekly earlier in the month, but the Wildfire Teen Improv is still ongoing. The junior high division finals of the competitive festival are on Saturday with additional performances tonight and tomorrow.
“Wildfire Teen Improv Festival is very strange,” says 17-year-old Darby Gynane.
She’s heading into her fourth run at the festival alongside her teammates from Louis St. Laurent. The improv competition, running from Feb. 7 to 25 at the Citadel’s Ziedler Hall, pits teams of junior and senior high students from across Edmonton and Alberta against each other to see who’s the most spontaneously entertaining.
“You see people who are creating art in front of your eyes that they’re never going to do again and you’re never going to see again,” Gynane says. “It’s very much an in the moment kind of thing.” Read more
Rapid Fire Theatre is an absolute force in Western Canada, and their festival that develops youth is no exception. You can get tickets for the last three shows of the festival through Eventbrite. Each performance starts at 7pm in the Citadel’s Ziedler Hall.
Kevin Pennyfeather 