It’s billed
as the “hottest two weeks in winter”, and this year’s 20th
anniversary edition of the Centaur Theatre’s Wildside Theatre Festival has
certainly lived up to that billing.
For this
year’s milestone edition of the festival – which runs until Sunday, January 15
-- programmers Roy Surette and Johanna Nutter have chosen seven distinctive
productions that represent how different aspects of diversity can be portrayed
on the stage in an entertaining, thought-provoking manner. Topics that are
dealt with in this year’s Wildside shows include female, cultural and sexual
identity; family relationships; journalistic responsibility; the search for
authenticity; and misunderstanding the marginalized.
This year,
I managed to see four of the seven Wildside offerings, and needless to say, I
was entertained, amused, moved and inspired by the messages each production
conveyed. Three out of the four shows I saw will be playing at the festival
through January 15. So if you need some theatrical comfort food from these cold
January days, here are my three Wildside recommendations.
“Hootenanny!”
(Smith & Somers) is a funny, bittersweet tale of a popular Australian
children’s show duo comprised of Jeff Van Der Hoot and Annie Eucalyptus (aka
“Hootenanny”), who are on the Canadian leg of their world tour. And during one
of their shows, the team unravels and disintegrates right before the eyes of
the audience, thanks to scandal, infighting, and unshared secrets that come out
into the open at the last minute. The show is done in real time, as you witness
the break-up of Hootenanny during the course of their 60-minute concert, which
is complete with kids’ songs, video clips and a dance break. At times
uncomfortable but always captivating, “Hootenanny!” is a stark portrayal of the
dark side behind the glamour of being a popular entertainer. Its remaining
shows are on January 14 at 9 p.m. and January 15 at 2 p.m.
“A Perfect
Picture” (32-Hour Theatre Company) is based on the true story of South African
photographer Kevin Carter, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his photograph of a
vulture lying in wait for his prey, a starving child in war torn Sudan. Written
and performed by Laurent McCuaig-Pitre, he tells the story of Carter and his
famous photo from two points of view: Carter himself and the vulture in the
picture, who tries to justify his presence in the photo. “A Perfect Picture” is
a fascinating portrait study of the type of tortured souls photojournalists are
(especially when they are assigned to war zones), and the ethical questions
that stir in their minds when they shoot photos of tragic events, whether it be
for the sake of their profession, or for the glory that it can bring them.
Remaining shows on its run take place on January 12 at 7 p.m., and January 13
and 15 at 9 p.m.
"Empire of the Son"
(Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre) is nothing short of a sheer triumph. Tetsuro
Shigematsu, a performer/CBC Radio show host/stand-up comic, who worked as an
usher at the Centaur years ago, delivers a multi-media story filled with plenty
of humor, heart and culture, as he tells about the rather quirky relationship
he had with his father, who not only survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in
1945, but also had an interesting career as a broadcaster with the BBC in
London and Radio Canada International. What I enjoyed about the show is not
only Shigematsu’s easy-going, yet candid delivery, but also his clever use of
photos, props, audio tape recordings of interviews with his family, and small
scale model re-enactments, which certainly adds to this emotional theatrical
experience. It's a very entertaining, uplifting piece about coming to terms
with a parent during the difficult time of mourning their passing, and how
important it is to listen to what each family member has to say, whether one
agrees or not. A definite must-see! There are three remaining performances of
“Empire of the Son” on January 12, 13 and 14, and all start at 7:30 p.m.
Although its run at the Wildside
Festival has ended, I have to give special kudos to "Outta Here". It’s a musical production by the
students of Summit School, a private school that creates an individualized and
enriching atmosphere for different special needs students. The show deals with
a group of students with developmental disabilities who go on a school field
trip, but end up going on an adventure of self-discovery, and what motivates
each of the five students who decide to forsake the field trip for this adventure
in the city. I have to give the 35 Summit students who make up the cast a great
deal of credit for taking on and succeeding in this stupendous task of putting
on this large-scale show for an audience outside of the comfort zone of their
school, and taking on multiple roles that can be a challenge for even the most
professional of actors. And judging by the heart and enthusiasm each student
put into their respective performances, it is hoped that more courageous and
entertaining productions from the students of Summit School will grace the
stage of future Wildside Festivals.
And if you can’t get enough of what
the Wildside has to offer, then catch its remaining Offside events, which begin
immediately following the final show of the night at the Centaur’s Ted T. Katz
Family Trust Gallery space, starting around 10 p.m. There
will be a puppet karaoke showcase (where you get to sing a favorite song, and
let a puppet act it out for you) on January 12; and a special all-star musical
tribute to the late Leonard Cohen takes place on January 13. Admission is free
for both events.
For more information about the
Wildside Festival, or to purchase tickets, go to www.centaurtheatre.com.
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