Also at Ballard Lederer is Where You Are, with Karl Knox and Razielle Aligen. Knox and Aigen explore the world of relationships and dating and how film versions compare with reality. The performance includes song, dance and comedy. It runs Sept. 13 at 8:15 p.m. and Sept. 15 at 3:45 p.m.
Women's role reversal
Everybody plays a certain role in society: as a mother, a wife,
a lover, a child. We try hard to play our role as well as possible
and we seldom think to change it. The play Eve and Lilith
suggests, using extreme examples, that women should try to change
their roles in order to gain this new viewpoint.
In the play, two contrasting women meet each other. Eve Maria Schackle,
a faithful wife for 20 years, visits Lilian Moonback, her husband's
lover.
The two meet in a dream as the archetypes Eve and Lilith. Eve, wearing
a long, white dress, her voice soft and smiling, is in complete
bondage to a male voice, which represents Adam. In contrast, Lilith
is dressed as an aggressive cat, self-confident, with a strong voice.
Lilith tries to help Eve to escape from Adam's captivity, but without
success.
Back in their characters of Lilian and Eve, Lilian persuades Eve
to switch roles. Eve is reluctant at first, but finally slips from
her conservative clothes into Lilian's tight dress.
Although the characters eventually return to their original roles,
they are happy having had the chance to play such different personas.
Both express their belief that, in this way, they could learn to
understand and accept each other better.
The play presents some interesting points but, judging from the
reaction from the audience, the subject matter hits home more with
women. Perhaps with the involvement of a male character, such as
Adam, the play would reach out to both sexes alike.
Eve and Lilith shows at the Waterfront Theatre Sept. 14 at
7:30 p.m. and Sept. 15 at 6:15 p.m.
– Ömer Raglan
Second helpings please
Take two parts music, one part story, add a smidgen of standup
comedy and you have the basic ingredients for No Feet in the
Pie, Please! – a sexy, dark and vivacious glimpse of human
nature, as seen through the eyes of Derek Brans, one of Vancouver's
most mischievous solo artists.
Brans's unique recipe blends intimacy and emotion with an edgy sense
of humor to create an atmosphere all his own. Funny, inspiring and
offbeat, his songs and stories are sure to leave you wanting a second
helping.
No Feet runs at Studio 16, 1545 West 7th Ave., Sept. 13 at
midnight and Sept. 14 at 3:30 p.m.
As cheesy as they come
According to Rob Bosse, the secret to finding success on Broadway
is as simple as being as cheesy as you can possibly be. Fortunately,
Bosse is just a character (a musical director) in the Fringe Festival
play How to Be Cheesey in Showbiz Without Even Trying.
Starring Richmond Jewish community members Matthew Rossoff and Shira
Elias, How to Be Cheesey takes a fun look at the personalities
and dreams of Broadway hopefuls.
In a play within the play, the group is nearing the final stages
of preparation for a performance about how Canadians should separate
their ties from the United States, when a rocky relationship causes
the male and female leads to quit the show. The couple ends up finding
happiness, but not before two other hopefuls are convinced that
they can carry the show on their own.
How to Be Cheesey combines the melodramatic, over-eager personalities
of the characters with cute, slapstick humor, dancing and catchy
tunes. It doesn't take long for the somewhat naive characters to
grow on the audience.
Everyone involved in the show is part of a new theatre group called
Breaking Broadway. This was the first Fringe appearance for all
of the performers.
How to Be Cheesey runs at Performance Works Sept. 13 at 4:15
p.m. and Sept. 14 at 10:15 p.m.
– Kyle Berger