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Vancouver Theatre Giveaway: Victor Victoria at the Metro Theatre

March 15, 2012 by 9 Comments

Oh to be in Vancouver this Saturday, and to be whisked away in my mind to Paris, France in the 1930′s with a prime seat for the entertainment in the Clubs, in just the right spot in the room to eavesdrop on all the shenanigans going on around me, because you know as a writer that is what we absolutely love to do (or at least what I personally absolutely love to do, and then concoct a tale of the people’s lives that I am eavesdropping upon).

 

Victor Victoria at Vancouver's Metro Theatre, March 17th - April 7th, 2012

 

So what exactly am I rambling on about?  Victor Victoria at the Metro Theatre in Vancouver.  Saturday night is Opening Night of the Musical in Vancouver and I often feel like when I am in the theatre, that I am being whisked away to another part of the World, eavesdropping on conversations, only where I’m validated for my speculations and where no one gives me looks of disgust when they catch me in the act of listening in.  Now for those of you that are familiar with the story of Victor Victoria, you’ll know that this will be one juicy conversation to eavesdrop on, as we’ve got a woman that pretends to be a man playing a woman to land a role …  now say that 5x fast … and becomes the bed ‘fellow’ of a gangster that knows she’s a woman, but must hide this from his associates, in order not to be perceived as a homosexual in a macho, gun wielding line of work.  Yes, if I were actually in a Club in Paris listening to this, I am sure I’d be caught in the act of eavesdropping, as this would have just been too juicy not to want to keep edging myself closer, until I was practically sitting in someone’s lap, and then I’d probably end up getting roughed up by the gangsters, and I haven’t taken Ian Mallory’s travel defence training yet, so it’s good thing this is in a theatre, where eavesdropping is allowed.

Sadly I won’t be there, however, as I’m in Ontario this week.  The theatre has kindly extended our tickets to you our readers, so we are hosting a contest here and on Being Emme, giving a pair of tickets away on each site to one lucky reader to attend the Musical on April 4th.

To make this even juicier, I haven’t mentioned who is playing the leading fellow yet, have I?  None other than Jeff Hyslop, the quintessential Phantom of the Opera from the travelling Canadian Production and Jeff the mannequin in the children’s show Today’s Special, will be playing the role of Toddy, Victor/Victoria’s middle-aged gay confidant.  Oh to be able to see Jeff Hyslop on stage in a musical in the intimacy of the Metro Theatre!  No wonder, I’ve been looking green when I eye myself up in the bathroom mirror.  Begrudging missing this one.  Jeff will be complimented on stage by Sylvia Zaradic, as Victor/Victoria.

 

Victor/Victoria and Toddy will be played by Sylvia Zaradic and Jeff Hyslop

 

So how do you win the tickets?  As I mentioned, we have a pair of tickets to giveaway here and a pair to giveaway on Being Emme  for the April 4th Show.  To enter:

  • Comment below with a memorable conversation you once eavesdropped on;
  • The Deadline to enter is Wednesday March 21st, 2012 at midnight PST.

To be entered a second, third and fourth time:

  • Tweet this post with @Roamancing and #VancouverTheatre somewhere in the tweet, so I see the tweet;
  • Share this post on facebook and include @Roamancing in the text when you post it (this should link our facebook page, so I’ll see the post); and/or
  • Share this post on G+ and include @Roamancing in the text when you post it (this should alert me on G+ of your post).

I shall pull the name of one lucky winner from commenters, tweeters, facebookers and G+ers, and announce the winner on Thursday March 22nd.  Very much looking forward to making somebody happy!

Oh, and if sadly you don’t win, the play is running at the Metro Theatre in Vancouver from March 17th – April 7, 2012, with performances on Wednesdays to Saturdays at 8pm and two Sunday Matinees on March 25 & April 1 at 2pm. Tickets can be purchased here.

Kisses,

Emme xoxo

 

Filed Under: All Aboard!, Around the World, BC, Canada, Contests, Emme Rogers, Events, Our Travelers, Perfect Dates, Roamancing, Theatre, Vancouver Events Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Vancouver Theatre: My Three Angels at the Metro

November 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment

When I was kindly invited to see Samuel and Bella Spewack’s  My Three Angels at the Metro Theatre, I had visions of haloes and cherubins, pine trees and roaring fires — perhaps a play that would end in “It’s a Christmas miracle!” (and then some figgy pudding). What I found instead was a big surprise: set in a colonial household in the toasty French Giuana of 1910, there were no cherubins or haloes of the sort that I expected. Instead there was a good-natured little family, muddling through, making the best of things while living in a neighborhood of convicts.

Before I go on about the story, I must say that the set, costume and make up  — especially that of the female characters in the play — were done so realistically that I thought I was looking at creatures from antiquity. The set and all its effects made me feel like I was in a warmer place — which is not only a feat but a blessing during this chilly November. Thanks to the whole production team for depicting the early 20th century so vividly.

(An aside: While I’m not an expert of history, my father can vouch for the historical accuracy of the colonial set design. I didn’t even recognize some of the instruments that make up the set. During intermission my dad was able to tell me what some of these unidentifiable objects were, such as the thermometer and barometer on the wall — he says he recognized it and other objects from his childhood home 50 years ago. It always amazes me to see the curious gadgets of old that were commonplace then.)

 

(L to R) Mike Runte, Robson Baker and Tim Ralphs, the three angels in Metro Theatre's production of My Three Angels by Samuel and Bella Spewack. Photo by Brian Campbell.

 

Things start happening in the Ducotel household when three convicts, who are mending the roof, appear and make such an eloquent impression on the family that they must stay for dinner. Everyone who meets this trio is immediately disarmed; charmed despite themselves, and we the audience know that this is the one night of the year where the rules of reality (and perhaps even morality) are bendable. And thank goodness they are, because reality needs bending on Christmas Eve: the Ducotel family is in trouble, a Scroogey cousin is coming to town, and it looks like Marie Louise may be broken-hearted before dawn.

During their one-night hiatus from the Bastille, Monsieurs Jules, Joseph, and Alfred lead the audience with bumbling grace around the obstacles to the Ductoel family’s happiness. Their endearing good-will is infectious. Though the play is highly comedic, it lightly raises questions about right and wrong, us and them, leaving the audience to resolve them. My favourite part of the play was the faux trial solemnly conducted by the three ‘angels’, complete with Texan accents and arcane legalese.

 

(L to R) Tim Ralphs, Robson Baker, Mike Runte, (sitting) Kris Michaleski in Metro Theatre's production of My Three Angels by Samuel and Bella Spewack.Photo by Brian Campbell.

 

Thanks to Director Alison Jopson for this fun, unusual Christmas play. Thanks also to the actors, and all members of the crew, for their enjoyable performance. Notable faces in the cast include Tom Kavandias (Felix Ducotel), Michelle Collier (Emilie Ducotel), Iris Gittens (Madame Parole), Candice-May Langlois (Marie Louise Ducotel), Tim Ralphs (Jules), Mike Runte (Joseph), Robson Baker (Alfred) Hamish Cameron (Henri Trochard), Kris Michaleski (Paul) and Christopher Dellinger (Lieutenant).

You can see Samuel and Bella Spewack’s  My Three Angels at the Metro Theatre from Thursday to Saturday at 8 pm until December 3, with a 2 pm matinee on Sunday November 27, 2011.

Filed Under: All Aboard!, Alyzee, Around the World, BC, Canada, Events, Our Travelers, Theatre, Vancouver Events Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,