Monday, 29 November 2004
Chasing away those December blahs
By Joseph Planta, with Richie Leung
VANCOUVER - So, if you want to chase away those winter blahs, there's quite a bit to do in December. Every so often, in this space we'll provide a run through of what to do and what to expect in arts and leisure in this city. No fun? No way.
At the Vancouver Playhouse, opening last Thursday was Noises Off, a staging of Michael Frayn's riotous play. Theatre vets Nora McLellan and Bernard Cuffling are but two of the players, in a cast that's sex farce at its funniest. Their website, http://www.vancouverplayhouse.com will give you all the details. Noises Off, which runs to 18 December 2004, has been a London hit since 1982.
Ongoing at the Stanley Theatre is Arts Club's production of Funny Girl. We've reviewed this in "The Commentary" column, so have a look for that in the archives. TicketMaster will get you tickets, or a call to the Arts Club box office: 604.687.1644. That runs until Sunday, 09 January 2005. Also at the Arts Club, on their Granville Island Stage on Wednesday, December 1, 2004 bows The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).
I've been watching the Dallas DVD set, and one of the episodes introduced the character of Jenna Wade, played by the drop-dead gorgeous Morgan Fairchild. She's still sultry, and she'll be at The Centre for the Performing Arts with five performances of The Graduate, 03-05 December. It's for mature audiences only, and tickets are at TicketMaster.
I went to Charles Dickens Elementary, but I've never read any Dickens. So checking out A Christmas Carol might be in the cards, as a staging of the show is on at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island, Saturday, 04 December 2004, 8.00 pm. Go to TicketMaster's website to get tickets, or call the Carousel Theatre's box office, 604.685.6217.
There's a terrific Tennessee Williams Festival that's on in town. Catch two Williams plays: The Night of the Iguana at the Playwrights Theatre, 1398 Cartwright, Friday, 03 December; and Summer and Smoke at the Firehall Theatre, 280 East Cordova, Saturday, 04 December 2004. Curtain for both is 8.00 pm. Call 604.689.0926 for tickets.
Tomfoolery returns, a hit from earlier in the season is restaged at the Jericho Arts Centre, 13 and 14 December 2004. Call 604.224.8007 for tickets and information.
Holly Cole plays the Orpheum accompanied by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Wednesday and Thursday, 15 and 16 December. Tickets are $66-46, and available through TicketMaster.
There was a note from the folks at Tourism Vancouver announcing the return in January of the wildly successful Dine Out Vancouver promotion. Ever dine out during Dine Out? My colleague Michael Kwan dished about Dine Out earlier this year, and I'm sure he'll be ready to sample some of the 100 eateries that are participating. Price ranges are still $15 and $25, and they're adding a $35.00 level this year so as to add for a greater and more indulgent dining experience. Dine Out runs Friday, 21 January to 03 February 2005. Check out Tourism Vancouver's site: http://www.tourismvancouver.com. And while you're at it find out about an added feature to the 2005 campaign: "Make a Night of It." Packages that include dinner, digs for a night at a Vancouver hotel, as well as parking and breakfast, begin at $119 a night. What a good way to show off our first class hotels, just as they've been showing off Vancouver's finest dining for the past couple of years.
Friday, 14 and Saturday, 15 January 2004 are dates to mark if you're a Beatles fan. The Beatles Experience bows on both nights at 8.00 at The Centre for the Performing Arts. It's a first-class tribute show to the original Fab Four, with tickets at $39.50 available through TicketMaster. Check out the artists, Rain, website, http://www.raintribute.com, where you can actually make requests of what you want on their play list.
There was a note a while back from Hot Dog Jonny's, 1061 Denman @ Comox, announcing that they are now serving breakfasts. Moreover, it's not just hot dogs; they've got a great variety of a menu including frittatas, eggs, omelettes, bagels, and of course, coffee. Weekday's breakfast is on from 7.00 to 11.00 in the morning; and on weekends, 8.00 am to noon. Check out their site, http://www.hotdogjonnys.com, or just go down there and try it.
Further advance notice is given for "A Night to Remember," Friday, 18 February 2005 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 7.30 pm. Catch on one stage, one night only, The Ink Spots, the Four Lads, and The Mills Brothers. $49.50 and up are the prices for tickets, and TicketMaster is where to get 'em.
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