News: MTC's God of Carnage is going to Vancouver

Shauna Black and Oliver Becker in
Carnage (photo: Bruce Monk)

After being thrown into doubt by the recent closure of Vancouver Playhouse, a production from Manitoba Theatre Centre of Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage will be going to the West Coast after all. It was reported by CBC that MTC stood to lose $100,000 if the presentation fell through. The performances in Vancouver will be presented in the venue once enjoyed by the defunct company.


The production is currently enjoying a successful run in Winnepeg.


See Charlebois Post articles about Vancouver Playhouse


Read the MTC press release:

Vancouver Playhouse Memories

PLAYHOUSE MEMORIES

by Mark Leiren-Young

[Mark Leiren-Young is Vancouver Editor of The Charlebois Post as well as a playwright, writer and pundit. This article appeared in The Tyee where he is also a frequent contributor]

One of the most magical experiences I've had in the theatre was walking through the doors of the Vancouver Playhouse and discovering the stage had been replaced by a mountain. The play was K-2 and as brilliant as the set was, the performances by Terrence Kelly and Tom McBeath as two stranded climbers were even better. I became a bit of a groupie for both actors after that – if either of them was in a show, I wanted to see it. I still do. The first time I heard the name Robin Phillips (one of Canada's most acclaimed directors) was when I wondered who the wonderful actor was onstage opposite William Hutt in the Playhouse production of The Dresser. I'm sure a play had broken my heart before that night, but right now I can't remember when.

SERIES: Vancouver Playhouse - What Went Wrong?

Curtains for the Vancouver Playhouse

With no hero in sight, the theatre is closing. In its honour, let's keep the arts centre stage.

by Mark Leiren Young

[Mark Leiren-Young is Vancouver Editor of The Charlebois Post as well as a playwright, writer and pundit. This article appeared in The Tyee where he is also a frequent contributor]

News that an arts organization is dying can be a little like news about the impending death of a comic book superhero. Superman, Batman and Captain America never seem to stay dead very long -- although every so often they're briefly revived with new characters wearing the capes and costumes.

So when I heard the Vancouver Playhouse was bringing down the final curtain last Saturday after 49 years, my first thought was the company wasn't really dead. This was a play for an emergency cash infusion, because unlike the infamous deceased parrot in the classic Monty Python sketch, an arts organization can always be reanimated. All it takes is a big enough cheque.

Series: The Vancouver Playhouse - What Went Wrong?

How the Sun helped post the Vancouver Playhouse’s closing notice

By Frank Moher

[Ed: As part of a series of opinions we will be publishing, we asked Mr. Moher if we could repost his brilliant discussion of one of the things that went wrong at Vancouver Playhouse. Frank Moher is a playwright, columnist and writer about all things and editor of Back of The Book, the admirable online magazine where this article first appeared]

The sudden news that the Vancouver Playhouse is closing after 49 seasons comes as a shock, of course. We assume these venerable civic institutions will somehow always manage to lumber along, despite economic downturns and hostile governments and digital depredations. This, after all, was the Company that gave Canadian theatre its seminal play, The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, that launched numerous Canadian theatre luminaries (including playwright Sharon Pollock), that was the redoubt of the city’s grey hairs and monied class. Those theatres don’t just die, do they?

News: Nation reacts to Vancouver Playhouse closure

Response Quick and Massive
The social networks take over the Vancouver Playhouse story
by Gaëtan L. Charlebois
(Updated 1:36 pm ET, March 10)
(Updated 1 pm ET, March 11)


On Facebook, on Twitter, news spread quickly that Vancouver Playhouse, heading towards its 50th Anniversary, had gone under. (See our story here) The Charlebois Post - Canada contacted several theatre people for their reaction to the news.


Rick Miller, Artistic producer of Wyrd Productions
I only played the Playhouse very recently and am not familiar with the details of its demise. But I do know Max Reimer very well, having played Jesus in his Jesus Christ Superstar production at Theatre Aquarius in 2001.  He was both passionate and compassionate as a director and the experience was fantastic for cast, crew and audiences alike. From what I recall, Max was brought in to help fix a deficit problem at Aquarius and he succeeded with a delicate balance of business acumen and artistic integrity.  I assume that he was brought in to the fix a deficit at the Vancouver Playhouse too.  It saddens me to see the outcome, although I'm sure Max gave it his best shot.  Like at Aquarius, he presented a week of MacHomer at the Playhouse in May 2011 to draw in younger audiences.  Everything seemed fine at the time, although Max hinted at deficits.  That didn't stop him from agreeing to come on board a new transmedia project that I am developing, one that uses theatre as a catalyst to create multi-platform content with a variety of producing partners. That kind of open-mindedness and enthusiasm to new ways of generating content, audiences and funding is what I think regional theatres in this country need.  Would it have saved the Playhouse?  No.  Is it the way to go? I think so. Clearly, the old ways aren't working anymore.


Antoni Cimolino, Stratford Festival General Director and newly-appointed Artistic Director 
The demise of the Vancouver Playhouse is a profound loss for Canada. This theatre was a cornerstone to our national cultural edifice. At a time when the world's leading nations are using culture to extend their commerce and brand we have lost a part of our unique heritage. And sadly our artists have lost a home.

Review: (Vancouver) Hunchback

Hunchback retells 1831 novel with modern flair and fantasy

Not Disney

by Jonas Gifford

Born at Edmonton's Catalyst Theatre, Hunchback retells Victor Hugo's novel, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, with dark but imaginative staging and an emotive and modern score.

Set in 1482, Hunchback is named after Quasimodo (Ron Pederson), a hunchback adopted in infancy by Claude Frollo (Scott Walters), the Archdeacon of Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris. Frollo and Quasimodo share powerful affections for a beautiful gypsy Esmeralda (Ava Jane Markus). Esmeralda also captures the carnal lust of philanderer and Captain Phoebus de Chateaupers (Andrew Cohen), but tragically succumbs to medieval criminal law after rejecting the jealously obsessive Frollo.