NOTE: This story was updated Aug. 28 with information about TrudeauMania.
The story of a Romanian escort who flees in a cargo ship container bound for Canada. A pop culture parody of Die Hard featuring 1980s tunes. A show starring two larger-than-life-vulvas contemplating their existence.
It must be Fringe time again.
The Vancouver Fringe Festival returns to stages around the city from Sept. 6 to 16. Over its 11 days, more than 30 different theatre artists and companies present more than 700 performances – with work representing a huge range of genres and subject matter, for audiences of all kinds.
Here are some Burnaby connections to this year’s festival:
BOX OF FREEDOM
Burnaby’s Adelina Suvagau wrote the production with Steve Saunders and her daughter Sonia Suvagau. The show tells the story of Dora, a Romanian censored comedienne, who flees her life as a high-class escort by escaping in a cargo ship container bound for Canada. Sonia Suvagau plays Dora. Actor Mika Doaga, who plays Alex, is also a Burnaby resident.
It’s on at Studio 1398 on Granville Island Sept. 7, 8, 9, 11, 14 and 16.
A CANADIAN BARTENDER AT BUTLIN’S and A SAD-ASS CABARET
T.J. Dawe, who grew up in Burnaby, is the driving force behind these two productions. A Sad-Ass Cabaret is a two-person show, co-created with singer-songwriter Lindsay Robertson, Dawe’s partner. Robertson plays and sings, while Dawe does monologues between verses. A Canadian Bartender at Butlin’s is a solo show by Dawe about a “horrible job” he held in England when he was 18 years old.
A Sad-Ass Cabaret plays at the Havana on Sept. 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 and 15. A Canadian Bartender at Butlin’s is on at the Firehall Arts Centre Sept. 7, 8, 9, 11, 15 and 16.
DIE HARD: THE MUSICAL-ISH
This pop culture parody of the action film (which happens to be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year) takes audiences back to Nakatomi Plaza on Christmas Eve, where NYPD cop John McClane must save the day against the German terrorists led by Hans Gruber – but with lots of laughs and favourite ’80s hits. It’s the followup to Hunger Games: The Musical. It stars Richard Meen as John McClane and Matthew D. Simmons as Hans Gruber. Writer-director-producer Mark Vandenberg grew up in Burnaby.
It’s on at Studio 1398 on Granville Island Sept. 6, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 16.
HULLABOO AND THE END OF EVERYTHING
Andrew Wade’s Hullaboo tells the story of an imaginary friend who refuses to be forgotten, even though his real-life girl, Mikaila the Magnificent, is growing up and may be leaving him behind. It’s performed by Wade and Burnaby actor Katie Purych.
It’s on at Carousel Theatre on Granville Island Sept. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15 and 16.
THE LADY SHOW
Burnaby’s Diana Bang stars alongside Morgan Brayton, Fatima Dhowre and Katie-Ellen Humphries in this show that features sketch, stand-up, monologue, satirical news and more all designed to “put the joy in feminist killjoy,” as its billing says.
It’s on at Firehall Arts Centre Sept. 6, 8, 9, 12, 15 and 16.
LIP SERVICE
Created by Ashley Whitehead and Natalie Tin Yin Gan, Lip Service, as a synopsis bills it, “features two larger-than-life vulvas navigating their relationship to service, self-acceptance and sexual empowerment within a hilarious world of competition and ‘doing it all.’” The two use their extensive dance backgrounds in a show that has seen them described as “two of the most gifted and funny physical performers at the Fringe” by CBC. Natalie grew up in Burnaby - she went to Cascade Heights Elementary and Moscrop Secondary schools, then attended SFU on Burnaby Mountain.
It’s on at the Firehall Arts Centre Sept. 7, 8, 10, 13, 14 and 15.
RABBIT HOLE
Burnaby-based Frolicking Divas Theatre presents David Lindsay-Abaire’s award winning play Rabbit Hole, about a couple who have everything a family could want – until a life-shattering accident turns their world upside down. It’s produced by Braden Lock and Lori Watt, a Burnaby resident who also stars as Becca.
It’s on at the Vancity Culture Lab Sept. 6, 9, 10, 12, 15 and 16.
SELF-ISH
Burnaby resident Diana Bang reprises her role in the one-woman play Self-ish, in the story of Esther, a 30-something Korean-Canadian woman, who examines herself in the aftermath of a recent tragedy. It’s written by Kuan Foo and directed by Dawn Milman.
It’s on at The Revue Stage, 1601 Johnston St. on Granville Island, Sept. 7, 9, 10, 12, 14 and 16.
SPINNING YOU HOME
Sally Stubbs’ play tells the story of Sarah and Grampa, trapped inside as a storm rages on Salt Spring Island in 1958. It delves into a haunting chapter in B.C. gold rush history. The play features four characters, performed by two actors. Burnaby actor Sarah Roa appears as Sarah Holdon and Sophia Cameron, alongside Simon Webb as Granmpa and John ‘Cariboo’ Cameron. Roa is also responsible for costumes.
It’s on at the Carousel Theatre on Granville Island Sept. 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15 and 16.
TRUDEAUMANIA
This 90-minute show looks at the life and rise to power of the original Prime Minister Trudeau - Pierre, that is. It starts in 1946, with a young Pierre in Paris, and follows him to his win at the 1968 Liberal leadership convention and his life thereafter - his secret engagement to the 21-year-old Margaret, his meeting at Parliament with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and the dark days in October 1970 when he invoked the War Measures Act to crush the FLQ. It has a couple of Burnaby ties: director Daniel McLeod lived in Burnaby for five years while pursuing his studies at SFU, and Jacob, Ross, who`s in charge of lights, soundscape and production design, is a current theatre student at SFU.
It`s on at the Firehall Arts Centre Sept. 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15 and 16.
Love Fringe? These shows are just the tip of the iceberg.
Check out www.vancouverfringe.com for full schedules, show listings and all the information you need to know to make the most of your time at the festival.
