New poetry collection from Toronto writer Natalie Wee fresh, relatableI’m always trying to find more literature from queer writers, so I was thrilled to read Toronto-based writer Natalie Wee’s new collection of poetry, Beast at Every Threshold. The collection of poems touches on Wee’s experiences as a woman, as a queer person, and as an immigrant. She does a magnificent job of exploring the […] Continue Reading |
Despite flaws, solo performance of A Christmas Carol wonderfully entertainingA Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is likely the most well-known piece of traditional holiday literature of all time, and for good reason: it tells a gripping story of ordinary people grappling with the human condition, and it has starkly relatable characters. Indeed, the most compelling thing about Ebenezer Scrooge is that the audience feels […] Continue Reading |
Book shines light on Russian actress Alla NazimovaThe most memorable books for me are biographies. I love learning about important people’s lives because we often look to these people to inspire us. What makes Gavin Lambert’s biography Nazimova so great is that it perfectly hits those same type of inspirational notes while also giving the reader a unique reading experience that they […] Continue Reading |
A Christmas Carol at Blue Bridge keeps tradition aliveThis month at Blue Bridge Theatre, the world-renowned Victorian-era Christmas story A Christmas Carol will be told in the same fashion that it was originally presented: with one actor playing the cast of over 20 characters. But actor Sanjay Talwar is no stranger to taking on a role where he plays multiple people. “I actually […] Continue Reading |
Victoria singer-songwriter uses music to get environmental message outVictoria-based singer/songwriter Kele Fleming recently released “Where the Rivers Meet,” her sixth single from her 2020 record The Song I’ll Write for My Whole Life. The album is an amazing musical joyride that does a great job creating a transcendent musical experience while at the same time conveying Fleming’s message about environmentalism and humanity’s need […] Continue Reading |
New Music Revue: Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats move ahead on new LPNathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats The Future (Stax Records) 4/5 It’s been six years since we first heard “S.O.B.” on the radio, and it seems that Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats have lived down the “one-hit wonder” label. After the release of their third LP, The Future, it’s clear that the band is […] Continue Reading |
A Christmas Carol returns to Craigdarroch Castle as solo performanceThis holiday season, viewers will be visited by three spirits at Craigdarroch Castle in a performance of A Christmas Carol by veteran local actor Jason Stevens. Stevens—who is returning for his tenth year telling the story—brings 19 characters to life in his solo performance of the Dickens classic tale of a man beset by greed […] Continue Reading |
Serving Elizabeth shines with beautiful set and intriguing plotCanadian playwright Marcia Johnson’s play Serving Elizabeth has made its way to Victoria’s Belfry Theatre. People may be drawn to seeing this play because Johnson was originally inspired by the popular Netflix series The Crown, in particular, an episode set in Kenya. Johnson had, apparently, seen the episode and believed that the depiction of the […] Continue Reading |
New Music Revue: Julie Doiron album too bland for nine-year waitJulie Doiron I Thought of You (You’ve Changed Records) 3/5 After nine years of keeping fans waiting, Canadian singer/songwriter Julie Doiron is back with another solo album. Her music is often referred to as indie rock, however, it’s softer than that, with a rhythm and base that is reminiscent of folk or country. Themes of […] Continue Reading |
Comedy event brings holiday cheer to townOne of the most challenging jobs in show business is stand-up comedy. This is because of the level of confidence and talent it takes for a comedian to step on stage and successfully deliver a bunch of jokes that make the audience laugh. This month, actress and comedian Kirsten Van Ritzen and her company of […] Continue Reading |
