The History Boys by Alan Bennett
Directed by Dean Paul Gibson
Arts Club Granvile Island Stage
Arts Club Theatre Company
September 25 to October 25 ,2008
Bernard Cuffling and Kirk Smith in the Arts Club Theatre Company’s
production of The History Boys. Photo by David Cooper.
Vancouver, BC: At first glance it would seem that a story set in early 1980s Northern England, about preparing a class of grammar school boys to write university entrance examinations for Oxford and Cambridge would provide little target for heated debate on the way home. However as I and my companion for this evening, a teacher with a life-time of experience in special education, have previously had many intense discussions on the pros and cons of standardized tests, school report cards and the politics of education politics, I was anticipating his take on the play with great interest and indeed there was much to discuss.
In a 2004 essay on the genesis of The History Boys, Bennett calls this play "both a confession and expiation", of his own experiences as a Yorkshire grammar school boy, in learning to work the examination system by developing test-taking strategies - much as Irwin promotes in the play. As Bennett says, though it was not dishonest, was not cribbing and was within the rules, on looking back he considers this learning towards exams a sort of cheating; "false pretences anyway".
Sweet tooth? Not I. I choose salami over strudel any time.So it is appropriate that the first supping experience I report occurred at SALT, a restaurant specializing in charcuterie and cheeses. Mmmmm. Just thinking about it sets my mouth watering.
Wandering with a friend around Gastown at lunch time, I remembered an enthusiastic report on SALT from my son on his recent visit here from New York. Making our way though a less than savoury looking lane , Blood Alley, we found ourselves outside the restaurant just as it opened for lunch. We were greeted by Curtis, friendly and efficient. Rather than sit at the long refectory style table which would be fun for a larger party, we chose a smaller table against the wall.
Curtis then explained how we would construct our order from the items listed on the large chalk board on the back wall of the restaurant.
Cheeses were listed in the left column, meats in the centre column and accompaniments on the right. We agreed to share a meat plate and a cheese plate. This meant that we had to choose three cheese items and three meat items and for each plate, three accompanying condiments. Listed in order of my favorites, we chose apricot marmalade, cipolini onions, Late Redhaven peaches, fig bread, cornichons and mustard.
As the flavour of the cipolini blended with blue cheese on a slice of bread, I was transported back 7 years to a farmhouse kitchen near Lucca in Tuscany, where on several evenings we consumed cipolini and gorgonzola washed down with several glasses of amazing Italian wines.
To accompany our savory meal we each had a glass of Joie Rose from Joie Winery in Naramata. The deep rose pink wine was an attractive visual complement to the attractively presented platters and a perfect lunch time sipper.
I was in savory tooth heaven when I left and I look forward to a return visit soon.
[img_assist|nid=187|title=Len Cariou and David Storch in Frost/Nixon: Photo by David Cooper|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=300|height=225]Frost/Nixon by Peter Morgan
Directed by Ted Dykstra
Vancouver Playhouse
Playhouse Theatre Company and The Canadian Stage Company
September 13 to October 4 , 2008
Vancouver, BC. Set between the time of Richard Nixon's resignation in 1974 and the taping of the interviews, FROST / NIXON chronicles the attempts, ultimately successful, by British satirist and talk show host, David Frost (David Storch) to engage Nixon (Len Cariou) in a series of interviews for television. Both men have much to gain from these interviews. Frost, whose career seemed to be waning, was hoping to make a comeback as a broadcaster in US televsion. Frost's production support team of John Birt (Damien Atkins) and Bob Zelnick (Michael Healey) urged on by narrator/historian, Jim Reston (Ari Cohen), want to wring an open admission of wrong-doing from Nixon. Nixon, supported by Jack Brennan (Tom McBeath) wants an opportunity to justify the achievements of his administration and make his own comeback to Washington politics.
[img_assist|nid=179|title=Jonathon Young and Gabrielle Rose in the Arts Club Theatre Company’s production of Doubt. Photo by David Cooper.|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=203|height=297]Doubt by John Patrick Shanley
Directed by Rachel Ditor
Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
Arts Club Theatre Company
September 11 to October 12, 2008
Vancouver, BC: I first saw Doubt in New York in July 2005, the year this play won John Patrick Shanley the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Superbly performed, the production was riveting -the tension in the audience was tangible - absolute silence, audible gasps, a few "no nos". I loved the show and rushed off the very next day to the Drama Book Shop to pick up a copy of the published script. As I eagerly anticipated the Arts Club production I wondered whether the play would have the same impact on a second viewing. But even knowing the story line, last night I found the play almost as powerful as before.
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