Nicole Underhay in The Constant Wife. Photo by David Cooper
The Constant Wife by Somerset Maugham
Directed by Morris Panych
Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
Arts Club Theatre Company
Jan 22nd to Feb 22nd, 2009
Vancouver, BC: What a treat to see a play that is bitingly clever, features strong, clearly drawn female characters, is consistent in its visual appeal and provides really great entertainment. Until now my exposure to the work of Maugham was decades ago and limited to his novels. I read Of Human Bondage, his major semi- autobiographical novel and a heavy read, in my medical student days and The Moon and Sixpence shortly after that. So the humour and witty dialogue in this play came as a delightful surprise.
BILLY TWINKLE Requiem for a Golden Boy
Written, created and performed By Ronnie Burkett
Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes
Waterfront Theatre
Jan 20 to Feb 8, 2009
Photos by Trudie Lee
Vancouver, BC: As part of my obsessive nature, a trait I am still unsuccessfully trying to remedy, I tend to arrive at appointments, airports and of course theatre venues, far earlier than is necessary. Usually when I get to the Waterfront Theatre for a show, I can mosey into the bar area and stand around chatting to the staff or an occasional fellow early arriver for quite a while before the place starts filling up. But not lthis time. A good forty minutes before the start time for Ronnie Burkett's show, the lineup to get into the theatre was snaking around the bar area, doubling and redoubling. Hmmm. Interesting because the Waterfront is one of those places where sightlines are generally good even for the vertically challenged as the rows rise quite steeply and one gets a great view from most seats. But one does not need a long lineup and packed houses to affirm Burkett's reputation as a superbly creative and innovative entertainer - a Golden Boy at the top of his game. Which adds a special piquancy to this new show.
Carmen by Georges Bizet
Libretto by Henri Meillhac and LudovicHalévy
Based on the novella by Prosper Mérimée
Director David Gately
Conductor Antony Walker
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Vancouver Opera
Jan 24, 27, 29, 31, Feb 3 and 5
Photos by Tim Matheson Rinat Shaham as Carmen
Vancouver, BC: If I could chose one opera as the ideal forum to introduce an opera neophyte to the genre it would be Carmen. It has to rank as one of the most accessible operas in that you don't have to have a sophisticated understanding of music to be entranced as one glorious melody follows another. You also don't have to suspend your sense of reality as the story is plausible and the motivation of the main characters quite believable. Who can blame Don Jose (David Pomeroy) for throwing away his military career and ditching the sweet, faithful Micaëla (Mariateresa Magisano) for the seductive, exotic and utterly bewitching Carmen (Rinat Shaham)? And given the choice between the flamboyant celebrated matador, Escamillo (Daniel Okulitch) and the poor sucker Don Jose whom she has already conquered, well obviously Carmen will want to use her witching ways to snare Escamillo.
Caroline Cave and Kevin Hanchard in Miss Julie: Freedom SummerMiss Julie: Freedom Summer
Adapted by Stephen Sachs from Miss Julie by August Strindberg
and directed By Stephen Sachs
Vancouver Playhouse
Jan10 th to 31st, 2009
Vancouver, BC: I have been trying to figure out why I was having so much difficulty committing my thoughts to screen with respect to this production. I was certainly blown away by the performances of all three actors and my attention did not wander for a second from the stage. It was a very powerful bit of theatre. Yet I hesitated so long in writing about this play that it has become a commentary on me rather than a review.
My initial opening line for the review, typed within minutes of returning home went something like this : " If you are already on an anti-depresssant you might want to take a double dose to fortify yourself before you go to see this new adaptation of Strindberg's decidedly downbeat play, Miss Julie." But then I thought that 's not really fair - it is an excellent production and the fine performances are well worth seeing.
We wanted to check out the Paradise river raft and set off along a sand path winding through more luxuriant jungle vegetation. En route to the river we stopped off in the huge greenhouse where they cultivate a variety of orchids and other exotic plants. The pictures say it all.
We also visited the mushroom farm area where they cultivate edible oyster mushrooms (pleurotus) in foul smelling bags containing wheat straw and dead leaves of native Yucatan plants.
We passed by the very noisy flamingo enclosure and the extensive fish farm where they breed tilapia and camerones (shrimp) that are served in the restaurants here.
At the river boats before we set off the supervisor asked people to maintain silence so that we could enjoy the tranquility of the river winding through the limestone canyon but of course most of the people blabbed away loudly and totally ignored the signs and the request for silence.
After the river ride we made our way with a couple of thousand other people to the Teatro for the 2 hour show that runs from 6 pm to 8 pm. The first half summarizes the history of Mexico from the early Mayans – the soccer like ball game (except you can only use your hips to move the ball) and a form of hockey with a flaming ball. Then we saw the Spanish arrive, the various priestly factions – Franciscans, Jesuits, Dominicans – then everyone seemed to blend into a melting pot that was supposed to represent Mexico today. After a 15 minute intermission they then presented dances from the various states. The commentary was in Spanish but we recognised Oaxaca, Veracruz and Tabasco among the states mentioned. The costumes were gorgeous but I did not see many differences between the styles of dance.
Xcaret (which means small inlet in Mayan) was once an important port for the Yucatan Peninsula and also served as a Mayan ceremonial centre. Today it has been developed into an aquatic recreational park where you can float down underground rivers, swim and snorkel in pools and lagoons, and see turtles, dolphins and even sharks up close and personal. While one can drive to the park and just pay the admission fee, from the hotels it makes sense to sign up for one of the tours which gets you ground transportation in an air conditioned bus and admission to the park. For US$110 we took the XCaret Plus package which also includes a buffet lunch at one of the many restaurants, a locker, snorkeling gear and a towel.
The bus picked us up at 8:50 and it took about 40 minutes for the drive to XCaret. The guide, Daniel gave a 20 minute presentation in Spanish on what to expect, followed by the same presentation in English. I listened really carefully to the Spanish part and was surprised at how much I actually understood. Obviously my efforts at learning “muchas nuevas palabras” each day are getting results. At least my vocabulary is increasing even if my grammar may be a bit wonky. For example I think I wrote “many new words” using the correct feminine form of the adjectives “mucho” and “nuevo.” Wish I had a teacher here with whom I could check the grammar. Mind you my Spanish is probably at a kindergarten level, if that and I don’t think they teach grammar in kindergarten!
Mexico and Me: Day 5 (Tues 23rd): Oops – what is happening to our minds? Too much sun?
We still have not figured out how it happened but we were chatting around 10:45 when the Brio Spa called to tell us we had missed appointments for massages. How do three compulsive detail oriented individuals do that? We were all completely bamboozled and somehow had 2 pm in our heads instead of 10 am. We are feeling very stupid and also deprived as we were anticipating getting our stiff muscles kneaded and stretched.
We ended up having lunch at Balche, the poolside restaurant and then spent a few hours at the pool. We had supper in the room and played bridge the rest of the evening. An uneventful and relaxing day.
Mexico and Me: Day 6 (Wed 24th): A day at the pool
At the gym early followed by a day at the pool.
It appears that people have figured out that Gong restaurant is now open as it is now necessary to phone for reservations. We decided on our usual early dinner and tried some of their interesting fusion food. We shared a hamachi tartare with jalapeno. Also crispy shrimp served in a mayo based cocktail sauce. Then we shared their Peking duck. Two wrappers filled with plum sauce, scallions and shaved duck. The remainder of the duck was then stir fried with vegetables. Quite delicious.
Amanda and I hit the gym first thing so we felt thoroughly virtuous as we took a cab into Playa del Carmen to stock up on food for breakfast and lunch. Our unit has nice kitchen facilities so our general plan is to eat breakfast and lunch in our unit and go out for dinner. The taxi in to Playa is a flat 195 pesos. The drivers are happy to wait while you shop and then drive you back. I guess it’s a guaranteed fare for them so it’s worth it.
Walmart has a large store where we were able to pick up most of what we needed. I was quite surprised though that they had very little variety in fruit. There were apples, mandarin oranges, bananas but no strawberries or grapes and the overall quality of the produce was really poor compared to what we get in Vancouver. Anyway we got eggs, yogurt, coffee and cream as well as some salad stuff. The lettuce looked pretty wilted but we found some tins of palm hearts, and artichokes to add vegetables to our salad.
The Mayan Palace and Grand Mayan Resort is one of a sequence of hotels and resorts that line the Caribbean Sea along the eastern coastline of the Yucatan Peninsula. The resort is south of Cancun near Playa del Carmen. In the five years since I last stayed here the resort has changed a lot. It is roughly divided into two areas, the Mayan Palace and Grand Mayan, with a new section of ultra luxury suites called the Luxe, to come next year. As well as the mega pool I remember from my last visit they have added two really nice pool areas that are restricted to Grand Mayan members and guests.
As well the GM members have free use of the gym and spa facilities while others pay a token fee for access. The pools are quite beautifully laid out with the lush green of the tropical vegetation contrasting with the deep blue water. They have shallower sections with water jets – unfortunately no hot tubs.
At this resort they have a number of restaurants serving a range of foods from beach fare to fine dining. Two are the every day mixed menu type of facility. Balche is the beach café with the usual range of salads to hamburgers, and of course, the pool drinks. At night it becomes Frida’s Grill serving Mexican cuisine. Havana Moon is another large restaurant located on the beach area. It has a dance floor. I saw a wedding party there, complete with bride in white dress. I am not sure that this would be my first choice for a wedding reception area!
Recent comments