Just shy of last year’s record-breaking number of shows seen and reviewed, my list of the best shows of 2013 is another eclectic mix.
As always I remain grateful to the theatre companies who invite me to see their shows and I once again encourage everyone to make a new year’s resolution to experience some live theatre in 2014.
#10- “Glee-fully” blurring the lines – Speech & Debate (Twenty Something Theatre)
While at times laugh-out-loud funny, it was Claire Hesselgrave’s performance as the quirky Diwata that made this show so memorable.
#9 – All hail the Fringe ensemble – 5 Lesbians Eating Quiche (Black Rook Theatre)
Not the first time a Vancouver Fringe production has made my list over the years, but it is the first time it hasn’t been a one-person show. It totally got overlooked as one of the best of the Fringe.
#8 – Buckle up for this hilarious ride – Boeing-Boeing (Arts Club Theatre Company)
Never mind the new Dreamliner, the trio of McNee, Wheeler and Lipman were the new Dreamteam in an absolutely hilarious production that rarely flew below 30,000 feet.
#7 – Just what the doctor ordered - Hotel Bethlehem (Ruby Slipper Theatre)
It’s no wonder this one is now into its third year. Irreverent, funny and not a trace of sugary sweetness found in the shows normally found during the Christmas season.
6 – A cacophony worth experiencing – Balm in Gilead (Studio 58)
What makes Langara’s Studio 58 standout as one of the best theatre training grounds in the country is its willingness to take risks. Gritty, provocative and real, this one pushed both actor and audience.
#5 – The summer of women – Elizabeth Rex (Bard on the Beach)
Ironically this was not one of the Bard’s plays, but Colleen Wheeler’s gripping performance as the Queen made it impossible to ignore.