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The other week was a cultural collision of three events over five days. I’m exhausted but it was so much fun! It happens every once in a while that my seasons tickets for the theatre and the symphony end up in the same week. Last week I found myself at the Stanley, the Orpheum and the Queen Elizabeth Theatres!
The Arts Club’s production of “One Man, Two Guvnors” at the Stanley Theatre is a hilarious comedy – and an adaptation of Carlo Goldoni’s 18th century “A Servant of Two Masters”. This version is set in Brighton in 1963 and includes fabulous live music before, after and during the scenes. The musicians add such zest and joy to a performance that already has one giggling….nervously…as the lead character ventures out into the audience for advice and assistance…several times.
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Pops concert, two days later, did not disappoint. It was a Valentine’s themed concert of love songs, sung by two talented singers: Betsy Wolfe (currently starring on Broadway in Woody Allen’s “Bullets Over Broadway”) and beloved Broadway tenor Mike Eldred.
The week was topped off with an invite to Broadway Across Canada’s Beauty and the Beast. What fun. I love the grand sets and costumes, and the orchestra was terrific. I’ve never seen the movie, as my son was already older when it became popular. (We do all know the movies of our children’s “time period” so well…having seen them many, many times).
I love having seasons tickets because interesting opportunities then just pop up throughout the year without any additional effort. I have pairs of tickets to several series and have the pleasure of asking friends to join me for various concerts, depending on what I think they’d like.
Many shy away from the Symphony; I know… I’m not great with the classical concerts. I can’t stay “captivated”…. But the Pops concerts are so different, so user friendly. It’s usually more “modern”, Broadway tunes with some kind of theme, or songs written by a certain composer. Coming up this spring is an Ella and Louis (Fitzgerald and Armstrong) night of songs, which should be fabulous. Last year’s favorite was “50 years of James Bond”.
It is so wonderful to share experiences like these with friends: the play was a night out with a friend who’s moving far away soon, and the symphony with a lovely new friend. At Beauty and the Beast I was able to join my dear friends who had brought four of their nephews down to the city to experience something new. What a wonderful way to share.