EDITOR LEY DOCTOR THE VOICE, THURSDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2012 4 A coy (A haan SO BeOS CORD Aa STUDIO 58 photo Joel Wirkkunen plays the mayor in The Government Inspector, where updated comedy and strong stars have created a great show. Inspector finds good laughs Strong cast and “tried and true” comedy keep Studio 58 play fresh By JENNIFER THUNCHER tudio 58, Langara’s professional theatre program, is presenting The Government Inspector from Nov. 15 — Dec. 2. Adapted from the Russian classic by writer Nikolai Gogol, the play promises to be a hilarious jab at government in- stitutions and the people who run them. It is a play from long ago and far away, but is still fresh and relevant for audiences of all ages today. Starring Langara alumnus Joel Wirkkunen as the mayor, and a talent- ed student cast, the play portrays an imperial Russian village in the early 1800s. The town and its bumbling lead- ers are thrown into hysterical panic when they learn a government inspec- tor is coming to visit. Director David Mackay says the play is based on mistaken identity, a “tried and true” comedic formula. “T mean The Simpsons still do that today,” he said. Mackay credits Jeffrey Hatcher’s ad- aptation of the play with infusing it with jokes that keep it relevant. Audiences will also recognize the public’s distrust of authority that has been a part of society since Roman times. “It is older, it is fresh and it is funny,” said Mackay. Mackay cites the period costumes, by Mara Gottler, and the exacting sets, by Pam Johnson, as inspiring the ac- tors with the “grace and comedy” of the piece. Stephanie Izsak, 26, plays the gover- nor’s wife, Anna Andreyevna. Her three costume changes are “helpful to give a sense of time and place” Izsak said. Putting on a crino- line and the elaborate gowns changes the way she stands and moves. “My posture immediately changes. I am so jealous of that time, so beautiful, so decadent,” Izsak said. A brave and confident actor, Izsak is sure to win over audiences. From re- hearsal footage it is clear she is a wom- an who is comfortable in her own skin and with her sexuality. She tackles the sometimes outra- geously flirtatious Anna Andreyevna with ease while grounding her with a sense of humanity. Her character is vain and flirtatious, but Izsak sees rea- sons behind this behavior. “She wants so badly to be decadent, impressive, and wonderful ... to leave that awful town,” said Izsak. The lon- ger you look at the comedy of the play and its characters the more you see sadness and longing that “make the show,” she said. The Government Inspector officially opens Nov. 17, with free student nights Nov. 15 and 16. Tickets are available through ticketstonight.ca. FUTURE shows SPRING AWAKEN- ING, A MUSICAL Jan. 31- Feb 24, 2013 HOW THE WEST WAS WON (PART OF THE RISKY NIGHT SERIES) Feb, 12 - 17, 2013 BALM IN GILEAD Mar. 21 - Apr. 7, 2013 Source: Studio 58 website Studio 58 prof's play pretty OK Langara grads and prof create funny times, but doesn’t offer new laughs By KEVIN HAMPSON Play with Monsters is a dark comedy about a likeable loser who failed to meet the high hopes of his parents. They continue to berate him in his adulthood, and even death doesn’t si- lence them: they return as zombies. “Tt’s a metaphor for the judgement of your parents following you around,” said writer Aaron Bushkowsky, who teaches at Langara’s Studio 58. The loser in question is Drew, who introduces himself at the beginning as the narrator. “Just so you know, I enjoy making [stuff] up,” he warns. Drew is, by now, a stock character: the permanent teenager whose only ambition is to spark the next joint. The role seems made for Seth Rogen, but it’s played perfectly by Studio 58 grad Andrew McNee, who charms with his natural delivery. Our doubtful hero takes us to differ- ent periods of his life, alternately shar- ing his memories and his nightmares. In the first part of the play, Drew de- scribes how he became a failure. He started off well in school, but soon be- gan shirking his work. From there he spiralled towards drugs, alcohol and jail. His parents, restaurateurs who put on airs to match their high-class pa- trons, were not impressed. Actor Bill Dow, playing Drew’s alco- holic father, doesn’t fully exploit the comedic potential of the role. In one scene, the Zombie-dad, handi- capped with rigor mortis, struggles to drink from a glass of wine. It was amusing, but one could imag- ine the convulsions of laughter that Rowan Atkinson would induce with the same scene. Karin Konoval does slightly better with Drew’s vain, chain-smoking, hen- peck mother. The metaphor of our parents haunt- ing our adult life has been mined be- fore. Bushkowsky doesn’t produce any original insights, but instead offers a fashionable cliché. It turns out the reason for our un- happiness is that we are thwarted from following our dreams. It’s showing at Performance Works, Granville Island, until Nov. 18. Christmas spirit has hit south Vancouver alrea Despite the lack of snow, Christmas cheer in the city is in full swing with many events and sales going on By MICHAEL LETENDRE away, but it has already arrived in Marpole. Last Saturday was the Marpole Mu- seum and Historical Society Christmas sale at St. Augustine’s Parish. There weren’t any sugarplums, but there was homemade fudge, Christmas decorations and crafts being sold. Vivian Gagnon sells hand knit crafts, like tea cozies, aprons and tree orna- ments. Gagnon said she enjoys coming to the holiday craft fair, even if it is No- Ges may be over a month vember. “Something like this gets you in the mood for Christmas. It’s not really too early,” she said. She said it takes a lot of time to make everything by hand and a tea cozy alone can take over a week to make. “They’re tricky to do. It’s a lot of work to make one,” she said. Gagnon will also be selling her crafts at Marpole House’s Holly Tea and Craft Fair happening Saturday, Nov. 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Frankie Hallen and Lillian Martin also make all of their crafts by hand. They are sisters who both moved to Canada from England over 46 years ago. They said they like to reuse and re- purpose items for their crafts. “We recycle other people’s cards. If someone gives us one, we just cut the picture out. Then we go to Michael’s and buy some pretty paper and make a new card,” said Martin. “We work on this all year. It’s our hobby,” said Hallen. There are plenty of events for Christ- mas enthusiasts happening this winter in Vancouver. The Vancouver Christmas Market is on Nov. 24 to Dec. 24. The market at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre plaza is made to look like a German village at Christmas. There will be German-style Christ- mas ornaments and traditional holiday food and drink. A craft fair option for the more alter- native crowd is Got Craft? Holiday edi- tion. It’s on Saturday, Dec. 8 and Sunday, Dec. 9 at the Croatian Cultural Centre. They will have homemade baked goods, jewelry, clothing, ceramics, sta- tionery and toys. MICHAEL LETENDRE photo Vivian Gagnon and her hand-sewn and crocheted crafts at the Marpole Museum’s Christmas Sale on Saturday.