EDITOR BRANDON KOSTINUK

THE VOICE, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2018 4

Vancouver project supports the arts

City initiative grants license for live arts performances in untraditional venue spaces

By JAMES McLAUGHLIN

new pilot project unanimously

passed by Vancouver city

council last week could expand

the city’s art and music scenes into uncharted territories.

The Arts and Culture Indoor Event Pilot Project, which received big support from Mayor Gregor Robert- son, is a two-year initiative to grant license for untraditional venue spaces like warehouses, studios and book- stores in certain zoning districts to host live arts performances to audiences no larger than 250 people twice a month.

According to a report funded by the city, there’s an estimated 250 to 500 illegal arts events held annually. The city hopes regulating these events will make participating in the arts safer and easier for everyone.

Council held a public hearing prior to voting. Although the project was generally considered a step in the right direction by the ten speakers who addressed council, many saw flaws, especially with the cap on two events per month.

David Mattatall, owner of Zoo Zhop record store, hosts an average of two in-store performances a week that fall into a legal grey-area. Abiding by the

two events per month stipulation could stifle revenue for his business.

“T sell maybe an average of a hundred extra records at each one of these promotional events,” Mattatall told council members, referring to in-store performances.

“If you’re saying that I have to go from eight hundred extra dollars a month to two hundred, that is really hurting me as a small business person.”

Ryan McCormick, a director for the Safe Amplification Site Society, a non-profit that has lobbied for all-ages show spaces in Vancouver, said ambiguities and legal jargon in the

city’s bylaws has left much of the music community dwelling under- ground.

“We want to help the music community find a voice and speak up because those of us who are musicians and artists are citizens too. I think for a long time we were silent and nobody would go to council meetings, there

EVENTS

FRI. MAR. 22 LARRY AND HIS FLASK

@ The Biltmore Cabaret (No minors). 8 p.m. Tickets: $12.00

was nobody really speaking about

this,” McCormick said. “We were just silent victims of

backwards laws.”

Applicants must conform to set guidelines to receive a license, such as having concrete flooring and smoke

detectors.

SAT. MAR. 23 JOEY BADASS AND PRO ERA

@ The Vogue Theatre {All Ages) 9:30, doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets $25.00

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DAVID COOPER photo

Left to right: Zac Scott as Tim, Maxamillian Wallace as Xavier, Stephanie Izsak as Ann, Alex Strong as David and Patrick Mercado as Dopey in Balm in Gilead by Lanford Wilson, on stage at Studio 58 from March 21 to April 7.

Studio 98 graduate returns as director

Bob Frazer directs latest studio production, Balm in Gilead, opening tonight

By BRENNA BROOKS

graduated from Langara’s Studio 58,

but he’s back with professional expe- rience and ready to direct its latest pro- duction, Balm in Gilead.

Frazer is an acclaimed Vancouver actor, who has been honoured with seven Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards for performance.

He said one of the things he enjoys about acting is the amazing electrical current that happens when you step on stage.

“It’s a pretty exciting thing.”

Although he has spent the majority of his time perfecting his acting capa- bilities in theatre and television, Frazer

I: been many years since Bob Frazer

has taken part in other aspects of the industry including script development, writing and directing.

Balm in Gilead is not your average production.

This environmental, documentary style piece has a conversational nature.

As he broke down the conversations of the different groups, Frazer said he “decided that the audience needed to be immersed in the truth around them as well.”

To do so, he takes away what society has become accustomed to in motion pictures and theatre by allowing the audience to sit on the set and, without direct interaction with the cast, be- come a part of the conversations taking place on stage.

All of the characters are based on the experiences of playwright, Lanford Wilson.

The play is set in a café, in the slums of New York during the early sixties.

Frazer believes sitting on the set al-

lows the audience to experience first- hand the nature of the characters and the depth of the experience.

Frazer recently formed a new the- atre company, Osimous Theatre, which is based around the learning process of it all and is garnered towards those who just want to improve and get bet- ter.

Although Frazer has been acting for over 20 years, he plans to take a year off to study and concentrate on film and TV.

Frazer has three projects lined up when he returns to acting in a couple of years, but that information will be re- leased closer to the date.

When it comes to the arts, acting or directing, “there is no limit” said Fraz- er.

“You don’t just stop because you’ve reached the top. It’s just limitless and infinite.”

Check ticketstonight.ticketforce.com for show times.

TICKET PRICES

ME Tuesday $12.25

MB Wednesday and Thursday Adults $20.75 Seniors/Students $19.75

ME Friday and Saturday $24.75

ME Previews/Matinees $14.25 Groups (10+) $14.25

* Ticket prices include all service fees

Source: Tickets Tonight

Qz: dark but delightful

FILM review

The new film is a fresh take on the classic story’s origins

By PUNEET DHAMI

in theatres last Friday. Sam Raimi’s $200 million pre- quel to the original 1939 film delivers a delightful experience.

The movie teaches a lesson about teamwork and how friendship between unlikely allies can overcome great ob- stacles.

But viewers should understand that while it pays tribute to the original, the film is more mature.

The story line follows an adult not a little girl.

James Franco plays the part of Oz and is portrayed as a womanizer.

But he lacked the emotional impact Garland conveyed. The magic of follow- ing the yellow brick road was simply not the same.

Furthermore, instead of the Lion, Scarecrow and Tin-Man, Franco is ac- companied by a flying monkey unlike and an orphaned China doll.

While there are dark and intense moments, the viewer is constantly hu- moured by the acting and lines of dia- logue.

Mila Kunis plays Theodora, the wick- ed witch and her older sister, Evanora, is played by Rachel Weisz. The two send Oz on a journey to kill Glinda (Mi- chelle Williams), a good witch.

Most notably, “Over the Rainbow” was not present in the film, which was such a memorable and magical mo- ment in the original.

I don’t believe it beat the original Hollywood classic by Victor Fleming, but the colourful landscape, action se- quences and swooping shots make for an enjoyable experience.

0: the Great and Powerful opened

Oz the Great and Powerful opened in theatres Mar. 8.