theatre by Anne Marsh P T h e a t r e of the A b s u r d Watch Over Me, c a m e h o m e w i t h a t o t a l of six of eight awards for w h i c h it was eligible, and t h e N o r t h S h o r e has a 25-year t r a d i t i o n of e x c e l l e n c e in c o m m u n i t y t h e a t r e . T h i s is the s e c o n d play-festival success in t h r e e years f o r T h e a t r e W e s t Van, the o t h e r being Barefoot in the Park, in 1997. A l t h o u g h part of a rich municipality. T h e a t r e W e s t Van ( f o r m e r l y W e s t V a n c o u v e r Little T h e a t r e ) has always been plagued by the fact that it has no p e r m a n e n t h o m e . T h e talented a c t o r s and backstage c r e w s it has a t t r a c t e d o v e r the years have t e n d e d t o gravitate t o w a r d H e n d r y Hall (the h o m e of the N o r t h Vancouver C o m m u n i t y Players), D e e p C o v e Shaw T h e a t r e , o r Presentation H o u s e . However, T h e a t r e W e s t Van has a long and p r o u d t r a d i t i o n and a fresh g r o u p of d e d i c a t e d v o l u n t e e r s have n o w c o m e f o r w a r d t o s p e a r h e a d its c o n t i n u a n c e into the new millennium. O t h e r w o r k s in p r o g r e s s f o r the prolific M c G i e are Thomas T, a t w o h o u r musical being p r e s e n t e d in a review format with music co-written by C a r l C r a i g , A u g u s t 29 at the D e e p C o v e Shaw T h e a t r e ; Blandiloquence, Anne Marsh Crossings and Crossings: laywright John M c G i e was a c c o r d e d t h e ultimate c o m p l i - m e n t at the r e c e n t T h e a t r e B C N o r t h S h o r e Z o n e Play Festival w h e n his w i n n i n g play Crossing was d e s c r i b e d by a d j u d i c a t o r John C o o p e r as "brilliant, a terribly e x c i t ing e x p e r i e n c e " and the p r o d u c t of " a r i c h and fertile imagination." M c G i e c r e a t e d this 2 2 - m i n u t e s o u n d s c a p e in c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h C a r l C r a i g t o s u p p o r t local a c t o r s A n n e M a r s h a n d Bill Elliott. It w a s p r e s e n t e d by T h e a t r e W e s t Van in competition with groups from D e e p C o v e Stage, N o r t h V a n c o u v e r C o m m u n i t y Players, P r e s e n t a t i o n H o u s e P r o d u c t i o n s , and Stage D o o r (the latter a g r o u p o f a c t o r s w i t h disabilities e n t e r i n g the festival f o r t h e s e c o n d year running) at the D e e p ^ J? ^ 14 C o v e Shaw T h e a t r e d u r i n g the w e e k o f May 3 t o 8. Bill Elliot star in Crossing w a s d e s c r i b e d by t h e playwright as " t h e a t r e of the a b s u r d " a n d involved an o v e r w h e l m e d e l d e r ( O l d W o m a n ) w h o traipses t h e light fantastic b e t w e e n a m o t o r c a r mishap and t h e v o i d of t h e hereafter. It was a n o t h e r original w o r k by J o h n M c G i e , w h o has c o l l a b o r a t e d w i t h Carl Craig on other occasions to c r e a t e an audio a m b i e n c e , and w h o has had p r e v i o u s s u c c e s s e s in N o r t h S h o r e Z o n e Play Festivals w i t h his innovative and cutting-edge p i e c e s . A s w e l l as being t h e B e s t O v e r a l l P r o d u c t i o n , Crossing also w o n a w a r d s f o r B e s t A c h i e v e m e n t in Lighting and S o u n d (John M c G i e and C a r l C r a i g ) , t h e People's C h o i c e A w a r d f o r M o s t O u t s t a n d i n g A c h i e v e m e n t in D e s i g n (John M c G i e ) and a C e r t i f i c a t e o f M e r i t for E x c e l l e n c e in T h e a t r e Creation. Crossing is n o w going f o r w a r d to Ferry Building Gallery 1414 Argyle Ave at Ambleside Landing West Vancouver t h e a t r e of the a b s u r d , d i r e c t e d by Jacques L a l o n d e , t o be e n t e r e d i n t o this year's V a n c o u v e r Fringe Festival in early S e p t e m b e r ; and Monologues, a series o f m o n o l o g u e s p e r f o r m e d by v a r i o u s a c t o r s , S e p t e m b e r 26 at D e e p C o v e Shaw T h e a t r e . C r o s s i n g will compete in Theatre BC's MAIN"Our annual provincial drama festival Is honoured to present S a l m o n , Our Children, One Earth" STAGE in Nanaimo, July 3 to 10. For more information on John McGie's 929-9456 new To join productions, call (604) a mixed media group exhibition featuring 25 established artist. August 24 - September 12, 1999 Artist's Talk: 12 noon, Tuesday, August 24 Opening Reception: 6-8 PM Meet the artists at both events Theatre West Van, call Bill Elliott at (604) 922-1379. T h e a t r e B C ' s annual p r o v i n c i a l d r a m a festival M A I N S T A G E t o be held this year in N a n a i m o f r o m July 3 t o 10 and will r e p r e s e n t t h e N o r t h S h o r e in c o m p e t i t i o n w i t h g r o u p s f r o m a r o u n d B C and the Y u k o n . Last year's provincial winner. N o r t h Vancouver C o m m u n i t y Player's Someone Who'll Anne Marsh has been actively involved Shore for many in theatre on the North years, both on- and offstage. She is a past president ber ofThealre and current board BC. mem- Gallery hours: Tuesday - Friday 12 - 6 PM Sat & Sun 12-8 PM (closed Mondays) For information, please call 604 925 7290