As the curtain closes on 2011, it's time to look back at the past 12 months on Victoria's entertainment calendar. Times Colonist reviewers Adrian Chamberlain, Mike Devlin and Amy Smart present their favourite moments of 2011 - and a few of the clunkers.
And Slowly Beauty... (Belfry Theatre) - It was a great year for theatre. Few things impressed me more than the Belfry Theatre's excellent staging of And Slowly Beauty - Written by Quebec's Théâtre Niveau Parking troupe, it's a superbly realized portrayal of a middle-aged man's midlife awakening. The Belfry's excellent production was notable for Dennis Fitzgerald's touching leading performances. Sept. 22-Oct. 23.
- Adrian Chamberlain
Chris Cornell - I certainly could have done without some of Cornell's vainglorious attempts at self-importance (a cover of John Lennon's Imagine? Really?), but there is no denying his magnetism. And that voice - Cornell's range was amazing during his solo showcase, which needed not one of his Soundgarden bandmates in order to blow the doors off the Royal. April 29, Royal Theatre.
- Mike Devlin
Jackson Browne - Those in the audience for Browne's charming but low-key concert witnessed something special as the legendary singer-songwriter cherrypicked tunes from one of the best back catalogues in rock 'n' roll. He played for three hours in his Victoria debut, reaching as far back as 1972 for inspiration. March 25, Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
- MD
Mom's the Word: Remixed - Within minutes of their first musical number, the five childbearers behind the third iteration of Mom's the Word had their audience guffawing and tapping their toes. If you didn't leave the theatre with an urge to call and thank your mother - or at least give those delirious women juggling toddlers at the supermarket a break, you missed something. It has been 18 years since the international hit comedy theatre series took off. These mamas proved they've still got it. Aug. 3, Belfry Theatre.
- Amy Smart
Literary winners -Victoria's writerly reputation was confirmed dramatically when a playwright and novelist from this city each took top literary awards. Esi Edugyan capped an astonishing year by winning the 2011 Scotiabank Giller Prize for her novel, Half Blood Blues. The book was shortlisted for many prestigious honours, including the Man Booker Prize. Victoria playwright Joan McLeod, meanwhile, walked off with the country's richest theatre award, the $100,000 Siminovitch Prize.
- AC
Lucinda Williams - The grand dame of alt-country can be a touch prickly on stage, but she proved to be as warm-hearted and giving as you could hope for during her to return Victoria after a 20-year absence. Her set was the runaway highlight of this year's TD Victoria International JazzFest. June 27, Royal Theatre.
- MD
Mike Daisey - The Babe Ruth of monologuists touched down in May. New York's Mike Daisey performed his solo show, All Stories are Fiction, as part of Intrepid Theatre's superb Uno Fest. The master storyteller waits until an hour before showtime before preparing his extemporaneous show. Daisey skewered tea at the Empress and the wax museum before delivering an astonishing performance - cerebral, poetic, philosophical and ferociously uncompromising. Wow.
- AC
National Ballet of Canada - Wowsers, talk about a show. Canada's top ballet troupe brought a mixed bag of tricks to the Royal Theatre, but two particular pieces left an ever-lasting impressions. James Kudelka's stark and sultry The Man in Black, set to the weathered voice of an aged Johnny Cash, was captivating in its melancholic simplicity. And Victoria's own Crystal Pite choreographed the show-stopping finale, Emergence. Audiences won't soon forget the swarm of 38 dancers writhing, twitching and hatching into insect-like antihumans. Sept. 27, Royal Theatre.
- AS
Pixies - The Boston band's first time through Victoria was a landmark event on the 2004 calendar; one for the history books, if you will. Fans appeared to be somewhat ambivalent prior to the group's 2011 return, but the performance by Black Francis and Co. had twice the firepower, proving that old punks don't die, they just get better at doing their rock 'n' roll duty. May 5, Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
- MD
Prince - The arrival of pop superstar Prince sent shockwaves through the city this month, setting the stage for a pair of appearances that has fans buzzing two weeks after the fact. A two-hour set at the arena on Blanshard Street was magnificent, but that was just the beginning: Prince and his eight-piece crew stepped on the Sugar nightclub stage shortly before 2 a.m. the following morning and let loose a 90-minute set that defied any and all expectations. Dec. 17, Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre; Dec. 18, Sugar nightclub.
- MD
Ride the Cyclone (Atomic Vaudeville) - Victoria's funky Atomic Vaudeville company whacked one out of the park with Ride the Cyclone. A hilariously dark satire, created by playwright Jacob Richmond and composer Brooke Maxwell, the revamped musical impressed locals last July before wowing critics and audiences across the country. Truly a nationwide success story (the troupe is now looking at a New York remount). July 8-17.
- AC
Skrillex - Hands-down the most bonkers set of music I saw all year, the debut of dubstep star Skrillex wasn't without its flaws. But to be sure, the wunderkind (Los Angeles native Sonny Moore) threw one heck of a sold-out birthday party for himself, a madcap night that ended with almost the entire club on stage for his final few songs. Skrillex became one of dance music's biggest stars later in the year, earning five Grammy nominations in December. We had him before he broke. Jan. 14, Sugar nightclub.
- MD
Wynton Marsalis - The man who holds 25 honorary degrees, nine Grammy Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for music was a study in modesty at this year's TD Victoria International JazzFest. Performing from the trumpet line at the back of the stage, Marsalis gave each of his virtuosic pals in The Jazz at the Lincoln Centre Orchestra time in the spotlight. Furrowed brows, puckered lips and a few escaped fingersnaps transformed the Royal stage into an intimate jam session. June 25, Royal Theatre.
- AS
National Ballet of Canada - Wowsers, talk about a show. Canada's top ballet troupe brought a mixed bag of tricks to the Royal Theatre, but two particular pieces left an ever-lasting impressions. James Kudelka's stark and sultry The Man in Black, set to the weathered voice of an aged Johnny Cash, was captivating in its melancholic simplicity. And Victoria's own Crystal Pite choreographed the show-stopping finale, Emergence. Audiences won't soon forget the swarm of 38 dancers writhing, twitching and hatching into insect-like antihumans. Sept. 27, Royal Theatre.
- AS
Pixies - The Boston band's first time through Victoria was a landmark event on the 2004 calendar; one for the history books, if you will. Fans appeared to be somewhat ambivalent prior to the group's 2011 return, but the performance by Black Francis and Co. had twice the firepower, proving that old punks don't die, they just get better at doing their rock 'n' roll duty. May 5, Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
- MD
Prince - The arrival of pop superstar Prince sent shockwaves through the city this month, setting the stage for a pair of appearances that has fans buzzing two weeks after the fact. A two-hour set at the arena on Blanshard Street was magnificent, but that was just the beginning: Prince and his eight-piece crew stepped on the Sugar nightclub stage shortly before 2 a.m. the following morning and let loose a 90-minute set that defied any and all expectations. Dec. 17, Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre; Dec. 18, Sugar nightclub.
- MD
Ride the Cyclone (Atomic Vaudeville) - Victoria's funky Atomic Vaudeville company whacked one out of the park with Ride the Cyclone. A hilariously dark satire, created by playwright Jacob Richmond and composer Brooke Maxwell, the revamped musical impressed locals last July before wowing critics and audiences across the country. Truly a nationwide success story (the troupe is now looking at a New York remount). July 8-17.
- AC
Skrillex - Hands-down the most bonkers set of music I saw all year, the debut of dubstep star Skrillex wasn't without its flaws. But to be sure, the wunderkind (Los Angeles native Sonny Moore) threw one heck of a sold-out birthday party for himself, a madcap night that ended with almost the entire club on stage for his final few songs. Skrillex became one of dance music's biggest stars later in the year, earning five Grammy nominations in December. We had him before he broke. Jan. 14, Sugar nightclub.
- MD
Wynton Marsalis - The man who holds 25 honorary degrees, nine Grammy Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for music was a study in modesty at this year's TD Victoria International JazzFest. Performing from the trumpet line at the back of the stage, Marsalis gave each of his virtuosic pals in The Jazz at the Lincoln Centre Orchestra time in the spotlight. Furrowed brows, puckered lips and a few escaped fingersnaps transformed the Royal stage into an intimate jam session. June 25, Royal Theatre.
- AS
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