Theatre Review: 

LITTLE Little Little Theatre: A Cutback Comedy

TUESDAY, 26 APRIL 2011 21:33 MAZIAR GHADERI  click here for original article

Bronwen Marsden as Lorraine
and Ira Cooper as Epp

So what is there to do for a little Iranian guy on a rainy Easter Sunday in Vancouver anyways? Well luckily I happen to stumble on a funny little play called LITTLE Little Little Theatre: A Cutback Comedy at a francophone community centre just a little off Granville street.

Little by little, I knew I was in for an interesting afternoon when two adorable little kids greeted me with smiles, and handed me my ticket then disappeared behind a pile of playbills stacked on their makeshift concession stand.

Don't roll your eyes at me. When I wrote it I thought it clever. Just a little.

LITTLE Little Little Theatre is about a Vancouver theatre company that gets their government grant reduced to a measly $30, which leaves the company's general manager, Lorraine, played by the energetic Bronwen Marsden in a desperate search for a co-producer. Well, only when she's not orgasmically licking chocolate wrappers out of sheer hunger that is.

Given the fiscal strains that are being endured by the Vancouver arts industry right now, this fictional theatre company's plight is unfortunately a very vivid reality for many artists, ever since Quatchi the Sasquatch broke the City's diner table by gently placing the cheque for the Olympic Winter Games on it.

The dumbing down of classic theatre is also critiqued when the name of the brainchild play of Epp, an eccentric artist played by the versatile, Ira Cooper is changed to The Democrat because the original Greek title is "simply too Greek."

The pressure is not only faced by the production company and playwright but by individual actors as well. A hilarious Tommy Cowles plays McSid, a luckless actor that changes everything from his ethnicity to his facial hair to land a role in anything he could get his hands on.

It all looks grim but soon appears the Greek Goddess and Protector of the Arts, Athena, played by the beautiful Mireille Urumuri and sent by Zeus to make sure that the show goes on. With her help, dancing and singing ensues in a very happy ending.

Urumuri will also be playing the role of Mimi in Baharak Saeid Monir's debut feature film, Ambrosia, which tells the story of an Iranian couple dealing with the hardships of immigrant life in Vancouver.

LITTLE Little Little Theatre was originally written by local playwright, screenwriter and producer, William Maranda for the 2010 48 Hour Theatre Contest where contestants were given only a quarter of the script to come up with something brilliantly creative. After 48 hours, each group of actors performed the entire play in sequence and the finalists that would be the final cast were chosen by audience member votes, Survivor style. I wish I was there when the votes were cast to say"the tribe has spoken. It's time for you to go!" Next year…maybe.

This organically grown production and its witty script made for a great way to pass a damp afternoon for this avid theatregoer.

From epic Greek rhetoric recited by Erin Garcia and Amy Lester, to graffiti, beatnik finger-snapping, and even a cheesy rendition of Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On", LITTLE Little Little Theatre just about has something for everyone.

If you are up for a laugh, do check it out. It runs until Saturday nightly at 8pm and tickets can be purchased on williammarandaproductions.com. M
G

MONDAY, APRIL 25th

INDUSTRY BENEFIT PERFORMANCE

LITTLE Little little Theatre

a cutback comedy

STUDIO 16 - $15

ENJOY THE SHOW, CELEBRATE WITH ARTISTS AND SUPPORT OUR ALLIANCE!

all proceeds go to:

Written by William Maranda

Directed by Mackenzie Gray

Full of great comedic timing and sincere ensemble chemistry, LITTLE Little little Theatre is a rare chance to see a time relevant script with relatable subject matter, recognizable names and inside jokes. Mackenzie Gray's directing highlights the humour in the local references and still credits the seriousness of the matter at hand.

Come out to support the Alliance and enjoy yourself among others who work as passionately as yourself!

STUDIO 16

1551 West 7th Ave (at Granville St)

8pm - Tickets $15

followed by a reception and live music by Alexandra Staseson

TICKETS: www.brownpapertickets.com

STARRING: Ira Cooper, Tommy Cowles, Erin Garcia, Amy Lester, Bronwen Marsden and Mireille Urumuri

DESIGN TEAM: Craig Alfredson, Holly Dalpee, Kitty Hoffman and Naomi Lazarus

STAGE MANAGEMENT: Laura Moore and assistant, Alia Stephan

A Vancouver theatre company fears it's extinction when their annual grant is cut down to an unbelievable $30. With an obsessed playwright fighting for his script's survival, an out-of-work actor pounding at her door and a threatening landlord demanding rent, the General Manager of the And The Rest Is History Theatre Co. wants desperately to satisfy everyone. The Tarot says it's her "spiritual need" to make the impossible happen and produce the play against all odds. She's done it before but with every success, a little of her sanity goes and this time, it may have gone too far

-"Did The Goddess Athena just walk into my office?" READ MORE

TICKETS: www.brownpapertickets.com

Little Little Little Theatre

BUY TICKETS HERE!

Vancouver's Independent writer and producer, William Maranda , teams up with renowned, Canadian actor, Mackenzie Gray , as he returns to the director's chair, to bring Vancouver a comedy that is easy to laugh at but won't let you forget the reality at the root of the joke. Budget cuts!

As production funding gets smaller and smaller, everyone in the arts industry knows that “the show must go on”. But one person can’t do it alone and when it comes to Vancouver’s little, little, little theatres, who else is there??! Tarot cards, Greek Gods and Pizza will all have to play their parts…

STARRING: Ira Cooper,Tommy Cowles, Erin Garcia, Amy Lester, Bronwen Marsden, Mireille Urumuri

SET DESIGN: Craig Alfredson, COSTUME DESIGN: Naomi Lazarus, LIGHTING DESIGN: Kitty Hoffman

A Vancouver theatre company fears it’s extinction when their annual grant is cut down to an unbelievable $30. With an obsessed playwright fighting for his script's survival, an out-of-work actor pounding at her door and a threatening landlord demanding rent, the General Manager of the And The Rest Is History Theatre Co. wants desperately to satisfy everyone. The Tarot says it's her "spiritual need" to make the impossible happen and produce the play against all odds. She's done it before but with every success, a little of her sanity goes and this time, it may have gone too far -"Did The Goddess Athena just walk into my office?"

In a time when the Vancouver arts industry is suffering from major cutbacks, William Maranda Productions is staging a show that everyone can relate to as well as laugh at… with. Packed with biting wit, neurotic passions, classical allegory and the every day madness of making something from nothing, LITTLE Little little Theatre reflects our city's present condition, where we're all co-existing in a state of panic, surrounded by dumbfounded calm and intense, creative drive.

Originally written for the annual 48 Hour Theatre contest, LITTLE Little little Theatre, not only brings attention to the current state of pressure but has also offered opportunity for artists to perform without sacrifice. November 12^th to the 14^th, 23 actors divided into 4 groups to memorize, prepare and stage one act each, of the four-act play. LITTLE Little little Theatre was performed with each act starring different actors from the last. After an audience vote, the 12 top actors were invited to a private audition and from the top 12, 6 were cast to perform in the play's official debut this April.