Nanaimo's professional theatre with a community feel

All Blog Posts (17)

Viewpoint by Meldy Wilton - review Doubt by John Patrick Shanley

Doubt by John Patrick Shanley Directed by Sheila Bowman By permission of Dramatists Play Service "What do you do when you're not sure?" The principal of a convent school experiences dire conflict when situations arise with a young priest. More than what may be his progressive ideas weigh on sister Aloysius's mind as she waives protocol and locks horns with Father Flynn. Sheila Bowman, as director, could not have cast the play more accurately as Eric Holmgren’s brilliantly… Continue

Added by Meldy Wilton on October 16, 2009 at 8:30pm — No Comments

Western Edge and Nanaimo Entertainment continue cooperation

Western Edge Theatre will be back in the Nanaimo Entertainment Centre (46 Nicol St.) for its 2009-10 season. "The NEC was a big hit with both our audiences and artists last season," says Western Edge artistic producer Frank Moher. "It's comfortable and has a great vibe. By opening it up to us and other groups, at extremely reasonable rates, Paul Manhas [NEC owner] has made another major contribution to downtown." Western Edge also now handles third-party bookings at the NEC. "So far it's been u… Continue

Added by Frank Moher on September 30, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Viewpoint by Meldy Wilton - Review The Cemetery Club

The Cemetery Club By Ivan Menchell *Directed by Mort Paul and produced by Ladysmith’s Little Theatre “A joyful rendition that will make you laugh a little, smile a little, even sigh a little as three widowed friends explore until death do us part.” The Cemetery Club directed by Mort Paul for Ladysmith’s Little Theatre on Vancouver Island invites the audience to be a part of the laughs, sorrows and confusion that three widowed friends experience with life when the marriage hasn’t really ended.… Continue

Added by Meldy Wilton on July 1, 2009 at 3:50pm — No Comments

Viewpoint by Meldy Wilton - Agnes of God

Agnes of God by John Pielmeier *Directed by Dean Chadwick and performed as a fundraiser for Theatre BC “She is an innocent. She is a slate that has not been touched, except by God.” I had the opportunity to see Agnes of God, written by John Pielmeier, and as has been said before, a moving psychological thriller, definitely was delivered in tight and believable performances by Lorna McLellan (as Mother Superior); Wendy Wearne (as Dr Livingstone) and Whitney Benson ( as Agnes). Having said tha… Continue

Added by Meldy Wilton on June 27, 2009 at 11:30am — No Comments

For posterity: Q&A with Adrian Hough of "The Engineers"

Here's the Q&A I did with Adrian Hough of "The Engineers," our March 09 production. This was originally posted on the top of the site. Q: Tell us about the character you’re playing – The Pope. Adrian: The Pope is the leader of the Vatican 200 years in the future. The Vatican is n… Continue

Added by Frank Moher on June 1, 2009 at 1:29am — No Comments

Viewpoint by Meldy Wilton

So what do you get when you take a new script; community actors; professional actors; professional lighting and set design; a film school graduate doing sound and a stage manager that has arts, theatre and business background (that's me)? Well...throw in a die hard dedicated person wanting to bring fresh experiences to local audiences-Frank Moher; plus a pain-in-the-butt, picky director-Brian March, and you get new script writers creation "The Engineers", by Brad Poulsen, brought to life in a d… Continue

Added by Meldy Wilton on March 31, 2009 at 2:15pm — No Comments

Hedwig

We invited two of our good friends to see Hedwig and were so happy to have done so! I've been to several Western Edge productions and have always been please. Hedwig ripped at my heart and although I was laughing and enjoying myself throughout the performance it wasn't until the very end when I realised "wow" there was so much emotion in it! I would love to see it again and take more friends to it. I also loved the venue as it was very fitting to the concept. Continue

Added by Dee Hartig on February 5, 2009 at 9:03am — No Comments

You were so much more....than any god could ever plan..more than a woman or a man

What can I say? This has been a TON of work for just 5 shows, but SO worth it.. Hopefully we're going to hold it over in Nanaimo and do a couple more on Gabriola. I'm not sure why I'm surprised because this is such a FANTASTIC script and our show just keeps getting better and better, but I am truly FLABBERGASTED at the response of our audiences. I say I really shouldn't be surprised because I've already told you all what MY reaction was when I first saw this show on stage. I guess we forget and… Continue

Added by Drew Staniland on January 25, 2009 at 1:30am — 2 Comments

Media release: Western Edge to remain in Nanaimo Entertainment Centre

Dec. 29. 2008 Nanaimo’s Western Edge Theatre has announced that it will present the remainder of its 2008-09 season in the Nanaimo Entertainment Centre. In making the announcement, Western Edge Theatre artistic producer Frank Moher thanked the facility’s owner, Paul Manhas, for helping Western Edge out of a tight spot. “Back in October, we suddenly had to find a new venue in which to produce. On short notice, Paul made the Nanaimo Entertainment Centre available to us. The reaction of our audie… Continue

Added by Frank Moher on January 19, 2009 at 5:28pm — No Comments

Rachel Corrie

Months ago, I had the opportunity to see the play "My Name is Rachel Corrie", the first offing of the 2008/2009 Western Edge season. I had no idea what is was about, but did wonder how Western Edge was going to pull off a play in the Nanaimo Art Gallery, where Rachel Corrie was playing. Upon walking in I immediately noticed the way the stage was set. It was a minimalistic set (most here know what I mean) but for those who don't, it just means a very sparse set. As an actress myself, I prefer a… Continue

Added by Colleen on January 14, 2009 at 7:00am — No Comments

HEDWIG...my eyes fill with muddy, Maybelline tears

Many months ago Frank Moher and I decided to undertake what has proven to be a memorable journey together. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Drew Staniland and I'm playing HEDWIG in WESTERN EDGE Theatre's upcoming production of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH.A little over 10 years ago I studied theatre in NYC at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and ,while I was there, I saw the original production of HEDWIG onstage with John Cameron Mitchell, the playwright and originator… Continue

Added by Drew Staniland on January 13, 2009 at 11:12pm — 4 Comments

Photies and Shop

Just wanted to let The Edge know that I loved the pictures from "The Odd Couple"... who took those, Frank? Great moments - brought back a few laughs!! And.... just checked out The Shop... nice stuff! How fun....can't wait to see Drew as Hedwig!!! Missing the Madness, Maureen Cusack aka Gwendolyn Pidgeon Continue

Added by Maureen Cusack on January 12, 2009 at 8:30am — 1 Comment

Go Nanaimo, British Columbia

Boomtown Nanaimo, British Columbia, is currently one of the hottest housing markets in Canada. Baby boomers all across the country are casting their aging eyes west in their quest for a retirement haven, and the many advantages of Nanaimo, BC, are becoming known. First off, there's the mild climate moderated by warm Pacific currents arriving from Japan. Nanaimo only gets a couple of weeks of snow a year, quite a contrast to central and eastern Canada which can be snowed in from December to Apri… Continue

Added by David Stanley on December 31, 2008 at 12:33pm — No Comments

Why Western Edge is so important, not just to me.

I have been acting in Nanaimo awhile now and I cannot say enough about Western Edge and the man behind it. Frank Moher, has worked tirelessly on his baby and gets very little back, tangibly speaking that is. However, you just have to see him talking about Western Edge and what it stands for, to know how he feels about it and you know it is way beyond monetary gains that rewards Frank. Western Edge is an important venue for not only actors, but writers and other creative minds as well. One could… Continue

Added by Colleen on October 4, 2008 at 3:32am — No Comments

Rachel Corrie #2

So... to update those who are in the slightest interested... 6 days until we open. I am excited! (And nervous). To add to this melange of emotion, I've got a sore throat, so I am takin' 'er easy for a few (days? hours?), just to keep on the safe side. I think the show is going to be really good (though I find it hard to emphasize the wonderfulness of a project that I have such a large part in...) So, I am as enthusiastic as possible without appearing to relish the whole "One Woman Show" aspect… Continue

Added by Portia on September 20, 2008 at 7:24pm — 1 Comment

Thank goodness for live theatre!

So, I'm so excited that the Western Edge is back! I am currently working on a play called "Vino" about a family in the Cowichan Area that owns a vineyard. The alcoholic patriarch of the family dies and leaves the vineyard to his family, even though the only one who knows about wine is the estranged daughter who has a bitter relationship with her mother. The crop is on the brink of dying, and the only way to save it is to bring the daughter back to the estate to confront her mother, the memory o… Continue

Added by Lindsay Szymanski on September 9, 2008 at 1:40pm — No Comments

Rachel Corrie #1

Hello out there to all hypothetical readers! Just a quick note to make sure that I kind of know how to do this... I'll try and update as we progress in the rehearsal process, keep the aforementioned readers in the loop as to how things are going. So far I am feeling pretty excited about the show, (once the initial terror subsided from accepting such a large role) and I hope it can only go up from here. Now, if only there was some way to insinuate a kazoo solo into the part... I'll see what I… Continue

Added by Portia on September 7, 2008 at 3:44pm — No Comments