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Critic's picks: David Sedaris, Funkanometry, Magician's Nephew

Arts writer Mike Devlin picks his favourite upcoming events, including David Sedaris at the Royal Theatre on Monday, May 13.
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Author and humorist David Sedaris hits the Royal Theatre Monday, May 13. MAGICSPACE ENTERTAINMENT

DAVID SEDARIS

Where: Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton St., Victoria
When: Monday, May 13, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $66.75-$77.25 from the Royal McPherson box office (250-386-6121) or rmts.bc.ca

Why: Beloved author and humorist David Sedaris returns to the Royal Theatre next week, the site of several previous triumphs. The bestselling author of Me Talk Pretty One Day is soaring once again with Happy-Go-Lucky, a collection of 18 semi-autobiographical essays that debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times nonfiction best-seller list in 2022. He’ll be in a celebratory mood on Monday, no doubt, and fans will have the opportunity to participate in a live Q&A followed by a book signing during what should be a blue-ribbon event.

CANADA’S GOT TALENT

Where: CityTV
When: Tuesday, May 14, 5 p.m.

Why: By advancing this week on Canada’s Got Talent, loose-limbed Nanaimo dance duo Funkanometry moves one step closer to the $1 million grand prize that will be handed out during the finale of the contest on Tuesday. The duo of Jacksun Fryer and Carlow Rush is attempting to win the largest cash prize in Canadian television history, and has a good shot in emerging victorious during the live broadcast. Tune in — you could be witnessing history with a Vancouver Island bent.

THE MAGICIAN’S NEPHEW

Where: Royal Bay Secondary, 3500 Ryder Hesjedal Way, Colwood
When: May 8-10, 7 p.m.; May 11, 2 p.m.
Tickets: $17 ($15 for students/seniors, $7 for SD62 students)

Why: Part of The Chronicles of Narnia series by British author C. S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew served as a prequel to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and predates the inaugural entry (in book chronology) by 1,000 years. Playwright-director Melissa Young adapted the story for a production at Chemainus Theatre in 2019, and will revisit her take on The Magician’s Nephew (with help from her students and composer Antony Knight) for a run at Royal Bay Secondary, where she now serves as the school’s theatre director.

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