ON STAGE
What: Company
Where: Langham Court Theatre, 805 Langham Ct.
When: Jan. 16 through Feb. 1
Tickets: $24-$36 from langhamtheatre.ca or 250-384-2142
Why: Stephen Sondheim’s non-linear musical comedy won five Tony Awards in 1970. It’s based on the idea of companionship and what it means for the central character of Bobby (played here by Vaughn Naylor) on his 35th birthday. George Furth’s original book for the musical remains a fan favourite, and will be revived for Broadway in March with the role of the bachelor now written as a woman named Bobbie. Director Heather Jarvie has her hands full with this lively Langham Court production, which has a cast of 14, a crew of 12 and a whole heap of anticipation heading into opening night.
IN CONCERT
What: Pharis and Jason Romero with John Reischman, Patrick Metzger and Marc Jenkins
Where: Upstairs Cabaret, 15 Bastion Square.
When: Sunday, Jan. 19, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $30 from eventbrite.ca
Why: The Juno Award-winning duo of Pharis Patenaude and Jason Romero will be joined by a trio and friends/masters for their Victoria return, a roots-music gift from the heavens. The former Victoria residents (who now live on a 40-acre property in Horsefly, B.C.) will showcase songs from their upcoming release, which is due in May, with accompaniment from a starry roster of support players on bass (Patrick Metzger), mandolin (John Reischman) and banjo (Marc Jenkins). This week-closing concert will be unsurpassed in terms of quality.
ON STAGE
What: O My God
Where: Congregation Emanu-El Synagogue, 1461 Blanshard St.
When: Jan. 16 through Jan. 26
Tickets: $23 from ticketrocket.co
Why: Bema Productions is producing the Canadian première of O My God, Israeli playwright Anat Gov’s “divine comedy” about a psychotherapist (Christine Upright) whose newest patient is God (Rosemary Jeffery). O My God, which opens tonight, is bound to turn heads, according to director Zelda Dean. “I’ve been in rehearsals for two months and I’m still mesmerized.” Dean has high praise for newcomer Jesse Wilson, a high school-aged actor on the autism spectrum who plays the psychotherapist’s non-verbal son with such poise, he practically steals the show. For a production structured around an argument between a female god and secular woman, that’s saying something.
