MEDIA
Vancouver's WE named ITSAZOO Favorite New Company for 2008. Link to article.
A sampling of the positive reviews ITSAZOO has been receiving since its inception.
— Alina Wilson, The Martlet (Oct/’10) “The play’s cast of six deserves kudos for their professional, seamlessly integrated performance.”
— Alina Wilson, The Martlet (Oct/’10) “Haberlin’s direction is great; she has her ensemble cast, rounded out by Colby Wilson, Cameron Anderson, David Benedict Brown and Chris Wilson, really express their characters physically, whether they be wind-up-doll yes-men or desperate, down-and-out junkies. And the cast all do a great job.”
— Amanda Farrell, Monday Magazine (Oct/’10) “This satirical comedy has strengths: wonderful direction from Chelsea Haberlin, strong acting and some funny dialogue courtesy of playwright Sebastien Archibald.”
— Adrienne Chamberlain, Times Colonist (Oct/’10) “This carefully produced, well-rehearsed show boasts a zip and panache that’s highly appealing.”
— Adrienne Chamberlain, Times Colonist (Oct/’10)
— Colin Thomas, The Georgia Straight (Aug/’10) “Archibald us fearless in turning scathing indictment into incisive satire.”
—Andrea Warner, The Westender (Aug/’10) “Robin Hood is both a breath of fresh air and a fire under your ass.”
—Andrea Warner, The Westender (Aug/’10)
— Andrea Warner, The Westender “We’re doubly blessed that there’s so much alternative work in this town that we actually have a B team—a group of emerging troupes nipping at the heels of the pack leaders. In Bridge Mix, an evening of short works set in a parking garage, the B team is looking pretty good”— Colin Thomas, Georgia Straight
—Adrian Chamberlain, The Times Colonist “One of the city’s best young playwrights, Archibald’s voice is a welcome throwback to rabble rousers like Bertold Brecht—though perhaps not quite as nuanced yet. He’s spent the last year echoing the social discontent of the masses (as with his corporate satire, Death of a Clown), but his work never feels like it’s trumpeting the death knell of civilization. Even Canterbury’s final scene, set to a reworded Bob Dylan classic, “The Times They Are Not Changing,” feels like a call to action.”— Andrea Warner, The Westender “The Victoria troupe now takes Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales and makes it a marvel of outdoor entertainment. The Road to Canterbury is shorter than the path we wandered with the Brothers Grimm. It is also tighter, with a much sharper focus by writer Sebastien Archibald on what is a genuinely clever attempt to rewrite Chaucer for modern audiences. Archibald succeeds in spades. His adaptations for five of Chaucer’s stories are absolutely true to their sources in theme and meaning, but utterly rooted in the here and now.”— Peter Birnie, The Vancouver Sun
—Andrea Warner, The Westender
—Steve Carey, Martlet (07/Sept/06) “ Death of a Clown boasts superior acting and direction…”
—Adrian Chamberlain, Times Colonist (26/Aug/06) “ ITSAZOO Productions clearly has the talent and skill to create fine professional work.”—Adrian Chamberlain, Times Colonist (26/Aug/06)
—Alisa Gordaneer, Monday Magazine (Aug/04) “ Director Chelsea Haberlin has made clever use of the garden as a setting, playing with the natural elements to great effect. It’s as though this play was written to be performed here, only it took Haberlin’s creative vision to bring it to life.”
—Alisa Gordaneer, Monday Magazine (Aug/04)
A sampling of the positive reviews ITSAZOO has been receiving since its inception.
Death of a Clown
“There is no “line” that Death of a Clown won’t cross in its incisive and hilarious examination of business, theatre and everything else society has to offer.”— Alina Wilson, The Martlet (Oct/’10) “The play’s cast of six deserves kudos for their professional, seamlessly integrated performance.”
— Alina Wilson, The Martlet (Oct/’10) “Haberlin’s direction is great; she has her ensemble cast, rounded out by Colby Wilson, Cameron Anderson, David Benedict Brown and Chris Wilson, really express their characters physically, whether they be wind-up-doll yes-men or desperate, down-and-out junkies. And the cast all do a great job.”
— Amanda Farrell, Monday Magazine (Oct/’10) “This satirical comedy has strengths: wonderful direction from Chelsea Haberlin, strong acting and some funny dialogue courtesy of playwright Sebastien Archibald.”
— Adrienne Chamberlain, Times Colonist (Oct/’10) “This carefully produced, well-rehearsed show boasts a zip and panache that’s highly appealing.”
— Adrienne Chamberlain, Times Colonist (Oct/’10)
Robin Hood
“It’s great to see a young, political company come out swinging.”— Colin Thomas, The Georgia Straight (Aug/’10) “Archibald us fearless in turning scathing indictment into incisive satire.”
—Andrea Warner, The Westender (Aug/’10) “Robin Hood is both a breath of fresh air and a fire under your ass.”
—Andrea Warner, The Westender (Aug/’10)
Bridge Mix
“Since ITSAZOO Productions’ Vancouver debut two years ago, the young theatre company (helmed by co-artistic directors Sebastien Archibald, Colby Wilson, and Chelsea Haberlin) has been responsible for some of the city’s most consistently entertaining and thought-provoking original works. It’s also created a variety of stages from a slew of unusual spots: Queen Elizabeth Park, a bench at Second Beach, and now two levels of a nondescript parking garage on the fringes of the city’s financial district…Formerly based in Victoria, ITSAZOO is the collective mastermind behind Bridge Mix, a showcase that boasts eight plays performed in 12 scenes from a variety of innovative, emerging theatre and dance companies. Like other, more established site-specific theatre installations (the HIVE series, Tremors), Bridge Mix is an ambitious assortment of short vignettes. While some are more successful than others, the overall result is nothing short of fantastic…ITSAZOO’s own Hey Good Lookin’ kicks things off in wondrously random and creepy fashion with two drunken corporate types (Wilson and Archibald) inciting the fury of a clown after stomping on a stray red balloon…Taken as a sampling of emerging theatre companies, Bridge Mix is evidence of Vancouver’s overwhelming raw talent and ITSAZOO’s continually surprising artistic vision.”— Andrea Warner, The Westender “We’re doubly blessed that there’s so much alternative work in this town that we actually have a B team—a group of emerging troupes nipping at the heels of the pack leaders. In Bridge Mix, an evening of short works set in a parking garage, the B team is looking pretty good”— Colin Thomas, Georgia Straight
The Road to Canterbury
“ If you enjoy Saturday Night Live, Little Britain and other sketch-comedy shows, you’ll get a kick from the sharply conceived Road to Canterbury. Added plus: Seeing theatre in a oceanside park is a great way to beat the heat.”—Adrian Chamberlain, The Times Colonist “One of the city’s best young playwrights, Archibald’s voice is a welcome throwback to rabble rousers like Bertold Brecht—though perhaps not quite as nuanced yet. He’s spent the last year echoing the social discontent of the masses (as with his corporate satire, Death of a Clown), but his work never feels like it’s trumpeting the death knell of civilization. Even Canterbury’s final scene, set to a reworded Bob Dylan classic, “The Times They Are Not Changing,” feels like a call to action.”— Andrea Warner, The Westender “The Victoria troupe now takes Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales and makes it a marvel of outdoor entertainment. The Road to Canterbury is shorter than the path we wandered with the Brothers Grimm. It is also tighter, with a much sharper focus by writer Sebastien Archibald on what is a genuinely clever attempt to rewrite Chaucer for modern audiences. Archibald succeeds in spades. His adaptations for five of Chaucer’s stories are absolutely true to their sources in theme and meaning, but utterly rooted in the here and now.”— Peter Birnie, The Vancouver Sun
The Zoo Story
“ ITSAZOO’s decision to stage a minimal-but-effective version using nothing but two actors, some costumes and an actual bench in Mount Doug park makes this production particularly powerful…indeed, it’s this understated and authentic air that really makes this production of The Zoo Story shine (not to mention the great performances and direction).” —Amanda Farrel, Monday Magazine “The script is a good choice for a young outfit such as ITSAZOO, with its anger, energy and moments of surreal humour. And this production, overseen by Chelsea Haberlin, is well acted and directed.”—Adrian Chamberlain, The Times ColonistDeath of a Clown
“ Death of a Clown is a pleasant surprise on the theatre scene in Vancouver. Sebastien Archibald is the playwright and lead actor. Here is an exciting young talent to watch for in the future. Archibald may well become one of our best playwrights if he continues to develop the abundant talent he displays with this work. Death of a Clown is a worthy contribution in its artistic content, production value and social interest.” —Chris Steckler, Review Vancouver.org4 Course Meal
“ The cast in funny and sweet, and Colby Wilson’s particularly hilarious turn as the professor is not to be missed.” —Andrea Warner, The Westender “ At turns brilliant and vulgar … It’s hilarious and heartbreaking.”—Andrea Warner, The Westender
Grimm Tales
“ If watching Colby Wilson and Katie Hood interact as German siblings Hansel and Gretel doesn’t bring a smile to your face, check your heartbeat-their enthusiasm is contagious.”—Andrea Warner, The Westender “ Grimm Tales is an eventful walk in the woods, made far more interesting by its myriad moments of magic and malice—a welcome end to the summer theatre season.” —Andrea Warner, The Westender “ Prepare to be both thoroughly charmed and, as I was with sunset glowing behind us at that biting finale, absolutely dazzled.” —Peter Birnie, The Vancouver Sun“ Don’t miss your chance to see what will surely be the most memorable show of the summer. Grimm Tales is one of those rare productions that puts a smile on your face from the get-go and keeps it there all the way home.” —Monday Magazine “…lots of fun.” —CBC Radio “…hilarious and utterly charming…” —Monday MagazineDeath of a Clown
“… this is an excellent play from a burgeoning theatre company with the final resolution of the play staying with the audience long after the curtain call.”—Steve Carey, Martlet (07/Sept/06) “ Death of a Clown boasts superior acting and direction…”
—Adrian Chamberlain, Times Colonist (26/Aug/06) “ ITSAZOO Productions clearly has the talent and skill to create fine professional work.”—Adrian Chamberlain, Times Colonist (26/Aug/06)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
“Joining in the recent trend of site-specific performances comes ITSAZOO and Sour Grapes Productions’ version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, presented in, among and throughout the lovely Finnerty Gardens at the University of Victoria. And in this particular case, it’s a spectacular success, in which the audience is escorted from scene to scene by the trio of lingerie-clad fairies.”—Alisa Gordaneer, Monday Magazine (Aug/04) “ Director Chelsea Haberlin has made clever use of the garden as a setting, playing with the natural elements to great effect. It’s as though this play was written to be performed here, only it took Haberlin’s creative vision to bring it to life.”
—Alisa Gordaneer, Monday Magazine (Aug/04)