Vancouver Fringe Festival: Sink or Swim
HappyGoodThings Productions Presents
Sink or Swim
by Beverley Elliott
Directed by Lynna Goldhar Smith
Beverley Elliott is magnetic. It’s hard not to feel disappointed every time she walks off the stage.
Erika Thorkelson, Vancouver Sun
… an amazingly generous performer. Icing on this cake is her gorgeous voice.
Jo Ledingham, Vancouver Courier
VANCOUVER, BC… Pick of the Fringe 2014 …didn’t see that coming, Beverley Elliott is back with Sink or Swim, brimming with songs and stories that vividly reveal all the fears and foibles of five-year-old ‘Smelly Elliott’. Known by her fans around the world for her recurring role as “Granny” on ABC’s hit series, Once Upon a Time, currently shooting season 6, she is excited to bring Sink or Swim to the 2016 Vancouver Fringe.
“It’s Little House on the Prairie meets Lord of the Flies,” says Elliott, as she trades the safety of the family farm for the thugs of a one-room school. In this poignant, playful, and achingly relatable prequel to …didn’t see that coming, Elliott navigates the uncharted waters, big adventures, betrayals and epiphanies that shape us all into the adults we become. It answers life’s big questions like “Why did I eat the fish food?”.
At the helm is multi-disciplinary theatre artist and award-winning songwriter, Lynna Goldhar Smith, who directed Loretta Seto’s 2014 Pick of the Fringe, Dirty Old Woman. She is also a founding member of Vancouver’s Wet Ink Collective.
Elliott met Goldhar Smith through Wet Ink. “I was part of the collective over four years,” she says, “I joined this all women group and started writing autobiographical short stories which brought them to laughter and tears. Encouraged by their responses I decided to put on a show. I had written so many stories that they suggested I organize them by themes.” One collection became …didn’t see that coming. Another grouping was the genesis for Sink or Swim, covering experiences from age five to seven which Elliott recounts with comedic grace and cinematic clarity.
Bill Costin accompanies Elliott as musical director for their second official theatre show. They have worked together in the cabaret/nightclub scene, including many shows at the OASIS. “In Bill I have found my Barry Manilow,” she smiles, “his theatrical instincts are impeccable.“ They have penned two of the productions five original songs, Green Grass and Busy. Little Boat, a moving ballad about the power of love, written by Elliott and Edwin Coppard will be on her upcoming CD SundayMorning, also set for release in September.
Sink or Swim takes place at the Rio Theatre, 1660 East Broadway.
Part of the brilliant 7 shows by 7 artists, this “bring your own venue” collaboration includes Gary Jones’ Ask for Details, TJ Dawe’sBurn Job, Charlie Ross’ One Man Dark Knight, Jan Derbyshire’s Certified, Richard Lett’s Sober But Never Clean and Monster Theatre’s Til Death: the Six Wives of Henry the VIII.
Show times for Sink or Swim are Fri. Sept. 9th – 9:15pm,
Sat. Sept. 10th – 5pm
Sun. Sept. 11th –5pm
Tues. Sept. 13th – 7pm
Wed. Sept. 14th – 8:45pm
Thurs. Sept. 15th – 5pm
Doors open an hour before the show. Tickets are $14 plus membership.
*Minors permitted in the balcony for all Vancouver Fringe Festival events at the Rio Theatre. Must be 19+ w/ID for bar service.
For more information and tickets visit www.vancouverfringe.com.