Encore, what encore? TV on the Radio pleases at the Malkin Bowl By Chloé Bach, Assistant Editor n May 25" the Brooklyn sensations known as TV on the Radio blessed Vancouver with their presence at the Malkin Bowl, an open-air amphitheatre in beautiful Stanley Park. The genre- defying quintet’s latest album, Dear Science, was named the year’s best album by music industry royalty like Rolling Stone and Spin, and it was their instrumental, funk medleys and riotous stage show that made it a Monday night worth remembering. Obviously, the venue is to die for. It’s just small enough to be intimate and yet boasts plenty of room to enjoy some high-quality people watching. For example, a girl in a dress so short you could plainly see her underwear as she stood still. But I digress... The show itself was bang on. While the opening band was more or less forgettable, TV on the Radio made up for their shortcomings a few times over (which is the case for most opening bands at these shows, in my opinion). Lead singers Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone kept the audience enthralled with minimal, but witty, small talk and a high-energy stage show accompanied by dance moves only a hip black guy could pull off. Songs like “DMZ” and “Dancing Choose” kept the crowd bobbing their heads and tapping their feet, in typical hipster style. The group’s talent was also evident in the backup musicians’ performance, with one member playing everything from the saxophone to the tambourine. My only real beef with this show was their encore. The encore of a song has the ability to make or break a show. It’s like good sex versus bad sex; it can satisfy you or just leave a bad taste in your mouth, literally. Their encore consisted of four songs off older albums, which is fine for those of us who know their older music but kind of a bummer for the majority of people out there who are mostly familiar with Dear Science. They could have gone out with a bang, something catchy and strong... but no, it more or less just petered out. Win some, you lose some. Maybe encores are overrated anyhow. Overall, though, it was an awesome show. I was thoroughly entertained and left with my ears buzzing, and really what more can you ask for? Les Misérables lights up the Stanley Industrial Stage By Ashley Whillans Ts 2009 Arts Club production of Les Misérables may not have had the biggest cast, the best venue or the most technically adept performers, but for what it lacked in skill it made up for in spirit. Les Misérables literally translates as the poor ones, the wretched or the miserable. Written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, it tells the story of several characters over a span of 20 years before Napoleon’s crushing defeat at Waterloo. Having won over 50 major theatre awards, and the title of third longest-running show on Broadway with over 6,680 performances, it is easily one of the world’s most widely recognized musicals. Not to mention thanks to Britain’s Got Talent hopeful Susan Boyle’s rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream,” Les Misérables is once again garnering international attention. It has been years since the Arts Club has produced the famous musical, so understandably expectations were high for Bill Millerd’s production. On opening night, Wednesday May 14" the crowd was full of Vancouver’s theatre “greats” such as top reviewer Colin Thomas, top performers Bob Frazer and Carrie Wheeler as well as top producers and directors. The house was at capacity, excitement was in the air and tensions were high for cast and crew alike. Having seen Les Misérables only a6 in New York, I knew the show would be a much different show than the one I was familiar with. Vancouver and New York are two very different theatre cities and the level of funding, even for the Arts Club, is next to nothing compared to that of Broadway —one of the most famous theatre centers in the world. This being said Vancouver held its own. The créme de la créme came out and played on the Arts Club stage and veterans such as Sarah-Jeanne Hosie and Nicole Lipman shone as Fantine and Mme. Thenardiar, respectively. Even Spirit of the West singer John Mann graced the stage with his very grimy, but deliciously funny portrayal of the inn keeper, M. Thenardiar. The stand-outs of the evening, besides Hosie, were Réjean Cournoyer as Javert and Rebecca Talbot as Epionine whose singing moved the audience to tears—on more than one occasion. However, the night was not all tears and wonderment and a lot of the secondary players lacked the acting and singing chops necessary to pull off this weighty and demanding musical. Les Misérables requires emotional honesty as well as powerful lungs and many of the secondary cast (even some of the stars) fell “flat” repeatedly through the course of the almost three-hour show! Overall could I call the Arts Club production the best production of Les Misérables to grace a North American stage? No. The most poignant, heart- felt and thought-provoking theatre to come out of Arts Club this season? Yes. Definitely, yes. While the Arts Club production of Les Misérables may not have the trappings of a Broadway show, such as powerful belting, big sets and a consistent chorus, it is not to be missed, even if it is just to see this famous show on home turf for the first time in almost 10 years. Be sure to catch Les Misérables this summer; it is selling out fast (thanks to the talented cast and Susan Boyle) and is only here until July 19" at Vancouver's Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage.