ARTS THE LAST RESORT Director Max Reimer returns to the Globe Theatre with a hysterical musical set in northern Saskatchewan BY ALEX J MACPHERSON ast year, Max Reimer di- The Last Resort is a collaboration And while the characters in The L rected the Globe Theatre’s between Arden, a protégé of legend- Last Resort are animated by Foster’s production of Billy Bishop Goes To ary composer and lyricist Stephen peerless dialogue, their plight en- War, a play by John MacLachlan Sondheim, and Norm Foster, one hanced by Arden’s deliciously funny Gray and Eric Peterson. He and of the most successful — and hi- lyrics, their real strength is the degree the cast created a darkly funny larious — playwrights in Canadian to which the audience can identify examination of heroism, identity, history. Reimer describes it as part with them. A good comedy needs only and one of Canada’s national icons. comedy and part farce, a delight- to be funny; a great comedy must cre- In September, Reimer will demon- fully chaotic collection of believable ate a situation in which the humour, no strate the depth of his theatrical characters, well-timed jokes, and matter how absurd, fosters empathy. playbook by returning to the Globe occasional absurdities. Reimer suspects the setting will only Theatre to helm a completely dif- The action opens at a lodge in enhance the audience experience. ferent sort of play — a rollicking northern Saskatchewan, where Nick “I love it because Nick and Angela, murder mystery musical called The (played by Kevin Aichele) is keeping a the two that are on the run, are the Last Resort. low profile. Nick was forced to flee to only Americans in the show,” he says. “The Last Resort was a very Saskatchewan after he sold out some “The rest are all Canadian characters. different experience for me,” says powerful gangsters. Fearing for his life, I think it’s fun to poke fun at yourself, Reimer, who lives in Vancouver and he took off, accompanied only by An- and I think that some of the Saskatch- has worked as an actor and director gela (Cailin Stadnyk), an undercover ewan jokes will actually be more fun at theatres across the country. “I’ve FBI agent tasked with protecting him here in Saskatchewan than they were directed it before, and what I was from harm. Things get complicated elsewhere. I think people in Saskatch- absolutely taken by was the music by when it is revealed that one of the ewan will have a nice chuckle.” Leslie Arden. Not only is it good, but other guests is a deadly assassin sent to it’s funny. People out and out laugh at do him harm. “The whole idea is that, The Last Resort Leslie’s lyrics and the way she con- to Nick, every character is a hitman, September 18 - October 6 @ Globe Theatre structs a song.” coming to get him,” Reimer laughs. $29+ @ Globe Theatre box office THE TIPPING POINT Arizona punk rockers Authority Zero find a new beginning on their latest album BY ALEX J MACPHERSON proof that the SoCal punk move- Following in the footsteps of bands always tried to stretch things out, try referring to Malcolm Gladwell’s ment isn’t dead. Singer Jason De- like Bad Religion and Pennywise, all different types of music, different book about how small events can Vore hasn’t been this excited about who created an entirely new style of styles of music.” have dramatic consequences. “That a record since the band released A punk music, the band built a career But it hasn’t been easy. DeVore is brought everything together. And I Passage In Time in 2002. based on political songs, machine- the only original member still in the think it shows again in the writing “Mostly I think it’s just the energy gun drumming, and infectious power band. He has ridden out the upheav- and the vibrance that this album’s of the production and the writing chord pop hooks. At the same time, als caused by personnel changes got.” And while The Tipping Point PHoto: COUrtESY OF KUrt HUdsoN process of the album,” he says. “A DeVore and his bandmates have many times. “We’ve had people in might be Authority Zero’s fifth Passage In Time was such a pure always been willing to experiment and out since 2008, when Bill [Marcks] album, DeVore can’t help but think he first song on The Tipping early album that everyone was so with new ideas — an attitude mani- first left the group,” he says. “It’s been that it marks a new beginning. T Point — the latest album excited about at such an early age. fested on The Tipping Point. somewhat unstable and unfocused from Mesa, Arizona punk rock Everything was sparking on all “That’s kind of what we do as in a way. We’ve been putting all the Authority Zero band Authority Zero — opens with cylinders. With time, ups and downs, musicians,” DeVore says, refer- effort in, working our asses off, mainly September 25 @ The Exchange the squeal of two guitars feed- there are different emotions that ring to songs like “Shakedown in just trying to keep the group together.” $13 @ ticketedge.ca ing back before launching into a come with each album. But it was al- Juarez,” a potent attack on immigra- But the band’s new lineup, series of blistering power chords. most like a fresh start, a fresh energy tion policy, and “Struggle,” a reggae which includes Sean Sellers and Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372 “No Other Place” is a strong and with The Tipping Point.” anthem that shows the band at their Brandon Landelius, has created a energetic punk rock song, a return Authority Zero was formed in most relaxed. “There’s not supposed new kind of energy. “The tipping to form for the band, who haven’t 1994 by three high school friends. to be any boundaries or any one point really was getting the right @VerbRegina released a record since 2010, and DeVore came onboard shortly after. set thing that you’re doing. We’ve people in play,” DeVore says, [email protected] 9 Aug 23 – AUG 29 @VERBREGINA CONTENTS LOCAL EDITORIAL COMMENTS Q + A ARTS FEATURE FOOD + DRINK MUSIC LISTINGS NIGHTLIFE FILM COMICS TIMEOUT CULTURE.