Review: CIRCLE GAME Brings Joni Mitchell's Music to Life!

After touring North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Mission, and Surrey, Arts Club's touring show CIRCLE GAME made its stop in Coquitlam last week. Playing in Coquitlam at the Evergreen Cultural Centre from March 6th to 9th, CIRCLE GAME is a "reimagining of the music of Joni Mitchell" featuring many of her hit songs such as "Both Sides Now," "A Case of You," and "Big Yellow Taxi." With many more stops to go on their tour around British Columbia, the magic of Joni Mitchell's music will reach audiences near and far.

I attended the last performance of CIRCLE GAME in Coquitlam on March 9th. As someone who was only familiar with a few of Joni Mitchell's songs, I went into the show not knowing what to expect. I was very impressed by the ambience of the stage walking into the theatre. Being in a smaller venue, there was not a lot of space for a highly exquisite set; however, I feel that the show was able to effectively make use of the smaller space. The sets designed by Carolyn Rapanos featured two mural-like structures (one standing and one hanging) composed primarily of secondhand instruments. The intricacies of these set structures paired with the smoky haze and lighting fit perfectly with the carefree feeling of Joni Mitchell's music.

Overall, CIRCLE GAME was a different theatre experience compared to the Arts Club musicals that I have attended in the past. Unlike the usual "textbook" musical featuring the songs of a particular band or genre such as "Mamma Mia" or "Motown: The Musical," CIRCLE GAME contained a minimalist jagged plot line. Instead of a flowing story that connected by each song, it seemed disconnected. With the exception of a couple of songs here and there that focused on romantic relationships among the performers, it was hard to grasp how everything fit together. I was able to understand some plot points through the acting and non-verbal cues from the performers; however, I would have preferred if the show incorporated dialogue in between songs to connect the audience better to Joni Mitchell's music and/or a possible storyline. Without a clearly evident story, the show gave off a greater "concert-vibe" than "musical."

While the show may not appeal to those who are fans of "textbook" style music and plot musicals, this show is definitely worth watching for the incredible talent within the cast. Starring Samantha Bourque, Kimmy Choi, David Z. Cohen, Benjamin Millman, Scott Perrie, and Adriana Ravalli, each performer brought something new and unique to Mitchell's music. I was thoroughly impressed by the virtuosity each actor showed on the multitude of instruments that they played during each song. From the guitar to the drums and the piano keys including a variety of unique percussion instruments, each actor's musicality went above and beyond my expectations. In terms of their vocal abilities, the cast did not disappoint. The quality and passion of each person's voice lent itself beautifully to Mitchell's music. "Big Yellow Taxi" was my favorite song that they sang in the show. Growing up, my parents would play this song in the car during our road trips, so the song is held close to my heart. The song was sung near the end of the show starting off with Scott Perrie singing followed by the rest of the cast joining in. Their enthusiasm as they sang the song brought energy to the audience and ended the show on a strong note.

CIRCLE GAME is a show that strays from the normal confinement of a "musical" and approaches it with a new outlook. While this may not be for everyone, I appreciate the interesting direction the show took in celebrating Joni Mitchell's music. Arts Club's touring show CIRCLE GAME will be playing at Anvil Centre in New Westminster on March 12 for the next stop of it's multi-city tour around British Columbia.

Ticket prices start at $29 and are available at https://artsclub.com/shows/on-tour/2018-2019/circle-game. For more information about the show and its upcoming tour dates, please visit Art Club's website at https://artsclub.com/.

Photo credit: Emily Cooper

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