BY MEGAN WARREN
For ArtSpring
Audiences of all ages are in for a rip-roaring good time next week when The Myrtle Sisters bring their “menagerie of musical calamity” to ArtSpring.
The charming trio will perform Same, Same, Different, a family-friendly, three-part harmony tap and swing extravaganza, on Tuesday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m.
In Same, Same, Different, three “identical” sisters embark on a hilarious journey of self-expression. After a lifetime of dressing, dancing and even eating the same, the trio suddenly discovers they are secretly unique. As they attempt to hide their individuality from one another, they grapple with a poignant question: can they still belong in the group if they are different? With a series of outrageous antics peppered with vibrant original and vintage tunes, fancy footwork and lovely vocal harmonies, the play is a romping celebration of what makes us one-of-a-kind.
The Myrtle Sisters have been clowning around for over a decade. With two plays for young audiences (Same, Same, Different and Out of Time), one musical revue and a slew of concert and educational offerings, the ensemble has taken their wacky repertoire across Canada and all the way down to Florida, charming festival and school audiences all along the way.
This powerhouse ensemble consists of three exceptionally accomplished performers: Candice Roberts, Kat Single-Dain and Salt Spring’s own Nayana Fielkov. Roberts’ work interweaves physical theatre, mask and clowning to explore the “heartbreak and hilarity” of the human experience. While Salt Spring audiences may recognize her from her award-winning one-woman show Larry, which she performed at ArtSpring in January, she trades the beer cans and grit for G-rated comedic prowess in this family-friendly production.
Single-Dain is a critically acclaimed director and performer. As the artistic director of Vancouver’s Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret, she leads the city’s iconic annual Parade of Lost Souls. With an honours degree in film and a minor in dance from UC Berkeley, her energetic, swing-inspired choreography has been described by The Georgia Straight as enough to make audiences “feel the sap starting to run in the trees.”
Homegrown Salt Spring talent Fielkov is a multidisciplinary artist and educator whose career spans over 20 years and several continents, with acclaimed performances from Berlin to Tokyo. She has created and co-created many award-winning acts, including her solo show Underbelly, which she performed at ArtSpring in 2024. Fielkov works at the intersection of art and healing and serves as a health care clown at BC Children’s Hospital, bringing the transformative power of play to every environment she touches.
Together, these three artists invite the community to a night of tap shoes and delightful chaos that proves we can all be our unique selves and still belong.
Tickets are available at purchase.artspring.ca.