I really enjoyed seeing Benjamin Britten’s Turn of the Screw at Pacific Opera Victoria. The production was very well-directed by Michael Shamata and featured strong performances from the children who were outstanding. The Halloween-suitable production features ghosts who haunt the living, a governess who finds herself in over her head, and adventures aplenty. Kirsten MacKinnon was outstanding as the Governess, with a beautiful voice. Isaiah Bell was an excellent Peter Quint, one of the two ghosts who haunt the living (the other one being Miss Jessel, well-sung by Jonelle Sills. The effective sets and costumes were designed by Shawn Kerwin, with lighting by Leah Ann Vardy. Shamata moves the production along at a good pace and overall I thought this was an outstanding first production of the new season. Upcoming POV shows include Tosca in February and Orpheus and Eurydice in April. Now closed.

From Left to Right; Mars Young as Miles, Catherine Daniel as Mrs. Grose, Kirsten McKinnon as the Governess and Jake Apricity Hetherington as Flora.