Someone Like You isn’t a new production for triple threat Steffanie Davis.
In 2023, the Vancouver resident starred in the world premiere of the romantic comedy for the Arts Club Theatre Company, taking hold of the Newmont Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre as the best friend Isabelle.
So, when the group asked her to be part of a touring remount, which includes a stop at the Evergreen Cultural Centre this month, she jumped at the chance.
“This story has been with me for many years,” Davis told the Tri-City News, "and it’s been beautiful watching the script develop over that time.”
An Arts Club Silver Commission written by Christine Quintana, Someone Like You is set in East Vancouver and focuses in on Isabelle and Kirstin’s friendship, which becomes complicated when Harjit (Praneet Akilla) enters the scene.
Davis describes Isabelle as a writer, dreamer and romantic at heart “who has lost her spark and hope, just by being a single fat woman in her 30s. She’s a fierce friend with so many barriers […] who has not put herself out there.”
Davis, who was also cast as Isabelle as part of a 2021 Arts Club reading, said she loves that Quintana has continuously updated her script to better reflect society with its shifting politics and trends. For example, a song that was played in past shows is now out because of the singer’s recent fall from grace.
Davis said the cast for the touring show — of which Isabelle’s friend Kristin is played by Ivy Charles instead of Jasmine Chen — didn’t have much time to rehearse over the holidays as Davis was in East Van Panto: Robin Hood.
She describes Someone Like You as "so funny and hopeful, but it tugs on your heart strings, too," she said.
"It’s really a tale of female friendship and navigating through this crazy world of dating. Sometimes, you have to have hard conversations with besties and talk through things to understand.”
Female friendship is “something so foundational to so many people’s lives, but so rarely represented authentically on stage,” Quintana added in a news release.
Someone Like You is at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) from Jan. 28 to 31 at 7:30 p.m., and Feb. 1 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 604-927-6555.
📣 Got an opinion on this story or any others in the Tri-Cities? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected].
📲 Want to stay updated on Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter.
💬 Words missing in an article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
