CALENDAR: Spark Festival, Katya — Help Me I’m Dying
THURSDAY, MARCH 21
Katya — Help Me I’m Dying. RuPaul’s Drag Race Miss Congeniality and All-Stars S2 finalist brings her stand-up comedy show to the McPherson Playhouse, 8 p.m. Tickets at rmts.bc.ca and tel. 250-386-6121. Love and Marriage in the Age of the Roscoes with Kate Humble, Curator for Fort Rodd Hill, known for lively storytelling and historical accuracy. Tonight, 7:30 p.m. at Ross Bay Villa Historic House Museum, 1490 Fairfield Rd. Limited seating, reserve tickets at info@rossbayvilla.org. David Moscrop celebrates the launch of his new book Too Dumb for Democracy? at Smith’s Pub, 777 Courtney St., 6-8 p.m.; munrosbooks.com. Spark Festival at the Belfry Theatre featuring four productions along with workshops and a host of free events. Performances tonight are Pathetic Fallacy, 7:30 p.m. and Old Stock, 7:30 p.m. Tickets at tickets.belfry.bc.ca. 7 Stories by Morris Panych, presented by the Phoenix Theatre at UVic., 8 p.m. Tickets at finearts.uvic.ca. Robbie Hancock at Ross Bay Pub, 1516 Fairfield Rd., 6-9 p.m.; 250-370-1152. Soul Jazz with the Ryan Oliver Trio at Northern Quarter, 1724 Douglas St., 8-11 p.m. Vancouver Island Symphony presents Symphony Soundbites: Bach's Goldberg Variations at the Port Theatre, 125 Front St., Nanaimo, 5 and 7:15 p.m. Tickets at porttheatre.com.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22
Capital City Comic Con with three days of comics, gaming, special guests, cosplay and more. Guests include Dan Folger, Skeet Ulrich, Malcom McDowal and Marina Sirtis. Friday through Sunday at the Victoria Conference Centre and Crystal Garden, 713 Douglas St.; capitalcitycomiccon.ca. Aretha Franklin Tribute Show, Respect to the Queen Tour staring Denita Asberry at the Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney, 7:30 p.m. Tickets at marywinspear.ca. Kellylee Evans at Hermann’s Jazz Club, 753 View St., 8 p.m. Tickets at jazzvictoria.ca, rmts.bc.ca, tel. 250-386-6121 and at the door; hermannsjazz.com. Bear Necessities, a guided walk for ages five and up at East Sooke Regional Park to learn about the the black bear. 10-11:30 a.m., meet at the kiosk in the Aylard Farm parking lot off Beecher Bay Road. Capital Regional Parks programs, crd.bc.ca/parks, tel. 250-478-3344. The Lynnes at Upstairs Lounge, Oak Bay Recreation Centre, 1975 Bee St., 7:30 p.m. Tickets at Nicholas Randall Ltd. and Oak Bay Rec Centre at the door. Songs in the Round with Daniel Cook, Robbie Hancock, Dave Gallant and Ray Spencer at Gorg-eous Coffee, 300 Gorge Rd. E., 8:30-10:30 p.m. Circle Game: Reimagining the Music of Joni Mitchell at the Port Theatre, 125 Front St., Nanaimo, 7:30 p.m. Tickets at tel. 250-754-8550; porttheatre.com.