Mateca Arts Festival is a festival of World Music and Multi-Disciplinary Art with a strong Latin American identity. The festival invites everyone to learn, participate and support World Music and Multi-Disciplinary Art. This grassroots event integrates advocacy, arts and music into a two-day educational festival that is the first of its kind in the area.
The festival shows the importance of educating others on different cultures while connecting the arts and environment into one. It includes eclectic musicians, dancers and visual artists, with both local and international presentations. Mateca Arts Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8, at University of Toronto, Victoria College, Burwash Quad.
Over the course of two days, audiences can partake in outdoor Yoga classes, artists’ talks and guided tours, as well as, dance workshops and live music. In attendance will be Mapuche artist, Beatriz Pichi Malen from Argentina. Together with two musicians, Lucho Cruz and Chacho Ruiz Guiñaz (percussion & wind instruments), Malen combines sacred Mapuche instruments to create a new musical dimension of the ancestral songs, originally performed a Capella. Malen and accompanying musicians will perform at the festival’s Official Launch.
Also in attendance is Dr. Ricardo Dal Farra, who has been conducting activities in the merging fields of arts, sciences and new technologies as a composer and multimedia artist, researcher, educator, performer and curator focusing mainly on electroacoustic music and new media arts for more than 25 years. Farra will be part of a Conference talk on Art, Science & Technology.
Toronto-based artists will also particpate in this two-day festival. The likes of Quique Escamilla, Laura Fernández, Payadora Tango Ensemble, Luanda Jones, and many others will be on-hand to get you dancing.
Mateca Arts Festival promises to be family-friendly, educational, and exciting. The combination of eclectic musicians, dancers and visual artists, with both local and international presentations will certainly introduce us to some new talent, and cultures. For further information on the festival line up and ticketing, please visit mateca.com.
One of the sure signs of summer in Toronto is the arrival of Luminato Festival. For ten full days, Toronto will be the hub of some major arts and cultural events both on the local and international level.
As in previous years, I have taken a peek at the festival programming and have chosen a few events that sound fun and interesting. This list includes both free and ticketed events. It also includes somewhat a variety in types of events, as Luminato offers a wide range of options for all tastes.
Hosted by Jason Collett, Basement Revue unfolds nightly at the festival, with each evening’s program remaining a mystery right up until show time. Impromptu appearances and unscripted performances are all part of the fun. The Revue also serves as the official, nightly after-party for all festival artists, so there’s no telling who you’ll be seeing at the bar or who’ll decide to leap onstage.
The Revue is curated by Collett and poet Damian Rogers. There you may encounter the likes of Metric’s James Shaw performing a version of Pink Floyd’s “Nobody’s Home” on the piano, or Margaret Atwood stepping up to the mic in front of one of Toronto’s most celebrated bands and saying, with her characteristic deadpan wit, “Hit it, Sadies.”
As is tradition for the Basement Revue, each night’s performers remain a surprise to the audience until they step on stage. Even the performers themselves are kept in the dark, adding an extra element of mystery to the evening.
Friday, June 6th 10:00 pm – Festival Hub at David Pecaut Square Jesse Cook With special guest Amanda Martinez Free Admission Paris-born guitarist and composer, Jesse Cook, has earned legendary status as the foremost, and most gifted, proponent of the nouveau flamenco movement, blending flamenco with rumba and jazz to achieve a singularly dazzling sound. For his Luminato debut, Cook will be joined on two songs by Toronto-based singer-songwriter Amanda Martinez, whose own flamenco fieriness draws on Mexican and South African influences.
Saturday, June 7th 12:00 pm – Festival Hub at David Pecaut Square Taste of the Beach – Food at The Hub Mary Luz Mejia, chef curator and event host Free Admission
This year, ten local chefs will be paired with ten Festival artists to create a unique and delectable summertime dish that explores the flavours of eating at the beach – all hot off the barbecue! Cocktails, DJs Sound Culture (Chicago) and Richard Blair of Sidestepper (Bogotá) will add to the pulsating heat at the Festival Hub, creating a true culinary exhibition. Sounds deliciously tempting to me!
Saturday, June 7th 9:00 pm – Festival Hub at David Pecaut Square The Roots Admission: $35 The Roots are ranked among the 10 greatest rap groups of all time by Rolling Stone. The Grammy Award-winning band was formed in Philadelphia more than 25 years ago by Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson. They have been the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon since the show’s inception in 2009 and recently migrated with Fallon to The Tonight Show in New York City.
If you’re a fan of The Roots, this is one concert I highly recommend you check out at Luminato this year.
Sunday, June 8th 2:00 pm – MaRS Discovery District TimesTalks Luminato – Daniel Lanois and Select Guests Moderated by New York Times Managing Editor of Video, Bruce Headlam Admission: $25 This conversation will focus on Lanois’ tremendous impact on contemporary music both within Canada and internationally, including his work with U2, Neil Young and Bob Dylan, the power and poetry of his compositions and the evolving role of the producer within the rapidly changing music industry.
Host for the event, Bruce Headlam, is the managing editor of video for The New York Times since 2013. Under Mr. Headlam, the New York Times Monday Business section won the 2008 Newhouse School Award for Overall Excellence and his writers have won various awards under his editorial leadership.
Monday, June 9th 9:00 pm – Festival Hub at David Pecaut Square Bebel Gilberto Brazilian Samba Soul with Aline Morales Free Admission Among Brazilian jazz artists, Bebel Gilberto is true royalty. She is the daughter of legendary guitarist and vocalist João Gilberto and esteemed singer Miúcha. But Bebel, who has been performing since childhood, is a full-fledged star in her own right, putting her uniquely vibrant spin on bossa nova traditions.
Warming things up on-stage for Bebel will be Toronto-based Aline Morales. For her Luminato debut, Morales and her quintet will play an all-original, all-Brazilian set that goes beyond Brazil by flavouring traditional samba and bossa beats with African and European sounds.
Tuesday, June 10th 9:30 pm – Festival Hub at David Pecaut Square Tanya Tagaq presents Nanook of the North Northern Lights & Music double bill with Buffy Sainte-Marie Free Admission In 1922, filmmaker Robert J. Flaherty paved the way for the modern documentary with his contentious but momentous chronicle of a year in the life of Inuit Nanook and his family near the Arctic Circle, Nanook of the North. Now innovative throat singer Tanya Tagaq, known for her work with Björk and the Kronos Quintet, draws upon her family’s history in far northern Quebec and her own Nunavut childhood to reclaim Flaherty’s masterpiece. With music composed by Derek Charke, Tagaq unites with two equally celebrated musicians— violinist Jesse Zubot and percussionist Jean Martin—to reactualize the film’s silent images with emotive soundscapes.
Tanya Tagaq in concert with Nanook of the North was commissioned by TIFF Bell Lightbox as part of its film retrospective First Peoples Cinema: 1500 Nations, One Tradition.
Wednesday, June 11th 9:00 pm – Festival Hub at David Pecaut Square Keys on the Street – A recital of Urban Dance and Piano Angela Hewitt; with choreography by Tré Armstrong Free Admission For some, it may be difficult to imagine the union between classical music and urban dance, but two outstanding Canadian artists—pianist Angela Hewitt and choreographer Tré Armstrong— hope to prove they can make this union work. Armstrong, most recognizable as So You Can Dance Canada judge, leads a troupe of the finest urban dancers to physically respond to Hewitt’s piano playing. Hewitt is best known for her cycle of Bach recordings, crafted between 1995 and 2004. An Officer of the Order of the British Empire, she is also founder and Artistic Director of the Trasimeno Music Festival in Umbria, Italy.
Part of this program will include music from J.S. Bach, Debussy, and others.
Thursday, June 12th 8:00 pm – The Theatre Centre Copycat Talks – Kendell Geers: Following the Blind Man (Marcel Duchamp and the Voodoun Connection) Admission: $15
“In the spring of 1912, Marcel Duchamp left Paris for Munich on a 3 month sojourn that would ultimately change the course of twentieth century art.” This is how the lecture begins, and after it ends you will never think about Duchamp or art in the 20th century the same way.
Kendell Geers is a conceptual and installation artist who was born in May, 1968 in Johannesburg, South Africa – he changed his name and birthdate officially as a political act of self-creation. In the late 1980s, he went into exile and only returned to South Africa after the release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners.
Friday, June 13th 8:00 pm – Festival Hub at David Pecaut Square Saidah Baba Talibah
Her mother is Canada’s “First Lady of the Blues,” Salome Bey. Toronto’s Saidah Baba Talibah isn’t one to rest on family laurels. Her singular sound, a scorching blend of rock, blues and raunchy soul, has taken her from Singapore to Brooklyn’s Afro Punk and shaped the killer album (S)cream, which bested more than 300 competitors to win the inaugural Soundclash Music Award. Saidah is one of my favourite Toronto artists.
Saturday, June 14th 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm Berkeley Street Theatre, Upstairs Bullet Catch Admission: $45 Performer, director, playwright and magician Rob Drummond becomes William Wonder to tell the incredible story of William Henderson, who died on stage while attempting to catch a bullet, a stunt so dangerous even Houdini refused to attempt it. A feast of theatrical magic, Bullet Catch combines storytelling, mindreading, levitation, games of chance and, for those brave enough to stay, the most notorious finale in show business.
Sunday, June 15th 12:00 pm – Trinity Bellwoods Park A Literary Picnic Free Admission A Literary Picnic is the heart and soul of Luminato’s Day of Literary Activity. Forty-five of the city’s finest writers will be gathered in Trinity Bellwoods Park, where they will present their thoughts and views and read from their own and other authors’ work during the festival’s daylong celebration of Toronto, the Unseen.
Austin Clarke, winner of the Scotiabank Giller Prize and the unparalleled chronicler of Caribbean immigrants to Toronto; Barry Callaghan, denizen of the city’s bygone speakeasies and jazz clubs and connoisseur of its shoe-beaten sidewalks; Ins Choi, the sensational playwright of “Kim’s Convenience” and “Subway Stations of the Cross”; Don Gillmor, witness to the aspirations and foibles of the city’s moneyed classes; Andrew Pyper, masterful thriller writer, and Zoe Whitall, her young and queer adults making their way in the dyspeptic city are but a few of the extraordinary writers who will help to paint an unforgettable portrait of Unseen Toronto. Ben McNally Books and the Toronto Public Library Bookmobile will also be present.
These are some of the many events Luminato will offer starting this Friday, June 6th until Sunday, June 15th throughout various venues in the city. For full festival event listings, box office, and venue information visit luminatofestival.com. Now, grab your calendars and start planning!
The Inside Out LGBT Film Festival finished another successful event and announced this year’s award recipients at the Closing Night party last night. Inside Out offers three categories of awards: audience awards, Canadian juried awards, and an international award. RBC is the Festival’s returning Presenting Sponsor.
If you attended the festival and cast your vote, then you’ll be excited to find out who won the Audience Awards:
Best Feature Film Award: TRU LOVE, directed by Kate Johnston and Shauna MacDonald Inside Out presents a $1,000 cash award to the audience’s favourite feature-length film.
Best Documentary Film Award: MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE, directed by Michele Josue. Sponsored by Elle Flanders, this $500 prize is named in recognition of the contribution of Elle Flanders, Inside Out’s Executive Director from 1996 to 1999.
Best Short Film Award: LIVING IN THE OVERLAP, directed by Cindy Hill and Mary Dalton Sponsored by Michael Leshner and Michael Stark (in honour of Mikey/Schmikey), this $1,000 cash award is presented to a short film under 50 minutes in length.
Canadian Juried Awards: This year’s jury members are Kim Crosby (artist and coordinator at T Dot Renaissance Toronto), Gein Wong (interdisciplinary director, playwright, spoken word poet, composer and video artist) and Michael Souther (co-founder of Amaze Film + Television, which produces Call Me Fitz).
Best Canadian Film Award: TOM AT THE FARM, directed by Xavier Dolan. Sponsored by EP Canada/Canada Film Capital, the $2,000 cash award for Best Canadian Film is presented to an established Canadian artist for a short or feature-length narrative or documentary film.
Still from Tru Love – Courtesy of Inside Out
Emerging Canadian Artist Award: TRU LOVE, directed by Kate Johnston and Shauna MacDonald and100 CRUSHES CHAPTER 6: THEY, directed by Elisha Lim. Sponsored by Inside Out’s presenting sponsor RBC, the $2,500 cash award for Emerging Canadian Artist is given to an emerging Canadian filmmaker who is in the early stages of his or her career. The recipient must have directed no more than two fiction narrative short films, or no more than one fiction narrative feature-length film.
Hot Shorts Award: WAACK REVOLT – A DANCE FILM, directed by Sonia Hong. Sponsored by HardTV, the Hot Shorts Award is given to a Canadian film or video that addresses, in a unique fashion, LGBT sexuality and/or erotica.
International Awards: Gosia Kamela (producer Bell Media, Drama), Laurie Colbert (director Margarita) and Bill Guentzler (Artistic Director, Cleveland International Film Festival) are this year’s jury members.
Bill Sherwood Award for Best First Feature: 52 Tuesdays, directed by Sophie Hyde. Named in honour of the gay American film director, who stepped boldly onto the international film stage in 1986 with his first feature, Parting Glances, the $1,750 cash prize for the Bill Sherwood Award for Best First Feature is an international prize presented to a first time feature director.
This year, Inside Out presented a stellar lineup of films. It was also great to see the diversity in themes and styles, as well. A big congratulations to all award winners, and to Inside Out staff and volunteers for another great run!
Theatre InspiraTO, the producer of Canada’s largest ten-minute play festival, InspiraTO Festival, will showcase the best ten-minute plays from around the globe, and feature local playwrights with 25 ten-minute plays set to take on Toronto beginning tonight.
This year’s collection of plays were selected from InspiraTO‘s international competition with 600 ten-minute play submissions worldwide.
The festival’s theme this year is crossing dimensions. Each of the 25 shows have a sub-theme: the Red Show has in-your-face plays; the Blue Show with lost-in-space plays; and the Orange Show, out-of-place plays. Within each show there are seven different ten-minute plays or diverse stories that are interwoven into each show’s sub-theme. Layers within layers of stories, if you will.
With no intermissions in the shows, and quick set changes between plays, it allows the audience to experience what is akin to a full length play.
The festival will run beginning tonight, May 29th until Saturday, June 7th. All performance will be held at Alumnae Theatre‘s Mainstage. Tickets $20/$15 students. Festival Pass $50/$40 students. Tickets available online. Reserve online and guarantee your seat. No service fees. Tickets are also available at the Alumnae Box Office one hour before each show. Cash only at the door. Not for children under 14 years old.
RedShow: Ghost Lite by Justin Warner / Therapeutic Magic by Jennifer Turliuk / A Siri-Ous Situation by J. Lois Diamond / Red by Jordan Hall / Day Care by Steven Simoncic / The Magyar by Sandra Cardinal/ The Saga of Ginny by Ian August Times: May 29 at 7 pm; May 31 at 6 pm; June 5 at 9 pm; June 6 at 8 pm; June 7 at 4 pm.
BlueShow: Jars by Brittany Taylor / The Dolphin Kick by Asher Wyndham / Eating French by Damon Chua / Haunted by Matthew Sarookanian / Freefalling by Aurin SquireIn / Kabul by Laurie Fyffe / The Marionette Makers by Dominik Loncar Times: May 29 at 9 pm; May 31 at 8 pm; June 3 at 8 pm; June 4 at 7 pm; June 7 at 6 pm.
OrangeShow: The Writer by Chip Bolcik / His Best Friend by Cody McLenon / Doppleganged by Chelsea Marcantel / Swingset by Julie Cohn / End of the Rainy Season by Mark Rigney / Adrift by Ken Hall / There’s No Here Here by Craig Pospisil Times: May 30 at 8 pm; May 31 at 4 pm; June 4 at 9 pm; June 5 at 7 pm; June 7 at 8 pm.
WhiteShow: Audiences will be led to 4 site specific locations (rain or shine) starting from Alumnae Theatre and watch a ten minute play at each venue. This will be about an hour in length. Limited seating. Times: May 30, May 31, June 4, June 5, June 6, June 7 all at 7:55 pm.
Each show in the festival is 70 minutes (seven plays), which means you can easily see two or three shows back to back. As an audience member, you also get a chance to vote for their favorite plays with the winners announced at the finale awards ceremony on the last day. Definitely plenty of theatre options at InspiraTO Festival.
How oft when thou, my music, music play’st, Upon that blessed wood whose motion sounds With thy sweet fingers when thou gently sway’st The wiry concord that mine ear confounds, Do I envy those jacks that nimble leap, To kiss the tender inward of thy hand, Whilst my poor lips which should that harvest reap, At the wood’s boldness by thee blushing stand! To be so tickled, they would change their state And situation with those dancing chips, O’er whom thy fingers walk with gentle gait, Making dead wood more bless’d than living lips. Since saucy jacks so happy are in this, Give them thy fingers, me thy lips to kiss.
The 24th annual Inside Out LGBT Film Festival takes over Toronto tonight. Inside Out has become one of the largest avenues for LGTQ programming in our city and throughout Canada. This year the festival’s International Focus offers a fascinating look at features and shorts from Latin America. The International Focus programme will showcase a diverse group of filmmakers from Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Venezuela and Brazil.
This year, I am glad to see Latin American talent being celebrated at Inside Out as well. And as some of you know, I often like to choose my top picks at each festival. Thus, I give you my Top Picks at Inside Out.
International Focus: Latin America — Feature Films
When Alejandra, a publishing editor who lives in her own insular world, encounters Maria, a carefree private-school student, sparks ignite. Maria becomes an inspiration to Alejandra, and something of a muse. Alejandra becomes an opportunity for Maria: an escape from frivolous school friends into an exciting new world. Soon the couple become involved in an all-consuming love affair in which they push and challenge each other intellectually and emotionally.
Sunday, May 25th, 9:45pm The Third One / El Tercero Dir. Rodrigo Guerrero (Argentina)
This sexy Argentine three-hander begins where many intriguing encounters begin these days—in Internet chat rooms, where flirtation, dares, exposed flesh and typos run rampant. When nervous young Fede finally shows up for dinner at the home of Franco and Hernán, a settled older couple, fantasy gives way to reality—and reality has its own charms. The film possesses a refreshing realism and honesty as the story slowly unfolds and the characters relax and become comfortable with each other.
Other Feature Films Tuesday, May 27th, 9:30pm Centrepiece Gala — Love Is Strange Dir. Ira Sachs
After 39 years together, Ben (John Lithgow) and George (Alfred Molina) finally tie the knot in a quiet ceremony attended by family and friends in lower Manhattan. But when the Catholic school where George works as choir director learns of their nuptials, he is fired from his longtime job. Suddenly, with no real savings to count on, the couple find that they can’t afford the rent on their Chelsea apartment and they lose their home.
Thursday, May 29th, 5:15pm What It Was Dir. Daniel Armando (USA)
Adina, a successful Latina actress, returns to New York in the aftermath of her failed marriage and the death of her sister. Unable to face her mother, Adina finds herself in a fog, drifting through her days. Her memories mingle with the present as she tumbles through a series of intense, complex connections with a sexy, butch body artist, a young college student and a former girlfriend.
Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, parents of four boys, were married in 2004 during a brief period when San Francisco City Hall issued marriage licences, but the women later received a letter telling them they weren’t legally married. Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo, together since 1998, want to marry for the sake of the family they’re planning. This comprehensive behind-the-scenes documentary follows two couples, who challenge California’s Prop 8, a 2008 ballot initiative designed to thwart the recognition of same-sex marriage in the state.
If you missed this documentary at Hot Docs last month, this is your chance to see it on the big-screen.
Sunday, June 1st, 7:30pm Closing Night Gala — 52 Tuesdays Dir. Sophie Hyde (Australia)
Sixteen-year-old Billie’s reluctant path to independence is accelerated when her mother reveals plans to change genders. In order to minimize the stress as Jane transitions to James, it is decided that Billie will live with her father, Tom, for a year and will see James once a week, every Tuesday. 52 Tuesdays was shot on consecutive Tuesdays over the course of a year with a cast of non-professional actors who were given their scripts, and the scenes in which they appear, one week at a time.
Other Screenings and Events Saturday, May 24th, 12:30pm Free Family Screening — Shorts For Shorties Inside Out and TIFFKids have joined forces to bring you only the best in Saturday morning cartoons and short stories to enjoy with the whole family. You can enjoy tales of growing up, getting along, and learning to be yourself and finding your place in the world, as you take a seat and play along with cats, dogs, squirrels and even balloons. How fun!
This program will show 12 short films, including A Purrfect Pair, Maccupation, Papa’s Boy, and Wini + George, just to name a few.
This panel features executive producer Vanessa Piazza and show runner Michael Grassi, along with key cast members, including lead actor Anna Silk. It will showcase some clips, tales from the behind the scenes, and discussion focused around creating, writing and bringing to life strong, engaging bisexual and lesbian characters within the genre of science fiction. This is a not-to-miss for fans of the show and science-fiction geeks as well.
This list should give some of you plenty of choice, and time to go purchase your tickets. Screenings for the 2014 Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival will take place at TIFF Bell Lightbox. Visit insideout.ca for more film and box office information.
What Would I Do Without This World By Samuel Beckett
what would I do without this world faceless incurious where to be lasts but an instant where every instant spills in the void the ignorance of having been without this wave where in the end body and shadow together are engulfed what would I do without this silence where the murmurs die the pantings the frenzies towards succour towards love without this sky that soars above its ballast dust what would I do what I did yesterday and the day before peering out of my deadlight looking for another wandering like me eddying far from all the living in a convulsive space among the voices voiceless that throng my hiddenness
— from: Collected poems in English and French. Samuel Beckett. John Calder Publishers. London. 1977.
b current, Canada’s hotbed for culturally diverse artists announced a week of new theatre development for the 13th annualrock.paper.sistahz festival. The festival runs until May 18th at the Daniels Spectrum building.
The festival offers a Lunchbag Series, Free (donations welcomed) during the week. The series includes panels on writing successful grants, playwriting from poetry, and working as a director. These lunchtime talks are held at Aki Studio Theatre. Full details on the series can be found here.
A highlight of this year’s festival is the inaugural 23 hours live!, a live performance marathon featuring 14 new plays performed over 23 hours by award winning and esteemed artists, many rooted in the culture and experiences of the Black Diaspora. The 23 hours live! marathon features trey anthony’s Black Mothers Don’t Say I Love You, Michaela Di Cesare’s 8 Ways my Mother was Conceived, Ngozi Paul’s The 1st Time Project, Catherine Hernandez’ I Cannot Lie to the Stars that Made Me, and Amanda Parris’ The Other Side of the Game. The marathon runs from May 17 at 1:00 pm to May 18 at 12:00 pm.
From the looks of it, the 23 hours live! marathon will also have some films screenings, curaged by Lucius Dechausay, from 3-6PM on Saturday, May 17. And more films from 4-7AM on Sunday, May 18.
The marathon also features a late night dance party with DJ L’Oqenz, burlesque dancer Dainty Box, early morning yoga, children’s story telling with Juno winning dub poet and reggae musician Lillian Allen, and a pancake breakfast with newartistic directorsJajube Mandiela and Ngozi Paul.
Mandiela and Paul join b current as the new artistic directors after the departure of founding artistic director ahdri zhina mandiela, who was with b current from its inception 23 years ago. Originally founded as a place for black artists to create, nurture and present their new works, has grown to support artists from all diasporas. For over 22 years they have been creating space for diverse voices to be heard, with a focus on engaging the communities from which those stories are rooted.
b current‘s annual rock.paper.sistahz festival has been the springboard for numerous award-winning new works over the past 13 years, and many have gone on to further development and main stage productions, including: wise.woman by Rebecca Fisseha, Virgin by Joan M. Kivanda, and Dora-Award nominated Obeah Opera by Nicole Brooks. Be sure to catch some of these new works this weekend. These are stories for all.
For full details on b current’s 2014 line-up, visit bcurrent.ca.
The weather seems to slowly be improving in Toronto this weekend. This means there is no excuse to stay indoors and enjoy some art and culture in our city. Here are a few suggestions for you.
FILM
CMW Film Fest The festival is already underway and continues until Saturday, May 10th at The Royal Cinema. I compiled my top 5 picks at the fest, which you can find here.
I do suggest checking out:
BREADCRUMB TRAIL – A SLINT DOCUMENTARY Friday, May 9th, 7:00pm Director: Lance Bangs
SWIM LITTLE FISH SWIM Saturday, May 10th, 4:30pm Writers/Directors: Lola Bessis & Ruben Amar
Canadian Music Week (CMW) CMW is a five-day music festival and runs until Saturday, May 10th across several venues in the city. Like its film festival counterpart, I selected a few shows that piqued my musical interest. You can find them here.
I also suggest:
SOUNDS AUSTRALIA BEAT PIE CZEHOSKI Friday, May 9th
Tanya Lee – 8:30pm Lili Kendall – 9:15pm Hoodlem – 10:00pm Yeo – 10:45pm Audego – 11:30pm Elizabeth Rose – 12:15am Sons et al. – 1:00am
OFF! LEE’S PALACE Saturday, May 10th,
Twelve Foot Ninja – 9:00pm The Organ Thieves – 10:00pm Single Mothers – 11:00pm Cerebral Ballzy– 12:00am OFF! – 1:00am
THEATRE
Abigail’s Party Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace Ends Saturday, May 10th The play was written for the stage and television devised and directed in 1977 by Mike Leigh. It is a suburban situation comedy of manners, and a satire on the aspirations and tastes of the ‘new middle class’ that emerged in Britain in the 1970s.
I had recommended this play a week back, and I have heard nothing but good things about it. My pal Donna G of The More The Merrier Radio Show interviewed one of the leads, Anna Hardwick last week. I suggest taking a listen to her show. The play sounds like a load of fun. And I think this is a party that none of us want to miss…
Cast of Le Précieuses Ridicules Photo: Théâtre Français de Toronto
The Precious Young Ladies / Les Précieuses ridicules Théâtre Français de Toronto Ends Saturday, May 10th
This one-act comedy, written by Molière, takes a satiric aim at the extravagant and delicate ladies of the French bourgeoisie. Cousins Magdelon and Cathos move to Paris in search of fame, romance, and excitement. The young ladies revoke the advances to two well-to-do gents, who in turn decide to teach les précieuses a lesson or two.
Director Guy Mignault decided to add short texts, songs, and monologues that reflect his personal views and reflect Molière’s thinking as well. Mignault also decided to set the play within a contemporary cocktail party hosted by two rather pretentious ladies. In short, we are watching a play within a play, and it somewhat works. The dialogue is accented by songs, which are witty and funny. The cast navigates between dialogue and songs well enough. And with the aid of the surtitles, I found myself laughing more often than not.
The back and forth between Molière’s play and the cocktail party were at times confusing. The night I attended, however, most of the audience seemed to enjoy themselves regardless. I do give kudos to the set and costume designs by Glen Charles and Landry Nina Okens, respectively. Overall, Les Précieuses is a fun night out.
