PuSh - International Performing Arts Festival Jan 10 - Feb 4, 2007

This is what you do in January to while away the post-xmas wintertime

This coming Thursday, on November 30th, the PuSh Festival announces the performance schedule for its 2007 season. While you munch on some hors d'oeurves, sip a little local wine, and chat amiably with others you can preview the schedule of performances which run from January 10 til February 4th. Or, if like me, you'll be at the opening of Headlines Theatre's Meth at exactly that moment you can download the schedule after December 1 by clicking here.

The Festival will present over a 100 performances in 14 venues. That should be enough to get you through to Valentines. And for those Craigslisters who complain that Vancouver chicks are hard to date: ahem...I'm not saying...I'm just saying...if you know what I mean.

xoxo

M

A Christmas Story - The Misadventures of a Boy with a Dream

Arts Club Theatre Presents A Christmas Story - November 30 - December 30

BY PHILIP GRECIAN
DIRECTOR KATRINA DUNN

NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 30, 2006 | GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE

“You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.”

Christmas, 1938. All nine-year-old Ralphie Parker wants from Santa is a Red Ryder BB gun, and he’ll do anything to get it—including homework! Despite repeated warnings from his parents, his teacher, and even Santa that he’ll shoot his eye out, Ralphie pines for the gift that “no self-respecting cowboy would be without.” Based on the film that has enchanted many, A Christmas Story is the holiday favourite that is sure to warm the cockles of your heart.

“Story keeps its spirit on stage” —Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“Illustrates the magical spirit of the holiday season” —Chicago Sun-Times
“Lovingly adapted for the stage” —The Houston Press
“A lively romp” —Springfield News Leader
“A charming family tale” —The Boston Globe
“As toasty and warm as a snowsuit and mittens” —The Houston Press

SPECIAL PERFORMANCES
Community Night, Thur, Nov 30, 8 PM. All tickets just $25!
Monday Mix Lecture, Dec 11, 8 PM. Join us at 7 PM for a free pre-show talk.
Talk Back Tuesday, Dec 19, 7:30 PM. Post-show chat with the cast and crew.
Family Holiday Show, Tues, Dec 26, 2 PM

Tix are $31.50 / $24.50 with Student ID / $27.00 for 65+
Tix available at Ticketmaster and by clicking here.

Arts Club Theatre site? Click here.

xoxo

M

A Paranoid's Wet Dream

Thomas Pynchon thinks they're talking about him

I was looking around the vast basement filled with boxes of paper, junk, and ASCII text known as the Internet and along with some vintage porn I found an article by Scott McLemee regarding a reclusive, retiring writer whose novels often deal with themes of paranoia. Apparently they were talking about Thomas Pynchon behind his back, speculating whether or not he was lurking in the literary public square dressed as an eighty year old homeless woman named Wendy Tinasky.

The article is over a decade old but that's why it's in the basement. Click here to read it.

Then spend a few minutes reading about Scott McLemee by clicking here. The first four paragraphs reveal another member of our tribe.

xoxo

M

Evil Mouse King Seizes Power on Christmas Eve; Toy Soldiers Rally; Sugar Plum Fairy Involved

Ballet BC and Alberta Ballet present The Nutcracker December 28 - December 31

Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker has been a Christmas tradition for more than a century. And while It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street are mandatory watching at this time of year you should make sure that you and yours have tickets for Ballet BC's annual performance of this beloved ballet (choreographed by Mikko Nissenen), especially if you have a little girly-girl or nancy boy. Everyone arrives dressed to the nines; last year I saw a six year old lad set the standard dressed in a velour jacket.

The Nutcracker ballet is based on the short story by E.T.A. Hoffman (or on the French revision by Alexandre Dumas, as some say) called The Nutcracker and The King of Mice. Here's the story:

The Party Scene

It is Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house -- A large and grand house with the most beautiful tree imaginable. The Stahlbaums are hosting their annual Christmas party, welcoming the arrival of their family and friends. The children, Clara and Fritz, are dancing and playing as they welcome their friends too.

The party grows festive with music and dance as godfather Drosselmeyer arrives. He is a skilled clock and toy maker and always full of surprises. Drosselmeyer draws everyone's attention as he presents two life-size dolls. They are the delight of the party, each taking a turn to dance.

The children begin to open gifts when Drosselmeyer presents his to Clara and Fritz. Although his gift to Fritz is quite nice, he gives Clara a beautiful Nutcracker that becomes the hit of the party. Fritz becomes jealous and, having a bit more spunk than a boy should have, grabs the nutcracker from Clara and promptly breaks it. Clara is heartbroken looking on as Drosselmeyer quickly repairs the Nutcracker with a handkerchief he magically draws from the air.

As the evening grows late, the guests depart and the Stahlbaum family retires for the evening. Clara, worried about her beloved Nutcracker, sneaks back to the tree to check on him, falling asleep with him in her arms.

The Fight Scene

As the clock strikes midnight strange things begin to happen. Clara begins shrinking as her beautiful Christmas tree grows high above her. The toys around the tree come to life while the room fills with an army of mice, lead by the fierce Mouse King. As the Nutcracker awakens, he leads his army of toy soldiers into battle with the mice. The Mouse King corners the Nutcracker and battles him one-on-one. The Nutcracker seems to be no match for the Mouse King.

The Nutcracker and his army can go on no longer and are captured by the mice and their King. Clara makes a final daring charge throwing her slipper at the Mouse King, hitting him square on the head. The Mouse King drops to the floor and the mice run away, carrying off their leader's lifeless body.

The Land of Snow

The Nutcracker turns into a Prince and takes Clara on a journey to the Land of Snow, an enchanted forest wonderland where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes.

The Land of Sweets

The Prince escorts Clara to the Land of Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Prince tells her about their daring battle with the army of mice and she rewards them with a celebration of dances.

The Spanish Dance
The Arabian Dance
The Russian Dance
The Chinese Dance
The Mirliton Dance
The Waltz of Flowers
As a finale, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier dance a beautiful Pas De Deux.

The Dream Ends

Clara awakens from her dream and finds herself by her Christmas tree with her beloved Nutcracker.

The Nutcracker
December 28, 29, 30 • 7:30pm, 2006
December 29, 30 , 31 • 1:30pm Matinee
Tix range from $22 dollars to $72
Available at Ticketmaster
Queen Elizabeth Theatre (corner of Hamilton and Georgia), Vancouver, BC
Click here for parking information

Dear Santa

Something something for your stocking

I stood waiting for a public transit bus to whisk me to the maelstrom I call work while the conversation around me consisted of 1) where to shop for Xmas gifts 2) what to buy for Xmas gifts 3) gloating from those who had finished their gift-buying in August. This led naturally to the little hamster in my head to stop plucking his eyebrows long enough to ponder: what the fuck! Is it Christmas time already!?

And, dear reader, apparently it is.

And while the celebration of the winter solstice or the birth of Christ will provoke the best of intentions from those who love you it never hurts to actually tell them in specific detail what you want and thus avoid the forced glee of receiving Madonna's latest or the penguin salt and pepper shaker set ("I know you collect penguins, dear")

And what you want could very well be a ticket to the February fundraiser for the Vancouver International Dance Festival, called Salon Rouge and presented by Kokoro Dance (warning: some of the images on their site may contain nudity).

Okay, you back?

Salon Rouge is: "a Moulin Rouge inspired evening in support of the Vancouver International Dance Festival featuring tantalizing performances, succulent appetizers, and one of a kind creations by local artisans and a goods and services auction".

The tix are $65 (and you'll get a $40 tax receipt)

Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Doors open at 6:30pm
Uber Lounge at Steamworks (375 Water St)
INFO: 604 662 7441

And for those who are hesitant let me remind you what tantalize means: "torment or tease (someone) with the sight or promise of something that is unobtainable."

Unobtainable? Not for you, surely!

xoxo

M

Headlines Theatre Presents

Meth opens Nov 30th at the Japanese Hall

For those of you who prefer your theatre to be meaningful rather than just another lifestyle accessory like a non-fat no foam Starbucks latte or tinted windows on an SUV make sure you see Headlines Theatre's 2006 Main Stage Project Meth. Here's the scoop taken from their website:

What are the human factors that lead people into addictive relationships with drugs? Are the headlines in newspapers today about methamphetamine the current manifestation of the larger issues of drug addiction in our society? Headlines Theatre, in partnership with many Native and Non-Native community organizations will create an interactive Forum Theatre production to explore the human factors and root causes that lead to addiction. Meth will be created and performed by people who have struggled with meth addiction.

Meth will be created and rehearsed at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre in Nov/06 and then will have ten performances in Vancouver at the Japanese Hall in December . The project will tour approximately 28 communities throughout BC in January/February 2007.

Meth
Forum Theatre created and performed
by people who have struggled with meth addiction
Directed and Joked by David Diamond

At the Japanese Hall, 475 Alexander Street, Vancouver
8pm November 30 - December 3 and December 7 – 10

Click here for more information.

When The Chill is in The Bone Not Much Can Warm You

Werewolves opens November 4 at Performance Works

During the Second World War, with so many millions brutalized, terrorized, enslaved and murdered, the social order was effectively broken down and civilization was shown to be a thin veneer. Life proved fragile, uncertain and worthless. People were revealed to be monsters or completely ineffective in dealing with monsters.

Teresa Lubkeiwicz-Urbanowicz wrote her play,Werewolves, in 1974 inspired by a story from her husband’s past - a hovel in war ravaged Belarus, a coffin, a dead woman, and a desperate immoral gaiety, drinking and dancing around the corpse.

The play itself opens with Thrush, a fortyish man doomed to farm a thistle patch, as he builds a spring-loaded leg hold trap with sharp teeth designed to cut through a thick leather winter boot, through muscle and tendon and all the way to bone. His mother sits in a chair nearby and recalls that he was an angry child even in the womb with his violent kicks.

Foreshadowing the coming social and personal disintegration he asks her if she has noticed that he no longer bothers to conceal his dark intentions from her. When she complains she is old and tired he mocks her, challenging her to climb into her ready made coffin leaning in a corner of their chilled hovel.

And she does die and the professional mourners do come and she’s laid in her coffin and her open coffin is placed on the kitchen table. The mourners squabble and quarrel and everyone eats too much, they become drunk and licentious. No one notices that Thrush is a monster, with dark sexual appetites, not even in the end.

I kept thinking of the murders at the Pickton farm and the hungry pigs all during the opening performance of Werewolves. When the Wolf-men arrive, with their Nazi overtones, I half-expected Thrush to join up with them and run with the pack. But he doesn’t. Perhaps because they are already inside him.

Werewolves blends the emotional, physical, and spirit-world and the combination creates a magic-realism or maybe its an eighteenth century Gothic gloom. Pi Theatre chose Lubkiewicz-Urbanowicz’ play for its Emerging Artists Showcase, called Prime@Pi. The actors, stage managers, lighting and costume designers are all rightfully considered to be the up-and-coming talent pool.

Werewolves, directed by Tammy Isaacson, runs until November 18th at Granville Island’s Performance Works. Tix are $16 for students or maybe you can convince your cash-laden boyfriend or girlfriend to buy a See Seven Pass (seven plays for $87). Performances at 8PM.

Pi Theatre
Tickets Tonight
See Seven

What Are You Doing This Weekend?

Other than buying a sailboat from Craigslist

The weekend in Vancouver promises to be rainy and cold. Here are a few suggestions for outings:

Kevin Bergsma, one half of Butoh a Go Go, is performing Tea with Green Tara at the Moberly Arts Community Centre. The last time I saw Kevin perform, he and Thomas Anfield danced a work in development they intended to present at a Moscow dance festival. The MACC is located at 7646 Prince Albert, Vancouver.

Nov 3. Performance at 8PM. Tix $15.

Or you can head over to Vancouver's best live music venue, The Railway Club, to see Canada's venerable psychobilly band, The Deadcats. Also on the bill are Hank Angel and His Island Devils and The Slickjacks. It's a tiny venue so get there early and drink lots. Bring an extra $20 for a couple of the Deadcats new CD. The Railway is located at 579 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver.

Nov 3. Doors at 8:30PM Tix $8 Members $10 Guests.

Pi Theatre is presenting Werewolves, a Polish play that will chill your bones. Here's an excerpt from the press release they sent me:

Inspired by a wake in a Belorussian village, Werewolves has a possessed and frightening intensity that evokes an Old World spell in its capacity to dissolve the boundaries between the physical, mental, and spiritual worlds.  Realism gives way to the fantastic. A wake transforms into a wedding. Mantraps are made – and used. And these events draw not only the attendance of neighbours, but also of three frightening strangers.

Presented at Performance Works on Cartwright Street on Granville Island, Werewolves runs from Nov 2 - Nov 18.

Nov 2. Free Preview. Nov 3 2 for 1 Preview. Nov 4. Performances 8PM. Tix $20 $16 Students.

The Rocket Fins and The Grange are going to stomp on your heart with howling rockabilly at the Marine Club, located at 573 Homer Street. The night promises cheap beer (Pabst Blue Ribbon), rockabilly riffs galore, handsome men and pretty women, and glorious tattoos.

It's a CD release party for the Rocket Fins. Bring an extra handful of cash.

Nov 4. Doors at 8:30PM. No posted cover.

xoxo

M

John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat

I said, "Hey, Mister Bartender"

Three years ago I spent a whole pocket-full of money on vinyl records at Black Swan Records in their then-new home in the Dominion Building at 207 W. Hastings (they may have moved their store completely on-line - read here and here). Included in my purchase was Hooker & Heat, a 1971 Liberty Record release featuring John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat. This is the man who sang One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (later covered by George Thorogood), Boom Boom, and I'm in the Mood.

For some reason I placed it in my collection and didn't touch it until last night when I arrived home on the verge of a flu. I made myself some tea and flipped through my LPs, found it and put it on the turntable.

According to Johnleehooker.com, Hooker was born in 1917 in the American South, near Clarksdale, Mississippi, the son of a sharecropper (a tenant farmer who uses his crop to pay his land rent). He moved from the Mississippi Delta to Detroit and played houseparties, which I suppose might be similar to the rent parties we're familiar with but I'm not sure. At age 31 Hooker was introduced to record producer Bernard Besman, who recorded his material for Modern Records.

Between 1948 and his death in 2001 Hooker is said to have recorded over 100 LPs. "It don't take me no three days to make a record," he says on Hooker & Heat.

It's what I'm going to listen to when I call in sick today.

xoxo

M