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Showing posts from December, 2008

Merry Christmas!

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by good ol' Giotto

Happy Advent 4

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Happy Advent 3

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Happy Advent 2

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Three Chains and a Light Bulb

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Photo credit: Greg Henkenhaf – left to right – R.H. Thomson, David Ferry and Ryan Hollyman Do you think that a cell and three hostages could be good entertainment of a Saturday night? That's what Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, Frank McGuinness' play, is about and it is a tribute to the craft of Thomson, Ferry and Hollyman. The play is loosely based on a real story, but that's not what makes it successful. These three don't have costumes or sets or props to prop them up, as it were, for two hours: the energy and credibility have to come from them alone, and they are superb at it. It's the kind of piece you don't want to end (for your sake, not the characters'!). You can still catch the production, directed by Tegan Shohet, at the Berkeley (Upstairs) this week; see last week's posting for details or go to http://www.watchovermeshow.com/

Dr. Atomic

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I saw the Met Opera's HD broadcast of Dr. Atomic by composer John Adams and librettist Peter Sellars, and while I am already partial to modern opera, it was one of my favourite opera experiences to date. This is the story of JR Oppenheimer and his emotional response to his involvment with the Trinity test of the first atomic bomb in 1945. The music is out of this world and the libretto is so moving--from documentary sources as well as poetry, such as John Donne's. What might strike one as a potentially dry subject was incredibly poignant and hard-hitting simultaneously. Everything about the production was excellent, too: costumes, casting (esp Gerald Findley as the protagonist) and particularly the sets. The Met seems to do a lot of tiering in their opera sets, which I find appealing and flexible in interpretation. This was the encore presentation of the simulcast, but try and catch it in the future-- exactly what modern opera should be!

Sasha Ivanochko

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Photo by Solomon Krueger Dancemakers presents Sasha Ivanochko's world premiere solo The future memory of heartbreak junction this week from December 11 to 13th at 8pm at the Dancemakers Centre for Creation (Distillery's Cannery Bold 58 Ste 313). This dancer, teacher and choreographer created her own dance company, blackandblue dance projects in 2005 , and is busy with projects and new commissions. You can catch this artist for $22/$18 by calling 416 367 1800 or at http://www.dancemakers.org/ .