Saturday, March 7, 2009

Another busy weekend for the arts in Niagara...

Well, we may not have the cornucopia of musical events we had last weekend, but there is still plenty to do this weekend if you are into the arts in Niagara. Here are a few suggestions if you plan to get out the next couple of days...

Leading off the weekend is the next performance by our 100-voice strong choir, Chorus Niagara, who perform this evening (Saturday) at 7:30 at the wonderful Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria in downtown St. Catharines. Artistic Director Robert Cooper conducts one of the truly great choral works of all time: Bach's B-Minor Mass. This promises to be a great evening, with voices, orchestra and conductor joining together to fill every corner of the cathedral with the most sublime music you can imagine. I will be there in the new entrance later this evening, and yes, I will be set up with recordings of the B-Minor Mass available for sale along with many other great choral discs. For tickets, call the Brock box office at 905-688-5550, ext. 3257.

Continuing for another week at the Sullivan Mahoney Theatre in the old courthouse next to market square in downtown St. Catharines is Lyndesfarne Theatre Projects latest production: David Mamet's American Buffalo. I was at the opening night performance last Saturday evening and the theatre was full to capacity, and those in attendance were treated to a fine example of late twentieth-century American theatre. Mamet uses rather colourful language to bring his three characters to life, but it does not offend: you cannot imagine these three not using expletives when they speak. Basically, the story deals with three hard-nosed amateur crooks looking for an easier way to chase the American Dream; they decide to rob someone they believe to be in possession of an expensive coin collection, after the person buys an American Buffalo coin from one of the three who runs a second hand resale shop. Unfortunately for them, they cannot get their acts together and never manage to leave the shop to pull off the job. Director Kelly Daniels crafts fine performances from all three cast members here, including her husband, Shaw Festival veteran Ric Reid, as the abrasive Teach. There are several performances before the show closes March 15th, including a Tuesday evening Pay-what-U-can show. For tickets and peformance times, call Lyndesfarne Theatre Projects at 905-938-1222.

On Sunday evening at 6:30, the Niagara Pumphouse Art Centre at 247 Ricardo Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake presents Muzyka - From Warsaw with Love; Music, Art and Song. The evening combines the stunning art of Wojciech Ciesniewski together with the extraordinary music of Waclaw Zimpel and the jazz music of 2009 Juno Award nominee, Chris Donnelly. Guest peformers include Polish-born Kornel Wolak, the clarinettist from Toronto-based Quartetto Gelato, as well as Niagara's own Wendy Franz. pianist and graduate of the Brock School of Music and soprano Natalie Donnelly. Tickets are only $ 15, including wine and hors-d'oeuvres, so how can you go wrong?

Also opening this weekend is The Rocky Horror Show by Richard O'Brien, returning to Theatre in Port in Port Dalhousie. Director Wendy Mackie says you are welcome to participate in the show as well, as most people who follow the Rocky Horror Show will know all too well. The small, intimate space at Theatre in Port should lend itself particularly well to getting 'up close and personal' with your favourite performers from the show. Dinner and show packages are available by calling 905-934-0575, ext. 226. The show runs to March 21st.

So there you go - lots to do on the weekend we welcome Daylight Saving Time back for another season!

March 7th, 2009.

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