Lots to see and do in Niagara this week

As usual, November means lots of concerts and theatre-related events are on the go, many of which often have a holiday theme to them.  While I am trying to hold off on listening to any Christmas music until the start of December, that is increasingly difficult once I leave my office and go into practically any other public space.

Still and all, there is lots to see and do this coming week on the music and theatre scene locally, so let's look at a few examples you can experience for yourself and perhaps you too will be able to avoid the holiday music crush just a little while longer...

The ever-popular community-based theatre organization Garden City Productions opened their fall show last evening at the Mandeville Theatre at Ridley College.  It's a bit of a departure from the traditional musical theatre norm for the troupe:  Monty Python's Spamalot, which as the promotional material explains, is "A new musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Many find anything to do with Monty Python to be uproariously funny; I tend to run hot and cold on the British humour, but friends of mine who have already seen the show say this is one very funny production.  John McHenry is the director and choreographer and John-Luke Anderson is handling music director duties.

Spamalot continues Friday and Saturday evenings through to December 3rd with Sunday matinee performances at 2 starting tomorrow and the next two Sunday afternoons.  For tickets and more information, go to www.GCP.TIX.COM or call 905-682-1353.

One of the finest examples of local chamber music is Gallery Players of Niagara, based out of Niagara-on-the-Lake.  The concerts are always inventive and the musicians often change with the concerts, so you get a wide variety of musical styles to suit most every taste.

Their new season kicks off tomorrow afternoon at 2 at Silver Spire United Church on St. Paul Street in downtown St. Catharines.  That's one of their performance venues; others include Grace United Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake and the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, depending on the concert.

Sunday's performance is entitled Bohemians in Brooklyn and it's described as "a potent mix of cabaret, social history, very juicy gossip, glorious music and all parts fun."  With a description like that, it should come as no surprise the concert is headed up by Tom Allen, the host of Shift on CBC Radio 2, who performs on trombone as well as narrating the concert.  He's joined by Bryce Kulak on vocals and piano; Lori Gemmell on vocals, harp and guitar; and the one and only Patricia O'Callaghan on vocals and percussion.

This should be an enlightening and enjoyable afternoon of music and conversation, so if you feel the need to get out of the house, I can't think of a better place to be on a cold November Sunday afternoon.  For tickets, go to www.GalleryPlayers.ca or call 905-468-1525.

The Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine & Performing Arts kicked off their Viva Voce! Choral Series tonight along with the Walker String Ensemble in north St. Catharines, but there is still plenty of time to catch the next RBC Foundation Music@Noon recital at the Cairns Recital Hall at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in downtown St. Catharines.  The Tuesday noon-hour recitals feature both students and faculty from the Department of Music at Brock's Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine & Performing Arts and run through to the end of the school year in the spring.

This Tuesday, November 22nd the Voice students will take to the stage at the PAC, followed on November 29th by the Instrumental students.  The final recital before Christmas break will be on December 6th when Piano and Guitar students perform.

No tickets are required and the recitals, just under an hour in length are absolutely free of charge.

Finally, the Niagara Symphony Orchestra presents their second Masterworks concert next Sunday November 27th at 2:30 in Partridge Hall at the PAC, with a concert entitled The Art of Passacaglia.  The title derives from the first piece on the programme, Oskar Morawetz' Passacaglia on a Bach Chorale.  Also on the programme will be the Brahms Symphony No. 4 and the Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 with pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin joining the NSO conducted by Bradley Thachuk.

In addition to the music, the annual Silent Auction will be held in the lobby with lots of holiday gift ideas, all helping to support the NSO.  For tickets call the PAC box office at 905-688-0722.

So there you go - lots of entertainment without a single Christmas carol in the bunch.  That is no easy feat in late November!

Enjoy your week.

November 19th, 2016.