The 45th season of the Elora Festival set to get underway

For some, the number 45 now has a bad rap.  Unfortunately it is now forever tied to a certain bombastic U.S. Presidential candidate and as such, I rather feel badly for that pair of digits.  Who could blame them for wanting to downgrade or upgrade their stature if at all possible?!

But take heart, dear 45.  You are also associated with not one, not two, but three arts-related anniversaries of note in Ontario this year, and that is truly cause for celebration.  

Both the Festival of the Sound in Parry Sound and Toronto's Elmer Iseler Singers are celebrating their 45th anniversaries this year, as well as my much-loved Elora Festival.  There.  That should put a smile on at least our version of 45's face!

Oddly enough, both the Festival of the Sound and the Elmer Iseler Singers will be joining forces with the Elora Festival for the latter's Closing Gala this season at the spacious Gambrel Barn in the village of Elora on Saturday night, July 20th.  The performance will also feature a host of Canadian classical luminaries such as Russell Braun, Leslie Fagan, Beverley Johnston and the duo piano team of Anagnoson and Kinton.  The forces come together for a suitably bombastic (coincidence?!) performance of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

The 45th season of the Elora Festival kicks off a three-week run at various locations throughout Elora and the surrounding area this coming Friday night, July 5th., also at the Gambrel Barn, with a performance of Haydn's The Creation, an absolute masterpiece for choir and orchestra.  For the opening gala The Elora Singers will be joined by a host of soloists as well as Musicians of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.  It promises to be a wonderful kickoff to the three weeks of music-making in and around Elora.

In between there are performances for most any musical taste, with artists ranging from The King's Singers to Laila Biali.  Performances include everything from a collection of Benjamin Britten's Canticles, Hymns and Folk Songs to music by Faure, Messiaen and of course, J.S. Bach.

One of the Bach concerts will be attended by your humble scribe again this season, and I am grateful for the opportunity once again to attend.  It's at the always-welcoming St. John's Anglican Church in Elora, and is entitled J.S. Bach's Long Walk in the Snow.

CBC Music host Tom Allen leads an afternoon of music, storytelling and history that features such artists as former K-W Symphony Principal harpist Lori Gemmell, vocalist Suba Sankaran, Dylan Bell, and violinist Rebekah Wolkstein.  I attended the Bach recital that featured Tom Allen and friends last season and it was delightful on a Saturday afternoon, so I am happy to return for the encore performance again this season.

The Elora Festival has long been one of my favourite summertime music escapes in Ontario, and this year promises to be no different.  I am looking forward to good food, music and friends all coming together on Saturday afternoon, July 13th at 1:30 pm.

If you're interested in finding out more about the 2024 edition of The Elora Festival, go to their website at www.elorafestival.ca or call the box office at 1-519-846-0331.

For me there is no better way to enjoy a July day in the village of Elora.

Have a great weekend!

June 29th, 2024.

The one show to see at Shaw this season? My Fair Lady!

 The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake needed a blockbuster musical this season to offset their surprise financial setback after last season.  That sounds like an easy fix, but really it isn't.  As the sole musical on the bill this season and running straight through to December this year, this musical choice had to have legs, as it were, and be about as guaranteed a crowd-pleaser as possible.

Lerner & Loewe's classic from 1956, My Fair Lady, fit the bill perfectly.  Much as it did back in 2011 to celebrate the first 50 years of the Festival and was a huge hit back then as well.  Really, this is the sort of musical goldmine Shaw Festival revels in and can do better than most anyone else around.  So I wouldn't say it's a sure bet, but darn close to it.

The musical, coming during the golden age of big Broadway musicals, is showing its age somewhat after all these years, but it is up to the co-directors Tim Carroll and Kimberley Rampersad to elevate and move the musical forward into the 21st century and bring together a cast able to fulfil that dream.

Here on all counts, I would say it is a job well done.

I won't give away the ending for those few who may not really know the story as of yet (it is based, of course, on George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion) but for many it remains problematic, especially in the 21st century.  Still, the original musical changed the ending from Shaw's original intent so in either case it presented problems.

The ending of My Fair Lady has always left me with mixed emotions, even after the stellar 2011 production here at Shaw, but we always have to remember the context of when it was written and first staged and base your observations on that historical fact when revisiting the musical now.

Having said all that, the ride to the end is about as joyful, tuneful and full of masterful performances you just can't help but love this show.  The entire cast and crew shine brightly here and they seem to know they have a box-office winner on their hands.

There's no shortage of accolades to hand out with this strong cast, from David Adams' delightfully 'cocky' Alfred P. Doolittle, Eliza's father, to Shaw veteran Sharry Flett's elegant and refined Mrs. Higgins, Henry's mother of course.  She knows the many shortcomings of her son but knows he is a good man in spite of his intractable demeanour much of the time.

But the two central characters, Eliza Doolittle and her elocution teacher Professor Henry Higgins are what make this production extra special.  Kristi Frank's Eliza is strong-willed with a desire to make more of her life than be a mere flower-girl for the rest of her life, and she sees in Higgins a way out of her squalid conditions.  Her voice shines in every number she sings.

Tom Rooney as Henry Higgins is crafty enough to know he hasn't got the pipes necessary for a full singing role here, so as many who have gone before him including the first Higgins, Rex Harrison, who originated the role on Broadway.  They make this a singing/speaking role and it just works.  But when Rooney does in fact sing, he does not disappoint.  His final scene as he longingly sings "I've Grown Accustomed to her Face" will absolutely pull at your heartstrings.  The old guy has a heart after all!

Along with a strong cast and direction the choreography by Rampersad is bang on, and Paul Sportelli's musical direction works well with the musical forces at his disposal,  I noted a bit of a sound issue in the early going as I sometimes could not hear all the ensemble voices on stage while the orchestra was in full flight but that might be rectified in future performances.

So, should you go?  Absolutely you should!  This is textbook musical done with much love and respect for the original.  It may not appear quite as splashy as the celebratory 2011 production at Shaw, but it is still one for the ages.

My Fair Lady rates a full 4 out of 4 stars and continues at the Festival Theatre through to December 22nd.  For tickets and more information go to Shawfest.com.

Have a great weekend!

June 21st, 2024.

Shaw Festival season gets underway with fun in the courtroom

 I must admit to having become a big fan of Dame Agatha Christie, the prolific writer who during a lengthy career made mystery whodunnits her calling card not only in England but throughout the world. My late wife Sophie, a big PBS fan, would always have a Poirot episode ready to go on a Saturday night it seems, and that was when the seed was planted for me.

Now that I am on my own I have even invested in a complete DVD set of the Poirot series to keep the tradition going.  Yes, I have indeed been bitten by the bug!

But I have learned over the years, as most have, you cannot take Dame Agatha too seriously, and indeed neither, it seems, did she.

This brings me to my first Shaw Festival show of the current 2024 season, the courtroom thriller Witness For The Prosecution, first published as a short story in 1925.  The stage adaptation debuted in London in 1953 and on Broadway the following year.

I can only hope audiences had their collective tongues in their collective cheeks back then as well, as Dame Agatha really has us on here in a play that simply cannot be played with a straight face.

Director Alistair Newton wisely plays this one with a knowing wink in our direction, as if to say "C'mon, let's have some good old fun..."  His actors respond accordingly with wonderful performances, sometimes campy and oftentimes barely serious.

The story is not so much a whodunnit as a whydunnit.  Most but not all the action takes place in the courtroom at the famed Old Bailey in London and the rest of the time in the prosecutor's chambers.   It is here we are introduced to the accused, Leonard Vole, played by Andrew Lawrie.  It seems he befriended a wealthy older lady and in short order she dies a violent death, but not before leaving everything she has to Vole.  

Did he do it?  That's the job of Prosecutor Mr. Myers, QC., and to Vole's defence comes eminent defence lawyer Sir Wilfrid Roberts, Q.C.  Both spar in the courtroom drama that unfolds in the middle Act, with Graeme Somerville's Myers up against Patrick Galligan's Sir Wilfrid.  These two Shaw veterans each offer up stellar performances as the action unfolds and the advantage seems to go from one camp to the other.

But you can't have a Christie mystery without the intrigue, can you?  Enter Vole's seductive and well-turned-out wife Romaine, played with just the right amount of camp by Marla McLean.  Will she defend her man, or stir the pot further?  Ah, that is the question!

Really, there is not a bad performance in the bunch, and the swift scene changes and clever set design and projections by Karyn McCallum keep this three-hour Christie classic moving and visually appealing.

The movie version from 1957 implored audience members from divulging the ending, a tradition maintained here as well in clever fashion.  No, I would never spill the proverbial beans here, but I would say the ending, however cleverly done, leaves me not so much satisfied as bemused.

You can't go wrong here at any rate:  a three-hour time-waster with fabulous performances providing a fun ride...what's not to like?

Witness For The Prosecution continues at the cozy Royal George Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake until October 13th and rates a very respectable three out of four stars.

Have a great week!

May 28th, 2024.

Celebrating Black History Month this weekend in Niagara

 February is, of course, Black History Month, and here in Niagara there have already been several observances of the month to take in, and there is another this weekend that's always been near and dear to my heart.

Several years ago, Laura Thomas, an old friend and founder of the locally-based choral group Choralis Camerata approached me to narrate a new concert they had designed for this very month.  If I remember correctly it was back around 2012 and I think it was in Niagara Falls at one of the area churches.  I returned to narrate the concert again in 2016 down in Stevensville on what I recall being a bitterly cold Sunday afternoon at the tiny church in the heart of the town.

The performances are always well attended and very entertaining, so when I was approached to narrate the concert again this season I readily agreed, even though I am officially now retired and my personal hosting opportunities are few and far between.  But always happy to be back in the so-called saddle again!

The problem this season was...where was the script?  They didn't have a copy as there had been a change of artistic directors and since it was 8 years since the last time they had done the concert, it didn't seem to be anywhere.  I checked my venerable old computer nearing retirement and found a reference to it having been saved many years ago, but somehow it became lost in the ether during the ensuing time period.

No matter.  I had plenty of time, so armed with a new set list and a set of parameters I knew I wanted to follow from my memories of previous performances, I began my research and rewrote the script from scratch.

Learning about the history of slavery in the United States as well as here in Canada is both enlightening and heartbreaking at the same time.  I find myself so often asking myself "how can we be so heartless towards our fellow man?!"  But history records time and time again that we can be.  I don't want to go into too many of the details here as some are quite frankly gut-wrenching and besides, I would humbly suggest to get the full effect of the history as well as the music that revolved around the period, you might want to come out tomorrow afternoon and attend the concert for yourself.

We held our dress rehearsal last evening at Trillium United Church at 415 Linwell Road in the north end of St. Catharines, a church I often delivered mail to during my days as a Canada Post letter carrier.  

I must say the choir is in fine fettle and primed and ready for action.

The current Artistic Director and conductor, Giancarlo Feltrin is a pleasure to work with and knows the strengths of this choir very well.  Joining the singers will be pianist Aaron Albano and Devon Fornelli will be featured on a variety of percussion instruments.

Interested?  You should be.  The concert, "Listen to the Lambs" is both educational and entertaining, and I guarantee you will be humming some of those old tunes on your way out the door tomorrow afternoon.

For more information, check out the website, www.choraliscamerata.com and to order tickets.  The concert is at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon at Trillium United Church on Linwell Road.  Hope to see you there.

Have a great weekend!

February 24th, 2024.

New Year's reflections and looking forward to 2024

 As I have done the past few years since being on my own, I thought I would give a brief update on where I am at on my road to recovery, so as the year is about to draw to a close, here we go...

Overall, the word that describes my mindset this holiday season is 'peace'.  I am at peace with myself and where I am in this world.  It has been a tough road to follow since I lost Sophie in the summer of 2020, especially as COVID continued to rage and is not done with us yet.

My first two Christmases were the worst as I was quite literally, left to grieve alone, as we could not congregate and the remainder of my small family lives quite a distance away.  So that was tough.  But last year was better as the family gathered here in the city for Christmas and although I was a bit overwhelmed by the number of people, which I was simply not used to anymore, it was special and I am thankful for that.

This year I found myself on my own again and frankly, I was okay with that.  I felt I could better manage my emotions and the being alone better this year, and I did.  I was, quite simply, at peace.  I have accepted the loss of Sophie and the fact I must move on with my life and chart a new course for myself.

This past September I took a major step in my recovery by taking a tour in England I really wanted to do, and which I know in my heart Sophie wanted me to take for the both of us.  It was difficult at times, being the first international trip on my own in many years, but I was surrounded by good people and all went well, in spite of the fact I came home with COVID for the very first time.

In a sense, I viewed the trip as a signal...a signal to myself and to the world I am back, I am living my life again and I am ready to move on.  It felt good to go and I do not regret the decision one bit.  It was clearly the right move at the right time for me.

Everyone's trajectory when it comes to recovery after a loss is different: some are ready to move on sooner and others, like myself, take longer.  There is no timetable to follow on this, you simply follow your heart. It will tell you when you are ready and mine did, at exactly the right time.

So as I look forward to a New Year full of promise for all of us, what am I hoping for?  More adventures, more fun, and more valuable life experiences perhaps I have not experienced before.  That applies to all aspects of my life now and I am ready for that.

First and foremost, I am putting the failed dating disasters and relationship attempts of the past year or so in the rear view mirror.  They were all valuable life lessons for me and offer insight into just how difficult finding a second great romance can be.

I remain optimistic however, and I am totally open minded as to what form it may take.  I have learned to embrace change and be brave, be optimistic and face what life gives you with clarity and enthusiasm.  If it doesn't happen this year, perhaps next.  It doesn't matter.  I am ready whenever it happens.

In other aspects of my life, I am still reorganizing the house and simplifying my life somewhat, and redefining who and where I am in this world.  Yes, I have become a bit of a dandy now that I am retired and that is not by chance but rather by design.  I am enjoying the fun and sense of adventure (well a little bit anyway!) it brings me.  And in the process a lot of new friends too!

So for 2024 I say:  bring it on.  Let's see what happens.  Show care and concern for those around you and above all else, take care of yourself first.  I do and I feel now I am well taken care of, again, in my life.

Have a wonderful New Year celebration and embrace what the new year has to offer us.  I know I am.

Have a great weekend and Happy New Year!

December 30th, 2023.

It's that time of year again to stand during the Hallelujah Chorus...

 We're now into the Christmas season and yesterday I started listening to Christmas music and decorating the house.  I ignore those who decorate right after Halloween and especially those who leave their Christmas lights up all year...

I'm not a Grinch.  I just feel December is enough, thanks.  I dutifully take the decorations down at Epiphany and that seems just about right.

One of the grand musical traditions at this time of year is to attend a performance of a work actually written for the Easter season.  I'm speaking of course of Handel's celebrated oratorio Messiah.  Handel actually wrote it at a feverish pace in about three weeks and it premiered in Dublin, Ireland in the springtime as a fundraiser.  How it came to be associated with the Christmas season still appears to be a bit of a mystery, but that is what we do now.

There are far too many to list in the southern Ontario area in the month of December, including the biggest of all at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall leading up to Christmas.  So I will just touch on two of my favourites here and hopefully they will whet your appetite for explore more performances elsewhere.

Tonight the Elora Singers under the direction of Artistic Director Mark Vuorinen will present their version of the holiday classic in nearby Fergus at the larger St. Joseph's Catholic Church, rather than their usual winter home at St. John's Anglican Church in Elora.  What I like about this performance is they draw the soloists from the ranks of the choir rather than bringing in special guest soloists for the evening.  Most every singer in the choir could very well be a soloist in their own right, so this will be the night some of them will shine.

If you plan things right you can enjoy a nice afternoon and dinner in Elora at a magical time of year and then head over to nearby Fergus in time for the concert.

Tickets will be tight I'm sure but you can go online to www.elorasingers.ca or call the box office at 1-519-846-0331 to see what's available.

Closer to home, the tradition continues in Niagara with our celebrated Chorus Niagara with conductor Robert Cooper performing the oratorio in Partridge Hall at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in downtown St. Catharines later in the month.  Usually they perform Messiah on a weekend but this year it will be a mid-week event, scheduled for Wednesday evening, December 13th.  Partridge Hall is their home base and I know the chorus will sound superb as usual.

I have not attended a Chorus Niagara performance of Messiah in many years now, long before they moved downtown to the PAC, so I might have to look into that this year.  But we'd better hurry as limited tickets are available by calling 905-688-0722 or go online to www.firstontariopac.ca.

Whatever performance you attend and wherever you do just remember to stand during the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus, of course...

Have a great weekend!

December 2nd, 2023.

Spamalot at Stratford Festival is lots of fun!

I only made one trip to Stratford this summer to catch a show at the Stratford Festival, and I did it in late September after my trip to England.  For me it was a wise decision; I try to avoid big crowds nowadays since COVID and especially since I caught it upon my return from my trip in September.

When deciding on a show to attend this year I opted for funny above all else.  I promised myself this would be a summer of fun, or as I put it at the beginning the Summer of Mike.  I wanted to put the past heartaches behind me and just have a fun summer by myself.  By all accounts, it was a success!

Monty Python's Spamalot is the brainchild of Python alumnus Eric Idle, who wrote the score with long-time musical collaborator John Du Prez.  Together, they have woven new material mixed with Python classics, such as "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from "Life of Brian'.  It's witty, wacky, nonsensical and brilliant.

Now having said that, I am at a loss to say much about the musical itself, as I must admit I have never been a huge Monty Python fan to begin with.  Oh there have been pockets of their comedy I have enjoyed but most of the time, it just seems too far off the mark for my particular tastes.  That, of course, is intentional, as this is clearly a farce in every sense of the word and in its purest form.  That can be an acquired taste, I admit.

I have nothing but admiration for the cast and crew, their sense of timing and comic acumen.  They are all brilliant.  Still, there were times I just sat there and said to myself, "why?!"  But maybe that's just me.

In a nutshell, Spamalot is a comic send-up of the classic Camelot tale, with King Arthur in search at first for candidates to become Knights of the Round Table, and together they are sent looking for the Holy Grail.  Along the way they encounter an evil bunny rabbit and a bunch of sarcastic French soldiers who toss stuffed cattle from the castle ramparts.

They also encounter the enchanting Lady of the Lake, performed with great zest by Kimberly-Ann Truong.  She thrills the assembled multitude in the dark and expensive forest as well as the audience with both her voice and her stage presence.  Yet in much of the second act, where is she?!  That's when she bursts upon the scene again with the fun number "Whatever Happened to My Part"?, otherwise known as "The Diva's Lament".

All of this nonsense seems to at times be lost on King Arthur himself, played by Jonathan Goad, although he knows a good Lady of the Lake when he sees one...

From top to bottom the rest of the cast is all exceptional as well and even though the set design looks rather low-rent, it is intentional and it all works admirably well.  Director Lezlie Wade and Music Director Laura Burton mine the musical for every ounce of fun, as does Choreographer Jesse Robb.

I would not recommend only seeing Spamalot this year if you can get to more show than one, but if like me you just do the one trip, you will not be disappointed.  But perhaps, like me, you might scratch your head from time to time if you're not a die-hard Monty Python fan, as most in the audience clearly were the day I attended recently.

Spamalot rates a strong 3 out of 4 stars and continues at the Avon Theatre downtown until November 18th.  For tickets and information go to www.stratfordfestival.ca.

Have a great weekend!

October 21st, 2023.