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O i COVER STORY SLEEPING BEAUTY GOES NATURAL IN NEW BALLET JÖRGEN PRODUCTION 24 ne of the world’s most famous ballets is coming to The Grand Theatre in a magical new production. On the heels of their successful presentation of The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition last December, Ballet Jörgen Canada returns to London on March 31 for an enchanting rendition of Sleeping Beauty. The newest addition to the esteemed company’s repertoire and choreographed by Ballet Jörgen’s artistic director, Bengt Jörgen, Sleeping Beauty is the time-honoured story of a beautiful princess named Aurora who falls into a lengthy slumber after being pricked by the evil fairy Carabosse. Only a kiss by a handsome prince will rouse Aurora from her sleep. Set to the original 1890 score by Tchaikovsky and libretto based on Charles Perrault’s story La Belle au bois dormant, Jörgen has drawn on the traditional choreography by Marius Petipa. This telling, however, is allegorical using the natural rhythms of the seasons. The terrible and beautiful force of nature is embodied in the characters - Nature is reflected in Aurora; Winter in the wicked Carabosse; Spring in the young prince Florimund. Carabosse casts the spell on Aurora through pricks of frost until Florimund cuts away the brambles, allowing the sun to awaken sleeping nature. Taylor Gill has danced as Aurora and several other characters on Sleeping Beauty’s cross-country tour. “(Jörgen) has incorporated two stories together, both the story of Sleeping Beauty and the story of how the rose got it’s thorn, which is a Native American tale. Good and evil, the rose and the thorn,” Gill explained. Many unique elements make this ballet a treat for the senses. “Carabosse the evil fairy has his entourage - a living hedge made up of a group of dancers which is very interesting visually. We also have a scene where the prince is going through the forest trying to get Ballet Jörgen Canada presents Sleeping Beauty at The Grand Theatre (471 Richmond Street), March 31 at 8 pm. Tickets range from $29.95 - $81.50; call 519-672-8800 or 1-800-265-1593. Easter at Saint James Westminster Anglican Church 115 Askin St at Wortley Rd Palm Sunday March 20 - 10:30 a.m. Maundy Thursday March 24 - 7:00 p.m. Good Friday March 25 - 11:00 a.m. Easter Sunday March 27 - 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Choir and brass at both services Parking on Askin and Bruce Streets and in our Bruce Street to the castle to wake the princess, and the forest is made up of dancers as well. Each tree is a dancer and he gets to draw his sword out of the tree - it’s very beautiful how it is done in our production. A lot of the classical elements are still there, but it’s things like that that make it unique,” Gill said. Raised in both Calgary and Vancouver, Gill has family in those parts of the country and was charmed to see that the ballet was loved by both her grandmother and her two-year-old niece at recent tour stops. Feedback so far has been very positive, she said. T his March Break, prepare to let the zany in as the participants of the London Community Theatre LYTE (London Youth Theatre Education) program bring The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon to the Palace stage. What is a Spectaculathon, you ask? That would be all 209 fairy tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, written in the early 1800s, combined into one cohesive storyline. The show was created in 2007 by prolific American playwright Don Zolidis and has been staged close to 800 times, predominantly by students and youth theatre collectives. The more well-known entries of the Grimm canon, such as Snow White, Cinderella, and Hansel and Gretel, to more obscure stories like The Devil’s Grandmother and The Girl without Hands (so many of those Germanic folktales were downright bizarre) are “Many people have told me that this has been their favourite production of ours that they’ve seen,” Gill exclaimed. “Young kids are really enjoying it; parents I’ve all included in this rollicking theatrical event. You’ve never seem Grimm quite like this. Now in its 12th year, the LYTE program introduces children and teens to the different aspects in the creation of theatre - from performance and playwriting, to various backstage disciplines through intensive handson training with those working in theatre. The program is typically offered in the summer and the fall/winter in three age groups - Minis (ages 5 - 7); Juniors (ages 8 - 10); and Seniors (ages 11+). With The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, there has been more of a focus on the performing aspect, explained LYTE coordinator John McKenzie. “Ninety percent of the kids are on the stage. We have 17 Seniors doing thearts TAYLOR GILL (FOREGROUND, EN POINTE) PERFORMING A SCENE FROM SLEEPING BEAUTY FEATURES MARCH BREAK MADNESS: LYTE’S THE BROTHERS GRIMM SPECTACULATHON i London Community Players and LYTE present the Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon at the Palace Theatre (710 Dundas Street), from March 16 to 20, 7pm, with two 2pm matinees on March 19 & 20. Tickets are $8 youth; $15 adults. Call 519-432-1029 talked to when I sign autographs in the audience have told me that their kids were enthralled with it.” - Amie Ronald-Morgan ALL 209 BROTHERS GRIMM STORIES ARE IN ONE ZANY COMEDY AT THE PALACE THEATRE, MARCH 16 - 20 around 48 roles, so it’s an adventure! We originally were not going to have our Mini and Junior kids in the March Break show this year, then we made the decision to include them and there were some very excited kids,” he said. “It’s a comedy with two narrators and a group of actors who are doing all of the stories of the Brothers Grimm. They combine them into one massive story that makes sense - every story is connected to the other story. Craziness ensues! There’s a lot of audience participation; it’s a good time,” McKenzie added. Kids who take part in LYTE benefit in a multitude of ways - making friends, learning new skills, and most importantly, gaining confidence in themselves in a supportive environment. Those who could use a boost in their self-esteem would find the program particularly valuable. “When I see the new kids struggling with stage fright, I will open that up to the other kids and ask them, ‘who has ever been afraid to be onstage?’ And everyone’s hand goes up. Then that kid sees that they are not alone. “We like to think of ourselves as training the next generation of actors, technicians. Whatever kids want to do in theatre, we’ll help them do that,” McKenzie remarked. Registration for the 2016 LYTE summer camp opens in April; fees, subsidy info and forms will be available online through the Palace Theatre in the coming weeks. Stay tuned. - Amie Ronald-Morgan ESTABLISHED IN 1989 MARCH 10 - APRIL 6 • 2016 PHOTO COURTESY OF BALLET JÖRGEN CANADA PHOTO CREDIT: LONDON COMMUNITY PLAYERS
thearts ART FOR ALL: FIND YOUR NEW FAVOURITE PAINTING AT THE BRUSH & PALETTE CLUB ART SHOW AND SALE P erusing beautiful works by members of London’s Brush and Palette Club is the perfect way to usher in spring. Art lovers of all kinds will have the opportunity to do just that during the club’s Annual Show and Sale, taking place at St. Paul’s Cathedral downtown from April 7-9. At the show, visitors will find over 500 recent original paintings - both framed and unframed - in a wide variety of subject matter and mediums including oil, acrylic, watercolour, and pastel. All adhere to a high standard of quality that the group is known for. The paintings are largely representational - landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, T he team that brought the sensory feast BOOM to the Grand Theatre mainstage last spring is back with a highly creative take on Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea. The innovative multimedia theatrical experience by Kidoons/WYRD Productions is adapted from the classic Jules Verne novel by Craig Francis and Rick Miller. Onstage until March 26, the undersea adventure is told using modern projection technology, inventive staging and cutting-edge steam-punk design, connecting the wonder of the Victorian era with today’s scientific and water-related issues. Audiences can even interact with the show via a mobile website. Jules, a multimedia artist, travels back in time into his own version of his favourite book, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea. There, he encounters his hero Captain Nemo, Professor Aronnax and Ned Land aboard the Nautilus, and embarks on a fantastic journey. “I read Vingt Milles Lieues Sous Les Mers as a teenager, and like so many kids before and since, I became hooked by Jules i flowers, people, and animals - but there are also several abstract works, sculptures and mixed media. The exhibition is the group’s major event, showcasing the culmination of the year’s activities. Now in its 44th year, the show has found a winning formula, remarked Marilyn Kidd, Brush and Palette Club member and publicity convener. “It combines the works of accomplished local artists, a wide variety of media, styles, subjects, and sizes. The prices are extremely reasonable whatever your budget. The artists are on hand to discuss their work or to give advice in choosing a painting. The paintings can be taken away Verne’s extraordinary imagination. When Craig Francis and I talked about creating far-reaching new shows that cross barriers between media, cultures and languages, this classic sci-fi novel seemed a perfect fit,” director Rick Miller remarked. Originally commissioned by the Toronto arts and cultural festival Panamania 2015, the cast includes Andrew Shaver as Jules, Richard Clarkin as Captain Nemo, Éric LeBlanc as Ned Land, and Marie-Ève Perron as Professor Aronnax. “Jules Verne’s excitement at the latest immediately upon purchase and new paintings will be put up in their place,” Kidd explained. The collective formed in 1972 to provide support to its members and to promote art appreciation in the community. The benefits to the members are numerous: artists meet frequently to discuss their craft - a welcome change from the isolation that they tend to work in - as well as take part in a series of workshops, lectures, and trips to nearby cities to visit exhibitions. “I could not thrive artistically without the contact of other artists. Belonging to a group allows me to learn from others, to be inspired by others, to be challenged by TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA UNLIKE ANY OTHER Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, a Kidoons & WYRD Production, runs at The Grand Theatre (471 Richmond Street) until March 26. Tickets range from $29.95 to $81.50, call 519-672-8800. THE STAGE IS AWASH IN JELLYFISH IN A SCENE FROM TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA discoveries is palpable. This sense of discovery through storytelling is what drives us here to produce creative works that help us discover our country, our environment, and ourselves. We hope you enjoy our Captain Nemo,” show co-creator Craig Francis said. Building on the theme of innovation, Kidoons created a website that is available on the audience’s phones, and includes online pre-show and playbill content. At the end of Act I, there will be a code for additional content (check out Kidoons online for more info). - Amie Ronald-Morgan others,” Kidd noted. “In periods of doubt, they are there to be supportive and understanding. In moments of success, they help share your joy. One’s creativity is always changing and contact with other artists is a necessary ingredient in this process of evolution, otherwise you may stagnate,” she added. Members are active in the community organizing solo or group shows, volunteering artistic instruction to the elderly and physically challenged, and other ventures. The club also awards scholarships to deserving students who are planning a career in the arts. The Annual Show and Sale attracts seasoned art buyers as well as those who simply enjoy locally produced art. ‘But how do I choose the right piece?’ is a question Kidd is often asked. “I don’t think there is a special technique. If you are buying it as an investment, there would be many factors to consider. However, most people are purchasing a painting for their own MARCH 10 - APRIL 6 • 2016 <strong>CELEBRATING</strong> 27 YEARS 25 i PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BRUSH AND PALETTE CLUB THIS WATERCOLOUR BY LEN HUGHES ENTITLED ʻGATHERINGʼ IS ONE OF HUNDREDS OF WORKS ON DISPLAY DURING THE BRUSH AND PALETTE CLUB ANNUAL ART SHOW AND SALE home. In this case, you are the best judge of what you want and like. Just be sure to take the time to look at the painting up close and from across the room,” she said. “Spend time gazing at it to be sure there isn’t anything that bothers you even slightly. If you are concerned about what others will think, you can always seek advice on elements such as composition, colour theory, perspective, application of paint. In the end, the best rule is usually to follow your heart.” - Amie Ronald-Morgan The Brush and Palette Club 44th Annual Art Show and Sale takes place at St. Paul’s Cathedral (482 Richmond Street), April 7, 5-9pm; April 8, 10am-9pm; April 9, 10am- 5pm. Free admission.
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