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Volume 6 Issue 8 - May 2001

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This May is a Month of Welcome Revivals By Sarah B. Hood Harry Somers and James Reaney's opera Serinette being performed (albeit only twice) by Soundstreams Canada is good news. Originally commissioned in 1990 by the Music at Sharon festival in Sharon, Ontario, Reaney's story deals partly with David Willson, who founded, at Sharon, a Quaker-like religious sect called the Children of Peace. The story is much more concerned, however, with the Jarvis family of Toronto's Jarvis Street, and in particular with Colin Jarvis, who was for some time a member of the Children of Peace. Somers' score is imbued with the music of 19th-century Ontario, from hymns to folk music. Harry Somers This first revival of Serinette since its 1990 debut, a concert performance with a chamber orchestra directed by Victor Feldbrill, takes place at St. James' Cathedral May 31 and June 2. This location is as.appropriate as the Sharon Temple was, since 'members of the Jarvis family were actually St. James congregants at the time of the setting of the opera. (Another interesting connection between the location an~ the work performed is the tombstone of Colin Ridout, in the King Street wall of the cathedral. Ridout' s death, in a duel with Samuel Jarvis, is part of the opera's · subject matter.) Also notable is that this Serinette is being taped as part of an exciting recording project called Window on Somers. After the composer's death in 1999 some of his friends and colleagues joined together to make sure that his musical legacy, currently largely unavailable on record, would be properly preserved. Discs are being released· on the Music THEATRE SPOTLIGHT Canadian Music Centre's Centredisks label. Three Window on Somers discs have already been unveiled (at a reception in the presence of the Governor General, las~ February). Serinette will be the first of Somers' operas to be recorded and released. (One hopes that there are similar plans to release his 1967 Louis Riel.) Palmer "it's a ve"ry romantic musical comedy." Fresh and funny too. If you haven't yet seen The Drowsy Chaperone, Mirvish Productions is giving you another chance. Originally created as a birthday present for one of the performers (as the legend has it), this spoof of 1920s musicals has outgrown its original venue (The A second welcome re~ival is Poor Alex); now it's at the Anything That Moves, running to Winter Garden Theatre from June 3 at Tarragon. Presented June 7 to July 28. With a story by last year at the World Stage Bob Martin and filmmaker Don festival, it's a worldy-wise roman- McKellar, and lyrics by Toronto tic musical comedy, if such a comic Lisa Lambert, it's a bit thing can be said to exist. "It's not more arch than, say, 'The Boy cynical, but it's certainly contem- Friend, but still full of porary," director Alisa Palmer affectionate references to the told me when the show was in its . great shows of the era. earlier phase of development. · . . . . "Shak espearean com ed y, Yet another happy (re)v1s1tat1on A D" 1s C ed. D 11, Arte all the colla- Beauty and the Beast. 1sney omm Ia e , d . b b t 't' t borators love those forms. We ~ro uct It may e, u 1. s go a wanted to combine them while hstenable score and lav1~h u taking into consideration that you costumes. you and the ~1rthday ~ can't suspend your disbelief in the party c~ow~.c: ~atch 1i;t th~ -~ waythatonemighthavedone." Hummmg Ir entre om ay ~ The book and lyrics are by 16 to June 10· ~ Anne-Marie MacDonald, whose iO writing and performance exem­ ~ plify a rare wit and exuberance. 1£ She has just had a successful run in her own Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet at CanStage. Composer Allen Cole, recently returned after three years as musical director of British Columbia's Caravan Theatre, might better be described as disturbing than comic (like filmmaker Tim Burton of Sleepy Hollow and Batman fame) but his work too resonates with intellig~nce and humour. "At its heart" assures Sat May 12 Sun May 13 Wed May 16 Fri May 18 Sat May 19 Sun May 20 22 Wholenote MAY 1, 2091 - JUNE 7, 2001 QUICK PICKS A few other old friends that are making an appearance this month: -Bad girl Lola doesn't quite get what she wants. or does ·she? Etobicoke Musical Productions presents the perennial crowdpleaser Damn Yankees fro~ May 4 to 12 at the Bumamthorpe Auditorium. -All the world's in love with Franz Lehar's Merry Widow, presented by Opera Ontario on May 3 and 5 at Hamilton Place THE LEAH POSLUNS THEATRE 4588 Bathurst Street and May 11 at Kitchener's The Centre in the Square. - The well loved Alexander Singers and Pla:yers are performing Die Fledemzaus (Pink Champagne) by Strauss from May 12 to 20 at the Leah Posluns Theatre. -Those who must have their . opera in Italian will enjoy Opera Mississauga's production of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, running from May 4 to 12 at Miss'issauga's Hammerson Hall. Music Theatre LISTINGS -Alexander Singers & Players. Strauss: Die Fledermaus f Pink Champagne}. Angela Hawaleshka, rrusical director; Rebecca Benson, director; Curtis King, Gwyneth Sestito, Vincenzo Sestito and other perfonners. May 12, 18, 19: 8:00; May 13,20: 3:00; May 16: 1:00. Leah Posluns Theatre, 4588 Bathurst St. 416-785-0333. ,, group rates. it'"f \ Piano:Br'Uce Ubu a a fDirectbr:Mafk'yvi1son Original Production Conceived & , ' Diretted by Tom Diamond Featwing the Gemini String Quc;1rtet, with oboist ·') Lief Mosbaugh. · ·w.·,~,,_,/1::~ ·.,., Adults:'· $~ Students7S'b · torontdartsbouncil " " .,.,., '"•g•n """•"' ' "" C11yo1 ••••~•• ·. ....._...,._ '' c-11111.u.11 ot•'llHT-

-All The King's Voices/Tryptych Productions. Puccini: Tosca. In concert. Catherine Tait, Stuart Howe & Seong Hyun Chun, performers; William Shookhoff, music director; David King, chorus director. June 2 8:00. Willowdale United Church, 349 Kenneth Ave. 416-225-2255. ~20,. ' -Ballet Creole. Ravel Musicians & dancers D' Alimonte, director; Donna Corbett, musical director. May 24,25,26,31, June 1,2: 8:00; May 27, June 3: 2:00. Studio Theatre, Toronto Centre for the Aris, 5040 Yonge St. 416· 733· 0558. (eve),(mat). -Etobicoke Musical Productions. Damn Yankees. May 4,5, 11, 12: 8:00; May 6: 2:00. Burnhamthorpe Auditorium. 500 The East Mall. interpret contemporary African & Caribbean 416-248-0410. . - works. May 3·5. Premiere Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay West. 416-973-4000. - ,(sr & matinee). -Canadian Children's Opera Chorus. The Snow Oueen. Music by John Greer; libretto by Jeremy James Taylor; Ann Cooper Gay, conductor; Bruce Ubukata, piano; Mark Wilson, director. May 12: 2:00 & 7:30; May 13: 2:00. du Maurier Theatre Centre, 231 Queens Quay West. 416-973-4000. ,, (sr/st). -Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts. Beauty and the Beast. Broadway musical. May 16-June 10. 1 Front St. East. 416-872-2262. '-JoSu & Surth Musical Productions. Girl Meets Town. Book, music & lyrics by William Easley; Diane Roberts, director; Danny Bakan, music director. May 23·24 (previews), May 25· June 17. Evenings: 8:00, Sat. & Sun.: 2:00. Joseph Workman Theatre, 1001 Queen St. -Civic light Opera Company. Somethings . West.416-872-1111.. Afoot. Musical murder mystery. Blain Berdan, Joe Cascone, Lloyd Dean, Gordon Elkin, Sandi Horwitz & other performers. May 24,25,26, 31, June 1,2: 8:00; May 27, June 3: 2:00. Fairview Library Theatre, 35 Fairview Mall Drive.416-203-7839. ,.50, Wednesday & Thursday evenings. -Encore Entertainment. Nunsense. Book, -Mirvish Productions. Mamma Mia! Musical based on the songs of ABBA. Music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Bjiim Ulvaeus; oook by Catherine Johnson; directed by Phyllida Lloyd. To September 30. Tues-Sat 8:00; Wed; Sat & Sun 2:00. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King St. West. 316-872-1212. to. music and lyrics by Dan Goggin; Mario -Mirvish Productions. The Drowsy Chapero!lf1. Book by Don McKellar & Bob Martin; music by Greg Morrison; lyrics by Lisa Lambert. Spoof of the great Broadway musical comedies of the 1920s. June 7.July 28. Tues-Sat 8:30; Wed, Sat & Sun 2:30. Winter Garden Theatre, 189 Yonge. 416-872- 1212. -. - -:--Mirvish Productions. The Full Monty. Broadway musical. Book: Terrence McNally; music & lyrics: David Yazbek; director: Jack O'Brien. May 22.July 15. Tues-Sat 8:00i Wed, Sat & Sun 2:00. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge St. 416-872-1212. -Mirvish Productions. The lion King. Stage musical of Disney's 1994 animated feature. To September 30. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St. West. 416-872-1212. to 5. -MOonhORsE Theatre. Small Midnight. Theatre incorporating song, dance, text & visuals. Fiona Drinnan, Bonnie Kim, Miko Sobriera & Claudia Moore, performers. May 30.June 1: 8:00; June 2: 4:00 & 8:00. Artword Theatre, 75 Portland. 416-408-2783. -Newtonbrook Secondary School. Cabaret. Evening of singing & surprises. Performers from TDSB; Rick Leach, conductor. May 1,2 & 3: 8:00. 155 Hilda Ave. 416-395- 3120. . -Opera Anonymous/Aradia Ensemble. · Ouesnel/Beckwith: Lucas et Ctfcl7e. Staged with orchestra & early 19th century costumes. Nina Scott-Stoddart, Ross Darlington & Brian Duyn, performers; Edward Franko, stage director; Kevin Mallon, conductor. May 25 8:00. Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front St. West. 416-205-5555. ,, (st & children). -Opera Mississauga. Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor. Dwight Bennett, general & artistic director. May 4,8, 10 & 12: 8:00 .• Hanrnerson Hall, 4141 Living Arts Drive. 905· 306-6000. -,-(sr/st). -Opera Ontario'. Lehar. The Merry Widow. Eilana Lappalainen, Theodore Baerg, Kurt Lehmann & other performers; Kitchener­ Waterloo Symphony. May 3 & 5: 8:00 at Hamilton Place, 1 Summers Lane. 905-526- 6556. May 11: 8:00 at The Centre in the Square, Kitchener. 519-578-1570. to . The Columbus Centre .Presents Spring Opera Workshop for singers May 22 to June 8, 2001 Faculty Adolfo De Santos Goffredo Ricci Sabatino Vacca Grant Wenaus Guest Lecturer Prof. James Craig Master Classes ,Ermanno Mauro Auditions by appointment call: 1-905-476-9994 for more· information . ____ Oper~~oject Summer 2001 Exact scheduling is done after consultation w ith the participants. 11 La Calisto 11 Francesco Cavalli, Venice 1651 Sessions begin in mid-May. Fully staged performahces-with orchestra- in Sep,tember Peter Neff, Instructor / Register Now For more information or to register phone: (41 6) 876-5859 or e-mail: vocalart@gto.net • The Vocal Art Forum MAY 1, 2001 - JUNE 7, 2001 Wholenote 23

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