Volume 5 Issue 4 - December 1999/January 2000

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kilowi\ to some by the ftrst lines ''When at night I go to sleep" CiAbends,.will ich schlafen"). 'f!l~.Aurora Opera Gompany promises a youth choir of 60 voices along with 15 ballerinas (who knew that the 'darkened woods were so crowded?). The production runs December 20 and 21 at, tlie ·Fairview Library 'f4~ve !)lld January 8 at the ~~Wnuu;ket Theatre. Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad .Wolf'have their turn in a mod~ musical adaptation by Nelles Van Loon, running December 12 to January 9 at the Madison Centre at 4950 Yonge Street. Charles Dickens' muchballyhooed love of Chri~ils may be a little bit overrated, but there's no doubt that the British novelist was crazy about the theatre. He and his family often got up to amateur theatricals in their big house, and the endearingly shabby world of Victorian theatre plays a major role in . several of his books. Dickens also knew the joys of a good midwinter story read aloud or told by candlelight, and no doubt he . would get a kick out of the fact that his work is ~UPong the favourite subject$ for holiday · theatricals. His Oliver Twist, as the'hugely successful musical Oliver!, . continues onstage at the Princess of Wales Theatre until December 20. But at this time of year the little orphan Who dared to ask for more gruel can hardly hold a candle to another Dickensian waif on c~tches and the bitter old skinflint whose heart is melted by the Spirits of Christ- · mas Past, Present and Yet-To­ Come. A Christmas Carol is being staged all over the map and in a number of different versions. These include a production by Theatre Aquarius and Artemis Theatre Company, running from December 7 to 13 at Theatre Aquarius, 190 King William Street in Hamilton, appropri!ltely accompanied by Victorian Christmas carols sung by the MadriGALS. And the Mohawk College Singers present a dramatic reading with music as a beneftt for St, Matthew's House and the Christmas Tree of Hope . on December 12 at Hamilton's Church of the Ascension. Meanwhile the Civic Light Opera is staging an even more unusual take: Scrooge! The Musical, with songs by Jules Styne, Leslie Bricusse and others. Some may remember the only somewhat convincing movie version of Scrooge! It was all too clearly an attempt to capitalize on the enormous popularity of the multiple-Oscar-winning ftlm version of Oliver! (right down to the meaningless exclamation mark!) Nonetheless, it included some pretty and under-known tunes by Bricusse (who wrote . Stop the World I Wantto Get Off, among other successful shows.) Scrooge! runs on various dates between December 9 and 19 at the Fairview Library Theatre. A plethora of good kid's stories is also available over the next few weeks: The Kennedy Centre's · staging of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No GQod, Very Bad Day tours to the Sanderson Centre, Brantford on December l 0 and the Mississauga Living Arts Centre on December 12. Oliver Button is a Sissy will be staged on January 30 at the Royal Bank Theatre, 4141 Living Arts Drive. The always dependendable Yo~g Peoples Theatre presents Carousel Players' The Ice Cream Store and More, adapted from the well loved work of Dennis Lee by Kim Selody, with music by Cathy Nosaty. It ruiJ.s from December 5 to 19. A fmal production that just has to be mentioned is a public presentation of Tomson Highway's long awaited Rose, the third part in his acclaimed play series about the epic tragi-comedy that is life on the fictional Wasaychigan Reserve. (The other two are The Rez Sisters and Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing). Highway has been patiently waiting for a big theatre to pick up the musical about "big, sexy Native biker chicks in leather", but it's ambitious and expensive, and so University College's Drama Program has beaten the bigger players to the punch. Rose runs from January 21 to February 5 at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse. IMAGISCAPE Theatre Productions. The Child is Coming. C:arlynn Reed,_ playwright & director; John Bot~en, composer & musical director; Melodia de Almeida, piano; Don Bowman, Freda Coulter & other performers. December 3 & 4: 7:30 at Markham Baptist Church; December 5: 3:00 at Stouffville Baptist Church. 905-513-6122. ,,. Living Arts Centre Mississauga/ Kennedy Centre. Imagination Celebration on Tour. Musical adaptation of Judith Viorst's book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day! Recommended ages 5 to 12. December 12: 1 :00 & 4:30. 4141 Living Arts Drive. 905- 306-6000. ,(children). Living Arts Centre Mississauga. Oliver Button is a Sissy. Based on the book by Tomie de Paola. Tap dance, music & mime. William Orlowski, choreographer. January 30: 1 :00. Royal Bank Theatre, 4141 Living Arts Drive. 905-306-6000. · .50,.50(children). Markham Theatre for Performing Arts. Lome Elliott. Comedy & music. February 5: 8:00. 171 Town Centre Blvd. 905-305- 7469. .75. Markham Theatre for Performing Arts·. Quartette with Stuart McLean. Storytelling, folk, country, gospel, Cajun, R&B & Soul. February 1 & 2: 8:00. 1 71 Town Centre Blvd. 905- 305-7469. .95. Meadowvale Theatre. A Marvel/au~ Party._ Celebration bf the 1 OOth birthday of Sir Noel Coward. Dinah Christie & Tom Kneebone, performers. February 5: 8:00. 6315 Montevideo Rd. Mississauga. 905-821-0090. ,. . Mirvish Productions. Notre Dame de Paris. Book & ·lyrics by Luc Plamondon; music by Richard Cocciante; directed by Gilles Maheu.Musical version of Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame, performed in French. January 22 to 29: evenings 8:00; Sunday 3:00. Pantages The11tre, 244 Victoria St. 872- 2222. .50 to 1. Mirvish Productions. The Needfire. A celtic celebration in music & dance. December 28 to F11bruary 12. Monday to Saturday: 8:00; Wednesday & Saturday: 2:00; January 2: 2:00 & 8:00. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King St. West. 872-1212 . .50 to .50. Mohawk College Singers. A Christmas Carol. Dramatic MUSIC THEATRE LISTINGS Cllllllllll£'d /"IIIII >mze 3R . reading of Dickens' story with music. Bob Hooper, Rob ·· Howard, Lorna Jackson, Sue Prestedge & Connie Smith, readers. Benefit for St. Matthew's House & the Christmas Tree of Hope. December 12: 7:30. Church of the Ascension, 64 Forest Ave. Hamilton. 905- 523-5546. ,2 for . Music Theatre Mississauga. Nunsense II - The Second Coming. Music, book & lyrics by Dan Goggin. January 21, 22, 27, 28 & 29: 8:00; January 23: 2:00. Meadowvale Theatre, 6315 Montevideo Rd. Mississauga. 905-821-0090. .50, .50. Opera in Concert. Verdi: Ernani. Susan Haig, music director; Kitchener-Waterloo Orchestra; Opera in Concert Chorus. January 23: 3:00. 2:15: Backgrounder with host lain Scott. George Weston Recital Hall, 5040 Yonge St. 366-7723. to . Opera Mississauga. Richard Margison, tenor in Concert. Popular operatic arias with full orchestra. February 5: 8:00. Hammerson Hall, Living Arts Centre, 4141 Living Arts Drive. 905-306-6000. to . Opera Ontario. POPERA. Concert of opera arias & ensembles. Kitchener Waterloo Symphony Orchestra; Daniel Lipton, conductor. January 27 & 29: 8:00 at Great Hall, Hamilton Place, 1 Summers Lane. 905- 526-6556; 1-800-575-1381. January 28: 8:00 at The Centre in the Square, 101 Queen St. North, Kitchener. 519-578- 1570; 1-800-265-8977. to . Opefa Ontario. Susannah. By Floyd. Sally Dibblee, Kristofer lrmiter, Steven Harrison & other performers; Kitchener Waterloo Symphony; Daniel Lipton, conductor. December 3: 8:00. The Centre in the Square, 101 Queen St. North, Kitchener. 51 9-578-1570· 1-800-265- 8977. to $so. Poculi Ludique Societas. Lyly: The Woman in the Moone. 1 6th century pastoral comedy with renaissance music. Ingrid Keenan, director. February 4-6 & 11-13: Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 8:00; Saturday & Sunday matinees: 2:00. Lecture Hall, Room 119, Emmanuel College, 75 Queen's Park Cres. 978-5096. ,. Roy Thomson Haii/Attila Glatz Concert Productions. Canada's New Year's Concert: Salute to Vienna. Patricia Nessy, soprano; Wilfried Scharf, zither; Sym-

phony Canada(tm); dancers from the National Ballet of Canada; Peter McCoppin, conductor. January 1: 2:30. 60 Simcoe. 872-4255. $Q5 to .5. Roy Thomson Hall. Bugs Bunny on Broadway. Bugs Bunny cartoons projected on 8 giant screen with live orchestra playing the original scores. Dec. 28: 2:00 & 7:30. 60 Simcoe. 872-4255. .50 to .50; family packs. Roy Thomson Hall. The Millenium Opera Gala. Nancy Argenta, Russell Braun, Tracy Dahl, Frances Ginzer, Ben Heppner & other singers; Toronto Symphony Orchestra; Toronto Mendelssohn Choir; Mario Bernardi & Richard Bradshaw, conductors. D'ec. 31 : 7:00. 60 Simcoe. 872-4255. to 0. Ryerson Theatre School. Brecht/ Weill: The Threepenny Opera. Directed by Michael Shamata; musical director David Walden. To December 4. Abrams Studio, 44 Gerrard St. East. 979-5118. ,. Sanderson Centre. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day! Musical adaptation of Judith Viorst's book. Production from the Kennedy Center. December 1 0: 1 O:OOam & 1 :30. 88 Dalhousie St. Brentford. 1-800-265-071 0. (adult), O(child). Sanderson Centre. Rhapsody in Taps. Company of 6 dancers & 5 musicians. February 4: 8:00. 8~ Dalhousie St. Brentford. 1- 800-265-0710. ,.50; .50(sr/st). Scarborough Music Theatre. A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. Music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; book by Burt Shevelove & Larry Gelbart. Feb. 3 to 19. Thursdays to Saturdays: 8:00; Sunday matinees: 2:00. Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston Rd. 396-4049. ,. Solar Stage Children's Theatre. Little Red Riding Hood. By Nelles van Loon. Modern version of the classic story turned into a musical. Sundays 11 :OOam & 2:00, December 12 to January 9; special holiday shows daily, December 26 to December 31 . Madison Centre, concourse level, 4950 Yonge St. 368- 8031. .50. St. Anne's Music & Drama Society. Gilbert & Sullivan: Yeomen of The Guard. January 28, 29 February 3, 4 & 5: 8:00; January 29 & February 5: 2:00. St. Anne's Church,.270 Gladstone Ave. 922-4415. , (Jan.28 & Feb.3 ). St. Christopher's Anglican Church. Christmas Alive. The Christmas Story presented by St. Christopher's Church Choir with audience participation, liturgical dance & taped orchestra accompaniment. December 12: 6:30. 662 Guelph Line, Burlington. 905-634-1809. Theatre Aquarius/Artemis Theatre Company. A Christmas Carol Includes Victorian Christmas carols sung by The MadriGALS. December 7 to 13. 190 King William St, Hamilton. 905-522-7529. to . Theatre Aquarius. The King & I. Music by Richard Rodgers; book &_lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. December 8 to 26. 1 90 King William St., Hamilton. 905-522- 7529. -; - (st/sr). Theatre Passe Muraille. The Drowsy Chaperone. Homage to & parody of the musicals of the 1920s. Music by Greg Morrison; lyrics by Lisa Lambert; book by Don McKellar & Bob Martin; Scott Anderson, Tracey Hoyt & other performers. To December 12. 16 Ryerson Ave. 872-1212. to ;,(previews). Theatre Sheridan. Catch A Rising Star. Song & dance review. February 2-19:· 8:00. 1430 Trafalgar Rd. Oakville. 905-815-4049. to . Thorablot ProductionsNertical Management. Que Sera. By 1138 Eglinton Ave. West, Toronto, Ont. M6C 232 Tel. (416) 787-3708 Adolfo DeSantis Pianist and conductor Private lessons in Italian repertoire Music Director and Opera Coach _ Graduate of Orchestral conducting at: A. Casella Conservatory, L' Aquila, Italy Michele Strano Tenor Singing Teacher, private lessons Voice placement Breathing for voice control Master classes in singing and Interpretation Italian comprehension for voice, music acting Interpretation of Neapolitan singing Claudette Williams. Life of Doris Day: a play with music. Morgonn Ewen, vocals; cast of five; jazz trio. January 26-29, February 1-5 & 8 - 1 12: 8:00. Artword Theatre, 75 Portland St. 408-1146. ' Toronto Operetta Theatre. J. Strauss Jr.: The Gypsy Baron. Kings Mitrowska, Deborah Overes, Michelyn Wright, Ross Neill, Barry Stilwell & other performers; Derek Bate, conductor. December 27, 28, 29(matinee), 31 (gala); January 3, 5, 7 & 8 . . Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front St. East. 366- 7723. to . U.C. Follies. Fiddler on the Roof. February 3, 4, 5 & 10, 11, 12: 8:00; February 5 & 12: 2:00. Hart House Theatre, 7 Hart House Circle. 978-8668. ,. University College Drama Program. Rose. Musical by Tomson Highway looking at life, death & the past on the Wasaychigan Hill Indian reserve. Leah Cherniak, director. January 21 to February 5. Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, 79A St. George St. 978-1505. ,. Varna Children's Opera, Bulgaria. Britten: The Little Sweep. December 18: 7:30; December 19: 2 :00. du Maurier. The!l}/:a . Centre, 231 aueen·s·dUav OH:1 West. 973-4000 . . · ,'l H:>£NI" ,.50(childr~~ -un~r:~ t~af) 1 Winter Garden Theatre: 'Po~ev1J Swing. By Dean Regah?::SiQ!mq j Band musicdl review1 T.ri,,