ArtaFact: Anna Jacyszyn offers options for a week’s worth of entertainment
So far my summer dreams of sipping rose all day at various patio wineries throughout the Okanagan has gone awry.
Life is busy, the weather is cooler than I hoped, my tan lines don’t exist because I don’t have a tan, so I resign myself to powdered bronzer, while sipping filtered water or a cuppa tea to accomplish the work at hand. There are so many wonderful events being organized I cannot imagine ever not being busy in this glorious valley.
Tonight is the opening night of a three-week run of Love Letters, a play by A. R. Gurney that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for drama when it premiered back in 1988 in New York. The play centres on two characters, Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III as they read out the letters from each other for over 50 years.
The deftly-written dialogue about everything from the joys of writing to depression and divorce is what makes the play a favourite among big-name actors because the lines are not meant to be memorized they are read out, the staging is sparse, and the actors read off the page — past pairings have included Elizabeth Taylor and James Earl Jones, Robert Foxworth and Elizabeth Montgomery, Charlton Heston and his wife Lydia Clarke, and, in the recent Broadway revival, Mia Farrow and Brian Dennehy.
I am going to the premiere tonight and look forward to seeing only two actors on stage — no big dance numbers, show tunes or slap shtick. What I am looking forward to is seeing what good acting can look like and a believable performance that stirs thought and provokes emotion in me. Tickets are through Kelownatickets.com or the box office at 250862-2867. Pre-show dinner is served at 6 p.m. and curtains at 7:30 p.m.
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I hope time allows me a Friday indulgence because every Friday throughout July and August, the Train Station Pub will be shucking oysters from 3 p.m. until they are gone.
I feel quite excited about knowing this — already the thought of a pint of a dark ale and a half dozen or so raw shelled mollusks might be making their way down my gullet is making me pine for Friday. The Train Station is at the corner of Ellis Street and Cawston near Prospera Place.
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Also on Friday evening right downtown at the New Arts Collective (5 — 375 Bernard Avenue), enjoy some live music with Larissa Tandy, Zach Kleisinger and Joshua Smith.
On Canada Day, I had the privilege of sharing the bill on the TD Tugboat Bay Stage with Josh and his band of musicians. He set the tone and standard for fabulous ambience and great musicianship throughout the day.
He is a great songwriter and talent. Even though I have not heard the others first-hand, I can easily rest assured they will be just as sweet, giving the attending guests a dose of “modern Americana,” “folk-friendly modernism,” and “Dylan-esque, folk infused blues.” Concert is from 8 to 10 p.m. with a cover charge of $15 at the door.
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On Saturday, July 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Guisachan Heritage Gardens on 1060 Cameron Ave., it’s the Kelowna Garden Club’s annual juried competition and show.
All types of prize-winning floral beauties will be on display from tea roses to trailing wonders, tasty herbs through to silly succulents, and those are just a few categories you will find.
I look forward to the fragrances these delicate beauties will exude.
Also on hand will be master gardeners, available to answer questions and at 1:30 p.m., Don Burnett will take us on a walk and talk. Admission is free. No charge to submit entries. For show information and schedule, contact Marilyn at 250-317-6029 or Sue at 250860-2733. On the web: kelownagardenclub.ca.
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Sunday afternoon is Vibes At The Vine with musician Adam Meachem and his guitar. Chill out and enjoy the music from 1:30 to 4:30 on their terrace lawn on Pooley Road.
————— I have always wondered if I had it in me to write a novel, I have had such a lot of experiences in my short time on this earth. I feel there is one inside, but how do I get it out.
Well, every Wednesday from July 11 to Aug. 22 at the Centre for Arts and Technology, 100 – 1632 Dickson Ave., there is a writing series developed and taught by author and professional writer Andrew Buckley.
From 6 to 8 p.m., this class is designed to help those who are thinking of writing a novel, have started writing a novel, want to start a novel or are just looking for something to do on a Wednesday night.
You can pick and choose individual classes or sign up for the whole series. The cost is $180 for all seven classes or $30 per single class. If you have any questions or to register, you can email contact@andrewbuckleyauthor.com or call or text 250-826-4779.