Calgary’s theatre scene takes its bows
Inaugural critics awards handed out
And the winners are … well, the Calgary theatre community, judging from supportive e-mails received by the Critics Four — Stephen Hunt, Jessica Goldman, Louis Hobson and myself — in reaction to the inaugural Calgary Critics’ Awards (or Critters), handed out last night at the Auburn Saloon.
Typical was this response, received last week from CCA nominee Ksenia Thurgood: “Simply wanted to say thank you for creating the Calgary Critics’ Awards (Critters), as any support and enlivening community interest in the theatre scene of Calgary is absolutely appreciated.”
And from Mayor Naheed Nenshi, who was unable to attend the event because of a prior commitment, came this message:
“Calgary has a vibrant theatre scene that is made great by amazing artists, staff, and volunteers that produce excellent theatre for very appreciative audiences. We should take every opportunity to recognize the great work of our theatre community.
“Congratulations to tonight’s winners. You represent a thriving arts scene that is part of why Calgary is a Cultural Capital this year. May you continue to succeed in our great city and make Calgary a great place to live, work, and play.”
Emceed with customary lightheartedness and fleetness of wit by actor, novice playwright and well-known TV personality Dave Kelly (whose play, Dad’s Piano, was a CCA nominee for Best New Play), the casual, 90-minute food-and-drink celebratory event was a hit with all concerned.
“I’m so excited, I can’t believe it. To be nominated for the Bettys for this as well and for all of you (critics) to get together and discuss it and agree on the same thing is really moving,” said Kevin Rothery, who was recognized for his work in Fool for Love.
Mabelle Carvajal, who took top honours in Featured Actress in a Play or Musical, said, “This is completely unexpected. I think peer recognition is really, really important. To have people like yourselves (critics) who have been doing this for so many years and are so passionate and supportive of the arts — it just feels really great.”
Carrying off official critical acclaim in 14 categories were:
Shirley Valentine (Theatre Calgary) for Best Revival.
Mabelle Carvajal for Featured Actress in a Play or Musical (Drama: Pilot Episode, Alberta Theatre Projects).
Kevin Rothery for Featured Actor in a Play or Musical (Fool for Love, Sage Theatre/Shadow Theatre).
Terry Gunvordahl for Best Design (Rope, Vertigo Theatre).
Madeleine Suddaby for Best Actress in a Musical (Avenue Q , Storybook Theatre).
Kevin Aichele for Best Actor in a Musical (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Vertigo Theatre).
Meg Roe for Best Actress in a Play (Mary’s Wedding, ATP).
Ryan Luhning for Best Actor in a Play (Race, Ground Zero/Hit & Myth Productions).
Shaun Smyth for Best Solo Performance (Playing with Fire: The Theo Fleury Story, ATP).
Drama: Pilot Episode for Best New Play (ATP).
Mark Bellamy for Best Director Musical (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Vertigo).
Ron Jenkins for Best Director Play (Playing with Fire: The Theo Fleury Story, ATP).
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street for Best Production of a Musical (Vertigo).
Playing with Fire: The Theo Fleury Story for Best Production of a Play (ATP).
Congratulations to everyone in the Calgary theatre community for making our final decisions in each category such a pleasant challenge.
A Mammals Notebook. Claude Debussy. “Jelly Roll” Morton. Piazzolla. Nino Rota. Rachmaninoff. Satie et Cocteau. Mozart, Brahms and Liszt. Gee, Toto, where are we? The 18th annual Mountain View International Festival of Song and Chamber Music, that’s where.
Bearing the intriguing title, Mozart to the AvantGarde: Journeys with a Mammal’s Notebook, the 2012 festival, which runs Sunday through Aug. 12, looks at eccentric French composer Erik Satie. (A Mammal’s Notebook is the title of a well-known collection of his writings.) It also encompasses fellow French composers he knew or influenced, such as Debussy and his contemporaries (Milhaud, Roussel, Hahn, Faure, and Chausson) — plus contemporaries elsewhere, ranging from the aforementioned Jelly Roll (who claimed to have invented jazz in 1902) to the immortal composer of the famous “Rach Three” of Shine fame.
Speaking of movies, there’s also music by Fellini’s favourite composer of film scores, Nino Rota, and screenings of Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris and Jean Cocteau’s Orpheus. Plus pieces by Argentinian Tangomeister Astor Piazzolla, as well as by Mountain View regulars Brahms, Schubert and Mozart. Whew! Did we miss any? Well, we almost did miss mentioning the premiere of a new play, Satie et Cocteau, by prize-winning Calgary playwright Mike Czuba.
Taking part in the big and always interesting Mountain View festival are some of the finest musicians from around Calgary and across Canada — such as Toronto violinist Jonathan Crow; Vancouver flutist Christie Reside; and sopranos Eve Rachel McLeod and Allison Angelo.
The list of works and players is a long one, all of it assembled and presided over by the Mountain View resident brains trust, pianists Kathleen van Mourik and Charles Foreman.
Venues include Christ Church Elbow Park, the University Theatre and that by now familiar Mountain View haunt, Lougheed House.
Be there, or be — you know — “square.”
Tickets, passes, info/ schedule: mountainviewfestival.com. Tickets: 403240-4174, 403-220-7202, or try for them at the door.
Prominent violinist, teacher, and popular Calgary Youth Orchestra conductor Edmond Agopian writes: “On August 4th, I will be taking the CYO on a 10-day tour to France in celebration of Debussy’s 150th anniversary.
“Highlights will include the French premiere (in Paris) of a Serenade for Violin and Orchestra by Debussy, completed and orchestrated by the renowned musicologist Robert Orledge. (We premiered it in Calgary during the University of Calgary Happening festival, last January.)
“Along with music by Debussy and other French composers, we will also perform Black Jacques by (Calgary composer) George Fenwick.”
CYO performances will include a concert in SaintAubin-sur-Mer during “Semaine Acadienne,” and a performance at Breche des Acadiens, as part of commemoration ceremonies in honour of the Canadian soldiers who landed at Juno Beach.
“Right after, we will be going to Beny-sur-Mer for the laying of crosses on the graves of the Calgary soldiers,” Agopian continues. “We will also visit the Juno Beach Centre.”
The King of Instruments at noon: the ProArts Society presents Organ a la Carte concerts over three consecutive Friday lunchtimes at downtown Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, beginning Friday.
Respective featured performers are Graceful Company (organists Chellan Hoffman and Colin Redekop; mezzo-soprano Christine Tuturea; and Rosalee Morrison, French horn); organist Neil Cockburn; and organist Tim Pyper.
Free. Bring your lunch, if you like.