A kitchen party under the covers
Stars align once again for special show at Holy Heart
There’s something special, an almost magnetic buzz, in the air during Stars for Warm Hearts shows.
While the performers are backstage tuning their instruments and warming up their voices, audience members file into Holy Heart Theatre, perhaps a little unsure of what they’re going to get (and maybe they’ve got a reason to be: previous shows have seen everything from Sean Majumder in a bellydance belt to rocking performances by The Novaks and Shanneyganock).
For some of those taking their seats, the night has an extra special meaning, and one that often brings them a tear. They feel the energy in the room — present just for them — on a personal level and it touches them, having suffered so long.
Stars for Warm Hearts is the culminating event of The Telegram’s annual Warm Hearts campaign for women and children fleeing abusive relationships and staying at Iris Kirby House in St. John’s. Now in its fourth year, Warm Hearts has raised more than $20,000 for the shelter, along with thousands of items of winter comfort, like cozy pyjamas, mittens, hats, scarves, slippers and blankets, for its residents.
“As I was leaving Holy Heart after last year’s show, residents and ex-residents came to me full of emotions and self-worth,” said Gail Tobin, CEO of Iris Kirby House. “They talked about how much they felt appreciated being able to sit in the audience and know that this performance was in support of them. Anytime we hear from them, they are still talking about it.”
This year’s show, “Under the Covers,” is happening Feb. 28, will feature performances by actor/comedian Mark Critch, Séan McCann, the Ennis Sisters,
Chris Kirby, Jerry Stamp and actress/singer Lynda Boyd of “Republic of Doyle,” patron of the Warm Hearts project.
For the second time, the show will happen with an intimate and comical songwriters’ circle-type feel around a grand piano, with the musicians playing popular cover songs and original music, giving the quirky stories behind the tunes.
“This is a kitchen party,” Boyd said. “Come on down for some good music and fun, and I’ll cook for everyone. OK, so everything but that last part!”
Critch will serve as host for the show, sitting in with the musicians, telling some jokes and giving them — and others, like John Crosbie, who was in last year’s audience — some playful ribbing.
“I love this night,” he said. “It always feels good to raise money for a good cause, but selfishly, I like doing this show because if I wasn’t in it, I’d be paying to see it. The music is top-notch, and it’s presented in an intimate and unusual way. I’m pretty sure anybody who was there last year will be back again.”
The show will see somewhat of a rare performance in recent months by singer/songwriter Jerry Stamp, whose newest album, “Rogue Doubt,” was inspired by his daily battle with psoriatic arthritis.
The JUNO Award-winning Ennis Sisters released “Stages,” an 11-track nod to their beginnings in Newfoundland folk music two decades ago, last November, and Chris Kirby will take to the stage fresh from an East Coast Music Award nomination for producer of the year.
McCann, who chose last year’s “Under the Covers” show as his debut solo performance after leaving Great Big Sea, said supporting the cause is important to him, as a husband and a father.
“Abuse of any form is abhorrent and beneath us as human beings,” he said. “Women and children are particularly vulnerable, and deserve our compassion and care. That’s why I try to help Warm Hearts every year.”
This year’s show will also feature some surprises courtesy of the I Am Genie Foundation, a wish-granting organization that has granted more than $1 million in wishes around the world since 2009.
Open since 1981, Iris Kirby House — and its sister shelter, O’Shaughnessy House in Carbonear — offer abused women and their children the opportunity to explore alternatives to their situation. Each year, the shelter sees more than 2,500 women and kids come through its doors, with February generally being its busiest month. Services are provided free of charge and include emergency housing, advocacy for legal, housing food and financial needs, a weekly empowerment group and crisis line. Iris Kirby House is the only shelter of its kind in St. John’s.
The shelter is about to open a new wing, increasing its facilities to include 32 emergency beds and four self-contained housing units. As part of the renovations, a water fountain will be installed in a new multi-purpose room for residents, where women will go for empowerment sessions and children and youth will also re- ceive services. With the goal of providing peace and serenity, the water feature will be dedicated to the generosity of Warm Hearts supporters and donors, and the shelter is looking to Telegram readers for a name for it.
Since this year’s Warm Hearts campaign launched at the beginning of February, Iris Kirby House has seen an increase in the number of women reaching out for help.
“We can’t do this work on our own, and I cannot articulate how deep of an impact this has on those seeking our services … and for those of us fulfilling the organization’s mandate.
“We look forward to feeling the continued love and support at this year’s concert.”
Tickets for “Under the Covers” with the Stars for Warm Hearts are $25 (with a reduced rate for groups of 10 or more) and are on sale now at the Holy Heart box office, by calling 579-4424, and online at www.holyhearttheatre.com.
To submit a name for the water fountain (and be entered to win a pair of tickets to the show), e-mail your suggestion totbradbury@thetelegram.com .
The Telegram will continue to collect donations of pyjamas, underwear, socks, mittens, scarves, hats, slippers and robes (new only, please) in a range of women’s and children’s sizes, as well as personal hygiene products like toothpaste, soap and shampoo for the shelter until the end of February. Donations can be dropped off at The Telegram’s offices, upstairs in the Village shopping centre.
Cochrane Street United Church will be holding a public knitting/crocheting session tonight at 7 p.m. (Bannerman Street entrance). Participants will knit squares which will then be sewn into a blanket for the Warm Hearts project.