You’d think a 1930s radio play about a Martian invasion would raise more laughs than chills these days, but you’d be wrong.
The Art of Time Ensemble’s staging – and it was a staging, not just a reading – of Howard Koch’s adaptation of H.G. Wells’s The War Of The Worlds was a full theatrical experience, complete with performers in period costume and Beth Kates’s simple, deco-influenced design.
The production was, in fact, a play within a play. The tale of the Martian invasion was wrapped in the politics and stress of a live radio broadcast, with actors Nicholas Campbell, Don McKellar and Marc Bendavid and foley artist John Gzowski all front and centre. The first three assumed a dozen or more voices for their characters, while Gzowski kept amazing the audience with devised effects, including a death ray that incorporated the eerie sound of a theremin.
The curtain-raiser for the show, a joint production with World Stage that closed last Sunday (April 3), was just as fascinating. This year is the centenary of the birth of film composer Bernard Herrmann, who also provided the music for Orson Welles’ original broadcast of The War Of The Worlds. Composer Dan Parr orchestrated a chamber version of some of Herrmann’s scores, which include those for Citizen Kane, Psycho and North By Northwest, conducted by Andrew Burashko. Tess Girard’s clever live mix of film clips provided a visual accompaniment to the score, with an emphasis on moments of danger and anxiety.
Fringe goes visual
There’s a new component to the Fringe this year: Visual Fringe, a collection of mini-galleries in which indie visual artists can promote, create and sell their artwork in the midst of the busiest Fringe area in town.
Chosen on a first-come, first-served basis, eight visual artists take part in this year’s showing, which is part of the Fringe Club in Honest Ed Alley. Visual Fringe is on view each night of the Festival (July 6-17) from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Participants keep the receipts from all sales, and the fest won’t have any say about the art’s content.
The names of the artists haven’t been released yet, but the Fringe says the media they work in are as diverse as the range of Fringe productions: paper, photography, collage, claymation and stop-motion photography, sound installation, sculpture and painting.
Woody’s words
Want to hear how a well-known movie star creates and directs a play?
Join NOW editor/publisher Michael Hollett at the Drake Hotel on Wednesday (April 13) as he interviews Woody Harrelson, who’s in town as co-author (with Frankie Hyman) and director of Bullet For Adolf, which starts performances at Hart House April 19. The interview is part of the NOW Talks series.
This isn’t the first time he’s directed a play in Toronto. Several years back, he helmed a production of This Is Our Youth, a successful show remounted the following year.
Harrelson talks about his film career, upcoming movies (Friends With Benefits, to be released this summer) and, of course, Bullet For Adolf, which features a cast of local actors.
See listings.
Hiphop LP
Like your dance urban? Check out Alias Dance Project’s The First LP, an evening of six works that’s part of the DanceWorks CoWorks series.
The show features urban hip-hop dance styles, including breakdance, popping and house, blended with a touch of contemporary dance.
It’s Alias Dance’s first full-length production, following several Fringe presentations three premieres are on the program, including solos set on Andrea Spaziani and Gita Harris.
Among the choreographers are Heidi Strauss, Valerie Calam, JoDee Allen and Helen Simard of Montreal’s Solid State Breakdance, Alias’s Meghan Cafferky and Geordan Coupland, as well as Apolonia Velasquez and Troy Feldman.
See listings.
AMY provides change
One of the important groups providing inspiration and artistic guidance to young people is the AMY Project (Artists Mentoring Youth), which offers regular workshops for young urban women that motivate them toward creative self-expression.
Recent mentors include Saidah Baba Talibah, Morwyn Brebner, Anna Chatterton, Audrey Dwyer and Motion.
Each group of participants finishes its explorations with a public presentation. The current show is Check Out, devised by the company with co-directors Claire Calnan and Lisa Codrington. Set in a familiar shopping mall, the multidisciplinary production looks at the things we value and asks how much we’re willing to pay.
Check Out runs several times this weekend at Theatre Passe Muraille, culminating in a gala fundraising performance Saturday (April 9), 6 pm.
See listings.
Carmen’s come-on
One of Canada’s best-known Carmens, Jean Stilwell, collaborates with Patti Loach on Carmen UnZipped, presented as a funder for the 125th anniversary of the Women’s Art Association of Canada.
The organization’s been awarding scholarships to young Canadian artists for years, to such schools at the National Ballet, the Royal Conservatory and OCAD. Among the recipients have been Measha Brueggergosman, Rex Harrington and Stilwell herself.
The event on Saturday (April 9) includes cocktails, dinner and show alternatively, you can just attend the performance.
See listings.
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