Titanic, the musical: Too soon or just in time?
A dramatic feature film that ends with Leonardo DiCaprio sinking to a watery grave is fine, but is it poor taste to stage a MUSICAL based on Titanic? Even after 100 years? Comedians often ask the same question about their jokes: how soon is too soon? Imagine a musical about the Japanese Tsunami or, perhaps […]
ART: ManWoman sticks to sacred vision 48 years after drugless trips
If you’re going to embark on a quest to reclaim the swastika as a sacred symbol of peace that’s been used by many different cultures for thousands of years until Hitler came along and ruined it for everybody, it’s hard to change your mind when you’re covered in swastika tattoos. Edmontonian artist ManWoman has 200 […]
Rockin’ the Symphony with Ben Folds
The lone piano player at his Steinway and the large symphony orchestra behind him in an acoustically perfect concert hall is a classic combination in more ways than one – and Ben Folds with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is expected to live up to that legacy. Call it a rock ‘n’ roll concerto from the […]
Cirque du Tom Waits to explore ‘visual music’ at the Arden Theatre
The members of L’Orchestre d’Hommes-Orchestres get some funny looks walking through airport security with a pair of hedge clippers. It’s part of their arsenal of unconventional musical instruments they’re bringing for a Tom Waits tribute at the Arden Theatre Tuesday and Wednesday. Not just any gardening shears will do. “Once you find the one that […]
QUILTING ROCKS: It’s all about the grannies at AGA Refinery Party
Quilting with granny is not usually on the itinerary for your average hip party – but no average party is a Refinery Party. Saturday night at the Art Gallery of Alberta, the conversational topic over drinks, rock ‘n’ roll singalongs and various good times shall be the merits of “textile art.” Consider the obvious: Textile […]
O Sister, Where Art Thou? Anais Mitchell occupies Greek myth in Hadestown
Boy meets girl, girl gets bitten by a snake, dies and goes to hell, boy goes to rescue her, deals with the devil, but blows it at the end. The great thing about Greek mythology is that you don’t have to have studied Greek mythology to know the basics: Helen of Troy, the Trojan Horse, […]
INTERVIEW: My Name Is Kay is the chick, the song and the brand all in one
Once in a while the great wasteland that is top-40 radio grows something interesting. Case in point: My Name Is Kay. Nova Scotia’s Kay Boutilier and her collaborators have scored a pretty major hit here, launched with YouTube – and what a funky blast of self-contained musical marketing it is, too. My Name is Kay […]
