Review From The House

CJ's Disney California Adventure

Gillian Lockitch — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:37:42 +0000

Actually this should really be called CJ's Granny's Disney California Adventure because CJ and her parents have annual passes to the Disneyland parks and CJ knows just what she wants to see and do. But I am so out of touch with the newer Disney characters and films that for me this was a great chance to catch up on the Disney culture, especially as seen from a child's perspective.

We planned to spend most of the day in the California Adventure Park but it only opened at 10 am and CJ, her Dad and I were on the parking lot shuttle heading to the park shortly before 9:30.

CJ had two special plans for the day - see Tinker Bell and her fairy friends, and seeing "Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage" - for the 4 th time!

Disneyland opened earlier than California Adventure so we decided to start our day by visiting Pixie Hollow in Fantasy land where CJ could visit Tinker Bell and the other fairies.

Because it was so early the wait in the line up was only 10 minutes. The path wound through a water feature and we noticed hundreds of pennies thrown into the water. Each penny represents a wish. I wonder how many of those wishes ever materialize?

CJ wanted a penny to throw but neither her dad or I had any loose change. The next thing we knew the man just ahead of us held out three cents to CJ for her to throw into the water and make a wish. She thanked him with a shy smile and went ahead and made her wishes.

While we waited we got into a discussion with a family with two young girls who were behind us in line, about who the Disney fairies are. Thegirls came up with 4 names of those they thought are Tinker Bell's closest friends. They were Fawn, Silvermist, Rosetta and Iridessa.

Finally we had edged forward enough that we were next to enter Pixie Hollow. The first fairy CJ met was Silvermist. I had absolutely no idea what story she came from and realized I should have done my homework befoe I visited the Park. Fortunately it did not seem to matter too much to CJ.

Next we came upon Tinker Bell and her male companion whose name I learned was Terence. CJ had her photo taken with both of them. Alas I had never heard Terence either. So I really needed my laptop!

After CJ was satisfied that those were the only fairies she was going to meet that day, we walked back down Main Street and headed across the centre concourse to begin our California Adventure.

BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse in Laguna Hills

Gillian Lockitch — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 03:44:33 +0000

BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse in Laguna Hills
24032 El Toro Rd.,
Laguna Hills, CA
Ph: 749 -

When you are heading out for an early supper with an infant and a pre-schooler, the key feature you look for is not eclectic contemporary cuisine but a family-friendly environment and a children's menu. Fortunately there seems to be no shortage of such style eateries in the several neighbouring communities of Orange County where my family lives.

One such chain is BJ's, that presently has about 95 restaurants scattered throughout the WEst, South and Mid-Western states. They began with a pizzeria in Santa Ana in 1978, began handcrafting beers in Brea in 1996 and are about to open several new restaurants to add to the present list.

BJ's Restaurant in Laguna Hills has a special importance to us, dating from the birth of number 1 son (number 2 child). As mom and new babe enjoyed quality time, dad, older sister, grand-ma, uncle and aunt all went for supper at the restaurant, which is about a five minute walk from the hospital. Although this was a year ago, big sister aged all of 5 years, remembers how fun it was having dinner with all of us that evening and was excited to go back.

So this time with mom and infant but no aunt and uncle,we headed out to BJ's for supper. Armed with snack packs of cheerios and bits of cheese to keep grasping baby fingers occupied, we got there early around 5 pm and already there were people waiting for a table. Our wait was short- about 5 minutes and we were seated in a comfortable booth with baby in a high chair.

La Terrazza

Gillian Lockitch — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:53:46 +0000

La Terrazza
1088 Cambie Street
Vancouver
Ph: (604)-899-4449

When I first moved into the Yaletown area four years ago, La Terrazza was literally a two minute walk from my rented apartment and I enjoyed several meals there. But I had not been back for more than a year, since I moved to my new home a few blocks further away. Each time I drove up Cambie on my way to dance class, I would make a mental note that it was time to check out La Terrazza again - but my mental notes seemed to get misfiled!

Then one rainy Vancouver night I had tickets for a performance at GM Place and it occurred to me that this would be the perfect time for a pre-show dinner at La Terrazza. From there it would be a quick walk to The Garage.

We arrived a bit early but were promptly seated at a comfortably sized table for two. The ambience was as warm and welcoming as I remembered with tables spaced far enough apart that conversation can be at a comfortable level.

While we studied the menu I sipped a glass of 2007 Stoneleigh Riesling from the Marlborough area of New Zealand. With a light citrus taste it had a nice balance of sweetness and acidity.

Disneyland for Five: A Disneyland Princess

Gillian Lockitch — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:18:44 +0000

One minute she is racing round the house because Thomas the train has to beat Gordon, the really BIG engine, to the station. The next minute her hands are waving as she sings the names of the 50 states of the US, in perfect alphabetical order. But her favorite activity is playing princess, and Cinderella is her most favorite princess of all.

So for a little princess living half an hour away from Anaheim, what better 5 year birthday treat could you imagine than taking her to Disneyland for a Princess makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Cinderella's Castle, and the chance to meet some of the other Princesses?

As usual the household was buzzing by 6 am as I made my coffee and CJ got her own breakfast together.

The plan was that we were to leave for Disneyland by just after 7:30 for the 9 am appointment at the boutique.

Getting one baby, one 5 year old and three adults organized always takes longer than anticipated, even if you think you have fully prepared things like diaper bags and changes of clothes, the night before.

But a very excited CJ quickly dressed herself in her pale blue Cinderella dress, tiara and all, and we made it to the Bibbidi Bobbidi reception desk just on the stroke of 9.

Two nights in Bangkok

Gillian Lockitch — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:42:15 +0000

Post-Cruise Stop-over in Bangkok, Thailand after the Southeast Asia Ballroom Dance Cruise

"One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster" - well, ok, not quite. With apologies to Tim Rice, I have been humming and singing that song intermittently whenever our stop-over in the city Bangkok came up in conversation. I couldn't believe that those lines went over everyone's head - no one had heard the song. Maybe it was my off -key singing voice.

I had a two-night stay in Bangkok planned for after the South-East Asia cruise and was looking forward to seeing what I remembered of the city from my previous visits as a medical consultant.

Sunday, November 22nd, Bangkok

The Diamond Princess arrived in the port of Laem Chabang, Thailand around 7 am. It is a good hour's drive from there to the city.

Helene, Jean, Raoul and I met in the Savoy Restaurant where we waited to be allowed to disembark. Amazingly the promised transport arranged by our hotel actually arrived and drove us to the Citadines Hotel,one of a chain of small suite business hotels in the city.

Our rooms, which we had booked through Orbitz, were quite reasonable - about 79 USD a night but we were about three-quarters of an hour away from the prime hotel locations on the banks of the Chao Phraya river. On my last two-week working visit to Bangkok I stayed at the Sheraton where I had a gorgeous view of the river.

This time our hotel was just off one of the main streets running through the city, called Sukhumvit. It is described as a "sprawling artery which runs through Central Bangkok. Between Soi 1 and Soi 33 is the visitor region as there are hotels ranging from low priced to luxury 5 star, along the road and in adjoining streets.Judging by the shops and restaurants nearby to our hotel area, Sukhumvit 11, it looked like a Little India area.

My room had a kitchenette area. The furnishing was simple but clean. The only flaw as I discovered later the next morning was that the shower obstinately refused to bring forth any warm water at all. So I shivered through a quick wash and rinse and gave up on the idea of washing my hair hoping that the next shower would be warmer.

After we had dropped off our bags,washed up and sorted out the tour arrangements for the evening - we were going on a river boat dinner cruise - we set off to explore the area.

At a bank a couple of blocks away the others changed some US dollars for baht. I had already got some in Vancouver so did not need to worry about that.

Talking Stick Festival Opening Gala

Gillian Lockitch — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:55:17 +0000

Talking Stick Festival: Opening Gala and Festival Week
Presented by Full Circle, Talking Stick Festival and
The Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre
At the Roundhouse and other venues
February 21 to 28, 2010

Vancouver , BC: To the accompaniment of occasional roars from the hordes watching the Canada-USA hockey game on the giant screen at Yaletown Live, we strolled down a relatively quiet Pacific Boulevard to The Roundhouse to attend the opening gala of the Talking Stick festival.

We had arrived at 6 for the reception and chattered to several people visiting for the Olympics, as we waited in line.The house opened shortly before 7 and we found seats at a table for four and were joined by a couple up for a visit from the Napa Valley. Things started off with a great beat with the Talking Stick house band 'Friends of the Indians' rocking the Roundhouse. They were joined for another rocking number by singer Gillian Thomson of "Sister Says".

We were welcomed to the opening by co-hosts Greg Coyes of APTN's The Mix and Theresa Point, Festival Artistic Director Margo Kane and several other gracious hosts before a plethora of traditional songs and dances were performed by Spakwus Slulem, the Eagle Song dancers of the Squamish nation; Tsatsu Stalqayu, of the Coastal Wolf pack of the Musqueam nation and the traditional Gitksan Dancers of Damelahamid.

Chris Bose, poet and storyteller among his other talents, read poems from his newly published book "Stone the Crow."

Shanghai River Restaurant

Gillian Lockitch — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:05:15 +0000

Shanghai River Restaurant
#110-7831 Westminster Highway,
Richmond, BC
Ph: (604) 233-8885

With its large diverse Chinese community, Vancouver celebrates Chinese New Year in style. This year a group of us, 12 in all, took the Canada Line out to Richmond, for a Chinese New Year banquet at the Shanghai River Restaurant. Arranged by Susan, whose petite frame belies her formidable social organizational skills, the evening promised to be a veritable feast and it was.

As we were led to our table which seated 12 quite comfortably, we passed by the pastry area where the dumplings and noodles are freshly made. We sipped on our hot tea while Susan and Nick decided what needed to be added to the standard banquet menu for 10 people. The rest of us debated whether to order beer or wine. Five of us settled on a bottle of Mission Hill white wine of unknown varietal. The menu did not specify. We guessed it was a Pinot Blanc or Pinot Gris but we got so involved with the various dishes that we forgot to ask them to bring back the bottle so we could check. The others ordered beers.

We were first served a cold platter with tofu, jellyfish, smoked white fish, chicken and bamboo shoots.

Next came a speciality of the house, dumplings filled with meat and broth, that were quite delicious. I also liked the pan fried tiger prawns but found the assorted seafood dish (scallops, squid and fish) very bland.

DELUSION

Gillian Lockitch — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:16:54 +0000

Delusion by Laurie Anderson
with Eyvund Kang (viola) and Colin Stetson (horns)
Commissioned by the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad and BARBICANBITE10
Vancouver Playhouse
Feb 17 to 21st, 2010.

Vancouver, BC: Yesterday I found myself on the opposite side of an interview - interviewee rather than interviewer. I was checking in for my last shift in the Main Press Centre and unbeknownst to me, lurking around the check-in desk was one of the volunteers who write the daily Volunteer Newsletter. On hearing that this was the last of my 15 shifts he begged, pleaded and cajoled (alright I exaggerate) until I agreed to have a picture taken for the newsletter.

While I was chatting away a mile a minute about the Cultural Olympiad among other things - the caffeine from my early morning coffee was obviously still racing around my system - he asked what I had most enjoyed about the Cultural Olympiad. I began to rattle off memorable aspects from several of the shows I had seen and then when my brain finally caught up to my mouth I stopped and thought about it.

Maenam Thai Restaurant

Gillian Lockitch — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:30:13 +0000

Maenam Thai Restaurant
1938 West 4th Avenue
Vancouver.
Ph: (604) 730-5579

The last time I visited this location at its previous incarnation as Gastropod I enjoyed an excellent meal. Since chef Angus An renamed it Maenam and changed the focus to Thai specialities in May last year, I have not had an opportunity to revisit. But heading off to the Jericho Arts Centre to see The Vic, we decided to test our taste buds against some spicy Thai dishes.

We were seated at a nicely private table adjacent to the bar area, and Janice, our efficient server promptly brought water and took our wine order. I could not resist a glass of Wild Goose Autumn Gold - an exquisite blend of Gewurtztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Blanc that I enjoyed (and brought home several bottles) during my "Taste of the South Okanagan" visit to the Wild Goose Winery in the Fall, 2008. My companion ordered a Chilean Pinot Noir which seemed to go down equally smoothly.

The Vic

Gillian Lockitch — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:28:17 +0000

The Vic by Leanna Brodie
Directed by Sarah Szloboda
A Terminal Theatre production
Jericho Arts Centre
Feb 16 th to 21 st, 2010

Vancouver, BC: This production of The Vic is an ambitious undertaking by the young Terminal Theatre company which staged its first production in the summer of 2009. For this, their third production, they might have been better served had they chosen a less convoluted play.

The Vic features 8 female characters - described as part victim, part victimisers - in four disparate story lines which finally come together - sort of. I found the continuity of this play hard to follow so without having read the script, here is what I gathered from the show.

The set is dominated by a giant screen on which brief film clips show at different points between the other scenes. This as we discover is the thread that draws the four stories together.

The play opens with women entering the darkened space, each carrying a light, the Spanish singing evoking the "desaparecidos" or "the disappeared" of Latin America. Then we see four local women searching for a missing woman, Cara (April Cameron) whose inner thoughts are revealed through her "diary" shown in the film clips. Cameron's naively wistful, young girl provides the only really sympathetic character in the story.

Dance Marathon

Gillian Lockitch — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:08:29 +0000

Dance Marathon at The Roundhouse Community Centre
bluemouth Inc. and Boca del Lupo
February 12 th, 2010

Vancouver, BC: I was having a blast at the Dance Marathon until I got eliminated in The Derby - how lame, so to speak! That was when I realized that my competitive streak is as strong as it ever was - because I was not ready to go and I was MAD.

The Dance Marathon is a greatly truncated version of the 1920s and 1930s endurance contests as depicted in the film They Shoot Horses, Don't They. Originally commissioned for Toronto's Harbourfront Centre, Vancouver's Dance Marathon is part of the exciting Cultural Olympiad that has been entertaining us with an incredible variety of art, theatre, music and dance.

As an Olympic volunteer I was able to to see the Opening Ceremonies dress rehearsal on Wednesday night and was really impressed but last night, watching the show on television, I realized what an amazing show Vanoc had put together. As the final speeches were taking place I made my way along Pacific Boulevard to the Roundhouse in time to see on the television there, the two cauldrons being lit.

The ceremony being over, it was time to get the Dance Marathon under way. I signed my waiver form , picked up my number plus a bottle of water and was ready to go. Several of the dancers from the opening ceremony wandered in and joined up. I recognised some of the folks who did the Celtic dancing with that amazingly fast footwork. Some competition!

Wine Bar at The Cultch

Gillian Lockitch — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:55:15 +0000

The Wine Bar at The Cultch
1895 Venables Street, Vancouver

Tucked away on the corner of Venables Street and Victorian Drive, a block east of buzzing Commercial Drive, the creaky old Vancouver East Cultural Theatre had a quaint charm for theatre lovers despite its uncomfortable seats and awkwardly located washrooms. Originally an old abandoned church that was developed into a theatre space some thirty-seven years ago, the facility suffered from structural and technical limitations and uncomfortable working conditions for casts and crews and has now been extensively renovated.

I had seen several shows in the new and smaller VanCity Culture Lab which opened towards the end of 2008 but until now had not seen the refurbished main Historic Theatre. After picking up our tickets for Best Before we decided to await the start of the show in the Wine bar - what a pleasant surprise. It is a delightful spot with comfortable bar stools placed around about 10 raised bar tables.

Micro-Theatre at The Cultch

Gillian Lockitch — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:23:19 +0000

The MicroTheatre Series :
At The Cultch (1895 Venables)
1 to 6 Feb, 2010

1) Etiquette - A Rotozaza production (UK)
2) You & The Moon - The Only Animal (Vancouver, BC)
I3) Intimate History - An Untied Artists production (UK)

Vancouver, BC: Three cheers for the new Wine Bar at The Cultch. The Olympic road-closures are at the stage where part of Pacific Boulevard and both the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts are closed to traffic so to get from my place anywhere involves ferreting out new routes. To make sure we were in time for our Micro-Theatre adventure, we set off early along the E. Hastings route to Commercial. Although until just beyond Main Street traffic moved at a snail's pace, after that the pace picked up and we were actually at The Cultch with a good half an hour to spare after collecting our tickets. So we settled down comfortably in the Wine Bar to enjoy a glass of wine while we waited to be called for our show.

Enigma Restaurant

Gillian Lockitch — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:08:57 +0000

Enigma Restaurant
4397 W. 10th Avenue
Vancouver.
Ph: (604) 222-6881

Being South African by birth, I was naturally intrigued when Enigma was suggested as a before-theatre dinner spot. The proprietors are from South Africa and my dinner companion suggested that the menu featured several dishes of African origin. We were on our way to see Ivanov at the Jericho Arts Centre so the location of Enigma at 10th and Trimble, just up the hill from the Centre, was perfect.

As well as "foodie" I am very much a "wordie" so naturally I wondered about the name. Enigma is an unusual name for a restaurant. But the Buchmans explain - "how could such delicious food possibly be so affordable?" Hmmm.... That's setting my expectations high.

The menu was appealing with lots of my favorite appetizers, and the prices did seem reasonable. Unlike the restaurant Braai which I reviewed in New York last year, this menu was more eclectic than ethnic South African. But I noted that the menu featured curries and that a special for the day was braised lamb shoulder. This got my dinner companion raving about the Moroccan lamb dish he had eaten here on previous visits. Although it was not on the menu our obliging server said she would check with the kitchen. She soon returned with a message from the chef that he would be glad to make the Moroccan lamb if we wanted it.

The Passion Project

Gillian Lockitch — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:17:38 +0000

The Passion Project
Director/Creator Reid Farrington
Pacific Theatre and the PuSh Festival
Pacific Theatre
an 27 to Feb 6, 2010

Vancouver, BC: When I initially read the description of The Passion Project as "video art installation- meets theatre" I wasn't sure what to think about it other than that it would be novel and different. After seeing it, I concluded that think is the wrong word. It is more a sensory experience than a cognitive experience. And what on earth do I mean by that? Let me try and articulate my experience.

Arriving somewhat early, as usual, I await the start of the show in the lobby of the theatre. A suggestion of what is to come is shown by three sets of grainy black and white images projected onto a sackcloth screen. As more people arrive we are taken round to the back entrance of the theatre and told that we should wander around during the performance for an interactive experience.

The theatre space has been reconfigured and some rows of seats removed. There is a 10 x 10 square delineated by rows of panel with loops of ropes hanging overhead. Around the square there is room for the audience to walk. The lit set is quite striking. The ropes and sack-cloth screens evoke a sense of medieval times; the demarcated space, a sense of confinement.

Ivanov

Gillian Lockitch — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:38:49 +0000

Ivanov by Anton Chekhov
A new version by Tom Stoppard
Directed by Victor Vasuta
United Players of Vancouver
Jericho Arts Centre
Jan 22 to Feb 14, 2010

Vancouver, BC: I really enjoyed United Player's production of Anton Chekhov's Ivanov, although I did find myself wanting to hand Nickolay Ivanov a strong dose of some psychotropic medication and a referral to a psychotherapist. But that's the infuriatingly hapless self-absorbed character that Chekhov created.

In the title role, Noel Johansen showed us a man who has lost his way in every aspect of his world - his marriage, his work and his finances. Married to the ailing Anna (Tamara McCarthy), whose wealthy parents disowned her when she converted from Judaism to marry him, Ivanov has "fallen out of love" with Anna. He leaves her at home each evening while he goes to visit the Lebedevs, the affable Pavel (Dave Campbell) and his wife Zinaida (Christine Ianetta). Zinaida is a wealthy moneylender to whom Ivanov is severely in debt. And then there is Sasha.

Best Before

Gillian Lockitch — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:43:18 +0000

Best Before
by Rimini Protokoll (Helgard Haug & Stefan Kaegil)
The Cultch, PuSh Festival and Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad
The Cultch
Jan 29 to Feb 6, 2010

Vancouver, BC: As a computer-nerd/technophile of long-standing I was intrigued by the concept of taking the multi-player video game concept into the theatre and eagerly anticipated the experience of my personal avatar interacting with some 200 other avatars to conjure up a new society in BestLand.

Best Before, an innovative audience interactive production was developed for the PuSh Festival by Helgard Haug & Stefan Kaegil of Rimini Protokoll, an experimental theatre company based in Germany, working with local playwright/dramaturg, Tim Carlson. Rimini Protokoll create novel forms of "reality" theatre, casting non-professional actors for their "theatre of experts" projects and often employing technology as a form of equal partner in the work. For example for Best before, as well as the usual team of set, video, sound and light designers, the "backstage" or "offline" development team included a computer game designer, character animator, and programmer

Nevermore - The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe

Gillian Lockitch — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:03:38 +0000

Nevermore - The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe
Writer, Composer, Director Jonathan Christenson
Production Designer Bretta Gerecke
Choreographer Laura Krewski
Sound Designer Wade Staples
A Catalyst Theatre production presented with the:-
Arts Club Theatre Company, Cultch, PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad
Arts Club Granville Island Stage
Jan 21 to Feb 6, 2010

Vancouver, BC: Wow, they just keep coming. One stunning show after another. I just love the cornucopia of art that is spilling out all over my beloved city of Vancouver during the Cultural Olympiad. Nevermore is another superb production not to be missed. The visual aspects are spectacular, the music haunting and the effect is strangely disturbing and other-worldly.

As you take your seat, you see a bank of panels on an otherwise bare stage and think minimalism and simplicity. But these panels will confound your imagination and be transformed by brilliant lighting into transparent moving screens behind and through which strange characters move. Clad in strikingly geometric and oddly shaped black and white costumes, coloured by red, blue and purple lights, these characters inhabit two bizarre worlds, the imagined "real" world of Edgar Allan Poe's bitter life and those equally dark and bitter worlds created in his stories and poems.

Sõ Percussion

Gillian Lockitch — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:08:08 +0000

Sõ Percussion plays Steve Reich and David Lang
Push Festival and Music on Main
Heritage Hall
Jan 24 and 25, 2010

Vancouver BC: My insanely busy life living and writing on theatre, food, travel, and of course dance - the doing of it , not the writing about it, leaves me little time to go to music events but when I read about Sõ Percussion in the PuSh brochure, I could not resist going to this performance. Rhythm is what my life's about at the moment - I feel the beat - all the time. Maybe a different kind of beat. I'm talking samba, chachacha, waltz, tango but rhythm trumps melody when dance and dance music plays all the time when I am at thome. Since I had no idea what the range of percussion music would encompass, this would be an opportunity for me to learn something new. So, for any of you who, like me, know painfully little about this subject, I did some pre-event research and spent some fascinating time reading and listening at the websites of So Percussion , Steve Reich and David Lang.

The Show Must Go On

Gillian Lockitch — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:18:11 +0000

The Show Must Go On
by Jérôme Bel

SFU Woodwards and The Dance Centre
Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre at SFU
Jan 20 to 23rd, 2010

I was especially looking forward to going to see this show because I anticipated that for several reasons it would be a bit of an adventure . Firstly this would be the first production I would see in the new Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre in the Simon Fraser University complex, newly built on the old Woodwards site. As it turned out it is still so new that I was directed by a security man to an entrance to the theatre complex through a gap in the construction fencing that still surrounds much of the area.

The second reason was that instead of driving my car I planned to take the Canada Line up to Waterfront and walk along West Hastings to the theatre, checking out a Salsa Studio on the way. I can just hear the groans of "what's the big deal, taking transit" but I was going by myself to this show, and for me, walking alone late at night in what is not as yet a very desirable part of the city, constitutes an adventure.

The Edward Curtis Project

Gillian Lockitch — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:18:50 +0000

The Edward Curtis Project by Marie Clements
Directed by Marie Clements and Brenda Leadlay
Presentation House Theatre
Jan 21 to 31, 2010

Photograph Credits: Tim Matheson

Vancouver, BC: "Obsession and appropriation."

In a unique and rare conjunction, within a four day period, I saw two newly created theatrical works, dealing with similar themes but approached very differently - Beyond Eden and The Edward Curtis Project. After seeing The Edward Curtis Project, I stayed to hear the talk back session in which members of the cast succinctly summed up the common themes of these plays as "obsession and appropriation".

Both plays are loosely based on real events surrounding two men, each driven by an obsession. Beyond Eden's Lewis Wilson is an anthropologist/ archeologist bound on preserving cultural history of the Haida by retrieving and restoring decaying totem poles form a deserted Haida village. Edward Curtis is a photographer who devotes his life to "documenting" what he calls "The Vanishing Indian." In both cases an argument can be made that as "the other", i.e. non-Aboriginal, they are engaging in cultural appropriation by "stealing" Aboriginal art or icons. And in the case of Curtis, possibly even portraying a self-manufactured cultural image as the real thing.

Beyond Eden

Gillian Lockitch — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:23:46 +0000

Beyond Eden by Bruce Ruddell
Music by Bruce Ruddell and Bill Henderson
Directed by Dennis Garnhum
Music Direction by Bill Henderson
Choreographer Jacques Lemay
Fight Director JeanPierre Fournier
Co-produced by Vancouver Playhouse and Theatre Calgary
Jan 16 to Feb 6 th, 2010

Photographs by David Cooper

Vancouver, BC: Just imagine. You dream an "impossible dream" for 25 years and finally one exhilarating night, your dream explodes into reality in a visually and musically stunning production. Beyond Eden had its world premiere last week on the Vancouver Playhouse stage as part of the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad and it is a "tour de force". Bruce Ruddell and his creative collaborators, cast and crew can truly be proud of how his dream has been actualized.

Chambar

Gillian Lockitch — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:04:56 +0000

Chambar Restaurant
562 Beatty Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 2L3, Canada
Ph: 604- 879-7119

For our pre-show dinner before seeing Beyond Eden at the Playhouse, we decided to visit Chambar Restaurant. I knew that it had been some time since I had last eaten there but was not sure how long. As we were led to our table in a section of the restaurant that had been added since my last vist - our server told me that it had been added more than a year and a half ago. I hadn't realized it had been so long but I guess time flies faster and faster as we mature!

Anyway, with a Canucks game starting at 7 at GM Place and the Playhouse production starting at 8, the place was humming and every table was full. The server took our orders promptly. We expected that it might take a while for our order to arrive but were in no hurry and were happy to relax and chat over a glass of wine. But as the time went by and no food appeared we began to wonder about the absence of a bread basket so we asked our server.

We hadn't noticed but bread was considered a "side " and had to be ordered separately for $3.00.

East Fusion Food

Gillian Lockitch — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:47:40 +0000

East Fusion Food
1021 International Village
88 Pender Street, vancouver.
Ph: 604-568-6988

Scorched

Gillian Lockitch — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:58:37 +0000

Scorched by Wajdi Mouawad
Translated by Linda Gaboriau
Directed by Clayton Jevne and Graham McDonald
Theatre Inconnu and IITSAZOO Productions
Waterfront Theatre, Granville Island
Jan 13 to 31 st, 2010

Vancouver, BC: Acclaimed Canadian playwright, Wajdi Mouawad was born in Lebanon and moved first to France and then to Montreal, arriving in Canada at the age of fifteen. From 1975 to 1990 Lebanon was ripped apart by a devastating civil war in which hundreds of thousands of Lebanese died, and massive atrocities were committed by the Syrian-backed PLO Muslim militias and Lebanese Christian militias alike. Beirut, a once beautiful city known as the Paris of the East, was in ruins. For a brief time in his childhood, Mouawad lived in a country at war, and both of his plays that I have seen, Scorched and Tideline, reflect his overwhelming concern with the lives of those who lived through the events of that time.

The Boathouse Restaurant at New Westminster Quay

Gillian Lockitch — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:36:12 +0000

The Boathouse Restaurant
900 Quayside
New Westminster
Ph: (604) 525-3474

On an icy cold day, when the wind whipped against my skin till it burned red as if scalded, a friend and I rode the Skytrain out to New Westminster Quay. We had spent the morning riding the new Canada Line to the Airport and back to the Waterfront Station. Our plan was to enjoy a pleasant lunch and explore the Quay area.

Alas we had not realized that large parts of the Quay were closed for redevelopment and remodeling, and we found to our dismay that most of the restaurants were closed . We inquired, without success, of a couple of passers by who lived in the area whether any restaurants were open. Finally by trial and error, driven by a desperate need to warm up, we found ourselves at The Boathouse, one of a local chain of restaurants. And hooray, it was open for lunch.

We were shown to a table by the window, and were soon warmed up by the heat radiating out from the fireplace. I thought "so what if its the middle of the day - I am not at work" and decided to order a glass of BC Gewurtztraminer.

Cru

Gillian Lockitch — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:28:45 +0000

Cru Restaurant
1459 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6H 1H6
Ph: 604-677-4111

Prior to heading off to the Stanley Theatre to see Mrs. Dexter & her Daily my theatre buddy and I opted to have dinner at Cru. Surprisingly I have not been there before although it is really convenient for pre-show dining if you are going to the Stanley Theatre. And even though it is a slightly longer walk, it is also quite convenient if you are going to the Pacific Theatre at 12th and Hemlock.

We were seated in a comfortable booth and given the prix fixe menu. At 42 dollars for 3 courses I thought it was a little pricey, until I tasted the food. I started with the Cellar Door Caesar salad which is absolutely the best Caesar salad I have ever had. The dressing covered with a generous amount of asiago cheese is layered over grilled Romaine lettuce and the croutons are soaked in garlic butter. I shudder to think of the calorie count but it was absolutely sinfully delicious.

Mrs. Dexter & Her Daily

Gillian Lockitch — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 01:42:42 +0000

Mrs. Dexter & Her Daily
By Joanna McClelland Glass
Directed by Marti Maraden
Co-production of the Arts Club Theatre Companys
and Canada's National Arts Centre
Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
Jan 7 to Feb 17th, 2010

Vancouver, BC: I loved this show. From the minute the "sunlight" of a new day began to brighten Pam Johnson's meticulously detailed set, the spacious kitchen and dining area of an obviously well-to-do family's home, I was drawn into the unfolding routine of daily life in the Dexter home. The design team, Johnson, Marsha Sibthorpe (lighting) and Philip Clarkson (Costumes) gave director Marti Maraden an attractively authentic environment which the characters created by Fiona Reid as Edith Dexter and Nicola Cavendish as Peggy Randall, the "daily", really seemed to inhabit.

The script has an interesting and unusual structure, essentially consisting of two monologues about the intersecting lives of the two characters, who never actually appear together on stage. The first act belongs to 65 year old Peggy Randall, a indomitably optimistic charlady, who has worked for the wealthy Dexter family for about 10 years. We learn the sad details of her early life, see her soldiering on with her work despite aching joints and dental problems, and dealing bravely with her fears of ending her days alone and poor in social housing. Peggy has been a fighter all her life. She tackles adversity headlong and makes lemonade out of the lemons that life throws at her. She is smart and she can do anything from fixing broken electric fans to hanging curtains. But she can't fix her employer's shattered life and her attempts to communicate with the as-yet-unseen Mrs. Dexter,leave us admiring Peggy's spirit while feeling most unfavorably disposed towards the seemingly spoiled, and self-pitying Mrs. D.

Eastern Caribbean New Year Ballroom Dance Cruise: A Collage of pictures from New Year's Eve 2009

Gillian Lockitch — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:58:22 +0000

For more pictures click the "read more" link. If there is not a picture of you in this collection that means I did not get a good one to post. If you have a great picture of yourself or anyone else to post here please email it to me and I will add it to the collage.

Eastern Caribbean New Year Ballroom Dance Cruise : Part IV. Dancing at sea via Nassau to Fort Lauderdale

Gillian Lockitch — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:25:19 +0000

Friday, January 1st, 2010 Dance workshops while cruising back through the East Caribbean

Last night we had a raucous and fun-filled New Year's Eve party. Despite only a couple of hours sleep I was as energetic as usual when I woke up - though I was really craving coffee. i think Mike got to bed about the time I usually wake up at home so I didn't think he would make it to the workshop at 10 am. When our coffee and breakfast did not arrive at the expected time I called to find out where it was. Apparently some yoyos had taken the room service card off our door - it later turned up outside the door of an empty cabin further up the corridor.

Jeoffrey however worked his magic with the kitchen staff and a tray of coffees arrived quickly. We poured cups of coffee, expresso and cappucino down our throats - and "presto- we were dancing fools". That's a great quickstep number by the way - "Dancing Fool" by Manilow - the version I have is really nice but a very quick quickstep!

By the time we had to assemble for the workshops we were all ready to go. Surprisingly considering last night was a wild party, almost everyone turned up for the workshops. And they concentrated.

Here are some of the guys learning their parts.

Wendy had scheduled Robert to teach a tango workshop first. He showed us the sequence, dancing it with Wendy.

Starting in promenade position it was a walk to a ronde, fallaway to two pivots and then - tango close. Huh! I think I actually used correct terminology. I also wrote down the timing because that makes it easier for me to think about it.

So it is

SQQS(ronde with right foot)
QQS& (thats the fallaway- step pivot)
S& (that's the next step pivot)
QQS

Review From The House

CJ's Disney California Adventure

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BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse in Laguna Hills

La Terrazza

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Disneyland for Five: A Disneyland Princess

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Two nights in Bangkok

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Talking Stick Festival Opening Gala

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Shanghai River Restaurant

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DELUSION

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Maenam Thai Restaurant

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The Vic

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Dance Marathon

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Wine Bar at The Cultch

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Micro-Theatre at The Cultch

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Enigma Restaurant

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The Passion Project

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Ivanov

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Best Before

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Nevermore - The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe

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Sõ Percussion

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The Show Must Go On

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The Edward Curtis Project

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Beyond Eden

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Chambar

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East Fusion Food

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Scorched

The Boathouse Restaurant at New Westminster Quay

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Cru

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Mrs. Dexter & Her Daily

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Eastern Caribbean New Year Ballroom Dance Cruise: A Collage of pictures from New Year's Eve 2009

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Eastern Caribbean New Year Ballroom Dance Cruise : Part IV. Dancing at sea via Nassau to Fort Lauderdale

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