This Week In Art/Culture/Entertainment
By John Swartz
Don’t look now, but you can see the end of summer. The last gasp for most of us, and the last weekend for having a bash is days away, Labour Day weekend.
I remember years ago when Alan Lafontaine cornered me at the Port of Orillia, if one can be cornered there, and asked – what do you think of having a Pirate Party on Labour Day weekend. Nice idea I told him, then recounted how I tried to create something on Labour Day weekend a couple decades ago, figuring there is no competition since for as long as I had been in Orillia there was nothing ever happening. It flopped big time. No one came. Why? was the burning question. What else did people have to do?
Well, Alan did not pay attention to the possibility no one would go to his party and it has grown beyond my expectation, and I think maybe Alan’s too. So, dust off your scabbard, look for that eye patch, If you have a parrot, teach it to sit on your shoulder and not swear so much because the Port, Centennial Park, and since last year Couchiching Beach Park are going to buzzing, or booming, with activity.
Things begin Friday night with a pub crawl downtown at 7 p.m. (Dave Broadhead and Michael Martyn play the official party at Brewery Bay) followed by a concert with a great band, The Mudmen, at the Port building. This is the band that has been playing at the Opera House every January for several years, you know, the folks who thought blending bagpipes with rock and roll would work. It does.
Then you have to make a decision, which is easier to make if you have kids. Movies in the Park at the Aqua Theatre has Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl cued running at 9 p.m.
Downtown Orillia got onboard a couple years ago and many merchants are playing along with a treasure hunt on Saturday. Our favourite doctor, Dr. Bonkers, will be performing at December Sun the little pirate’s store at 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.
The second year of the event expanded to the Leacock Museum with a waterborne attack on Lord Leacock’s Manor. That’s at 11 a.m. At noon and 3 p.m. there will be a Kid’s Cannon Demonstration, which I’m sure will go over well in the days following at home.
Then the Port is the next place in view of the telescopes for a sea battle. Then at Couchiching Beach Park, it turns into a land battle, with cannon fire. I’d suggest the neighbours across the street pay attention and put down the wine glass for an hour or so because the fire team does not exactly send out a heads up something is about to explode.
Then the event which took off right from the start, the Walk the Plank happens at 4 p.m. at the Port. Since this an election year, expect a larger field of contestants. Then there will be judging and awarding of prizes for decorated boats. At 8 p.m. at the Port the Fat Tony Band will play some music. I saw these guys last year and was surprised they did a good job with the covers (and the choice of covers) they played.
The music starts early on Sunday with No Great Mischief performing at 11 a.m. The Champlain Sailing Club is the scene of the next battle; they’ve been part of the Pirate Party since the second year too. Another event for the kids, the Wild Animal Kingdom Show is at 11 a.m. the kid’s cannon tutorial repeats at the same times as Saturday. The cannoneers get going a little earlier Sunday, 1 p.m. for the window rattling at Couchiching Beach Park. And as if by magic Captain Corbin The Magical Pirate Will be performing at 5 p.m. At 8 p.m. The Orangeman will be playing music to close out the Pirate Party.
Have fun.
Now That You’ve Gone
This week has not had good news. The passing of two people has left a pall many are feeling. First Fred Larsen passed on Monday. There is a remembrance of Fred here. When I wrote that I forgot to mention he also appeared in many Mariposa Arts Theatre productions, including as Juan Peron in Evita. I have the memory of him doing that, and was surprised when I looked up my notes to find that was in 2005, it doesn’t seem like so long ago.
Of course Fred was one of the founders and the first chair of the Huronia Cultural Centre, trying to get some action from the province to turn the HRC land and buildings into a version of Tanglewood for performances, and as an art incubator the rest of the time. While that did not come to pass, the HCC turned into Arts Orillia, which carries on the idea of creating new art and art opportunities for our young people.
Fred was also president of the Orillia Vocal Ensemble and was a member of the Mayor’s University Task Force which resulted in Lakehead University establishing here.
Then it was revealed Millie Shilling died on Sunday. Millie was always quiet and dignified. I remember many times sitting with the Shillings in the green room at Mariposa and I don’t recall her saying very much accept to say hello to me with a warm smile. I also remember one of the infamous September parties Travis and Bewabon threw out at the Shilling home in Rama. With all the chaos of the party goers having the run of the house and property, I wandered out into the main hall where some of Arthur’s works were on display and there she was, as if nothing else was going on. At the moment I thought of how tolerant she was of the revelry invading her home and the grace she showed that all is as it should be.
Condolences to both families.
So Summer Is Over, What Now?
Concert season, that’s what. Early out of the gate on September 19 is the Orillia Silver Band. For the third year running they are starting their concert season with guest pianist Kyung-A Lee. Anyone who has been before knows she is a stunning pianist.
The concert will feature a mix of music by Chopin, Morricone, Rogers and Hammerstein, Beethoven, and Williams as played by solo piano, or with the band accompanying. There are also a couple of tunes that will be sung by Kyung-a’s husband, Parres Allen.
The OSB also has a contest happening. When you arrive for the 2:30 p.m. concert at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church – and you also had lunch at a downtown restaurant beforehand – show your receipt and you are entered into a draw for a $100 gift certificate for you next meal. Tickets are available online.
The Orillia Youth Centre has two fundraising events happening. One is at St. Paul’s Centre September 24 with the Subhumans, Bad Waitress and Brat Stepson. It’s all ages. A little further along, November 6 and 7 they have several musicians (Kevin Seconds, Lenny Lashley, Nixon Boyd, Roger Harvey and Alex Kaye Black) performing as a songwriter’s workshop at Creative Nomad Studios – three times! So Friday evening, Saturday Afternoon and evening. Friday night’s show has all onboard; Saturday’s splits the line up between the two shows. Tickets are available online.
Mariposa Arts Theatre has announced the cast for their big November 5 (two week runtime) production of MacBeth with some new and returning faces. Some of the leads are getting their first shot at prime time. You can get tickets online.
The Mariposa Folk Festival has a couple concerts in the fall with tickets on sale now. October 20 Joel Plaskett will be at St. Paul’s Centre. November 21 a different sort of thing happens at the Opera House. The Organ Summit features Lance Anderson, Matt Weidinger and Cole Mendez, along with two members of Matt’s band, The Tonewheels, Chris Latta (guitar) and Mike Rajna (drums). They will answer the question, what is better than having a Hammond B3 organ on stage? Two B3s. Lance, Matt and Cole will rotate on the keyboards all night long. Get tickets for Joel here, and for Lance and company here.
The Golden Scoundrels and the Big Bad Jug Band are playing at the legion September 10. You can get tickets online.
Something different is happening at the legion Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. called Life is Sad. The blurb says, “(an) evening devoted to the beauty of melancholy through folk music” and if you know Nate Mills is involved, then you know it won’t be all tears. He’s performing along with Ellis, Dogmouth, Dylan Court, and Wm. Matt Miller and video by Tyler Grace. Admission is $15.
Some concerts happening at the Opera House include the Old Dance Hall Players doing Don’t Sweat the Fall Stuff September 11 (tickets); the Orillia Jazz Fest has two events in October; on the 16th a showcase of original compositions developed by Orillia high school students during Arts Orillia’s youth jazz workshop with Alondra Vega and Jacob Thompson and other performances, happens (tickets); and October 17 Jane Bunnett and Maqueque play Cuban jazz (tickets), and the Lightfoot Band is in October 29 (tickets).
The Shorts
- Anne Walker performs the last of the summer’s Coulson Concert Series Sept. 27 at the Coulson Church (Horseshoe Valley Road). Showtime is 2 p.m. and you can get tickets online.
- The Cellar Singers are getting ready for their concert season and starting rehearsals Sept. 2 at St. James’ Anglican Church at 7:15 p.m. they invite people to try out to join the choir.
- Mariposa House Hospice has a fundraiser happening at Braestone Farm with Kelly Davies and the Devin Cuddy Band playing Oct. 25. Email autumnconcert@mariposahousehospice.com for tickets.
- The 7th annual Trunk or Treat is happening Oct. 24 at ODAS Park. Registration for those bringing their trunks is open now online. Tickets are available at the same URL starting Oct. 5. This is a fundraiser for the Orillia Youth Centre.
- North Simcoe Arts is looking for people to serve on its bursary review committee. Interested parties with some experience in arts can email communications@northsimcoearts.ca.
- Nominations for the annual Art and Culture Awards (November 25 at Creative Nomad Studios) are now open and you can find nomination forms now online.
- Bleeker another new tune they’ve made a video for in advance of a full album coming soon. You can find Feel It Again on their Youtube page. They have been making some very good videos for the new batch of tunes they’ve put out in advance of their new album debuting Sept. 8. I suspect the album is going to be huge. They will also be opening for The Trews at Casino Rama for a Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Foundation fundraiser in October. You can get tickets for that show here. The foundation is also running a 50/50 draw in conjunction with the concert and you can get a ticket online.
- Paso Por Paso has a fundraiser with comedian Martha Chaves Sept. 27 at St. Paul’s Centre. This comes with a light lunch. The show is at 3 p.m. and all proceeds go to supporting Maya communities in Guatemala. Call 705-955-7760 for tickets.
- Congrats to Rebekah Hawker who has been selected as a songwriter fellow for the MusiCounts Fellowship for Emerging Songwriters & Composers. Her tune, Quit My Habit, will be transformed into a choral piece of music and used in music classrooms across the country.
- The Orillia Museum of Art and History has two new exhibits The Many Faces of Paul Shilling: A Retrospective. and Awaken The Spirits. – art by Rama’s Drake Williams; other exhibits to see are a textile show, From Hand to Heirloom: The Art of Craft , and the permanent exhibit of Gordon Lightfoot’s personal effects… Cloud Gallery has their Great Big Summer Show for all of August… Peter Street Fine Arts had a collection of work from the Bayside Artists up this month.
- The Hog ‘N Penny has Scott Olgard playing Sept. 4; James Gray is in Sept. 5 and a jam Sunday afternoons… the ANAF club has an acoustic jam Sept. 4; The Bogies are in to play Sept. 5; and Mudball plays Sept. 6… Studabakers has live music Thursday nights… Kensingtons has an open mic every Tuesday evening… St. Paul’s has a pub night happening Sept. 18 with Alex performing… Brewery Bay has Abby Dias, and Todd and Robin playing on their patio Sept. 5; David Owen and Amy and Kyle play Sept. 12… Steph Dunn plays Lake Country Grill Sept. 2 and Sept 3.
(Photos by Swartz – SUNonline/Orillia and Images Supplied)
