Kings arts scene - as of Nov. 10

BY WENDY ELLIOTT

Kings County Advertiser

Listen to Ron James

Ron James will bring his Mental As Anything tour to Wolfville’s Festival Theatre Nov. 10.

With an unprecedented five television comedy specials under his belt and a new CBC-TV comedy series, Canada’s busiest comedian Ron James has a new 90-minute rant.

Whether wrestling with society’s accelerated rate of change, stumbling on nostril drooling bull moose during forest hikes or experiencing the virtues of backyard composting and its promise of immortality, James brings a “foot soldier’s perspective from the trenches” in our collective march through life’s bright fury.

Busy artists

Holly Carr says she’s been booked for performances in Toronto with Robert Pilon, in Winnipeg and Brandon with the Winnipeg Symphony and her own show in February with Symphony Nova Scotia.

Carr recently had a sold out show at the Marigold Theatre in Truro. She painted a 16-foot painting live, interwoven with the music of saxophonist Chris Mitchell, some video footage and personal stories exploring the idea of enchantment.

Her symphony date is Feb. 21 at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax.

Acadia Art Gallery

Please join us for a Wonder Tale Salon Nov. 12, 7 p.m. to 9 pm, presented by “Long Ago and Far Away: Wonder Tales,” a class in the departments of English and Theatre.

Find out about a few writers from Long Ago and hear 10 original tales. Delectable quotations will be served.

There is a portrait workshop for children Nov. 14, 1 p.m. to 3 pm., presented in collaboration with students from the School of Education. There will also be an art workshop for children ages seven to 12. Participants will learn about the art of plasticine and how to create self-portraits with this material. Free admission, but space is limited. Registration required: artgallery@acadiau.ca

An exhibition tour and discussion Nov. 19, from noon to 1 p.m., is presented as part of Acadia Lifelong Learning’s brownbag series. Join the director in the gallery for a discussion on portraiture and the current exhibition, Kingston Prize

November 21 and 28, between 1 p.m. and 4 pm, it’s the gallery’s drop-in Art Saturdays of free thematic art activities for all ages. In November, make snow globes. All materials provided. Donations always welcome.

String quartet here

The St. Lawrence String Quartet (SLSQ) has established itself among the world-class chamber ensembles of its generation. Since winning both the Banff International String Quartet Competition and Young Concert Artists International Auditions in 1992, the quartet has delighted audiences with its passionate and dynamic performances and will be in Wolfville Nov. 13.

The SLSQ is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a new recording of Haydn and Dvorák quartets (two composers whose work will be featured at the Wolfville concert) through a partnership with the innovative company ArtistShare.com.

In 2008, following a nationwide search, Acadia’s Derek Charke was one of five Canadian composers, each representing a region of Canada, invited to create a new work celebrating the 20th anniversary. The SLSQ is delighted to have the opportunity to premiere this work in Atlantic Canada.

Violist Lesley Robertson is a founding member of the group, and hails from Edmonton. Cellist Christopher Costanza is from Utica, NY and joined the quartet in 2004. Violinists Geoff Nuttall and Scott St. John both grew up in London Ont.; Geoff is a founding member and Scott joined in 2006. Depending on concert repertoire, the two alternate the role of first violin. All four members of the quartet live and teach at Stanford University in California.

For tickets ($26 adults/ $17 students), call the Acadia Box Office at 542-5500.

At the Whittle

Fundy Film screens Il Divo Nov. 15, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Director Paolo Sorrentino reaches into Italy’s turbulent post-war political history to craft a dazzling drama-portrait of a complex and dubious political figure, Giulio Andreotti. Italian P. M. during seven governments, he also had ties to the Mafia. This is a Jury Prize winne from Cannes.

The society will also screen Of Time and the City. Terence Davies’s landmark ode to hometown Liverpool blends a keen sense of social history with a touch of nostalgia and offers a captivating portrait of the city and its formidable inhabitants: unique and inspiring, personal, universal and gloriously cinematic. The film screens Nov. 18, 7 p.m., at the Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville.

Tickets ($8) 30 mins before screening. www.fundyfilm.ca or 542-5157.

In Windsor

November 19 at 8 p.m., the Mermaid Imperial Performing Arts Centre in Windsor presents Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers.

This Newfoundland musical comedy trio's manic mix of wacko humour, colorful characterizations and sweetly sung homespun ballads crosses all generations and musical preferences. Buddy Wasisname and The other Fellers (Wayne Chaulk, Kevin Blackmore and Ray Johnson) are in their 25th year performing rollicking music and fast-paced comedy.

For tickets and information, call Moe’s Place Music Sales at 902-798-5565. Tickets are $35 ($33 for students and seniors).

Bluegrass

The Spinney Brothers have their sixth annual Bluegrass in the Valley concert coming up Nov. 22, with special guests Machaela Taylor, Carl Dalrymple, Chet Brown and, again from Nashville on fiddle, Ron Stewart.

The show is at the Horton Performance Centre, start time is 2 p.m., doors open at 1 p.m. Tickets are available at Long and McQuade (formerly Music Stop) and CD Plus in the New Minas Mall.

In Denton Hall

The Acadia Theatre Company presents The Wonderful World of Dissocia, written by Anthony Neilson and directed by Robert Seale, Nov. 12 to 15 and 17 to 22.

Lisa Jones is on a journey: a colourful and exciting trip in search of one lost hour that has tipped the balance of her life. The inhabitants of Lisa's parallel universe - Dissocia - are a curious blend of the funny, the friendly and the brutal. Questions are raised and perceptions challenged as to how society deals with psychosis. As Neilson himself puts it, "If you like Alice in Wonderland but there’s not enough sex and violence in it, then Dissocia is the show for you".

The Acadia Theatre Company production will take place at 8 pm, with matinee performances Nov. 15 and Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. All performances will take place in Lower Denton Theatre, Acadia University. Ticket prices are $12 regular and $10 for students/ seniors and may be purchased at the door or reserved by calling the Reservation Line at 585-1766.

At the ECMAs

The East Coast Music Association has announced the Hupman Brothers from Wolfville will be on the Discovery Stage in Sydney between March 4 - 7.

Coming up

Nov. 14-15 & 21-22

Affordable Art, Grand Pre Historic Site, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nov. 14

Poison Cherry, West Side Charlies, New Minas, 10 p.m.

Nov. 19-21

Fezziwig Family Christmas Frolic, Festival Theatre, Wolfville, 7 p.m. Sat. matinee

Until Dec. 10

Kingston Prize exhibition, Acadia Art Gallery, Wolfville

Until Dec. 12

Bingo: The Musical, CentreStage Theatre, Kentville

Send arts news to welliott@kentvilleadvertiser.ca