Arts Scene

BY WENDY ELLIOTT

welliott@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Surprise guest

Audiences got a surprise after recent screenings of Fundy Film Society's Lars and the Real Girl at The Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville. They were introduced to a rather unusual cast member - Bianca - the life-sized doll on which the story is centered. Annapolis Valley Audio Visual (AVAV), a local production house, purchased Bianca a month ago to use in a documentary series called The Doll Chronicles, which begins shooting in June.

AVAV’s Dave Hockey was invited to bring Bianca to the screenings. Hockey and Bianca attended all three showings, conducting a short talk on the role she will play in the documentary. People were invited to meet her onstage and take pictures.

Bianca is a 45kg (100-lb.) full-framed posable Realdoll constructed in California by Abyss Studios. A total of four dolls were used in the making of the movie. Actor Ryan Gosling as well as director Craig Gillespie each kept one as a personal memento.

Hockey says when a Hollywood props company listed Bianca for sale, he seized the opportunity. “We had planned to use a Realdoll in the documentary, and the purchase of Bianca – a celebrity doll - will add additional momentum to our production.”

The Doll Chronicles – Quest for the Ultimate Surrogate Female – will be a light-hearted journey into the realm of life-sized dolls and the people who own them.

Hockey, who has been researching for over 15 months, stated that Lars represented only a small fraction of doll owners. “One thing I’ve noticed in my research is that doll owners are as diverse as car owners. There is no stereotype.” dollchronicles.com

Sunday Music Concert

The fifth Sunday Music in the Garden Room concert in this season’s Acadia Alumni chamber music series will be presented Sunday, Feb. 17, at 2 p.m. in the Garden Room of the Irving Centre in Wolfville.

On a tour organized by Debut Atlantic, pianist David Jalbert, deemed one of the compelling talents of his generation, will perform. With his personal style, stage presence and refined ear, he has convinced audiences and critics across North America.

Jalbert will present a program of works by Shostakovich, Chopin, Schumann, Beethoven, and Symphony Nova Scotia resident composer Dinuk Wijeratne.

The final concert in this year’s series will be March 16, also at 2 p.m. It will include two of the greatest quintets ever written for piano and winds, one by Mozart and the other by Beethoven. They will be performed by David Parker, Margaret Isaacs, Suzanne Lemieux, Christopher Palmer, (all members of Symphony Nova Scotia) and Acadia’s John Hansen on the piano.

Concert soon

The Valley African Nova Scotia Development Association will hold a special concert Feb. 16 to mark African Heritage Month.

Celebration in Song will feature Jordan Croucher, Chelsea Nisbett, Neveah, Shoulder to Shoulder and the Deep River boys.

The concert this Saturday starts at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $20.

Young Canada reads

Five young Nova Scotia readers will defend their book when CBC Radio’s Mainstreet in Halifax puts its own spin on CBC Radio One’s annual battle of the books competition, Canada Reads. The third annual kid’s version titled Young Canada Reads will air Feb. 18-22 from 3-6 p.m.

Modeled on the Canada Reads format, Young Canada Reads features five junior high students, ages 13-15, who will each choose a Canadian book to defend.

Mainstreet worked with local schools to find kids for the show. The five participants include Thomas Burton, 14, from Wolfville Junior High School defending Tim Wynn-Jones’ The Maestro.

After each student is given the opportunity to comment on their selection, participants vote until only one book remains. Each student is striving to win and have the opportunity to co-host Mainstreet for a day with host Stephanie Domet.

“They’re young and really direct with their opinions and work for and against each other,” Domet said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to hear younger voices on our show and talk about great Canadian books.”

In the past six years, Canada Reads has become a significant vehicle for celebrating Canadian books and bolstering readership. Short-listed titles have enjoyed critical and commercial success, and titles have been revived to find a new audience. The seventh chapter of Canada Reads will air on CBC Radio One from Feb. 25-29 at 11:30 a.m. The winning title will be announced nationally Feb. 29.

On stage

Machaela Taylor and Ryan Roberts of Wolfville are among 101 regional semi-finalists in the Ovation Star Search Atlantic.

The closest regional competition will take place Feb. 18 at Halifax West High School.

Join in

Love to Sing? Valley Voices would like to welcome you to join in Tuesdays at 7:15 p.m. at the CE Centre at the Kentville Baptist Church. For info contact Sandi, 681-5176 or Penny, 678-6180. www.valleyvoiceschorus.com.



Screening set

Fundy Film has tentatively booked the documentary How to Cook Your Life for Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m.

Move over Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance filmmaker Doris Dorrie has turned her attention to Buddhism and that age-old saying: ‘you are what you eat.’ In How to Cook Your Life, Dorrie enlisted the help of the charismatic Zen Master Edward Espe Brown to explain the guiding principles of Zen Buddhism as they apply to the preparation of food and life itself.

Coming up

Feb. 12

Sweets for the Sweet, Kentville Fire Hall, 7 p.m.

Until Feb. 19

Senior Follies, CentreStage Theatre, Kentville, 678-8040

Feb. 21 – 23

Psst: Wanna Know a Secret? Women of Wolfville, Festival Theatre, Wolfville

Until March 20

Death of the Party, art exhibition @ Ross Creek Centre, near Canning

(Please send arts items to: welliott@kentvilleadvertiser.ca)