In celebration of Father’s Day, Mama Mimosa will share her flamboyant take on the Caetani family story.
It’s the historic saga of the royal Italian Prince Leone, the Caetani father, who immigrated to Vernon in 1921 with his consort and their young daughter Sveva.
Caetani Capers is the annual concert that showcases music students taught by Devon Muhlert at a studio set in the charming Caetani gardens.
“When I look at our past programs, the calibre of the pieces to be performed this year has gone up,” said Muhlert. “That gives me a lot of satisfaction, seeing my students improve year by year.”
This year is also the 100th anniversary of Sveva’s birth, so that has become the theme for the sixth annual Capers. In the same spirit, Muhlert’s new book, Cadence of Colour: Sveva Caetani and her Mothers, will be available.
Mama Mimosa (Christine Pilgrim) is an Italian tour de force who loves to gossip. She has much to say about the Caetanis and will say it at a sneak preview of her show, I CAETANI, where she will act as narrator, dishing about the family.
A formally trained British actress, Pilgrim made part of the Caetani house her home for many years and led tours around the Caetani property, which was donated by Sveva to the city of Vernon to create a cultural enclave. Pilgrim has recreated many historical characters over the years. She recently portrayed gold-rush pioneer and first female Overlander Catherine Schubert in Armstrong to great acclaim. That play, called Through Their Eyes, was commissioned by the Armstrong Legion as a tribute to Canada’s 150th birthday. Written by Pilgrim, it was sponsored by the Community Foundation of the North Okanagan and Canada 150, with some local talent.
There are two special bonuses for Caetani Capers attendees. First, your ticket acts as a down payment on Cadence of Colour. Second, videographer Brian Taylor will produce a short DVD to promote Pilgrim’s upcoming fall show i, to take place immediately after the concert, in the same space.
“The Caetani Capers audience could be part of that process for another sneak preview,” said Pilgrim.
The concert starts at 2 p.m., June 18 at the new gathering-space and gallery at the Caetani Cultural Centre. Tickets are available for $10, contact Devon at devonelle@telus.net, 250-308-2688 to reserve.
