Literary events
Semiahmoo Arts’ ongoing Zero – 360 series at Pelican Rouge Coffee House, Central Plaza – in which local authors can read from their literary work (to a maximum of six minutes each) – continues the second Thursday of each month. Reader sign-up begins at 7:05 p.m. for each of the evenings.
The Readings By The Salish Sea series continues Nov. 30 at the Pelican Rouge with an evening of poetry and fiction by Victoria-based authors Terence and Patricia Young.
Readings will include excerpts from Terence Young’s fiction collection, The End Of The Ice Age, and poetry from Patricia Young’s collection, An Auto-erotic History of Swings.
For more information visit www.semiahmooarts.com
Beastly fun
It’s not Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, but it is the Fraser Valley Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s latest in a well-received line of 26 Christmas pantomimes.
FVGSS’s take on Beauty and the Beast runs to Dec. 4 at Surrey Arts Centre Theatre (88 Avenue and King George Blvd.), officially launching panto season in the Surrey-White Rock area.
The team of producer Reginald Pillay, artistic director Mike Balser, musical director Tim Tucker and choreographer Carol Seitz have put together a talented cast, featuring Kaitlyn Yott as Belle, Sean Donnelly as the Beast, Paul Rowell as Antoine, Robert Newcombe as Smelle, Barrie Mills as Claude, Clive Ramroop as Prince Dobbin, Tammy Theis as Pierre, Jeff Christensen as Sneaker, Rosemary Forst as Bossy, Samantha Andrews as Goody, Adam Olgui as Pepe, Adrian Duncan as the town crier and Elizabeth Olsson as the little girl.
The family-friendly show promises a magical enchanted castle, beautiful sets and costumes, toe-tapping tunes and lively dancing.
For show time information and tickets call 604-501-5566, or visit www.fvgss.org
Loose goose
Mother Goose returns to the Coast Capital Playhouse (1532 Johnston Rd.) tomorrow night (Nov. 30) with the opening of the latest in the White Rock Players Club’s 57-year tradition of Christmas pantomimes.
Directed by Dave Baron, the show is a reboot of Goose: The Mother Of All Pantos by White Rock’s The Brothers Dimm (also known as Tom Saunders, Fred Partridge, Mike Roberds and Jason Dedrick).
First presented in 1997, the show has been revised and updated with topical jokes and references, and new linking music.
The show runs until Boxing Day (Dec. 26) with evening performances at 8 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. matinees on Sundays.
Expect all the other favourite pantomime schtick, too (over-the-top male Dame, female principal boy, colourful costumes, appropriated songs, knockabout comedy) channelled through the more post-modern, ironic sensibility of the Dimms.
The show, which features Nigel Watkinson as the title character, and Michelle Gatez as principal boy Jack (of Jack and Jill fame), chronicles the kidnapping of Mother Goose and the journey to rescue her from a publishing conglomerate holding her captive in Las Vegas.
For tickets and show time information, visit www.whiterockplayers.ca or call 604-536-7535.
Mayan Horror
Well-known humourist Bob Robertson (CBC’s Double Exposure) will be at Black Bond Books’ Semiahmoo Centre location Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. as part of his cross-Canada tour to promote his latest book, Mayan Horror: How To Survive The End Of The World in 2012 (Anvil Press).
Robertson takes his cue from the fact that the Mayan Calendar runs out on Dec. 21, 2012, which has led some to predict that all manner of disasters will befall the earth – from collision with a rogue planet and ensuing biblical floods to swarms of gnats.
“But just because life as we know it will come to an end, it doesn’t mean you can’t survive and even prosper financially in the post-apocalyptic world,” Robertson says in his satire on topical self-help literature.
Robertson will also be making a presentation along with his readings from the book during the promotional stop.
Books will be available for signing during the event.
For more information, call Black Bond at 604-536-3336.
Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir
Tickets are still on sale for one of two local Christmas concerts by the popular Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir.
Although a Dec. 6 concert at Surrey Arts Centre is sold out, there is still a chance to catch the ensemble’s famed, spine-tingling vocal blend Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at White Rock Baptist Church (1657 140 St.).
Tickets ($25, $22 seniors and students) are available on line from vwmc.ca or by phone at 604-878-1190.
Peninsula Art Tour
The second annual Peninsula Art Tour featuring 19 artists living and working in White Rock and South Surrey, will take place Dec. 3 and 4, including eight separate locations open between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day.
Artists participating include Rich Schmid, Jan Albertin, Sid, Adele and Lisa Samphire, Brian Hoyano, Mac Grieve, Gary McDonald, Nicole Carrie, Kath Boake, Hunter Brumell, Patricia Balsor, Jess Rice, David Patterson, Ann Worth, Marie Heath, Joan Boutin, Karen Pohlmann and Georgina Johnstone.
For a map showing all locations, visit www.peninsulaarttour.com
The tour includes the Crescent Artists sale at Beecher Place, Crescent Beach on Sunday, Dec. 4 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) which features the diverse work of the Samphires, Schmid, Hoyana and Albertin.
Pottery sale
The Semiahmoo Potters’ Christmas sale returns to Ocean Park Community Hall (1577 128 St.) Saturday, Dec. 3 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday, Dec. 4 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with a wide selection of practical and decorative pottery items.
For more information, visit www.semiahmoopotters.com
Handel’s Messiah
The Handel Society Choir, in collaboration with the Chilliwack Youth Orchestra, both conducted by maestro Johan Louwersheimer, will present Handel’s Messiah on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Good Shepherd Church, 2250 150 St.
Featured soloists will be well-known Surrey singers Debra DaVaughn (soprano) and her husband, Christopher Simmons (tenor), with Lauren Solkomon (mezzo-soprano) and Joel Klein (bass).
Possibly the best-known late Baroque oratorio, George Frederick Handel’s 1741 masterwork, Messiah, is an enduring Christmas classic, offering audiences an opportunity to appreciate the historic majesty of the composition and reflect on the true meaning of the holiday.
Also enduring is the Handel Society, now in its 45th year of performing major choral works on the Semiahmoo Peninsula – including such pieces as Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and Haydn’s Creation – as well as highlighting the talents of many aspiring young musicians.
Tickets ($20, $15 seniors and students) are available at the door or at 604-585-9102.
White Rock Choir
The Angel Choir and the Trumpeter is the title of a special 15th anniversary Christmas concert by the White Rock Children’s Choir, directed by Sarona Mynhardt, Sunday, Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at White Rock Baptist Church, 1657 140 St.
The instrumental quintet A Touch Of Brass will join the WRCC groups for the performance which will blend traditional Christmas classics.
Tickets ($15, $13 students and seniors) are available at Tapestry Music, or by calling 604-536-0236.
Surrey Children’s Choir
Ave Maria: A Family Christmas Concert, with the Surrey Children’s Choir family of choral ensembles, will be presented Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, 690 Burrard St., Vancouver.
Tickets ($22, $18 seniors and students) are available at Tapestry Music in White Rock, or by calling 604-536-3112.
Christmas chill
Virtuoso guitarist Doug Towle will present an evening of cool and smooth instrumental versions of Christmas classics – many of them drawn from his 2009 seasonal album High Spirits – Sunday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at Blue Frog Studios, 1328 Johnston Rd.
Joining Towle and band members Pete Davyduck (bass) and Calum Rees (drums) will be flamenco dance artist Jill Tunbridge (whose collaborations with Towle, including her own Flamenco del Mar festival, have been notable) and new age finger style guitarist Steve Laszcz.
Tickets ($20) are available from Tapestry Music or at www.dougtowle.com
