alex.browne@peacearchnews.com
Journey of Christmas
One of the best-loved outdoor displays of the season on the Semiahmoo Peninsula is back.
A new, stylized, lighted star draws visitors to the by-donation Journey of Christmas at St. Mark’s, Ocean Park, 12953 20 Ave. 6-9 p.m. nightly until Christmas Eve.
The nine colourful, sound-cued dioramas of the journey, telling the biblical story of the first Christmas and the birth of the Christ-child, are arranged in the wooded area around the church – ideal for viewing in a guided family walk through the grounds before enjoying hot chocolate and cookies and live entertainment in the hall on selected evenings (this writer will be getting into the act by contributing readings of some well-known Christmas stories and poems on one of the nights).
Built by volunteers in 1999 as St. Mark’s response to prevalent secular displays and programs, the Journey of Christmas has drawn more than 15,000 people to celebrate the Christian origins of the celebration.
Brian Walks, St. Mark’s publicist and Journey of Christmas volunteer chair, said that while the main draw of the event is sharing the message of the journey, entertainment adds an extra dimension of warmth and good fellowship.
That’s evident this Christmas, as well, he said – even though circumstances prevent some of the usual entertainers from participating.
This Thursday (Dec. 17) St. Mark’s Choir will be joined by young members of the Girl Guides.
On Friday (Dec. 18), it’s the turn of the appropriately seasonal brass and horns of the Fraser Valley Wind Ensemble, while on Saturday (Dec. 19) the ever-popular Gilbert & Sullivan Society singers will add their crowd-pleasing touch to the traditional songs and carols, while on Sunday (Dec. 20) the choirs from Surrey’s St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church will bring their impressive blend of voices to the church hall.
On Dec. 21 it’s my turn to read (with some informal carol singing by some of the children of the congregation), while on Christmas Eve the journey will be open from 3:30 to 9 p.m., complimenting the well-attended children’s service at 5 p.m. and two candlelight services, at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Elaine Tanner book signing
Olympic Hall of Fame athlete Elaine Tanner – also known as the ‘Mighty Mouse of the Pool’ – will be signing copies of her children’s book, Monkey Guy and the Cosmic Fairy, Friday (Dec. 18) 4-6 p.m. at the Pacific Inn, 1160 King George Blvd.
A limited number of advance run copies are available of the picture book, written by Tanner and illustrated by Denis Proulx.
A triple Olympic medallist and five-time swimming world record holder, and officer of the Order of Canada, Tanner was named Canada’s Greatest Athlete of the Year at the tender age of 15, and has since been voted one of Canada’s 50 All Time Greatest Athletes and inducted into seven sports halls of fame.
Tanner and her husband, John Watt – who currently split their time between Ontario and the West Coast – are passionate advocates on many social issues.
One dollar for each book sold will be donated to animal rescue and homeless causes which are both close to her heart .
Handel Society Messiah
A Peninsula favourite, the annual performance of George Frideric Handel’s immortal oratorio by the Handel Society of Music Choir and Orchestra, returns this Friday (Dec. 18) at 7:30 p.m. at a new venue, First United Church, 15385 Semiahmoo Ave.
Messiah, led by longtime society musical director Johan Louwersheimer, will feature guest soloists Melanie Krueger (soprano), Megan Latham (mezzo-soprano), Adam Dyjach (tenor) and Willy Miles-Grenzburg (bass).
Although German-born, Handel moved to London when he was 27 and spent most of his remaining years life there.
Ironically, his enduring masterpiece was a product of the uncertain economics of the music scene of his day.
A prolific composer of operas—as well as such celebrated commissioned work as his Water Music and Fireworks Music—Handel had turned increasingly to biblically-inspired oratorio after changing tastes and the politics of the opera world undermined the profitability of his productions.
After Messiah successful premiere in Dublin in 1743, it was brought to London, and Handel’s unassailable mastery of choral writing helped re-establish him as a force in English music.
Tickets ($20, $15 seniors and students) are available from 604-531-3396, www.handelsociety.ca, Tapestry Music in White Rock and Christopher’s Gift Gallery in Ocean Park.
The society will also present the same concert the following night (Dec. 19) at Canadian Martyrs Catholic Church, 5771 Granville Ave., Richmond (further information from www.handelsociety.ca).
Muddy Christmas
Local legends The Mud Bay Blues Band – who’ve shared bills with the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughn, James Cotton and Long John Baldrey – are back and ready to rock out with its crowd-pleasing approach to the season, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. at Blue Frog Studios, 1328 Johnston Rd.
A Very Muddy Christmas will present some “muddified” Christmas favourites as well as songs from the new album Colebrook Road, currently garnering plays on the CBC and internationally.
Tickets ($37.50) are available from www.bluefrogstudios or 604-542-3055.
Stella Maris
Great Light, Great Joy, the Stella Maris Choir Christmas Concert, featuring the internationally-noted choir in a wide variety of traditional and modern music, takes place this Sunday (Dec. 20) at 3 p.m. at Good Shepherd Church, 2250 150 St.
Tickets are $10 ($8 senior/student or $25 family), available at the Parish office, 604-531-5739.
Cinderella
The White Rock Players Club tradition of a distinctly colourful, over-the-top Christmas pantomime (for the uninitiated, musical comedy with a heavy helping of vaudeville) continues with Cinderella (until Jan. 2 at Coast Capital Playhouse, 1532 Johnston Rd.).
Based on a classic White Rock Players script by the late Charlotte Johnson, the new version, written by Sara and Lisa Pavilionis (and directed by Lisa) brings together all the traditional, fun-for-the-whole-family elements in the retelling of the favourite fairy tale, including a good fairy, a “magical maniacal” demon and, of course, poor, put-upon Cinderella and her ‘blended’ family.
Sam Brealey stars as Cinderella, with Juliana Peralta as Prince Charming, Katherine Lozada as the Fairy Godmother, Shaun McHale as the Demon, and Ray Van Ieperen as stepmother Clarice Cuttlefish and Jennifer Lane and Bryce Paul Mills as her daughters Mildred and Winifred.
Shows are at 7:30 p.m., with matinees Dec. 20, 26, 27 and Jan. 2 at 2:30 p.m.
Also upcoming this season are Marc Camoletti’s celebrated 1960s door-slammer farce Boeing, Boeing, set to hit the stage March 2-19, and Noel Coward’s brilliant 1930s comedy of manners Private Lives (April 13-30).
The announced season closer will offer not one, but two versions of a classic comedy – a staging, on alternate nights, of both the male and female versions of Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple.
For panto tickets ($22, $15 children 12 and under and Coast Capital Savings members) call 604-536-7535, or visit www.whiterockplayers.ca
Sunshine at night
There’s something special about open mic evenings – not only do you hear a variety of music that most venue programmers can’t present, but you might just catch an early performance by a rising star, or a surprise appearance by an established performer trying some new material.
Semiahmoo Peninsula open mic king Dennis Peterson – a man with a good eye for White Rock and South Surrey’s growing pool of experienced and developing talents – is offering a regular show, 6-9 p.m. most Saturdays at The Good Day Sunshine Cafe, #100-2950 King George Hwy.
With dinner, drinks and dessert also on the menu, it’s a good venue to settle in for an evening of unexpected musical treats.
Puss In Boots
Royal Canadian Theatre Company’s Christmas panto, Ellie King’s Puss In Boots opens this Friday (Dec. 18) at Surrey Arts Centre (13750 88 Ave.).
A family show in every sense of the word (King wrote the script and produces, son James directs and husband Geoff is musical director) it follows in a long line of traditional British sparkly, cheeky Christmas fare offered by the company’s stock troupe, well know to audiences from shows in Surrey and in Maple Ridge.
Puss In Boots runs in Surrey until Dec. 27, followed by a run at the ACT Centre Maple Ridge Dec. 31-Jan. 3.
The fairy tale fun revolves around the story of young Colin Miller (Carol Davison) his sister Anne (Crystal Weltzin) and mom Widow Miller (veteran RCTC Dame Alan Cedargreen) and friend Tom Tom the Piper’s Son (Brad Dewar) and how their fortunes are transformed thanks to a magical cat, Puss In Boots (Jackie Bruce).
On hand to create the usual devilish complications are the Demon King (Stephen Elchesen), with the Good Fairy (Lauren Trotzuk) ready to foil him at every turn, with humour added by King Pom Pom of Pomerania (Martin Keith Perrin), his Prime Minister Fiddle (Jeremy Glass) and daughters Marietta (Chantelle Anderson) and Sacharina (Kerri Norris) and a mime (Julian Legere).
Extra menace is supplied in this edition by Ogre Bonecruncher (Gareth Dyke), while the cuteness factor is more than covered by Little Puss (Elchesen and Norris’ daughter Cayleigh).
Tickets in Surrey are available through 604-501-5566 or online at tickets.surrey.ca
For more information, visit www.rctheatreco.com
White Rock Trad Jazz
Feel like some ‘hot jazz’ to get you through the chills of winter – not to mention the stress of Christmas shopping and preparations? The upbeat style of music that kept toes tapping through the Roaring `20s and the Dirty Thirties continues to inspire dancers at White Rock Traditional Jazz Society’s regular 2 to 5 p.m. sessions of live Dixieland/Swing each Sunday at the Royal Canadian Legion Crescent Branch 240 (2643 128 St.).
The trad sounds continue Dec. 20 with society house group the Red Beans and Rice Band.
Admission (19 and up) is $10 for WRTJS and Legion members, $12 for everybody else).
For more information on upcoming bands visit www.whiterocktradjazz.com or call 604-560-9215.
Tina Turner tribute
Vancouver-based Luisa Marshall had the powerhouse vocal talent, the legs and the looks to pull off a tribute to the Queen of Rock – but it wasn’t until she was performing in Dubai in 1995 that she finally gave in to persistent requests to don a wild Tina Turner wig while ‘selling’ Turner’s signature ‘Proud Mary.’
It was at that moment that her internationally-acclaimed, award winning tribute show was born – the show she and Rock.It Boy Entertainment will bring to Coast Capital Playhouse, 1532 Johnston Rd. (Monday, Dec. 28, 7:30 p.m.).
An astounding resemblance to Turner both musically and physically consistently brings down the house with spectacular performances of hits like The Best, Better Be Good To Me, Private Dancer, What’s Love Got To Do With It, Let’s Stay Together and We Don’t Need Another Hero.
Tickets ($42.50, plus facility fee and service charges) can be charged by phone at 604-536-7535 or online at www.whiterockplayers.ca
New Year’s dinner dance
Another opportunity to get out the dancing shoes – for anyone 50 or over – will be the New Year’s Eve dinner dance, Dec. 31, at Kent Street Activity Centre, 1475 Kent Street.
The Swing City Orchestra will play from 8:45 p.m. until 15 minutes after midnight.
Dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets ($35) can also be purchased at the Wednesday dances or for further ticket information call: 604-857-0384 or 604-541-2231.
Young actors sought
There’s still a chance for young actors to audition for a highly-regarded theatre company’s 18th season.
Susan Pendleton’s Young People’s Theatre Company of Surrey (SYTCO) has opened up a few spots for boys and girls in grades 7-10 for the upcoming season.
Contact sytco@shaw.ca for audition information.
Encore concerts
The series of well-received afternoon classical performances presented by Encore Peninsula Concerts and co-sponsored by the City of White Rock continues in January at White Rock’s First United Church, 15385 Semiahmoo Ave. Next in the stellar group of world-class classical touring musicians lined up by artistic director Eugene Skovordnikov, himself an internationally-recognized concert pianist, will be Chinese cellist Yinzi Kong and her life and performing partner, American pianist William Ransom (Jan. 31).
Italian piano duo Sergio Marchegiani and Marco Schiavo, both also noted as soloists, will bring out the excitement of Brahms’ piano duets on Feb. 28, while Polish/Belgian pianist Joanna Trzeciak will present Beethoven and Chopin pieces on April 17.
Rounding out the series will be an extra treat – an orchestral performance by the strings of the West Coast Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Albanian maestro Bujar Llapaj) with Skovorodnikov at the piano, and Canadian-American trumpeter Dan Kocurek.
Featured pieces at this concert will be Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart, surely one of the best-known of all classical compositions, and Shostakovich’s Concerto No. 1 for Piano, Trumpet and Strings.
Tickets (season and individual) can be purchased online at tickets.surrey.ca or at White Rock Community Centre, 15154 Russell Ave.
Orchestral recruits
The White Rock Community Orchestra has openings for double bass players and string players – especially violinists and violists. New woodwind and brass players are also welcome. For details, call Don Miller at 604-807-0560 or email papadon1812@hotmail.com, or visit http://whiterockcommunityorchestra.org
Symphonists sought
Now celebrating its 30th concert season, the Fraser Valley Symphony is seeking new members in the violin, viola and percussion sections, but also welcomes inquiries from other interested professional-calibre musicians.
Performing alongside world class instrumental and vocal soloists, the orchestra provides an opportunity for auditioned musicians to present a variety of music to audiences throughout the region.
Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings, in Abbotsford.
Contact info@fraservalleysymphony.org or call 604-859-3877.
Singers wanted
Pacific Showtime Men’s Chorus, based in Ocean Park, rehearses Monday nights at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Church, 12953 20 Ave.
The small community chorus of experienced singers is currently seeking new members for all vocal ranges: lead, tenor, baritone and bass.
Offering a big sound in a variety of musical styles, Pacific Showtime has been featured at a many different Lower Mainland events, including show productions, concerts and private functions.
The repertoire is designed to include songs and a singing style that appeal to a wide variety of music preferences, with emphasis on entertainment value, and chance to develop singing skills while having fun and enjoying camaraderie.
Male singers are invited to attend rehearsals to check out the group and, hopefully, join in.
For more information, call 604-536-5292 or email leighand@shaw.ca
