The Game’s Afoot
Mystery fans who enjoyed last year’s Peninsula Productions summer presentation, The Mousetrap, will be happy to hear ‘The Game’s Afoot’ at last.
The show, by popular American playwright Ken Ludwig, had its Canadian premiere July 10 at the Coast Capital Playhouse, 1532 Johnston Rd.
There’s a high fun quotient to the murder mystery/comedy, helmed by Peninsula Productions’ artistic director Wendy Bollard. Set in 1936, The Game’s Afoot revolves around the stabbing death of a guest staying at the Connecticut castle of Broadway actor William Gillette, original star of the 1899 production of Sherlock Holmes. Determined to prove himself a great sleuth in real life, Gillette takes a page out of Holmes’ book and sets out to track down the killer before another victim appears.
The show, which runs until July 28, stars Ben Odberg as Gillette, with Lori Tych, David Quast, Val Dearden, Michelle Collier, Mahara Sinclaire, Rebekah McEwen and Everett Shea.
Tickets ($18-23) are available at 604-536-7536, at the Playhouse box office, Tuesdays to Saturdays, $1-5 p.m. and online at www.whiterockplayers.ca
Youth film school
Are you a local teen interested in the current “democratization” of film-making, enabled by digital technology?
Would-be auteurs and technicians will have a chance to work with current independent digital standard equipment and professional film techniques to make a short film at a five day Peninsula-based Youth Film School for ages 14 to 18, running Aug. 19-23. For information on registering, call 604-356-0981, or email info@YouthFilmSchool.com
Vocal summer camp
Noted Vancouver vocal coach Jan Cooper of Cooper Studios and local vocal teacher Karen McKenzie are joining forces to present a Music of the 1990s Summer Day Camp for all ages, Sunday July 28, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Centennial Arena Lounge, 14600 North Bluff Rd. (16 Avenue).
Students are asked to bring their favourite 1990s tracks on CD or USB and encouraged to bring a bag lunch and dress in their most fun/outrageous 1990s wear for the camp, which is designed to give adults, teens and children experience of healthy voice technique, performance technique, talent development and promotional resources.
Registration is $100 per student; for more information, call Cooper Studios at 604-261-5026, Karen McKenzie Vocals at 778-991-8904, or email contact@karenmckenzievocals.com
Red Beans & Rice
The sounds of Dixieland and retro jazz continue each Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion Crescent Branch 240 (2643 128 St.).
While the White Rock Traditional Jazz Society program is on summer hiatus, house band Red Beans and Rice, featuring leader Rice Honeywell Sr. on cornet and vocals, has started its ninth-annual summer season.
Regular band members Gerry Green (reeds), Ray Batten (trombone, vocals), Don Ogilvie (guitar) and Casey Tolhurst (bass) are joined by the leader’s 15-year-old grandson, Ethan Honeywell, on drums. General admission is $10.
Honeywell also plays smooth jazz every Wednesday with Bob Storms (reeds) from 7-10 p.m. at Five Corners Bistro, 15182 Buena Vista Ave. Reservations, 604-538-5455.
Radio mystery
Alexander Browne’s The Adventures of Max Bennett – Detective (Saturday, Aug. 10 at White Rock First United Church, 15385 Semiahmoo Ave.) will be of particular interest to old-time radio fans, retro-mystery buffs and people who spend much of their time caring for parents or other ailing family members.
Non-profit group Family Caring For Family, which creates events as a much-needed respite for caregivers, will present the play in conjunction with the producer Katherine Siemens’ Dreaming Elephant Studio, and additional sponsor Tim Horton’s.
Featuring author/director Browne, and film, stage and TV actors Mike Roberds, Melia McClure, Marina Lazzarotto, Michael Broderick, Roger Currie, Tom Saunders, Russel Chartrand and Graham Hiscocks, the production recreates a 1932 live radio broadcast with two episodes of the exploits of Max Bennett, “an ace private investigator who finds adventure where the mysteries of the old world meet the mysteries of the new.”
There will be a special 4:30 p.m. pre-show reception and nominal ticket price for caregivers ($2), but tickets will also be available to the general public ($12), with doors open for them at 5:30 p.m. (the show begins at 6 p.m.) Tickets are available at the door; for more information for caregivers, call Stephanie at 604-239-4376.
Volunteers sought
Organizers of White Rock’s International Artist Day (IAD) Festival – planned for Oct. 21 to Oct. 27 – are issuing an immediate call for volunteers.
IAD founder Chris MacClure, and hostess Jane Baldwin, wife of White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin, say it’s an ideal opportunity to “make new friends and experience the art world firsthand.”
“There are many openings in all areas of help, whatever your expertise,” they say.
The festival is still calling for artists for the visual arts exhibit component which will run Oct. 25-27 at White Rock Community Centre. That section of the festival will be a partial juried show for which artists are invited to submit up to three 12×12-inch gallery wrapped, ready-to-hang canvas pieces (there will be a jurying fee of $25 which will cover up to three pieces).
Submissions will be accepted up to Aug. 15, with a delivery deadline of Sept. 15 for pieces that are chosen.
Works can be anything from paintings to mixed media, provided they meet the size constraints, and organizers are prepared to entertain sculpture and photography as well, provided the work can be kept to the same scale and price point (submitting artists in these media should email organizers full details of their work).
Artists should email info@tourismwhiterock.com
