A Murder of Crows
Tickets are available now for Surrey Little Theatre’s next production, playwright Ed Graczyk’s serio-comic examination of small town life in rural Ohio, A Murder Of Crows, directed by Lynne Karey-McKenna (April 7 to May 7 at the theatre, 7027 184 St.).
It’s described as “an evening of lovable crotchety Americana” focusing on the amiable, quirky characters to be found at Woodson’s General Store.
But A Murder of Crows is also a compassionate, old-fashioned play about life and death in Middle America touching on themes of aging, love, loyalty and displacement.
The events take place in the town of Wallace – once a thriving farm community but now chemically polluted to the point that it will soon be a ghost town.
Graczyk’s heartfelt story softens the hard facts of life and death with infectious warmth and humour, as aging couple Harley and Jenny Woodson (Steven Burridge, Heather Harris) are relocated to a trailer home in the city by their long-estranged son, Corey, and daughter-in-law, Doris (Brad Hammerstrom, Robyn Bradley).
Also featured are Grant Vlahovic as Luther ‘Digger’ Briggs and Pat Braun as Velma MacKey.
The show will be Surrey Little Theatre’s entry in the Fraser Valley Zone of the Theatre B.C. Festival.
Showtimes are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees on April 17 and May 1.
To reserve tickets ($15), call 604-576-8451or email reservations@surreylittletheatre.com
U Lounge music
The U Lounge at Grandview corners is offering live music every Thursday at 8 p.m. (no cover charge), presented by Magnetized Productions.
Next up in the venue’s new Lucky 7 Thursday series will be Ben Sigston (March 24), Jacob Dryden (March 31), David Blair (April 7) and David Anthony (April 14).
Trad jazz
White Rock Traditional Jazz Society’s popular schedule of Sunday sessions continues Sunday, March 27, 3-6 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion Crescent Branch 240 (2643 128 St.) with the Clam Digger Jazz Band.
Admission is $10 ($8 for WRTJS members). For details, visit www.whiterocktradjazz.com
Three Visions
A new show of photography, Three Visions, presents the work of Dwayne Lamb, Jevon Safarik and Bob Warick, until April 1 at Semiahmoo Arts’ gallery, 90-1959 152 St. (Windsor Square).
For more information, call 604-536-8333, or visit www.semiahmooarts.com
Community orchestra
The White Rock Community Orchestra Society is on the lookout for new players – particularly in the string, bass and brass sections.
Repertoire for the orchestra’s upcoming May and June concerts will range from Brahms to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera.
The friendly, all-ages ensemble rehearses every Saturday morning from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Masonic Hall.
Drop-ins are welcome, or, for more information, call Bryce at 604-536-5170.
The Streels
The Maritime and Celtic sound of multi-talented Newfoundland musician Lorne Warr and his band, The Streels, will be highlighted in concert March 26 at 8 p.m. at White Rock Elks Hall, 1469 George St.
Tickets are $15 (non members) and $12.50 (members).
For more information, call 604-538-4016 or email whiterockelks431@shaw.ca
Ensemble Galilei
A stellar group of U.S. musicians will make their only Canadian appearance during a west coast tour 8 p.m., Friday, April 1, at First United Church, White Rock.
Ensemble Galilei brings together musicians from different worlds in an ongoing adventure that utilizes their renowned expertise and technique to create new dimensions of music.
The ensemble features Ryan McKasson on Scottish fiddle, Jackie Moran on bodhran and tenor banjo, and Sue Richards on celtic harp, all versed in Scottish and Irish traditions, plus violinist Ginger Hildebrand and viola da gamba player Carolyn Surrick – both with decades of experience in Renaissance and Baroque music. Tickets ($25) area available from Tapestry Music, First United Church, Surrey Arts Centre box office 604-501-5566, online at https://tickets.surrey.ca
Ladies of the Camellias
What happens when the two pre-eminant divas of the stage in the 1890s – Sarah Berhardt and Eleanor Duse – are both to perform Lady of the Camellias, by Alexandre Dumas, in Paris, the same week and in the same theatre?
That’s the premise of Lillian Garrett-Groag’s farcical historical comedy Ladies of the Camellias, next presentation of the White Rock Players Club, in a production directed by Paul Kloegman (who helmed last season’s Humble Boy).
The club’s entry in this year’s TheatreBC Vancouver Zone festival, it will play April 6 to 23 at the Coast Capital Playhouse, 1532 Johnston Rd., with Wednesday to Saturday performances at 8 p.m., plus a 2:30 p.m. Sunday matinee April 17.
For ticket information, call (604-536-7535) or visit www.whiterockplayers.ca
Tim Williams
Legendary blues singer-songwriter-guitarist Tim Williams – presented locally last year by the White Rock Blues Society – will be back in White Rock for one night only, April 6 at 8 p.m. at the Sandpiper Pub.
The intimate, up-close-and-personal show will feature Williams’ colourful songs and stories of the road, including playing with the likes of B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal and ZZ Top.
For more information, call 604-531-7746 or 604-542-6515.
Harpdog Brown
Next big event scheduled by the White Rock Blues Society is Harpdog Brown and the Bloodhounds, April 9 at the Rhumba Room of the Pacific Inn, 1160 King George Blvd.
The ace blues harpist and his band (Wayne Berezan, guitar; Joe Hoar, bass; Alex McNair, drums; and Jerry Cook, sax, plus keyboardist Graham Guest, two time Maple Blues nominee) will revisit 21 years of music making, following up on a recent 20-year reunion of the original Bloodhounds at The Yale in Vancouver.
Tickets ($15) are available from Tapestry Music, Surfside Music, the Pacific Inn or Surrey Arts Centre, https//tickets.surrey.ca
For more information, visit www.whiterockblues.com
Local authors
White Rock author Marya Sopova’s novel for children (ages 9-13 and higher), The MouseTronaut, is now available at Kids Books or at the Semiahmoo Arts gallery in Windsor Square.
The novel, and its accompanying volume, the Rocket of Fun workbook, traces the international – and outer space – adventures of an intrepid mouse trained as part of Russia’s space program.
For more, call 604-536-6749.
Crescent Beach author Ben Nuttall-Smith’s historical novel Blood, Feathers and Holy Men, an adventure spanning both old world and new world cultures in the 10th century AD, is currently available through local bookstores.
For more information on the book, published by busy South Surrey imprint Libros Libertad, visit www.bennuttall-smith.ca
South Surrey author Sam Wharton’s latest Jonathan Hare novel, Ignorant Armies (Melrose Books, UK), is currently available at Angel Christian Supplies (104-2429 152 St.) and Black Bond Books, Semiahmoo Centre.
Drawing on Wharton’s own experiences in the military and policies of recruitment for intelligence work, Ignorant Armies is the second installment in his saga of Hare, a young innocent abroad in a sea of political and personal intrigue in post-World War Two Britain.
Argentine tango
It first appeared in the dance halls and brothels of Buenos Aires around 1880 – and it wasn’t even considered socially acceptable in Argentina until after it became a craze in Europe just before the First World War.
But authentic Argentine tango – a distinctly different dance from the ballroom tango – is hotter than ever.
Now Portal a Tango Dance Entertainment offers people the chance to learn the dance with a series of beginner and intermediate lessons at Ocean Park Hall, 1577 128 St.
Owned and operated by husband and wife team Bobbi and Patricia Lusic, Portal a Tango “works to promote Argentine tango as a healthy means for individual expression, improving quality of life and experiencing joy through music and dance.”
For more, call 778-773-9904 or visit www.portalatango.com
Rock Band
The Rock Band Program is registering students for spring.
The program offers youth aged eight to 17 a chance to play in a rock band and perform live in concert.
Adults wanting to rock out are also invited to register for a new program called My Generation – Adult Rock Band at the Todd Brewer School of Music. The program is open to adults of all musical skill levels.
For more information on both programs, call 604-538-2295.
