Bah-Humbug! (A Review of Theatre Northwest's New Show)

There are numerous versions of Charles Dickens’ beloved tale “A Christmas Carol” out there. It’s a timeless story, really; we never tire of watching Ebenezer Screwed - I mean, Scrooge- get scared out of his mind by a couple of spirits until he understands the meaning of Christmas. Ah, joy. Recently I had the chance to watch Theatre Northwest’s brand-new spin on A Christmas Carol, adapted and directed by Heather Davies; I was not disappointed in the slightest.

The show starts out in the future, with Scrooge and his family and friends all gathered round on Christmas evening and ask Scrooge to regale them with the story of how he came to join them in their festivities. And so the adventure begins.

It is charming, energetic, humorous at times; (“What’s that upon your cheek?” The Ghost of Christmas Past says when she watches Scrooge cry. “A pimple,” he replies dismissively, wiping it away.) and made my otherwise cold and deadened soul feel the full range of emotion over the course of two hours. It had everything I wanted in any rendition of the Christmas Carol and more; I loved the steampunk elements (a unique Theatre Northwest twist!), I loved the acting (some great local work), the singing (Christmas music sung well is my favourite), the special effects (they really did make it look magical), and the costumes (wardrobe department was very on point with the Ghosts).

I was so very impressed by the production; it was clear that an enormous amount of work was put into it. I recommend this show to anyone and everyone who loves the holidays (and if you don't love the holidays maybe this is just the thing you need.). If you think you’ve seen everything when it comes to this classic story, think again. Theatre Northwest delivers a fresh take, and I personally left the show humming “Joy to the World” under my breath, so that probably tells you what kind of mood it put me in.

The show runs until December 9 only, and tickets run out fast. I highly advise you to go to their website (theatrenorthwest.com) and book a ticket for you and your family/friends as soon as possible. This is one rendition of A Christmas Carol you definitely don’t want to miss!

this weekend: shows & happenings

The first weekend of November is upon us and it's full of good things! If you're curious as to what the things are - read on. Power Duo's FREE album release show is happening Friday the 6th @ 8pm. The Parish Church of St. Michael and All Angels will surely be a lovely venue for the Prince George duo's scrappy and poignant folk harmonies. All ages! ** Tickets for the After Party are $10 a piece at Handsome Cabin Boy Tattoo. Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1509934009329878/

The indie rock/pop/funk/folk/northern BC vibes of Bright City Heights will be alive and well and really friggin' vivacious at the Westwood Pub, Saturday the 7th @ 9pm. 19+. No cover! Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1630366007233948/

Prince George's The Statistics are opening for Texture and Light, an electronic dream rock band from BC's Sunshine Coast. The cover charge is $5 but the show will be priceless. Don't miss this energetic, sweaty, and intimate experience. Saturday the 7th @ 9pm at none other than Nancy O's. 19+. Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/497756477054458/

The Hart Community Centre is hosting a Barn Dance Party Saturday the 7th @ 8pm. At $25 a piece, tickets include food and a shuttle service. Local country artist Rick Stavely will be playing from 8:30 to 11pm, followed by DJ Mike Boyce of Rhythm and Sound. 19+. Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/844431565670833/

What We Did On Our Holiday is screening Saturday the 7th @ 7pm at the College of New Caledoni, courtesy of Cinema CNC. This UK film is a charming and delightful account of a family vacation gone awry, featuring Gone Girl's Rosamund Pike, David Tennant of Dr. Who, and comedian Billy Connolly. Event: http://cinemacnc.blogspot.ca/2015/09/november-7-what-we-did-on-our-holidays.html

CNC International Education and Dana Mandi have collaborated to bring Diwali to Prince George. Dinner, dance performances, door prizes, and fireworks - the whole shbang! Get in on the festivities Saturday the 7th @ 5:30pm at the Hart Banquet Hall. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students, and $10 for children. Event: http://tourismpg.com/events/diwali-party

~~~

There's plenty to see/hear/do in Prince George this weekend and I couldn't be happier about it. But if you're more of a homebody (which I am six out of seven days of the week), you can still get your fill of arts and culture!

Here's an unorderly list of new-ish albums and not-so-new-but-equally-important movies worth checking out: - Days of Heaven by Steven Lambke (album) - Wino Oracle EP by The Zolas (album) - Currents by Tame Impala (album) - Depression Cherry by Beach House (album) - Shake, Shook, Shaken by The Dø (album) - Frank (movie) - The Kings of Summer (movie) - Mad Max: Fury Road (badass movie) - Je suis Femen (badass feminist documentary)

Post by Dara Campbell

Hallowe'en Hilarity @ The Thirsty Moose Pub - 8pm

 

TONIGHT AND TONIGHT ONLY: Russell Peters, Greg Giraldo, Joe Rogan, Patrice O'Neal, Stewart Francis, Amy Schumer, and Louis CK spewing one-liners and ensuing hilarity at The Thirsty Moose Pub!

Come see PG's finest (and funniest) pay homage to their favourite comedians for tonight's Hallowe'en Comedy Night Special.

LINE-UP ‣ Mwanasi Dilason Loongo as Russell Peters ‣ Jon White as Greg Giraldo ‣ Jonathon McMillan as Joe Rogan ‣ Brian Majore as Patrice O'Neal ‣ Mike McGuire as Stewart Francis ‣ Melanie Anderson as Amy Schumer ‣ Devon Flynn as Louis CK

$5 cover. 8pm-ish. Moose Special: BLTC for $9.25.

Post by Dara Campbell

Fox and the Hound @ Cafe Voltaire

 

Sigh of relief. Today is Friday. Congratulations on navigating another week of deadlines, midterms, bills, adult responsibilities, etc. If you're looking to end the week with a low-key, celebratory "bang!" drop by Books & Co! Fox and the Hound is a duo from Quesnel and they'll be playing lovely acoustic originals and covers in Cafe Voltaire from 8 to 9:30th, tonight, Friday the 23rd.

BC talent. Cafe vibes. No cover. How could you say no?

P.S. Since I've got your attention - Black Spruce Bog and WARLESS are playing a warm-up to ColdSnap show this Saturday at Heartbreakers! $30 in advance/$35 at the door. Bring your ID and some dancing shoes!

More info here.

DEATH. DISMEMBERMENT. DANCE NUMBERS.

Five university students head to an abandoned cabin in the woods and accidentally unleash an evil force that turns them all into demons.  Sounds like every B-grade horror film, right?  Wrong.  It's the acclaimed cult-classic Evil Dead: The Musical. Rest assured, you've never seen demon-slaying like this.  Limbs will fly, blood will spurt, and duets will be sung.  With songs like "All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed by Canadian Demons" and "What the F*@k was That," you need not be a fan of horror or even musicals to enjoy this show.  If you like things that are good, you will love Evil Dead.  I'm certain of it.

Tonight, October 21st, is opening night!  PLUS - flash your student ID to get a sweet discount on either tonight or tomorrow night's show. Hell, at $15 a piece, get tickets for BOTH nights.  Tickets for sale at Studio 2880 (ph: 250-563-2880).  If you have a lot of friends (10 or more), ask about group pricing. And if you're brave, ask about the Splatter Zone...

Showtimes:

October 21st-25th: Doors 7pm/Show 8pm October 27-30th: Doors 7pm/Show 8pm October 31st HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: Doors 8pm/Show 9pm

All shows are at the Prince George Playhouse.

IT'S ELECTION DAY, BABY!

Students of UNBC! Today's the day. Unless you've spent the last month buried under a large, sad heap of textbooks on the 4th floor of the library, you're likely well-aware that a federal election is happening RIGHT NOW. There's free direct shuttle running to and from UNBC/the John McInnis polling station from now until 1pm. A bus is scheduled to leave from the bus loop every hour on the hour, with the possibility of this service being extended later into the afternoon depending on how many students use it.

If Caribou-Prince George isn't your riding, don't fret - public transit is free PG-wide today and today only.

Lack of transportation is no reason to skip out on casting a ballot in this election. Grab your ID and a sensible jacket, and make your way to a polling station. On foot, in a bus, by car, via dog-sled or zamboni or snowmobile- however you democratically choose to transport yourself. Vote vote vote!

Unsure of whether you're registered to vote or in which riding you live? Elections Canada is the place to go looking for answers. Unsure of your life choices? Give your mom a call. I'm sure she'd appreciate it.

And lastly, here's some election coverage by John Oliver of Last Week Tonight. Skip to 10:55 for footage of Stephen Harper and his band covering Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond, as middle-aged men tend to do.

Post by Dara Campbell

Upcoming: Erika Callewaert and Micah Green LIVE @ Shiraz Cafe

Prince George's very own Erika Callewaert and Micah Green will be filling Shiraz Cafe and Restaurant with some lovely sounds starting at 7pm tomorrow - Friday the 16th. These up-and-coming performers are both music teachers at Dreamland School of the Arts and have been at duo act for about half a year now. There's no better time to enjoy local music and cuisine than tomorrow evening! No cover.

Check out show info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/947352602005003/

Post by Dara Campbell

Drum & Bell Tower w/ Blocktreat @ The Legion

 

"I've never heard anything so... full." My friend stammered. His eyes were wide. We were standing in the middle of the dance floor. It was his first Drum & Bell Tower and Blocktreat show.

This past Saturday, Brent Morton (D&BT) and Brandon Hoffman (Blocktreat) graced the stage at the Legion, filling our ears with hearty folk-rock introspection and mesmerizing electronica.

"Full" is indeed one of many ways to describe Brent's music. Others are "electro-fusion," "folk-stomp," and "dusk-rock." With lyrics like We sell our souls/When the price is right/We sell our souls, his songs are genuine, well-crafted, and sure to stay in your head long after the set. However, the weighty content doesn't affect Drum & Bell Tower's enjoyability on a lighter level; his shows bode well for those who like to sing and dance along.

Similarly, Brandon's sound is one that blends genres and crosses lines - in the best way possible. His sample-based style fuses electronic and acoustic, creating a soundscape of lush textures and dreamy plot lines. Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of Brandon's music is that it belongs to many worlds: organic, electronic, dreams, and bittersweet reality. Blocktreat isn't bound to a particular genre, scene, or audience - this became evident in the success of his show at The Legion, where the audience comprised of students, elders, and everyone in between.

For the entire length of Saturday night's show, there was a solid smattering of people glued the dance floor, swaying and singing and watching the two musicians in awe. Brent and Brandon are BC gems, to say the least. Their unique yet complementary sets boast a level of honest talent and wholesomeness that all live shows strive for.

If you missed these guys in Prince George (or just can't get enough of 'em), D&BT and Blocktreat are playing at Sunset Theatre in Wells on October 31st and at a house concert in Smithers on November 7th.

To Brent and Brandon: Prince George would love to have you back! Until then - safe travels and happy music-making :)

Drum & Bell Tower: http://www.drumandbelltower.org Blocktreat: http://www.blocktreat.ca

Post by Dara Campbell

All of the things: October

Hey, it's October! Being the owner of a calendar never seems to lessen the surprise of another month gone by. The good news? Prince George's local arts scene is bumpin' and we've compiled a list of all the things.If you're a fan of music, theatre, or any combination of the two - read on.

Tuesday, Oct. 6th @ 7pm* - Eric Wynleau: "ONE NIGHT ONLY - Every Tuesday" at Nancy O's. Eric (of Black Spruce Bog) "pouring [his] heart out every Tuesday. And then picking it all up and taking it home again." No cover. - https://www.facebook.com/events/1652863414971085/ -

Wednesday, Oct. 7th @ 7:30pm - Quartetto Gelato at Artspace. Tickets are $30 at Books & Co. - https://www.facebook.com/events/1017093848325592/ -

Wednesday, Oct. 7th @ 8pm - Picker's Jam at the Legion. Hosted by Raghu Lokanathan. This will be the first of many bi-weekly jam sessions. All instruments welcome :) - https://www.facebook.com/events/490705061134982/ -

Saturday, Oct. 10th @ 7:30pm - Fauré & Sibelius at Vanier Hall. Hosted by the Prince George Symphony Orchestra. Tickets available at the PGSO office and on Ticketmaster  - https://www.facebook.com/events/161329524209067/ -

Saturday, Oct. 10th @ 8pm - Drum & Bell Tower and Blocktreat at the Legion. $10 at the door - https://www.facebook.com/events/903155633111423/ -

Saturday, Oct. 10th @ 9pm* - Mama Drinks Bourbon at Nancy O's. $5 cover. - https://www.facebook.com/events/615378085269673/ -

Thursday, Oct. 15th @ 6:30pm* - Jazz & Blues : hosted by Eric Tompkins at Nancy O's. Bring your instrument and/or voice for a communal evening of jazz, blues, soul, and R&B covers. Or simply enjoy the music and food. Thursday might be 12-dollar-pasta-day, but don't quote me on that. - https://www.facebook.com/events/837737266341469/ -

Saturday, Oct. 17th @ 8:30pm* - Kill Matilda, The Nailheads, and Mediocre Minds at Westwood Pub. Doors at 7:30pm, punk at 8:30pm. $10 at the door. - https://www.facebook.com/events/1488609621457564/ -

Saturday, Oct. 17th @ 9pm* - SICKER THAN YOUR AVERAGE at Nancy O's. Resident DJs. $5 cover. - https://www.facebook.com/events/1486345158353862/ -

Monday, Oct. 19th - It's election day, baby! You know what to do. (And if you don't, there's ample information on Elections Canada)

Wednesday, Oct. 21st @ 8pm* - Zavan Trio at Nancy O's. $5 cover. - https://www.facebook.com/events/1672728242943697/ -

Wednesday, Oct. 21st to Saturday, Oct. 31st @ 8pm - Judy Russell Presents Evil Dead: The Musical at The Prince George Playhouse. Doors at 7pm. Tickets available at Studio 2880. Note: the Halloween show starts at 9pm, doors at 8pm. - https://www.facebook.com/events/1529034824053928/ -

Saturday Oct. 24th @ 8pm - Remember the Romance at Artspace. "Doug Jack is back with another evening of retro music and stories." Doors at 7pm, good stuff at 8pm. Tickets are $20 at Books & Co. - https://www.facebook.com/events/1643960735847956/ -

Saturday Oct. 24th @ 9:30pm* - Black Spruce Bog and WARLESS at Heartbreakers. Doors at 8:30pm, show at 9:30pm. Tickets are $30 at Books & Co., the UNBC Bookstore, Alfredo's, and Studio 2880. $35 at the door. - https://www.facebook.com/events/1030279290339975/ -

Friday, Oct 30th @ 8:30pm - Canadian Waste at the Legion. $10 at the door. - https://www.facebook.com/events/755939897847682/ -

*All shows at Nancy O's, the Westwood Pub, and Heartbreakers are 19+ only. Sorry, kids!

If we missed mentioning something fun, be sure to tell your friends about it! Here's to a month of good music, good times, and all that jazz.