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by Michelle KimDisclosure: Review — This is not a paid post. Michelle was given media tickets to attend the show but this did not affect the outcome of her review. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
Bard on the Beach opened last week with The Taming of the Shrew, which is probably my least favourite Shakespearean play, considering the misogynistic plot — Petruchio (John Murphy), who wants to marry for money, weds Kate (Lois Anderson), a wealthy and independent-minded “shrew”. After marrying her, Petruchio “tames” her by starving her, sleep depriving her and confusing the heck out of her at any opportunity. By the end, Kate is completely under her husband’s control and kneels to her “master”.
Meg Roe’s adaptation, however, allowed me to see the play in a different light –as just commentary. All the slapstick physical comedy and caricatures (Kayvon Kelly’s Grumio, Duncan Fraser’s Vincentio ) made a lot of the misogyny bearable because it seemed, at times, ironic. Also, Murphy’s performance had a subtle edge of subversion with every gesture and every word, which made his work so engaging and wonderful.
I really enjoyed set designer Kevin McAllister’s green landscape — it reminded me of an Italian vineyard — and it worked exceptionally well as both an exterior and an elegant interior.
I would say that this play is great to see if you find Shakespeare hard to follow or boring. Truth be told, sexist subject matter aside, it’s a fun time. I brought a 14-year-old girl, who recently moved to Canada from China, and she understood and loved every moment of it.
The Taming of the Shrew runs until September 22 at the BMO Mainstage. Opening this week is MacBeth, starring one of my favourite actors in town, Bob Frazer.
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The Peak Performance Project is in full swing for 2012 as the Top 20 artists prepare for a summer of development, shows, festivals, and bootcamp prior to their fall showcases — and ultimately the crowning of this year’s winner. I recently interviewed finalist Dominique Fricot and today I spoke with another finalist, Matt Bryant, from the band Headwater.
Headwater — consisting of Matt Bryant, Jonas Shandel, Tim Tweedale, and Patrick Metzger — has traveled from Vancouver Island to Vienna since releasing their debut album in 2006. No stranger to performances in many different places, I actually first heard about them years ago when my sister texted me from the ferry. She said there was a band playing in one of the lounges and she really liked their tunes. At the end of the sailing she caught their name: Headwater. I mentioned this to Matt during our call and he said he’s even blogged about those impromptu ferry performances before due to their success.
They’ve been part of Shore’s Sounds of Summer and will now commit to the Peak Performance Project — boosting their profile up another notch. “Getting to meet people is crucial. You kind of get ‘in’ with people at stations that you otherwise wouldn’t have access to as an independent band. We’re really looking forward to it — meeting other great bands, playing showcases — it’s all positive.”
A large part of the Peak Performance Project is the bootcamp aspect where bands participate in an intensive one week training program, learning the ins and outs of the music business, live performance, songwriting, marketing and promotion. Artists are mentored by some of the music industry’s top professionals and performers. Headwater is in a good position right now, Matt says. “We’ve probably got a pretty good – if not a leg up – a pretty good handle on what we need to do… …We’ve been at it for a long time and Jonas and I are very business minded, and we care about that stuff.” They recently launched a new website, released a new album, have merchandise setup, and are comfortable with their online presence.
Part of a good business plan these days is a social media strategy, which Headwater is all over already — in fact I booked this interview by sending Matt a message on Twitter. “[Social media] is a super good way to get in touch with people and to directly go at people and to get information you wouldn’t otherwise get. It’s awesome.”
If you would like to connect with Headwater directly — and in person — your next opportunity to see them live is tomorrow night at the Biltmore. “One of the things that so special about playing in this band for me is that we really drop all the ‘bs’ on stage and just get up there and really feel the tunes and communicate with each other.” Matt says the audience can look forward to “big improvised sessions, big jam outs, big percussive breakdowns and unexpected stuff, crazy solos, and usually a semi-tasteless joke or two — and lots of fun!”
Check out Headwater’s tunes, find them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and scoop up tickets for the show on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at the Biltmore. They’ll also be at Car Free Day on Commercial Drive this Sunday, at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, at Surrey Canada Day, and at the CBC Plaza in July.
Parents and children (and those young at heart) will be able to discover and explore the Vancouver Art Gallery, and participate in music, dance, and theatre workshops.
Where Vancouver Art Gallery Date Saturday, June 16, 2012 & Sunday, June 17, 2012 Time From 10:00am to 5:00pm each day Tickets Gallery members & children aged 0-12 are free when accompanied by an adult.
Regular admission rates apply: $20 adults, $15 senior (65+), $15 student (with valid ID)
June 13th has traditionally been called “Vancouver Day” as a number of significant city events happened on this day in history. Here are a few items of note thanks to Chuck Davis’ Vancouver History:
June 13, 1792: Captain George Vancouver explored Burrard Inlet
June 13, 1859: A seam of coal was discovered at Coal Harbour
June 13, 1886: The Great Fire — the entire city burned to the ground.
June 13, 1933: Major J.S. Matthews declared the Vancouver City Archives officially open
1938 – Major J.S. Matthews signs a document to appoint responsibility for the Archives’ holdings to a board of trustees. Archives item #Port P352.4
In 1931, Major J.S. Matthews’ extensive personal collection of photos and documents relating to Vancouver was moved to the Holden Building, Vancouver’s temporary City Hall at 16 East Hastings. This included thousands of documents and photographs, such as interviews with early pioneers and aboriginal people, relating to the history and development of the City of Vancouver.
Matthews’ collection would become the basis for the City of Vancouver Archives. However, it wasn’t until June 12, 1933, that Matthews was appointed as Vancouver’s first City Archivist by Vancouver City Council for a rate of pay of just $25 a month, the equivalent of $400 dollars a month today, a salary that remained unchanged until his death on October 1, 1970. [Archives History]
In 1972 the Vancouver Archives building that we know today (at 1150 Chestnut) opened. It was the first building in Canada built specifically as a city archive and is called the Major J.S. Matthews Building.
Thanks to Major Matthews, we have collections of early photographs, stored maps and documents to help tell the story of our city’s growth throughout its 126-year history. If you’re interested, there’s a 7-volume book called “Early Vancouver” — now available online — that was written by Matthews between 1931 and 1956. There’s also a book about Major Matthews by Daphne Sleigh called: “The Man Who Saved Vancouver“.
The archives have a host of information, documents, and resources in person, online, and on their blog. You can stop in to do research, browse old photographs, and purchase prints, post cards, note cards, pamphlets, DVDs, and more. I was fortunate enough to get a behind the scenes tour in 2009 and use it often as a resource.
The first “Vancouver Day” was celebrated in 1925, with the date chosen by Mayor L.D. Taylor, although its last occurrence was in 1929. I wanted to take the opportunity to wish every a Happy Vancouver Day today and offer praise to the Vancouver Archives for carrying on Major Matthews’ work while they move forward with preservation and digitization.
The Vancouver Park Board is offering more than forest strolls, beach blanket sunbathing, swimming lessons, and bike rides through Stanley Park this summer as they introduce Dance at Dusk. This new program is absolutely free to join and will take place every Monday and Tuesday from now until August at Ceperley Meadow.
Scottish Country Dance
Mondays: June 11th to August 13th, 2012
From 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Patterns, turns, passes, play, exercise. Dance with members of the Scottish Country Dance Society (kilts optional).
International Folk Dance
Tuesdays: June 12th to August 14th, 2012
From 7:30pm to 9:30pm Vancouver International Folk Dancers will participants in line and circle dances from Europe, the Americas and the Middle East.
No partner is necessary to participate and the dances will run depending on the weather. All levels are welcome and instruction is provided.
Dances will take place along the south side of Ceperley Meadow which is located in Stanley Park between 2nd Beach and Lost Lagoon.
The 
