Earlier this week I conducted an official interview with Michelle Kim regarding the premiere of Metamorphoses in Vancouver.

Written by Mary Zimmerman, Metamorphoses includes 10 stories, which are based on The Ovid. It is directed by Christine Willes, who is known for her TV roles on The CW’s Reaper and Showtime’s Dead Like Me. She is now the Artistic Director at The William Davis Centre at VanArts and makes legends appear on stage with Metamorphoses. She orchestrates an ensemble cast through scenes of raw emotion, sin, greed, and lust in what Michelle Kim refers to it as, “a classic assembly of myths infused with modernity.” [Rebecca Bollwitt – E! Online]

As mentioned in my E! post, this production embraced social media by encouraging me to invite bloggers to opening night. As a result, I had a great time (finally) meeting Karen, and hanging out with Raul. I also got to chat briefly with Erin Ashenhurst, with whom I attended high school and who happened to design the posters for the play.

Michelle’s performance tonight was gripping and engaging; her roles ranging from a playful toddler to an incestuously love-struck siren. The cast worked attentively around a pool of water in the middle of the set despite the fact that its edges were consistently soaked. Katherine Coupland was solid yet again (since I saw the student production last year) and new faces in the ensemble brought a modern light to the mythical stories.

Mindful tales of greed and lust were eclipsed by such timeless accounts as those of Eros and Psyche, and the torments of the underworld through the stories of Orpheus or Alcyone.

If you have the chance to take in some local entertainment this summer (especially on rainy nights like tonight) I highly recommend heading to the Pacific Theatre to check out Metamorphoses which runs from tonight until August 16th.

Just in time for the sun to return there will be many events heating up Metro Vancouver this weekend. If you’re not downtown for the Pride Parade on Sunday (kicking off at noon and running all along Robson, down Denman, and up Beach over to Sunset Beach) then there is another festival happening at Holland Park in Surrey that should be just as jubilant.

Celebrating 46 years old Jamaican independence, Surrey’s Jamaican Festival on Sunday August 3rd will feature volleyball, soccer, tug-o-war, and various other challenging events alongside reggae music, soca music, foods and games.

Jamaica Tent @ Fusion Festival – Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Sunday’s outdoor event is preceded by a banquet Saturday night at the Portugese Banquet Hall in Surrey (visit the JCCABC site for more details).

For the last few weeks I have been trying to organize a way for Vancouver bloggers to stay up late and raise money for the charity of their choice. Using the Blogathon model, with the lack of their technology, we pieced together this effort and I think that everyone involved has done an amazing job. Here’s a quick recap of the participants and their cause.

Raul’s website: Hummingbird604
Raul’s cause: BC Cancer Foundation

Shane’s website: Closing Bigger
Shane’s cause: MSMF – Manjari Sankurathri Memorial Foundation (MSMF)

Karen’s website: Tiny Bites
Karen’s cause: Davie Suzuki Foundation

Isabella’s website: Moritherapy
Isabella’s cause: Canadian Mental Health Organization

Barbara’s website: The Love Blog
Barbara’s cause: BCSPCA Paws for a Cause

Tagga’s website: Tagga
Tagga’s cause: Lochmaddy Foundation

Invoke’s website: Invoke Media Blog
Invoke’s cause: Lochmaddy Foundation

Mehnaz’s website: Strawberry Ghetto
Mehnaz’s cause: Adoptive Families Association of BC

Danny’s website: DannyDang.com
Danny’s cause: BCSPCA Paws for a Cause

Colleen’s website: 353 Review
Colleen’s cause: CKNW Orphan’s Fund

Ayeza’s website: Balikbanyan Box
Ayeza’s cause: Davao City High School

Duane’s website: DuaneStorey.com
Duane’s cause: Union Gospel Mission (please select “Miss604 Blogathon” so that we can track the donation at the end of the weekend)

Big thanks to John and Keira for guest posting on my site as well over the last 24 hours.

Of course my donation information is available under “U” for the Union Gospel Mission and by clicking on the banner below.

Note to self, resting your eyes for “just a minute” while doing a Blogathon can turn into 45 minutes. Since I’m a little late getting this post out I’m going toss in this older photo from Dave in honor of last night’s fireworks.

Photo credit: uncleweed on Flickr

This image was taken from Cypress – a unique alternative viewing area for the Celebration of Light. Vancouver Police are calling last night’s display from the United States a success as they were less busy than usual, only making seven arrests all night.

My Dad told me about this term that’s being used around the globe called, “Vancouverism” and John recently sent me this snapshot from The Guardian: “The regeneration of Vancouver mixes slender, tall towers with low rise buildings and public spaces. An exhibition to celebrate Vancouverism is being held at Canada House in London.”

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

“Vancouverism is characterized by tall, but widely separated, slender towers interspersed with low-rise buildings, public spaces, small parks and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes and facades to minimize the impact of a high density population.” – The New York Times, December 28, 2005

Not Asia, not Europe, not even North America, but a new kind of city living with elements from all of these – a hybrid that now demands to be taken on its own terms. In the language of city-building, “Vancouverism” is fast replacing “Manhattanism” as the maximum power setting for shaping the humane mixed-use city, important ideas for a new era of scarce energy and diminished natural resources.

The exhibition features architects and engineers such as Arthur Erickson (who did the Law Courts, SFU and the new Ritz Calrton), Bing Thom Architects (award-winning Central City in Surrey among other things), James K.M. Cheng, Fast + Epp Structural Engineers and Trafalgar Timber Construction.

The Vancouverism exhibit will also be moving to Paris in the fall of 2008.