If you’re not at least a little in love with Warren Kimmel, then clearly you haven’t been to see Royal City Musical Theatre’s Fiddler on the Roof yet.
You’ll have seen extensive coverage in our paper already, but I had the pleasure of going to see the show on April 13 and I just had to take the chance to add my advice: Go see it. Like, now. Before it closes on April 23 and you lose your chance to see quite possibly the finest Tevye you’ll have the privilege to see on stage in your lifetime.
That would be the above-mentioned Kimmel. His portrayal of the Russian Jewish milkman whose traditions are crumbling around him is spot-on in every way. From his cap down to his boots, Kimmel stakes his place as the best Tevye I’ve seen on stage in multiple viewings of the musical over the decades.
His performance powers one of the most appealing productions ever to grace the Massey stage. It’s chock full of all the things we love about RCMT and Valerie Easton’s productions – amazing sets, perfect costumes, delightful choreography, fantastic ensemble singing, wonderful individual performances – and full of heart. If you don’t leave singing, you must be a hard-hearted soul indeed.
One word of warning: Take Kleenex. I needed them more than once, not the least of which was during Tevye’s Do You Love Me? duet with Golde (Jennifer Poole). Then I ran out during the pivotal moment when Tevye took his daughter Hodel (Jenika Schofield) to the railway station to say goodbye.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Oh, and a P.S. – if you’re there on Friday night (April 22), keep your eyes open for a familiar face from New West city hall. Coun. Jaimie McEvoy won himself a walk-on role in a Royal City Musical Theatre fundraiser, and he’ll be joining the cast for Traditions and L’Chaim (To Life).
Astute observers may have noticed another familiar face in a similar walk-on spot last Friday – Susan Cartwright Coates of Cartwright Jewelers enjoyed a walk-on role on April 15.
See www.royalcitymusicaltheatre.com for all the details or buy tickets through www.ticketsnw.ca or call 604-521-5050.
CALLING ALL FILM BUFFS
NewWest FilmFest is looking ahead to a new year.
The New West Film Society is holding its annual general meeting on Saturday, April 23, and it’s inviting local film lovers to turn out.
The society plans to build on the success of last year’s festival, which focused more on cutting-edge film and feature films than in previous years.
Stephen O’Shea, executive director of the Arts Council of New Westminster, is slated to give a presentation, and there will also be a showing of a National Film Board short film addressing the importance of creativity.
Throw in some refreshments and a chance to meet fellow film buffs, and you’ve got a good afternoon. The meeting is set to run from 1 to 3 p.m. at Old Crow Coffee, 655 Front St. Email [email protected] if you want any more information.
INTERNATIONAL POET VISITS
Poetry lovers, here’s one for you to check out.
Candice James, the city’s poet laureate, let us know about a Poetry New West event that’s happening on Sunday, April 24 at Original’s Restaurante Mexicano at 800 Carnarvon St. (New West station).
Adeena Karasick, a member of the League of Canadian Poets who has been living in New York, is coming to town and will be the featured poet at the 2 p.m. event. New West will be part of a Canada-U.S.A.-overseas tour for the poet. You can find out more about her at www.adeenakarasick.com.
GALLERY SESSIONS SET
Live music lovers, have you stopped in on a Gallery Sessions evening yet?
The Gallery at Queen’s Park is hosting monthly live music nights on Wednesdays.
Coming up on April 27, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., it’s Danger Bay. The group is described as “a five-piece musical hybridization lab that brings together numerous influences in an effort to create catchy, sophisticated songs and keep all of its members amused.”
Its current sound is jazz and R&B-infused – check them out at dangerbay.bandcamp.com.
The Gallery Sessions nights are held on a pay-what-you-can basis, with suggested donations of up to $7 per person. Check out www.artscouncilnewwest.org for more.
ART FOR THE FAMILY
Here’s one for the whole family.
Artist Iven Simonetti will be on hand with a family workshop at Lord Kelvin Elementary on Wednesday, April 27. The workshop, which is set to run from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., is part of the Arts Council of New Westminster’s ArtsToGo workshop series.
Its theme is “environment art,” and people are being invited to “craft the change” they want to see in the world. Drop-ins are encouraged, and parent participation is required.
Check out www.artscouncilnewwest.org/artstogo, call 604-525-3244, or email [email protected] for more information.
CULTURAL ROUNDTABLE MEETS
Love the arts? Want to figure out how to help make them a part of daily life in New Westminster?
The next meeting of the New Westminster Cultural Roundtable is happening on Thursday, April 28 from 7 to 9 p.m.
It’s a free community event that’s designed to encourage people to break down the “silos” in the arts community and to bring together folks with an interest in and a passion for the arts. It’s open to everyone – you just have to register ahead at www.artscouncilnewwest.org/new-westminster-cultural-roundtable/.
The meeting takes place at the Anvil Centre, Room 411 (fourth floor), 777 Columbia St.
GET ANIMATED
Families can get their hands on animation – quite literally – at the next ArtStarts workshop at River Market.
Nisha Platzer and Ryder Thomas White are set to lead a workshop in direct animation on Sunday, May 1 at 11 a.m.
The two Cineworks artists will work with participants to create their own hand-drawn animations on 16 mm film by drawing and scratching right on the film itself. Participants can draw on clear film, scratch on black film or mark film that already has images on it, then see their own patterns come to life using a movie projector.
The workshop may last up to about 90 minutes, so leave time. It’s set to take place in the Music Box studio on the second floor.
Check out www.rivermarket.ca or www.artstarts.com/weekend for details.
AUTHORS ON THE MARKET
Here’s one for the authors out there: Royal City Farmers Market is looking for authors to take part in a LitFest New West-themed market on Thursday, May 12.
Authors will be provided with a tent, table and chair for their vending space, free of charge, and authors can bring books to sell. They’ll be encouraged to read from their work and can also get a time slot on the music stage.
The market is looking for certain categories of work: food and beverage, genre (e.g. mystery, humour, fantasy), memoir and history, poetry, spirituality, travel and children’s literature.
Want to know more? Check out www.rcfm.ca for the full list of what’s expected, and be sure to apply by May 1. Email [email protected] to apply.
Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment suggestions to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
