Quick update:
As some of you know, I’ve been battling some medical stuff… (particularly an internal tear that is difficult and slow to heal.) I’ll be fine (!) eventually, not to worry, but for the next little while, most projects are on hold while I allow my body to rest and heal. 🙂
Thanks for the support, patience and all the good vibes, in the meantime!
“Beautiful words.”
That’s what Green Lake is.
Written by Katey Hoffman and Directed by Rachel Peake, the play feels casually voyeuristic as we peer into the spirit of a young girl, who goes away to camp for the first time and becomes… more.
It’s a subtly intimate ‘coming-of-age-without-knowing-it’ tale – a lovely, layered moment in time.
Jane, played by Alexandra Lainfiesta, is a sweet girl with a poetic soul from a broken home. Her aspirations exceed her situation. She meets Skittles, (Kayla Deorksen,) the quirky camp counselor, who immediately takes her under her wing.
Over the course of the summer, through personal challenges and shared intimacy, they share pieces of each other as they both struggle to find their space in the world. Their bond is electric.
There is a truth to this work that shines through. The narrative is straightforward and evokes a certain nostalgia; the language – specific. With a strong cast, also featuring Donna Soares and Michael Scholar Jr., and focused choices, this is a lovely story that doesn’t need a bunch of distraction.
There is also rhythm to the script, a cadence, that flows like the ripples on a lake. It ends up informing, not only the phrasing, but the movement and set as well.
I enjoyed watching the stage become alive with simple moments of connection and tiny surprises. I loved, for instance, when Jane slid under the set into her ‘bunk bed’ and how it effortlessly became a coffee counter or a cliff. Yvan Morissette’s design was simple and stunning, and the cast was effective in shaping the space, without overusing it.
Rachel Peake’s method as a Director varies, but she holds the highest regard for the story, that much is clear. Understanding and building the narrative is tantamount to discovering the movement, which ends up beautifully framing Katey’s script.
It’s a compelling show from Solo Collective, and a fine escape from a rainy evening.
Back By popular demand… the Lovers Cabaret are remounting From Bond With Love!
Don’t miss this sexy show at the Fox Cabaret this week!
See my review of the original production.. here
Struggling with meaning, when art intersects with business.
Lately, I’ve been pondering the intricacies of deriving meaning from work, from life, from art. There is clearly an incongruence when it comes to building a sustainable, artistic career, no matter what medium – questions will continually arise surrounding pay, personal/professional investment, and balance.
Is the business of side of things inherently separate from the artistic? And if so, how can we merge the two in order to effectively build our ‘brand’?
To feel successful in our chosen medium, we need to understand the full scale of where the art sits within the larger structure, I suppose. That, to me, seems pretty tricky.
In a society that values certain things… how can an artist define “success”? Moreover, does it matter?
To be successful as an artist (or anything, really,) suggests that one has found meaning in their work, that they have reached or surpassed a goal of some sort – and that it matters.
As artists, how can we find the meaning in our work and share it with others in a way that can truly build a life? And does it only ‘matter’ if it can pay the bills?
Are we doomed to a life of spiritual struggle, as we attempt to unlock the secret to creating a fulfilling, artistic career, or will the path become clear if we continue to seek meaning in our work…
Thoughts?
Old security
Last Friday wasn’t even a work day- it was personal… I had ventured out of the ‘city’ to New West for a funeral/celebration of life for a dear friend, and I certainly wasn’t looking for a place to write about, but it found me.
El Santo, on Columbia St, in New Westminster, sat like a little oasis on an otherwise dreary day, so I ventured in with some friends for a ‘quick’ cocktail to lighten the mood. Little did we know that this unassuming little gem would seduce us into staying late into the night – on a day when the duality of life and death, sadness and hope were the focus, I guess it is appropriate that, even as we left the church… we were seduced by el Diablo…
Specifically, the Rojo Diablo– which my friends had been raving about all day – a dangerous little cocktail, that would eventually be our undoing. It was a perfect balance of not-too-sweet and spicy… Tequila, bathed in Cherry, pomegranate, lime, and finished with a slice of jalapeño pepper. (Apparently the longer you let it sit, the heat would begin to inevitably rise. We didn’t get that far. It was too delicious.) We knocked back a round before any angels could intervene…and that was that, our souls were sold. We settled in, plans got changed, and a perfect night ensued. I knew we had found a hotspot.
The decor was fresh, and the staff were welcoming and unaffected. We were seated in a bright, yellow, spacious booth intending to stay only for a cocktail or two… Little did we realize that we had already fallen under its spell.
The spell of El Santo is good for the soul. The energy was vibrant, fun, and the food was the same. The trio of homemade salsas- colorful, fresh and tangy – were a simple treat, reflective of the place itself. Everything was full of flavour and prepared with care, and the whole experience felt personal.
Highlights were the selection of tacos for sharing… we tried the El Pastor and Pescado, and I intend to go back to try the Cachete and Tinga de Pollo – braised beef cheek and slow-roasted chicken with chorizo, respectively – because it was impossible to choose. The ceviche was perfectly balanced, and it seems that the select feature changes weekly, ensuring its freshness and quality. The Devil’s in the details, they say, and this couldn’t be more true for El Santo.
Chef Shane King, and Founder, Alejandro Diaz, clearly take pride in their inception of “contemporary Mexican cuisine”, and they should. Their special attention to detail and quality is evident and they were on hand, with an inspired presence, giving life to the evening with special touches like the pink marshmallow, hot pepper-infused tequila that they brought over to get us into trouble. Which it did.
In the end, there was dancing, many more cocktails, lots of laughter, and a fresh new vibe that will keep the locals indefinitely coming back for more.
I could say the devil made me do it… but I’d do it again, in a heartbeat.
Follow me on twitter: @meganemichael
We were definitely “feeling hot and feisty” this past weekend at the Fox. From Bond With Love hit the scene in an unforgettable performance by our local tour-de-force dance company, the Lovers Cabaret.
The highly-anticipated show was company-member/choreographer/co-superstar, Portia Favro’s first full-length production, in the multifaceted role as co-creator (along with Vanessa Young,) and her concept left us shaken, stirred and in a delightful afterglow, worthy of even James himself.
There are certain things you know you’re going to get at a Lovers Cabaret show – sexy dancers, an integrated storyline and some raw talent, but each show definitely has its own style and flavour, and this one was SO. MUCH. FUN. Right from the go-go at the get-go.
Featuring an array of sexy-styles, from some legitimate go-go and surf-scene moves to reimagined burlesque and even an audience-featured trio of actual lap dances, (wow, Portia Favro… you took it there…!) The show moved us through the decades, highlighting the profound and varied talent of everyone involved, and the epic concept of the Bond Girl battle at the end was perfect.
It was a perfect combination of a hard-hitting dance performance & a James Bond wet-dream-fantasy-extravaganza, and there was a freedom to it that felt fresh and new.
Best one yet.
Continued…
The story takes place upon hearing of the unexpected passing of James – a carefully-curated selection of Bond Girls reunite onstage to fight for the right to mourn the presumed death of the iconic international man of mystery.
With so many characters to choose from, it was a pleasure to see who was worthy of Miss Favro’s attention…
Over the course of the show, we were re-introduced to Honey Ryder, Solitaire, Vesper Lynd, Pussy Galore, and of course – Q, M, and Miss MoneyPenny.
From the first sex-soaked step of Honey Ryder, as she rose out of the sea of audience and slithered onto the stage to M’s very last sultry strut, we were totally captivated.
To me, it felt like each of these particular Bond Girls ‘won’ their spot in the show to perfectly portray the many archetypes of cabaret/burlesque – a sort of historical montage, through the lens of James Bond – and there was enough audience participation to be fun, but not intrusive. Fiona Matthews was impossibly adorable in her portrayal of Honey Ryder – sexy, fun, free, and yet totally in control, while Bronwynn Joy’s Solitaire showed the darker, edgier side of burlesque – right down to her black, x-taped nipple-covers, and the fierce diva attitude.
(Shout-outs go to Angella Slaunwhite & Chelsea Hartwick, who really stood out, but truly, the entire ensemble was stellar.)
In the Skyfall number, Knox Harter as Vesper Lynd brought us all to our knees. Using ribbons as lasers to fill the space, the choreography was brilliant. Her confidence and awareness of her movement was mesmerizing – this number was intense. And that bodysuit though… wow.
In fact, honourable mentions go to all of the costuming and props in this show – it really felt professional, well-thought-out and perfectly selected! Everything was specifically styled- right down to their nipple tassels. So many fun elements… yes, body glitter. YES, trays of sparkly champagne! But I digress…
Back to the girls… co-creator, Vanessa Young delivered a fun portrayal of Pussy Galore and Portia’s seductive and otherworldly depiction of Q were both (expectedly) charming and endlessly entertaining, (and I loved the little duet that accompanied Q.) Vanessa entranced in her usual style, and I got a real kick out of Portia’s giant balloon-encompassed head. The choreo is always unique, but what’s truly enticing is that they have a real sense of humour and a sense of themselves that is powerful. I think this is the essence of what makes the Lovers Cabaret so successful – it’s the powerhouse combination of true talent, ambition and self-awareness. This kind of authenticity is a rare gem. (If diamonds are forever, then hopefully so is the company.)
Each identity was portrayed with ease… but for me, the stars of the show were Megan Hunter as MoneyPenny and Camille J. Hannah, as M.
Camille is always good. She’s been featured in all of the other Noir Series shows and is consistently watchable and intensely sexy, but for me, this was her perfect role. She embodied the balance of strength, class and profound sensuality that is inherent to a Bond Girl. Every movement was deliberate and she absolutely OWNED the stage.
In the end it was Bond’s truest companion, MoneyPenny, who, in hearing his last words and confirming his death, entranced the audience with her profound grief. While the rest of the show was a bit of a fun, theatrical orgy, MoneyPenny suspended us in time for a dark, haunting moment, and it was truly beautiful.
This show really felt like an evolution of the company – braiding all the elements together that make them successful and catapulting the company to yet another level. In my mind, the reason it all works, is because the work is so authentic. You can always count on a balance of fun, sexy and ‘real’ dance and the ideas are cohesive and inspired. My friend, Christie, who is an artist and often accompanies me to shows says that there is something empowering about the way the Lovers Cabaret dancers present themselves… It’s not about ego- it’s about inspiration… and who doesn’t want to be inspired?
Keep your eyes out for upcoming shows and, in particular, keep your eyes out for the rising star who helped put this all together…
The name’s Favro, Portia Favro.
At the Fox Cabaret – July 7th- 9th, 2016
We were definitely “feeling hot and feisty” this past weekend at the Fox. From Bond With Love hit the scene in an unforgettable performance by our local tour-de-force dance company, the Lovers Cabaret.
The highly-anticipated show was company-member/choreographer/co-superstar, Portia Favro’s first full-length production, in the multifaceted role as co-creator (along with Vanessa Young,) and her concept left us shaken, stirred and in a delightful afterglow, worthy of even James himself.
There are certain things you know you’re going to get at a Lovers Cabaret show – sexy dancers, an integrated storyline and some raw talent, but each show definitely has its own style and flavour, and this one was SO. MUCH. FUN. Right from the go-go at the get-go.
Featuring an array of sexy-styles, from some legitimate go-go and surf-scene moves to reimagined burlesque and even an audience-featured trio of actual lap dances, (wow, Portia Favro… you took it there…!) The show moved us through the decades, highlighting the profound and varied talent of everyone involved, and the epic concept of the Bond Girl battle at the end was perfect.
It was a perfect combination of a hard-hitting dance performance & a James Bond wet-dream-fantasy-extravaganza, and there was a freedom to it that felt fresh and new.
Best one yet.
8 words: Sexy Bond Girls at the Fox Cabaret. Boom.
I love what I do.
I love the work. I love the people.
I love to write, network, cover events, clink cocktails, be engaged, inspired and hustle…
There is a spark that happens when the right people come together and there are beautiful moments of endless inspiration that fuel the work we do – but sometimes, in order to stay productive, you just need to have a margarita, or seven.
It’s time to take a vacation!
Once in awhile, you’ve gotta step away from the city, from the busy, from the hustle…
Tomorrow, Wink Productions will be hitting the beach in Sayulita and I couldn’t be more excited to unplug!
I’ll see you all on the flip side – ready to hit the ground running… and I look forward to seeing how we can inspire each other all summer long. But in the meantime, I will be hitting the sand and surf, margarita(s) in hand and clearing a little extra space for inspiration.
Cheers!
Here’s a great post on the subject:
Want to Increase Productivity? Take a Vacation!
Sip & Twirl 