Hard-hitting arts fest puts human rights centre stage

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An innovative theatre festival that will shine a light on human rights issues kicks off tonight at Theatre Passe Muraille. For two weeks, Panamerican Routes will explore such topics as immigration, displacement, Canadian mining in Latin America and revolution, through theatre, dance and multi-media shows, as well as workshops, a conference and a photography exhibit.

The festival is organized by Toronto’s Aluna Theatre company, which was co-founded by writer/director/actor Beatriz Pizano, a Columbian immigrant to Canada. We met Pizano, who explained that the festival takes a hard look at global issues — but she wants people to know, “They are going to see really great art!”

The subject matter is pretty intense. Do you worry that will keep away as many people as it will bring in?
I hope not! What I intend with this festival is that people will realize these subjects are less scary than they think. Truly, they are going to be entertained by a visual extravaganza… Don’t be afraid of any of the shows. They’re not about putting politics in your face, not at all. On the contrary, artistically they are quite innovative. And you’re gonna laugh, believe me.

To coordinate this new festival must have taken great effort by many people. How did you do it?
We were very innocent when we started, thinking, "How hard can it be?" You learn as you go. But we have an amazing team. Aluna is a small company, but people are working [hard] and I was really pulling the resources of all the arts community together. It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring to Toronto things that otherwise would not come here. These are very exciting companies and artists, and I really hope that people take advantage of it.

What can theatre really do for human rights?
I think it can do a lot. If you want to be didactic, no one wants to listen. Instead of being didactic, it’s about bringing awareness to issues. I think there is a lot of politics in Canada that we don’t talk about, and theatre can do it in a very beautiful and original way… We are afraid to talk about issues, and yet theatre has always been a way for society to deal with its issues. These shows are so beautiful. But theatre can only make you look at something, then it’s up to you.

Could you see Aluna collaborating in the future with other Toronto groups such as Théâtre français de Toronto or Obsidian Theatre Company?
Absolutely. “Excluding” is not something that is in my language. What I love about being an artist in this country is that I have access to the entire world.

Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson Ave., 416-504-7529. To May 27. $15-$30, festival pass $100. Festival line-up.

Evan Andrew Mackay is a Toronto playwright and humorist who writes about culture and social justice.

Morning Throwback: unfortunately for these guys, the term “twinsies” wouldn’t exist for another 100 years

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It’s pretty gross when couples match their clothes. Especially when they’re wearing matching dirty coveralls with the suggestive “Enquire Here” stamped on their chests. We like how the dude on the left still tries to keep it classy with a proper tie and hat, though. And at least we know they’re open-minded. But their expressions sure aren’t friendly, are they?

Topshop set to bring British flare to The Bay

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Topshop, the U.K.-based retailer of everything fashion-forward, is planning to open a 19,000-square-foot location in The Bay’s flagship Queen Street store. The downside? You’ll have to wait until October.

Located on the The Bay’s third level, the Topshop store will showcase the company’s bold and irreverent women’s styles. The lines carried will include Boutique, Unique and TM Ltd., which range from affordable to luxe. There will also be space set aside for exclusive designer collabs, like the popular Christopher Kane for Topshop collection.

Downstairs on the second level, the retailer will be setting up its Topman menswear store. Again, expect bold prints, eccentric details and slim cuts.

And it you can’t wait until fall, you can always head up to Yorkdale Mall (1 Yorkdale Rd., 416-789-3261), where a Topshop store opened in The Bay last October.

Theatre Review: West Side Story

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West Side Story is a remarkably good musical, surely one of the greatest. Since I first saw it half a century ago, this musical has lived in my memory — and those of several million others — with profound pleasure and meaning, like a first kiss in high school.

This show, a modern reimagining of Romeo and Juliet, has a complex history. My favourite anecdote is how in 1957, Leonard Bernstein and his 26-year-old lyricist, Stephen Sondheim, realized just days before opening night on Broadway that the first minutes were missing a song: Tony (the modern Romeo) simply had to better display his excitement for what might occur at the school dance later that evening. And so Bernstein and Sondheim sat together and knocked off “Something’s Coming,” an amazingly haunting tune with complex lyrics. It was rapidly taught to the cast and musicians, and presented before a live audience just days later. Wow.

With two bodies lying dead at the end of the first act, and one half of the main couple shot at the end of the play, one could hardly describe West Side Story as a musical comedy. It is a powerful blend of romance, love, rage and racism mixed with dynamic dance (choreographed by the super-gifted Jerome Robbins) and Bernstein’s irresistible jazzy music. For all its lack of the Bard’s magnificent poetry, the plot is extraordinarily faithful to the original Romeo and Juliet, and Sondheim’s intricate and daring rhymes are unforgettable.

So I was bursting with anticipation for opening night of this thrilling and deeply satisfying musical, presented in Toronto by Dancap. This is the touring version of a recent, highly-praised Broadway production that was directed by Arthur Laurents, the author of the original book.

I have seen this musical put on a half-dozen times and on each occasion it has moved me to tears. This time, it did not. Why that is, it’s hard to say. Was it because it lacked the perfect casting of Canada’s own Paul Nolan and Chilina Kennedy as Tony and Maria of three summers ago at Stratford? Was it because of the cast’s uneven singing skills, even if most of the dancing was near perfect?

This visiting production is worth seeing, but there is something lacking here. Lovers of Bernstein and Sondheim will still get their thrills, as will those who treasure Robbins’ still-stunning choreography. The scenic design by James Youmans was stunning, Ross Lekites’ Tony was solid and the important character of Anybodys, the hanger-on of the Jets, was sung and played perfectly by Alexandra Frohlinger — the best embodiment of that ambiguously sexual role I’ve ever seen. All kudos to her.

I just wish it all hung together better; that the still-shocking ending did not feel so rushed; that not a single precious Sondheim rhyme was mumbled; that Officer Krupke, Doc the pharmacist and the racist Lieutenant Schrank were better acted. I’m still glad I saw it, but I left feeling disappointed.

But that music, those lyrics, the dancing! You may still find yourself humming the tunes on your way home.

Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St., 416-733-9388. To June 3.

Morning Throwback: toss in a construction worker and a cowboy and these guys are gold

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A lot of people think the origins of The Village People were in the ’70s disco era, but in truth, it started with these two guys: The Village Twosome. The musical duo soon broke up because it couldn’t be decided who, exactly, the guy on the left was supposed to be. A sultan? Lord of the Leaves? It frustrated the hell out of the Native American, so he jumped ship, met up with a cop, a construction worker, a cowboy and a biker, and the rest is history.

Five last-minute gift ideas for Mother’s Day (because whose mom doesn’t want super-chic shades, anyway?)

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You’ve got T-minus two days until Mother’s Day. Freaking out about what to get her? You’re not the only one. Besides the obvious bouquet of flowers, we’ve rounded up a list of gifts to grab in Toronto to suit every budget, big or small (because if anyone deserves a $3,500 bracelet, it’s mom).

Cool cards (pictured above)

Moms are super humans, and they need to be reminded of this. Local fashion illustrator Eighty Seventh ST. has created the perfect card to do so:
The super mom card by Eighty Seventh ST., $7 at ShopGirls

Tea towels

Whether she’s a whiz in the kitchen, or not so much, every mom will love these beautiful limited edition tea towels. The designs, by Canadian textile designers Virginia Johnson and Bev Hisey, will look great hanging on the stove or framed on a wall.
Limited edition tea towels by Virginia Johnson and Bev Hisey, $14.95 at The Bay

Perfume

Can’t afford to surprise her with that much-needed tropical getaway? Get her the next best thing in the form of Marc Jacobs perfume. His new splash collection has three scents to choose from – rain, kumquat and hibiscus – making it nearly impossible to find a version that won’t suit.
Marc Jacobs Splash collection, $49 each at Sephora

Shades

Here’s a gift for glam mama. Keep her from squinting this summer in these ultra-cool cat-eye shades that simply scream “chicest mama on the block!”
Mande Citrines Buff by Larry Leight, $341 at Spectacle

Luxury bracelet

Whoa now big spender! If you’re gonna drop the loot, we say do it on this stunning diamond cuff bracelet by Meredith Marks. But be quick, her trunk show at Holt Renfrew packs up this Sunday.
Randy cuff by Meredith Marks, $3,500 at Holt Renfrew

Now playing: Indie filmmaker Fredrik Gertten takes on food giant Dole

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At the 2009 L.A. Film Festival, Swedish filmmaker Fredrik Gertten was anticipating the premiere of his documentary Bananas!, about a legal battle between Nicaraguan banana farmers and U.S. food-giant Dole. Unexpectedly, the festival organizers withdrew the film and then Gertten received a letter from Dole threatening legal action if it was shown. In a classic David-and-Goliath struggle, Gertten and his four-person film company fought back against Dole (2011 revenues: $7.2 billion) — and they made another film about it. Big Boys Gone Bananas! has a limited run this week at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, so we caught up with Gertten to find out if he’s crazy to take on the big guys.

You’re from Sweden. Why did you make a film about what an American company was doing in Latin America?
If we think we have the right to produce something that is exported everywhere…we also have the right to look into how things are produced that we are consuming in our country. And bananas are one of the biggest products in the world. It’s a money machine, and the price per kilo is paid by someone else.

In Big Boys Gone Bananas!, someone asks you rhetorically of taking a pop at a corporate giant, “What did you think was going to happen?” But what did you think was going to happen?
When you do a film, you are focused on making a film that works with an audience…. Most [documentary] films that are made don’t really make any noise at all. First of all, I had to make a film that was strong enough that it could travel around. And then I could think about [Dole’s] reaction. But I believe in free speech. And if we have free speech in our constitutions then we have to use it.

Do you think, coming from Europe, you were a bit naïve about how far a big U.S. corporation would go to protect its image?
Maybe I was naïve, but maybe it’s a good thing to be naïve. As long as you do your job well, I think it’s a good thing to be naïve. But of course during this process I learned and I understand that the scare culture is so much stronger here, especially in the U.S. People are more afraid. Publishers are more afraid. Funders are more afraid. But…we play a role in democracy. Journalists do and filmmakers do. McDonald’s had a totally different response to Supersize Me. They tried to tell the world that they were much better, and maybe there is more green stuff at McDonald’s now than before Morgan Spurlock’s film. And that’s thanks to a film. I think McDonald’s should love Morgan Spurlock. He helped them to be better.

Members of the Swedish parliament were shown your film. What is your reaction to that?
Things are possible to do. When you say it’s impossible, it becomes impossible. We don’t show many documentaries in the Swedish parliament, but there are politicians who care about such issues. You have to try it. You have to find the right people.

Bloor Hot Docs Cinema. PG. 90 mins. To May 17.

Evan Andrew Mackay is a Toronto playwright and humorist who writes about culture and social justice.

Theatre Review: The Woolgatherer

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The Woolgatherer is a play from New Jersey’s William Mastrosimone currently showing in the Junction. Starring Dayle McLeod as Rose and Mark Wiebe as Cliff, the two-act play is an intimate portrait of an uneasy one-night fling between two broken souls.

Performed Chicago-style in an empty storefront — a first for the Junction — the audience is seated with their backs to the street. There are only four rows of chairs, so you cannot help but be immersed in the action, and those in the front rows are right in the thick of it. The intimacy achieved between the audience and the actors is a huge part of the success of the play — in a traditional setting much of its potency would be lost.

The action takes place in Rose’s boarded-up apartment, where a mattress is covered by a dingy mustard-coloured blanket, a red crate acts as a secondary chair and religious knickknacks dot the room. She keeps two dead plants around just in case they spring back to life, and points out where a previous tenant committed suicide. A rather large wardrobe dwarfs Rose and seems to cause her anxiety, though its doors remain tightly shut. The two characters’ clothes betray their impoverished existence; Cliff’s trucker hat is accompanied by quick-fixes of silver tape on his jeans and boots, while Rose huddles beneath a large sweater and a long, drab skirt.

The plot revolves around the dynamic between the two characters: Rose, a five ’n’ dime salesgirl, and Cliff, a trucker. Both are incredibly neurotic, with their neuroses being manifested in different ways. Rose is a nervous wreck, clutching her clothes, breaking out with hives and proudly proclaiming that she’s never used a curse word as long as she’s lived.

Meanwhile, Cliff swears freely and continuously cracks deadpan jokes, so Rose is unable to shrug off the idea that he’s “making fun” of her. In terms of misery, Cliff’s life as a trucker is the equal of Rose’s self-imposed reclusive existence and he tries to calm his rage with booze and weed, even lighting up at one point during the show. Their peculiar dynamic makes for almost ever-present tension, slowly building and churning until it erupts, with the only relief being Cliff’s wise-guy mouth.

The acting is superb. Despite the proximity of the audience, both actors remain completely in character and in-the-moment throughout the play. Their flaws, ugliness and pain are easy to see, and the discomfort and tension leaves a powerful impression.

This is most certainly not your average one-night stand.

The Woolgatherer, empty storefront at 3087 Dundas St. W. To May 12. $20.

The Boulevardier: the best cocktail you’ve never heard of

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Ask any Toronto bartender for their classic tipple of preference and there’s a good chance you’ll receive an answer that involves bitters and either whiskey or gin; Manhattans and Negronis, to be specific.

If those two iconic cocktails spawned a love child, that nipper would be a beautiful thing, and chances are it would be very similar to a little-known drink called the Boulevardier.

The Boulevardier actually predates the Negroni, a fact that (somewhat) justifies my neurotic aversion to this cocktail being labeled a “bourbon Negroni.” Yes, it contains Campari and sweet vermouth like the gin-bottomed Negroni, but its sturdy bourbon base makes it a beast worthy of its own name.

Ted Haigh, a.k.a. Dr. Cocktail, notes that it first appeared in the epilogue of Harry McElhone’s Barflies and Cocktails back in 1927. It was the signature drink of Erskine Gwynne, a writer and resident barfly at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, who edited The Paris Boulevardier between cocktails.

To me, its almost unbelievable that more people don’t know about — and adore — this drink. Burlier than a Negroni and more playful than a Manhattan, the Boulevardier is bold, complex and surprisingly smooth. I’ve never made it for anyone whose eyes didn’t light up at the first sip.

The original recipe called for equal parts bourbon, Campari and sweet vermouth, but I like to up the bourbon content to 1.5 parts — or two parts, when I’m feeling daring. Stir over ice and serve with a thick twist of orange (or classic lemon) and, my friend, you’ve got yourself a new addiction.

The Boulevardier isn’t a regular on cocktail lists, but a good bartender will know how to mix one with love. Seek it out in places that take their drinks seriously: I recommend Churchill, The Drake, Harbord Room and Lucid Cocktail and Kitchen.

Sarah Parniak is a freelance writer, booze nerd and lover of all things delicious. She teaches at the Toronto Institute of Bartending by day and occasionally moonlights as a barfly. You can find her behind the stick at Kensington Market’s Cold Tea on weekends, where she cracks a mean tallboy and likes to experiment.

What the Fashion Tweeps are Saying: May 11

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Every week, we gather our favourite tweets from in and around Toronto’s fashion scene. This week, we’ve got looks from the Met Gala in N.Y.C, a chance to win free swag from Holt Renfrew and details from Nathalie-Roze & Co. on how you can send a Toronto teen to their prom by clearing out your closet.

Missed out on all the red carpet looks from the Met Gala earlier this week? Have no fear, @FlareFashion’s @RyanMCheung is here (with a link to all the looks):

#MetGala looks on @HarpersBazaarUS https://bit.ly/KFAtRD

The Roger Vivier exhibit at the Bata Shoe museum opened in Toronto this week. @FashionCanada’s @BernadetteMorra gives you an insider sneak peek:

#RogerVivier was often inspired by animals. This shoe reminds me of a shark https://lockerz.com/s/207529579

@fashionologie has provided proof that true love exists in fashion (beyond clothes, shoes and bags):

“We had 3 dates, we were living together 4 weeks later … and we’ve been together ever since.” — Tom Ford on his partner Richard Buckley

Looking for reasons why to buy @wornjournal’s latest issue? They’ve not only provided a list, but also easy online ordering:

We’re NOT saying that if you buy #14 Marc Jacobs will hand deliver it, but we’re not denying it. One way to find out! https://bit.ly/K0ZKF8

What would Friday be without a chance to win some free stuff? You can thank @HoltRenfrew for this one:

What’s better than the @toryburch x @FEEDProjects bags? A signed one by @toryburch and @LaurenBushTweet! Enter to win https://on.fb.me/Kq6PAq

@Joeffercaoc is travelling the southern U.S. and has offered some insight to their profanity and graffiti (just in case you were wondering how it worked down there):

Grafitti on wall did not say "F**K You" — instead it said "F**K Y'ALL". (In the south)

Weekend sale alert! Get your shop on @jonathanolivia before its too late:

#SALE — 25% off all #engineeredgarments and @wingsandhorns — today till Sunday #toronto https://bit.ly/JEpUQe

Help send a teen to their senior prom by clearing out your closet. @NrandCo is hosting a drop-off location now until Sunday:

We’re still collecting pretties for @NewCircles' #PromDrive thru to Sun. — most wanted: dresses/shoes/clutches for local teens!

Weekend Warrior: Leonard Cohen, Festival of Ideas and Creation, Occupy the Mic, Toronto Independent Game Jam and Chuck Hughes

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Hallelujah!

It's official — Leonard Cohen really is our man. The iconic Montreal troubadour is to receive the Glenn Gould Prize for lifetime achievement, and this weekend more than 25 artists will be performing his songs on street corners around the city, including the Yorkville Parkette, Nathan Phillips Square and the Bay and Bloor intersection. On Monday (May 14), Cohen will receive the prize at Massey Hall, and a slew of stellar musicians will join him on stage: autoharpist Basia Bulat, Cowboy Junkies and Serena Ryder. Shockingly, tickets are still available. Considered a rite of passage for any artist, covering Cohen’s “Hallelujah” has been done by new Annex-dweller Rufus Wainwright and k.d. lang, but our favourite (and under-the-radar) cover has to be Jeff Buckley's raw, soft rendition of the Cohen classic.

Occupy the Mic

David Miller is back! The former Toronto mayor will be launching his live series, Occupy the Mic, as part of Now Talks. In addition to a song and comedy night, Miller will be focusing on “saving the world.” The first in the series (May 11) will focus on the grassroots Occupy Movement. Miller is also bringing along a few friends: Andrew Cash (singer-songwriter, Member of Parliament, brother of Skydiggers' Peter Cash), comedian Arthur Simeon, and Occupy activist Sakura Saunders. The unconventional think tank takes place at The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, but we caution against any yurt talk: it might still be a touchy subject for Saunders. Tickets are $15.

LAN Party

Calling all nerds! The seventh annual Toronto Independent Game Jam will bring together video-game developers, students, and professional players (every 13-year-old boy's dream job) for a binge of making and trying out new games. Featuring do-it-yourself gamers, there will be opportunities to test out new ideas — we can only hope that the young Ponycorn creator will be there to school her fellow inventors. The free event at George Brown College starts tonight (May 11) and games must be finished by Sunday. Just don't turn into this guy.

Music mixology

CanStage's Festival of Ideas & Creation kicked off this week and will feature a ton of innovative artistic and musical performances throughout the weekend. The absolutely free event encourages “cross-pollination” between artistic mediums, and will showcase new creations from artists such as Justin Rutledge (swoon!), Anusree Roy, Barbara Nichol, Tom Bellman and others. Here is your chance to see the Old West song-string revival for free before the Sparrow Songs show.

Chuck's Day Off

This weekend, Montreal's celebrity chef Chuck Hughes, host of Food Network's Chuck's Day Off, will be doing what most of us like to do on our days off — shop! Well, sort of. He'll be at the Chapters store in Bayview Village Shopping Centre on Sunday to sign copies of his new cookbook, Garde Manger, ahead of the book's official launch at The Drake Hotel on Monday. Hopefully, he'll recount his Iron Chef America showdown, in which he flayed Bobby Flay (sorry, we had to). The event will be catered by Pusateri’s and Madeleine's Cherry Pie and Ice Cream, so we’re sure moms will be thrilled for a trip to the mall this Mother’s Day.

Tony Aspler’s Weekly Wine Pick: Fabre Montmayou Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009

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If you’re a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon, you won’t want to miss this wine from Argentina’s Mendoza Valley. Dense purple in colour, it has a nose of crushed blackcurrants. The fruit is sweet and the balance is perfect. As it retails for just under $15, you might want to cellar a few bottles because this wine will improve in a couple of years when the tannins soften.

Food match: lamb chops, veal parmigiano.

$14.95. LCBO Vintages #261891

Tony Aspler is Post City magazine’s wine columnist. He has written 14 books on wine and food and also created the Ontario Wine Awards. He can be heard on 680News.