We’ve reached the season when a great many of our local arts and entertainment groups take time out to showcase the results of the past year’s work.
It doesn’t matter if the work involves further stretching screaming muscles to get that dance move perfect, burning the candle at both ends to learn those lines for the upcoming play, or trying to choose the best way to display the works painted, sculpted or thrown in the studio: it all comes down to a couple of my mother’s favourite sayings.
She was great for spouting these aphorisms but they were so expressive that they’ve stuck with me.
“Genius is one per cent inspiration and 99 per cent perspiration,” she used to say. I didn’t know it was a famous quote, and frankly, I don’t care. It was apt.
Another was “patience and persev’rance made a bishop of his rev’rance,” and that’s a homespun homily I’m sure rings true for many of our artists and entertainers.
We, the artistically challenged, may think these talented folks can just step up and do it all naturally. But even naturals need to polish, polish, polish and we never see the hours of effort.
Now that the show-and-tell season is on us, it’s time to get out and see, hear, and enjoy the work of the people who are helping to create our ambience as one of B.C.’s artistic capitals.
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Mercury Players town crier Rien Vesseur recently shared the results of Theatre BC’s first-ever “festival” with a travelling adjudicator.
“Congratulations to the director, cast and crew of Old Love and the Ladysmith Little Theatre for winning … and congrats to Mony Vesseur for winning the award for Best Costumes for our play Mending Fences,” he said.
The Ladysmith group also picked up best director, best actor and best lighting for their production.
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The season finale for the Rivernotes Choir, directed by Judith Quinlan will be held Sunday, June 25 from 11 a.m. until noon at the Central Park band shell in Lake Cowichan during the Farmer’s Market. There’s no charge, so be sure to take time to enjoy the singing of these enthusiastic gals of all ages.
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Ann Mendenhall of Chemainus Classical Concerts, said, on announcing the series’ new 2017/18 season,
“We are delighted to let you know that through July 31, we once again offer an Early Bird Special on the full season: $126 for nine concerts. After that date the price is $135. To order season tickets, please phone our ticket person, Eleanor Montour, at 250-748-8383, or email her at esmontour72@gmail.com. Eleanor will touch base with you in early October.”
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And speaking of a series of upcoming concerts, don’t forget that The 39 Days of July are just around the corner, since, after all, they begin in June. Watch this space for more news from that front, once we chase down Longevity John Falkner, who is no doubt very busy with it as we speak.
Watch this space.