Steveston Dragon Boat Festival report:

Great racing on Saturday Aug 25

Congratulations on winning the C Consolation Final.

Deb Martin steers the boat back to the dock following a thrilling 1st place victory in the C Consolation  Final. Anne and Karl are lead strokes with drummer Debbie Poon.-  photo by Caroline Ng

But wait…. we won a little Chinese drum for 1st place in Consolation C. Several of us had stayed for the medal ceremonies: Deb, Todd, Anne-Cecile, Anne D, Robyn, Diana and Nicolas all stood on the ceremonies stage with our drum !!!

next races:

soon – canoe paddle on Burnaby Lake for beaver spotting!!!

Sept 22 – Paddle North Shore (new race)
Oct 6 – Ft. Langley Cranberry Festival Canoe Regatta

Enchanted Evenings with Jocelyn Pettit Band: Review

August 17th, 2012

Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Classical Gardens, Vancouver BC

by guest writer Xavier MacDonald

The Doctor Sun Yat-Sen Gardens’ Enchanted Evenings series lived up to it’s name Friday night with the inclusion of the Jocelyn Pettit Band – a toe-tapping Celtic Band that features a 17 year old Chinese-Celtic-French-Canadian fiddling wonder!

There really can be no more magical a setting than the interior courtyard where the audience was surrounded by rare trees and traditional stone work around the fish pond.  This did not go unnoticed by the band members who obviously enjoyed themselves as much as the full house.  At sunset the crows threatened their evening murder as they always do, but even this could not transpire against the spell cast on the gardens that night.  In our defence, fairies zipped round our heads protecting us form mosquitoes.  They might have been dragon flies though.

The band comprises family friend Bob Collins on guitar and vocals as well as the Pettit family, with father Joel Pettit on bodhran, mother Seiw Wan Khoo on keyboards and second fiddle, all to support Jocelyn on fiddle, tap shoes and vocals.  How she managed to stay perched on her chair tapping her toes in the French Canadian style is a mystery to me.  She also performed traditional Irish step dancing on some songs while fiddling as well.

Even more astonishing is how a seventeen year old can command such skill and nuance on a violin.  Whether bowing a lively waltz or drawing out a slow air in her pan-Celtic repertoire Jocelyn has an attack on the bow and fingerboard which belies her young years.   Jocelyn easily displayed her craftsmanship and maturity on her more recent songs Late for the Feast and the as yet unnamed waltz which she debuted for us.  It’s uncanny how much expression her fiddle playing displays.

Jocelyn also sang on a few songs.  She has excellent pitch and expression, but lacks the support and resonance of a professional singer.  Luckily she still has time to improve her skill with this instrument and I sincerely hope she does because next to her charming step dancing and wonderful fiddle playing it tends to stand out in the few songs where it’s employed.  She chatted to the audience and built up an informal camaraderie that was charming in its own right.

It was an indeed an “enchanted evening” as Jocelyn cast a spell of her own with her evident joy and charming smile.  She smiled and fiddled and danced the whole night away to joy and swept us all away with her. I couldn’t stop grinning myself.  For an encore the band evoked the spirit of Oberon himself playing King of the Fairies to bless us all to a good night – and it was.  I can highly recommend this captivating fiddler and her family and friend to put a smile on your face, and a tap on your toe.  You won’t regret it.

Todd’s note:

The Jocelyn Pettit Band performed at the 2011 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner, which led to Jocelyn’s inclusion in the inaugural 2011 Hapa-Palooza Festival.  Jocelyn says her ancestral heritage includes Chinese, Irish, French and Scots – but she is definitely 100% Canadian.

https://www.gunghaggis.com/2011/02/03/2011-gung-haggis-fat-choy-is-a-big-success-or-was-it-gung-hapa-fat-choy/

Jocelyn’s website is http://www.jocelynpettit.com/and contains links to videos, performances, and samples of songs from her album.  Her next Vancouver area performance is September 10 at St. James Hall for the “We Love Vancouver Festival”

Come meet HISTORY – Larry Kwong – the first person of colour to play in the NHL. Less than a year after Jackie Robinson shattered the baseball color line, Larry Kwong broke the barrier in hockey. On March 13, 1948, Kwong made his NHL debut with the New York Rangers against the Montreal Canadiens in the Montreal Forum.

VANCOUVER FETE FOR LARRY KWONG
Friday July 3,  5:30 at Double One Chinese Restaurant

event for the Fans of Larry Kwong Society

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Kwong

  

  Larry Kwong – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  en.wikipedia.org

Larry Kwong was 1951 MVP in the Quebec Major League – playing against future NHL Stars Jean Beliveau and Jacques Plante – Watch this Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpUeWY2ldfs

LARRY KWONG: The Longest Shotwww.youtube.com
July 23, 2010 – BC Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Dinner (Penticton, BC)
1st Aboriginal to play in the NHL was Fred Sasakamoose in 1954. He made his debut in the NHL for the Chicago Black Hawks at Maple Leaf Gardens the night of February 27, 1954 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Sasakamoose

Willie O’Ree was the first Black NHL hockey player. Born in Fredericton NB, he made his NHL debut with the Bruins on January 18, 1958, against the Montreal Canadiens, O’Ree is referred to as the “Jackie Robinson of ice hockey” due to breaking the colour barrier in the sport,[1] and has stated publicly that he had met Jackie Robinson twice in his own younger years.[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_O%27Ree

Macbeth Theatre review

at Bard on the Beach, Vanier Park, Vancouver

directed by Miles Potter

on until September 20

At one time, Vancouver was a very Scottish colonial city.  It’s first mayor, Malcolm Alexander MacLean was born in Tiree, Scotland. The Scots used to be the #1 ethnicity listed in the Vancouver census.  And on August 25th 1928, a statue of Robert Burns, The Scottish Bard was erected in Stanley Park.  On July 19th, a group of people wearing kilts and tartans went to see Macbeth at Bard on the Beach for several reasons: 1) to mark the 212th anniversary of the passing of Robert Burns on July 21st; 2) Macbeth is known as “The Scottish Play”; 3) wearing kilts is just plain fun!  – Todd Wong

special guest review by Xavier MacDonald – on July 19th

“The Scottish Play”, as it is also known, begins with a tartan bundle centre stage amid the stark, drably beautiful set. Yes tartan is used in the costuming but don’t expect anachronistically kilted warriors everywhere. Here the tartan serves to accent the clean costuming. It is often said of a production and more often striven for that the actors be clothed in something “timeless”. Bard’s Macbeth achieves it in a way that most productions can only hope to. Costumer Mara Gottler shows us genius.

There is little to criticize in this excellent production and if I were to criticize it would really only be me being picky about minor points and not representative of this outstanding production so let me just quickly give you a taste of what is so right about this show. The performances range from solid to outstanding. Where Duncan is often presented as a shallow king with little substance who leaves the stage early, Bernard Cuffling plays him as a truly noble and worthy king whose loss actually feels like a tragedy. Craig’s Ericson’s Banquo is more than serviceable right up until his death after which he becomes chillingly realized.

The coronation dinner always seems a difficult scene to pull off demanding more of the macabre than most versions can present, but the company at Bard on the Beach serves it fantastically where it is actually terrifying and deeply affecting. Another tough scene to pull off for modern audiences is the porter scene. It’s just so full of contemporary (to Shakespeare) references that it too often seems to mean little to a modern audience. John Murphy makes it look like child’s play. He brings it right to us and makes me feel like he’s simply letting me understand him.

Oh, and I could crow on and on about how powerful and ambitious, sexy and even loving Colleen Wheeler’s portrayal of Lady Macbeth is, but I will strive to be concise and merely state that she is not only the stately raven, dark and cunning, but the whole horrifying murder embodied herself. It’s worth the price of admission just to see tragic fate turn back on her. The shining clarity that the Macbeths are unaware of the changes to themselves and their environment that each bloody action initiates is vividly clear from scene to scene until they are indeed steeped so far in blood that there is no turning back.

The real strength in Macbeth is that the pieces all work together as a whole. There is a fantastic unity to the piece where all the performances, design, technical and directorial elements of the play are working together to support one another and accomplishing their respective tasks to make each other look good.  It’s team work folks and it’s beautiful to see a company, any company reaching such heights.  If I were to offer any criticism I would say that you probably shouldn’t expect to be wowed by the battle scenes. Some of the sword play is very simple and sometimes that’s a good thing amid the starkness of this production, but sometimes it left me wanting more.

If you’re looking for an uncommonly good production of Macbeth you are unlikely to ever do better than director Miles Potter’s outstanding accomplishment at Bard on the Beach this summer. It might be the only time this play has its superstitious curse removed and consciously so.  Do yourself a favour and catch it.  You deserve it.

Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team team paddles in their 2nd race of the day, which they came 1st in.   Deb Martin is drummer and Manfred Preuss is guest steers – photo Marion Fang

Summary of  dragon boat racing at Harrison Dragon Boat Regatta by Karl Castillo

Congratulations to our successful Harrison Dragon Boat Regatta on July 21st.  Paddling with only 15 from Gung Haggis and a borrowed paddler from the combine MetroVancouver 44 Cheeks / SwordFish team, we did a lot better than we have expected.  Thanks to Manfred and Shawn for the excellent steering, Deb Martin for being an excellent drummer, and Anne Darrousin for being able to paddle even without practice for almost a month during her vacation.

We paddled far beyond our expectations and here are the results:

Race 10 (200m) Lane 2: 4th – 0:59.750
Race 27 (my lucky number and bday, 500m) Lane 3: 1st – 2:34.280
Race 35 (500m) Lane 1: 4th – 2:33.280
Race 49 (500m, D Final Consolation) Lane 2: 5th – 2:43.870

For the record, the time of everyone in that heat increased dramatically as well.

For 16 people we were expected to be in the lower division (ie. E consolation/final), however, because of passion and heart that everyone showed. We have beaten the odds and made it to a division where we would be considered as underdogs.

Good racing. Have a well earned sleep and alcohol.

Once again, congratulations to the fastest 16-paddler boat!

Now playing until August 4
Granville Island Stage

http://www.artsclub.com/20112012/plays/xanadu.htm

Take the name of the Kubla Khan palace visited by Venetian explorer Marco Polo in 1275, mix in some Greek muses and powerful gods such as Zeus, Hera and Aphrodite, stir in some 1970’s pop music by Olivia Newton-Johna and Electric Light Orchestra, and re-write the forgotten 1980 Newton-John/ Gene Kelly movie Xanadu as a 1980’s spoof musical and we have a fun cultural mash-up parody.

I admit I collected the records of Electric Light Orchestra and Olivia Newtow-John in the 1970’s and early 80’s.  And I did see the movie on plane trip back from Hawaii.  So I was definitely musically prepared to see this show.  I had also googled the Xanadu Broadway musical, and found this promotional youtube video.

Xanadu the Musical – Sizzle! – YouTube
► 3:52► 3:52	www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh-VicEJrDo21 Apr 2008 – 4 min – Uploaded by XanadutheMusical Scenes and interviews From the Xanadu the Musical on Broadway! For more, visit XanaduOnBroadway.com.

The Arts Club has done an amazing job in a small space at the Arts Club Granville Island Stage.  It’s not the large Broadway theatre production, but it is a perfect size for summer theatre.

The  general story arc is a young artist contemplates suicide, but is inspired by a female figure that encourages him to create his dream – where all the arts of music, dance, art and theatre can come together in one place – a roller disco!

Gaelan Beatty plays Sonny, the distraught artist who is dressed in a jean vest and head band like somebody from a 1984 Bruce Springsteen concert.  Marlie Collins is the Greek muse come to life, and disguised with an Australian accent, while wearing roller skates and legwarmers that came out of Olivia Newton-John’s 1982 music video Physical.  Both do a great job, speaking seriously about the importance of art and creative inspiration, while referencing 1980’s icons and events.

Vincent Tong is a magnificient multi-tasker playing multiple roles as a muse, a cyclops, and a Gene Kellyesque dancer.  It is amazing watching the entire cast sing and dance with smiles on their faces.  They really look like they are having so much fun.

This production has even added some of the more famous songs by Electric Light Orchestra and Olivia Newton-John from the ’70’s such as Strange Magic, Evil Woman and Have You Never Been Mellow – that weren’t originally featured in the 1980 movie.  They are integrated seamlessly into the storyline.

more later – tw

Here are some videos from the Arts Club website.

PLAY Trailer	PLAY Dean Paul Gibson & Lisa Stevens	PLAY Gaelan Beatty & Marlie Collins	PLAY Rehearsals	PLAY Behind the Scenes

It’s Greek Day on Broadway St. in Vancouver… on the same weekend as Chinese Duanwu Festival, also known as Dragon Boat Festival and the Double Fifth, is a traditional and statutory holiday originating in China… hmmm…. time for a Chinese-Greek-fusion festival… Greek Haggis Fat Choy? Gung Greek Fat Choy? waitminit… don’t the Greeks wrap up rice in grape leaves and call them dolmades? Gung Haggis Fat Dolmades???

Check out this picture from China below – they are dressed up as rice dumplings, wrapped in green tea leaves… with strings attached. It is traditional to throw rice dumplings into the water at a dragon boat festival…. I should bring some to practice today.

 Check out Greek Day in Vancouver.  www.greekday.com

GREEK DAY 2012, Sunday June 24th – Greek Heritage Month & Greek Day

Todd Wong Don’t forget Dolmades! rice dumplings wrapped in Grape leaves! http://www.mediterrasian.com/cuisine_of_month_dolmades.htm

Dolmades – MediterrAsian.com

www.mediterrasian.com