Salome Dazzles… and Dances in Vancouver Opera's production of Oscar Wilde and Richard Strauss 

It's a biblical story set in Judea, retold by an Irish writer, originally written in French, turned into an opera by a German composer and sung in German, with a Sri Lankan tenor has a crush on the Russian star soprano, with Asian Jews for support.

European Opera is a great example of intercultural art, or sometimes it is cultural appropriation.  But whatever the perspective, great art has always come from pushing conventional boundaries, cross-cultural pollination, and heroic boldness in the search to tell old stories in fresh and exciting ways.

This is evident, as soon as you walk into the Q.E. Theatre.  The angular set in bright deep yellow commands the attention.  The lighting is horizontal on the characters standing by the prison.  After a long extended silence, the music and singing begin, as Narraboth (Sean Panikkar), captain of the guard, gazes on the princess Salome, describing her beauty.

But Salome (Mlada Khudoley) is not interested in the young captain, and bored with the banquet, she asks Narraboth about the imprisioned prophet John the Baptist, and whether it is true he questions her mother's sinful life.  Smitten by Salome, Narraboth submits to her pleading to meet the prophet.  And this is where many of the humanities dark sexual obsessions come to clash in a dysfunctional family, where the former King's brother-in-law killed the king, to take his wife and is obsessed with his step-daughter.

This sets the stage for wonderfully dramatic music where all principals display fine voice.  John Mac Master plays King Herod with a strong presence, in the face of Judith Forst's mocking Herodias.  Greer Grimsley's Jokanaan (John the Baptist) is an amazingly strong figure, especially when tugging against the ropes that bind him.

Vancouver Opera continues to push cultural boundaries by introducing Manga styled Graphic pictures into it's marketing programs.

Todd Wong aka Toddish McWong wants
to be an OLYMPIC TORCH BEARER for the City of Vancouver

Could this man in a kilt be an Olympic torch bearer? Todd Wong aka “Toddish McWong” creator of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, stands on guard with Constable Bob Underhill, and Joy Kogawa at the 2006 “Order of Canada Luncheon” hosted by the Canadian Club for which Todd is a director.  Wong is wearing the “Maple Leaf Tartan”. – photo Deb Martin.

The City of Vancouver is hosting the 2010 Olympics.  As Host City, Vancouver has a small number of torchbearer spots in the Vancouver portion of the 2010
Olympic Torch Relay.  So they are creating the torch relay challenge.  All
staff, except those who are auxiliary or part of Olympic and Paralympic
Operations or members of the Corporate Management Team, may
participate. Torchbearers will be chosen from each of these work areas: City of Vancouver, Fire and Rescue, Library, Park Board and Police.

Hmmm… I've worked for the Vancouver Public Library for 30+ years, and am eligible.  This will be a great way to be a torch bearer.  Other ways are to win spots through many of the corporate sponsors such as RBC, Coca-Cola and McDonalds.  But I would rather represent the City of Vancouver, where I was born.

The City Wire website says that: “The Vancouver 2010
Olympic Torch Relay begins its 45,000 kilometre, 106-day journey across
Canada on October 30, 2009. It will visit every province and territory,
passing through over 1,000 communities and places of interest across
the country. It arrives in Vancouver on February 11, to travel through
the city for two days. At the end of the day on February 11, there will
be a community celebration. On February 12, the Torch Relay concludes
at 6:00 pm at the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter
Games.

“The
Torch Relay summons people to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
and brings together Canada and world under an Olympic Flame that
symbolizes peace and friendship. The purpose of the Torch Relay is to
touch the soul of the nation, light the land, and inspire the country
by creating an extraordinary experience for all Canadians in
communities across the country.”

My Chinese name Wong Jee Kay, can be interpreted as “Flag bearer Wong”
“Jee” means Flag.  “Kay” means child, or son.  So… I am “Son/child of the flag or flag bearer/waver/carrier

How to be a Torcher Bearer?

City of Vancouver staff who want to apply have to reserve a spot in the try-out sessions, which are on-going for this week. At the try-outs you state – on
video – why you want to be a torchbearer. There is an option to submit your own
video. These are short!  There is only about one minute to
tell why you should carry the torch.  All submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee will review
all the submissions, which might also be featured on Citywire or perhaps shown at the Host City Pavilion at the PNE.

My video application is 11am tomorrow at Sunset
Community Centre. So far endorsements from CBCer Shelagh Rogers, city
councilors Raymond Louie, Kerry Jang, Suzanne Anton, community leaders
Kelly Ip, Linda Johnston, David Kogawa, fellow library workers
Alexandra Youngberg, Neil Atkinson…

Directions from the City website are that “The presentations can be funny, serious, or cool
'n creative. Some of the themes you could consider are creating a
better Canada, healthy living, active lifestyles, community
involvement, and the Olympic and Paralympic values of friendship,
solidarity, peace, fair play, optimism, inspiration and empowerment.
You could express your feelings about Vancouver, or you could express
your feelings about the eyes of the world turning to Vancouver in 2010.
Some people might 'rap' their message. Others might use simple props or
involve their co-workers. Whatever you do, keep it simple and keep it
short! You have about one minute to deliver your message.”

I think that I can share my understanding of paralympic values, by wearing my Terry Fox Run “Terry's Team Shirt.”  I could wear my 20+ dragon boat medals and tell them that I coach dragon boat teams for “fun, fitness and friendship” and once coached a team full of city workers from sewers and waterworks, libraries, city hall, and schools to medals in Victoria and Vancouver races. Should I bring my accordion and play the Olympic theme song?  Or how about if I bring a portable dvd player set to play highlights from the CBC television performance special “Gung Haggis Fat Choy” and references to the French and German and Canadian public television documentaries to demonstrate the global reach of Gung Haggis Fat Choy's themes of racial and intercultural peace, friendship and cultural fusion.

“I have known Todd for many years since he started “Gung Haggis Fat Choy”, the fusion extravaganza celebrating Chinese New Year and Robbie Burns Day.  A truly multicultural celebration of Chinese and Scottish heritage.   Todd and I were also on the Board of the Canadian Club and he co-chaired a luncheon honouring the recipients of the Order of Canada on Flag Day.  It was the signature event of the Club. Todd was also the driving force behind the successful restoration of Kogawa House.  I feel that Todd is an excellent candidate to be considered one of the torch bearers for the City of Vancouver.”
– Kelly Ip, community leader

Toddish McWong, an outstanding Canadian and builder of cross culture bridges….
– David Kogawa

Todd Wong comes from a long line of Chinese pioneer descendants that have long contributed to Canada's many communities.  His Gung Haggis Fat Choy events uniquely bring people together as Todd strives to build harmonious intercultural bridges for a 21st Century.
– Bev Nann OBC, community leader

Toddish McWong is one of the great contributors to our multicultural identity in Vancouver.
– Suzanne Anton, Councillor, City of Vancouver

“If the torch is the spirit of the Games, Toddish McWong embodies the spirit of Vancouver!  He represents the diversity of the world in one person and is the perfect choice to be a torchbearer”
–  Dr. Kerry L. Jang, Councillor, City of Vancouver, Professor of Psychaitry, UBC

In addition to all of his other activities, Todd has been an active member of the Canadian Club of Vancouver.  When you put them all together you see a pattern of a comitted and proud Canadian who works very hard to improve our community and our country – just the sort of person who should be carrying the Olympic Torch.
– Linda Johnston, President – Canadian Club of Vancouver

“Todd Wong is an alchemist in that he will take what is common and around us
all the time and transmute it into gold. He is also a positive
catalyst. He's like the Alka Selzer of Canada. He turns a still
substance into energy. For years, he has been bringing cultures
together in ways that are so much fun. Todd Wong loves this country. He
has done so much for it. He makes me proud to be Canadian. I would love
to see him carry the Olympic Torch because he is already on fire for
Canada.”
– Shelagh Rogers

This is a fun race where every race is a 250m sprint.  I stopped by to take some pictures and say hi to friends

Check out my pictures on flickr

Deep Cove sprint races

Ricepaper launches The Aesthetic Issue, 14.2
with
readings from poets Ray Hsu, Caroline Wong, Rita Wong and Onjana
Yawnghwe.

From Alex, managing editor: “On behalf of Ricepaper
and the Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop I would like to invite you to
attend our upcoming poetry reading, a part of the BC Book and Magazine
Week's Main Street Literary Tour.

We are excited to have poets
Ray Hsu, Caroline Wong, Rita Wong and Onjana Yawnghe reading at the
Regional Assembly of Text from 7:45 to 8:20pm as part of this tour. We
will be selling copies of the new spring issue at the event and I hope
you'll meet us afterwards for the party at Cafe Montmartre. More
information can be found at the following link:

http://www.bcbookandmagazineweek.com/?page_id=58

Additionally,
on April 18, we will also have a table at the Magazine Fair from
12:00pm to 4:30pm if you'd like to stop by! For more information please
visit:

http://www.bcbookandmagazineweek.com/?page_id=36

———-
Further info:

MAIN STREET LITERARY TOUR
Thursday, April 23 · 6 PM – 9 PM · FREE
Main Street, Various venues, Vancouver

Ricepaper magazine, The Aesthetic Issue, 14.2
Tour B
7:45 – 8:20
The Regional Assembly of Text
3934 Main Street

Main Street Literary Tour After Party
8:30 onwards
Café Montmartre
4362 Main Street

I don't have a copy of the cover yet, but will supply it as soon as I can. Have fun, everyone! Hope to see you there.

Shelagh
Rogers (host of “The Next
Chapter” on CBC Radio), Jean Baird (organizer of “Save Al Purdy
A-Frame”), George Bowering (Jean's husband and first poet laureate of
Canada), John Asfour (inaugural writer-in-residence at Kogawa House),
George Stanley (BC Book Prize nominatee for poetry) + “Joy Kogawa” –
photo Todd Wong

7:30 p.m., Monday, April 20
Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450
West 64th Avenue, Vancouver

John Asfour is indeed the perfect choice for our inaugural WIR.  On Monday
night, I shared with the group that the connections we have between Roy
and Art Miki, George Bowering, Purdy House, are amazing.  How is it
that John could have been friends with Art Miki on panel forums, and
that Roy was a consultant for Kogawa House… and great friends and an
editor with/for George Bowering, and we bring it all together with
Daphne Marlatt, who has read for Kogawa House events before, and
Shelagh Rogers (2005 former co-host for Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner)
for an evening of poetry and friendship, and to help save another
literary landmark.

Nilofar, Daphne, George and John – photo Todd Wong

The evening started with three BC Book Prize-nominated
poets—George Stanley, Nilofar Shidmehr
and Daphne Marlatt as part of BC
Book and Magazine Week.  Daphne read first, then George, followed by Nilofar.

Jean Baird talks with Shelagh Rogers. – photo Todd Wong

After a brief intermission that allowed people to purchase books and have them signed by the guest poets, the talk turned to Save the Al Purdy A-Frame.  Shelagh Rogers shared her story of doing the last public interview with Al Purdy at the Eden Mills Writers Festival.  Jean Baird is heading up the Save the Purdy A-Frame campaign, and she and her husband George Bowering shared their many stories about Al Purdy and his wife Eurithe.

Asfour, a Montreal poet, is the first
writer-in-residence at Kogawa House and
will present poetry readings to a
variety of audiences, in collaboration
with the Canadian National Institute for
the Blind, Simon Fraser University’s
Writers Studio, Christianne’s Lyceum of
Literature and Art and the Vancouver
Public Library.

See more pictures on Flickr:

Kogawa House Purdy Party