November, 2004 - Nr. 11
KW & Beyond
by Irena Syrokomla
KW Symphony
and The Piano Pops series.Eight different concert series are offered by KW Symphony, Masterpiece, Sunday Light Classics and KW Pops at The Centre in the Square in Kitchener, Planet Baroque and Canadian Chamber Ensemble Music at First United Church in Waterloo, a contemporary mix of New Orchestra program, a series of regular concerts at the River Run Centre in Guelph and finally some special events at Registry Theatre and King Street Theatre. Some programs are designed for a family experience, others are more limited for mature connoisseurs. There is a choice for everyone.
Piano Pops on October 22 and 23 were led by Brian Jackson (also on the piano) and this time opened with Gosford Park Suite by Novello, followed by Mozart’s beautiful andante movement from Piano Concerto no.21, opening of Beethoven’s Pathetique, Rimsky-Korsakov Bumble Bee and especially beautiful Warsaw Concerto by Addinsell. Brian Jackson reminisend about playing this melody just after the war under the influence of his father, a R.A.F. officer. After the intermission there were some pieces from musicals – Memory of Andrew Lloyd Weber, Guys and Dolls and even an encore, a nocturn by Chopin. The concert was excellent, the audience highly appreciative. Some popular music pieces came as a bit of a surprise, like the initial movement of a Concerto by Grieg. The combination of well-known classics and more current compositions was a winner. What can I say, it was a great concert and the audience responded with a long standing ovation.
Scheduled for December 10 and 11 is Christmas with Brian program, a traditional festival of Christmas songs and carols, Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, Berlin’s White Christmas, Vaughan Williams Greensleeves and many more. I will be looking for sing-along Messiah as I have not been part of any for three years.
KW has much to appreciate: a great orchestra, and a responsive audience.
And, as far as the continuous saga of KW Symphony and its
Directors is concerned (next election to be held in November) – can we
please move on?
Waterloo Stage Theatre – The Melville Boys
Norm Foster wrote The Melville Boys over 20 years
ago. It has more depth and more complexity than one would expect from such
an early play; it starts as a comedy, flowing smoothly almo
st
as if it was a natural dialogue and not a play, then changes into drama some
time in the second act. The setting is the classic Canadian cottage, with
the décor and nick-knacks so familiar and two brothers arriving for a
fishing weekend.
Owen, played by Matt Lancaster, is so delightfully uncomplicated, having a good time 3 weeks before his wedding. Lee, played by Terry Barna, the older brother is more mature, married and facing some personal crisis. Then two girls appear at the cottage, Mary and Loretta, and the appearances change. They all go to the local dance, and then come back for the night. Loretta, played by Jennifer Kuipers, is just having fun, and her style never changes in spite of the effect she is having on other characters. And she is having fun with Owen. Mary – Leisa Way – is more serious having experienced an unhappy past of her own. She plays cards with Lee and they talk. It appears to be the only opportunity for Lee to disclose his personal problem; a side that nobody wants to hear anything so unpleasant.
The play evolves seamlessly, from goofy comedy into personal drama. Steve Roth directed the play with his usual light hand and Kathleen Sheehy shows her talent as a stage manager. Good to see them all again.
Waterloo Stage Theatre is showing an Xmas play The Paisley Sisters’ in November and December. Next year there will be three more plays, the final one in April/May Anne based on Lucy Maud Montgomery Anne of Green Gables. All of these are in the entertainment category; the audience appreciates them and fills the seats. Box office number is 519-888-0000 or order on line www.waterloostagetheatre.com.
