The Bruce Comes to K-W

Well at least a piece of it. When you get to know the Bruce Peninsula a little better, you will find unique experiences around every corner. Aside from the scenic beauty, the clear skies, the Lighthouses, the Chi-Cheemaun Ferry to Manitoulin, Lake Huron to the West and the Niagara Escarpment cliffs on Georgian Bay to the east, there are historic churches, unique restaurants, quaint harbours, but also horticulturists, organic Australian farmers, writers, and artists of every description.

One of the unique parts of The Bruce are the "Voyageur Storytellers" - Leslie Robbins-Conway and Paul Conway. Hidden away on a side road near Miller Lake, they entertain a small group of guests in their home with what they call "Country Supper Storytelling Concerts". An experience not to be missed when you are up in Northern Bruce.

Paul Conway & Leslie Robbins-Conway; piano: Anne & Adrian Little [photo: Herwig Wandschneider]

In the winter, the Conways sometimes go on tour in Central and Southern Ontario and beyond and this year came to the Registry Theatre in Kitchener in April to present a "Chordelle" concert, which in their words "fuses Storytelling, Classical Music, especially Opera, and Authentic Northern Canadian Spirit". That spirit was developed from their truly Northern experiences in Yellowknife, where "Voyageur Storytelling" was founded in 1998 and later brought to their new home in The Bruce.

The storytelling concert was spiced with humorous stories and poetry ranging from the poor "whip-poor-will" poem, over "furry" tales such as "Cinderella of the Snows", a Rattlesnake Chordelle to the music of Franz Schubert to the "Three Little Pigs", an operatic chordelle based on the music of Mozart.

Music accompaniment was by Pianist Anne Little, supported by her 13 year-old son Adrian, who turned the pages. Stage Management and Technical Assistance was handled by husband and father, respectively, Peter Little.

The presentations are all developed by the Conways - the stories, the poems, librettos etc, sometimes in association with artists as far away as British Columbia, while the music is by composers, such as Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi etc, beautifully, artistically and humorously interpreted by both Leslie and Paul. Paul was in fact a member of the Edmonton Opera Chorus at one time.

The audience was clearly delighted with the tall tales, the spirit and the humour in their presentations. Never a dull moment, always laughter and fascination with the incredible range of abilities of this artistic couple, and their support team.