Lèche Vitrine

Safia Dodard

" Showing you the best of Montreal, from popcorn picks to comedy slicks and circus tricks! "

Running in sub-zero weather, doing push-ups at the base of the Mont-Royal in the summertime...I guess it’s safe to say that I’m a fitness junkie. But don’t be fooled, under those “big” muscles lies a soft spot for Montreal's arts and culture scene. Most people say being all over the place is a bad thing, but I want to see and do it all. Impossible? Well I'd say I'm off to a pretty good start! In the past couple of years, I’ve attended various events around the world: a comedy show at the famous Sydney Opera House, an Opérette in Vienna, a visit to the birthplace of classical music, and a folkloric dance performance in Managua, Nicaragua, in which I actually participated (but let’s just leave it at that...). But no matter how far I travel, I'm always excited to come back home, to what I consider to be Canada's cultural capital. There's so much to explore and I'm here to show you the best of what La Belle Province's most cosmopolitan city has to offer. Before long, you'll see Montreal is about more than Cirque du Soleil and our beloved Habs! Follow me on as I rediscover the city with my third eye. Who knows what I might stumble upon...
innocence_prod_Photo_@lucetg.com

Innocence Lost

Exposing the injustice of a life that was lost too early and one that was saved too late.

It was a cold Montreal winter day in 2013, the girl was meeting up with the guy for date #3 (big deal, eh!). The plan was to go for drinks then attend a play (the typical dinner + movie thing so nauseating, so this was a good change). She was anxious to see him again but he was running a bit late (really? He’s not gonna show up?), but he made it just in time. As the night came to a close and she gave him a ride in her “fancy” green car, they parted ways, not knowing if they would ever see each other again…

Rewind… It was a warm summer night in 1959, the girl, Lynne Harper (Joan Wiecha), was 12 and the boy, Steven Truscott (Trevor Barrette), was 14. They were doing what every kid their age in Clinton County, Ontario, would do after dinner on a school night. Some of them would get dragged by their parents to help with the chores; others would go to the nearby creek for a swim. The boy gave the girl a ride on his shiny green bicycle, dropped her off and took one last look at her as he crossed the bridge. Little did he know that he would become the last person to see Harper alive. Not a soul could have foreseen that the unfolding of events from that night would set the precedents in one of Canada’s biggest and longest mistrial ever.

Photo: @lucetg.com

Photo: @lucetg.com

Innocence Lost, based on a true story and written by playwright Beverley Cooper, follows the chronological events that led to the murder of Lynne Harper and the trial and wrongful conviction that ensued of Steven Truscott. Similar to a Dateline NBC Friday night special investigative reporting (that I watch religiously in my snuggie…), this play brings together the members of a small community as they desperately try to pinpoint this gruesome act of violence on someone, anyone really! As with the TV show, the play left me with that feeling of emptiness at the end, wondering “ok, so who don’ it? How can justice be brought to those who deserve it?” Ultimately, there is just so much more to this “Salem witch hunt” like story than two innocent lives that were lost and trying finding the real culprit. This is a tale of awakening on the blind faith that we put in our justice system and the aftermath of this loss on everyone left behind.

Now, brace yo’self for some serious name-dropping because it’s the collective effort of the whole crew that made it possible to bring together this wonderful piece and I want to credit them. The on-stage presence of Sarah (Jenny Young), a fictional character whose role comes in handy to narrate this (sadly) true story is beautifully showcased by lighting designer, Luc Prairie. He makes this light effect with the side spots that bring out the eyes and vulnerability of each character (I was told by my date that this is the new hit thing to do in theatre these days… He’s the expert…). The eyes carry such a strong meaning as it allows us to feel an urge of empathy towards Truscott as he is sitting for trial, his mother (Julie Tamiko Manning) who claims his innocence and Lynne’s father (Allan Morgan) who just wants justice to be served. Video designers George Allister and Patrick Andrew Boivin complemented the set design with multimedia projections, showing us, among others, Steven’s dreamy eyes which occupy Sarah’s daydreams as a teenager at the very beginning of the play and which finally help her see his innocence, with just one look, decades later. It’s through the eyes of the characters that we get a sense of the anger, shock, fear and misunderstanding they felt in the wake of the events that shook their small world.

Photo: @lucetg.com

Photo: @lucetg.com

The rhythm of the play is a constant fast-pace of monologues, dialogues and ensemble that is dynamic, mostly engaging, yet sometimes confusing (a confusion that correlates to that of the mistrial). The collective narrative of the town people coming together is like a brouhaha, but we come to understand that this is how it must have felt like for the townspeople… I mean this situation made no sense! How could a 14 year old be sentenced to hang for killing a fellow classmate? For a story with such a deep and dark undertone, the actors gracefully portrayed their characters in a setting that seems calm and serene, thanks to set designer James Lavoie. The wooden wall on which there were multimedia projections, the soft green of the set and that little tiny bush in the center of the stage felt almost peaceful. It might seem like a paradox considering the violence of the crime, but the script was written with such caution and applied sensitivity that I felt “carefully” drawn in, unlike the sensationalism that we are exposed to everyday which depletes crimes like this one of their human aspect and makes us immune to even the most gory events.

Photo: @lucetg.com

Photo: @lucetg.com

On a brighter note, Innocence Lost, directed by Roy Surette, will be presented at the Centaur Theatre until February 24th and then moves on to Ottawa for more showings, so you still have a chance to see it if you haven’t already!

 

Fast forward back to now…In case you were wondering, the date, just like the play, ended with, well… let’s put it that way, more questions than answers… But what I came to realize after this date and seeing how this play unfolded, it’s that nothing can really be black or white, but rather 50 shades of grey.

Theatre
TAT

Guys and Dolls The Musical – When vice and addiction turn into love and redemption

Confession time: I watch Glee religiously and I LOVE it! Musicals are one of those things that everybody enjoys, just like Jamiroquai, dolphins and Maple Syrup. Singing, Dancing and Acting all under one roof… what’s not to like? Despite my boundless love for Broadway and Musicals, Guys and Dolls (presented until October 31st at the Segal Centre), is my second time attending one.

I will never forget my first time… My roommates and I had missed Swan Lake that was featured at the Sydney Opera house by a couple of weeks and we’re really bummed. We redeemed ourselves by attending the Australian debut of Billy Elliot at the Sydney Capitol. What a show! Guys and Dolls took me right back to the delightfulness that are musicals. Even my jaded friend whom I dragged as my +1 loved the show. We got carried away in a twirl of catchy songs, colourful costumes, funny jokes and absurd situations. Maybe next week I’ll trick her into seeing Pitch Perfect with me…

Time Magazine claimed that Guys and Dolls is “The greatest of all American Musicals”, winning five Tony awards when it first appeared on Broadway in 1950. The stars of the Montreal production also had big shoes to fill after the legendary performance of actors such as Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine and Jean Simmons in the Hollywood Film, which won two Golden Globe awards. Having been pleasantly surprised by Diana Leblanc in the last play she directed, Same Time Next Year, I knew that I was going to be in for a fun time.

Nicely Nicely (Mike Paterson) was outstanding in my favorite number of the show “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat”; he is just so lively and fun! I also loved the scene in Havana, which brilliantly showcased the talent and range of choreographer Jim White.  Having a live band on stage (with Nick Burgess as musical director) added that special touch that just tied everything in for me.  The small and intimate setting of the Segal Centre made everything larger than life. There was so much going on at once and in today’s age of having a short attention span and multitasking, this was awesome because you always had sooooo much to look at! With a very large cast of 24 actors, the entertainment factor was sky high with so many people on stage at once doing different funny things.

Mike Paterson (Nicely-Nicely), Frank Moore (Nathan Detroit), Marcel Jeannin (Benny Southstreet), Photo Andrée Lanthier

Even though I’m far from having the best fashion sense  (I leave this to my friend Janna), I always find myself drawn to the costumes when I attend a play. This time, Michael Eagan, the set and costume designer, succeeded in recreating that 1940’s NYC setting. The men, wearing stereotypical pin striped flashy suits with their fedoras, really portrayed the sly nature of these New York City gamblers. During the dinner date between Miss Sarah Brown (Tracy Michailidis) and Sky Masterson (Scott Wenwtorth) in Havana, you could feel Sarah losing her inhibitions and letting go of all of her self-restraints. The portrayal of the inebriated date was done gracefully with the change of her red Mission band uniform into a more relaxed and casual look in order to fit with the colourful, sexy and flamboyant Cuban scene.

Tracy Michailidis (Sarah Brown) and Scott Wentworth (Sky Masterson). Photo Andrée Lanthier

With only a few more performances to go, thanks to an extended preview period until the end of the month, Guys and Dolls is a must see show. An intimate setting with a great cast will leave you smiling, dancing, AND with jazz hands, all the way home.

Theatre

(Fr) Tapis rouge pour Dessy Di Lauro & Ric’Key Pageot avant MDNA

Seulement deux jours avant l’arrivée de la Madone dans notre coin de pays ! Pour quiconque ayant déjà assisté à une des ses éblouissantes performances live, vous avez sans aucun doute été témoin du génie de son claviériste, Ric’key Pageot. Question de profiter de son passage à Montréal pourla tournée MDNA, Ric’key s’arrêtera le temps d’une soirée « Red Carpet » au Piano Rouge Lounge avec sa femme et complice Dessy Di Lauro. J’ai eu le plaisir de les interviewer sur Twitter et, suite à plusieurs échanges en 140 caractères, j’ai découvert un couple tout à fait charmant et surtout, très fier de leurs racines montréalaises.

Avec un style musical unique en son genre, qu’elle même décrit comme « feathered fro-hawk, futuristic art deco centric Harlem Renaissance Hep », Dessi Di Lauro nous promet un spectacle haut en couleur et en rythmes. Inspirée des années ‘30, décennie marquée par la Grande Dépression, l’artiste aborde avec un brin de nostalgie la place notable qu’occupait la radio dans la société et la plus grande accessibilité à des artistes comme Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington et Fats Waller. Ce qu’elle souhaite faire transparaître à travers sa musique est l’innovation, la créativité et surtout la profondeur dans l’art de s’exprimer, tous des aspects qui ont marqué les artistes de cette ère. Di Lauro, qui me fait étrangement penser à Lady Gaga par son caractère affirmé et l’importance qu’elle accorde à l’affirmation de soi, mais aussi par son fashion sense très développé.

Une soirée unique ponctuée de prestations surprises d’artistes locaux et internationaux dont certains de la tournée de Madonna… Il y a fort à parier qu’ils feront un saut après leur spectacle pour déguster une poutine de fin de soirée!

Lisez l’entrevue intégrale qui a eu lieu sur Twitter avec Dessy Di Lauro et Ric’Key Pageot en cliquant ici :

Entrevue avec Dessy Di Lauro et Ric’Key Pageot

Info sur le spectacle

Music
Défilé Bollywood - Crédits photo : Agnieszka Stalkoper

Montréal The Fashionista

I feel overwhelmed by the strings of festivals that have swept Montreal since the beginning of the summer: the Jazz fest, the Francofolies, Just for Laughs and Nuits d’Afrique just to name a few… There is one festival that just brings out the best of Montreal. Aren’t we known worldwide for having the most beautiful people? Well, the Festival Mode et Design de Montréal happening right downtown was THE place to be to spot the hottest models, the best local designers and the latest in fashion. Good thing I had my good friend Janna Zittrer, Founder of Montreal Shopping Tours (a service that offers customized tours through Montreal’s best boutiques) and Special Correspondent for FLARE magazine, to give me a crash course of fashion 101. Who else could have given me insider’s details on what not to miss during FMDM 2012? Plus she knows all my little quirks, so I just know I will love everything she suggests. Here were her recommendations for 5 not-to-miss events during the festival:

1. Tendances SMM22: Get a first look at what’s set to land in stores over the coming weeks as Montreal’s top designers showcase their Fall 2012 collections. Each show celebrated a major Montreal Fashion Week theme, from sheer delights (featuring local labels including Ça va de soi, Lyn par Jocelyn Picard and Travis Taddeo) to light-reflecting looks (courtesy of Nadya Toto, Tavan & Mitto and more) and eye-popping brights (from the likes of Bodybag by Jude and Iris Setlakwe). Better still, all three shows were styled by José St-Jacques and Simon Bélanger, the talented duo behind the much-buzzed-about Montreal brand UNTTLD.

2. Rallye Shopping: If you deem shopping a sport, then consider this the shopping Olympics. Produced in partnership with LOULOU magazine, the massive shopping event transformed downtown Montreal into one giant fashion playground with gift bags, live music, cocktails and exclusive discounts on offer from major retailers including ALDO, Forever XXI, Dynamite, Jacob, M0851 and Sephora. (Read: warm up, cool down and stretching recommended.)

3. Crème à la glace, limonade sucrée: This show was packed with sweet summer styles by local female designers Anastasia Lomonova, Valerie Dumaine and Catherine Métivier and Anne-Marie Laflamme of Atelier B.

4. Collectif de Montréal: It’s a no-brainer, as it shines the spotlight on the best of Montreal (think Betina Lou, Harricana, Mackage, Second Yoga Jeans and Soia & Kyo).

5. The Festival de Mode et Design de Montréal Pop-Up Store: Fall shipments may be starting to arrive in stores, but we still have plenty of sunny days ahead. The pop-up store let you shop the current collections of local brands such as Valérie Dumaine, Mélissa Nepton and Masanbi right on site. After all, summer ain’t over ’til the leaves start to fall!

Now, let’s see if I passed or failed my intro class to fashion… either way, if ever I need a refresher course or summer classes because I still don’t understand what color-blocking is, I can always tag along to one of Janna’s tours and let her enlighten me with her undeniable fashion sense.

If you were at the festival, I would love to hear about your favourite event, favourite designer, favourite trend… Maybe share a few of your fashion tips with me.

Geneviève Borne, spokesperson of Montreal Fashion and Design Festival (fr) :

Design Fashion
AmalunaLa-Vitrine1

Amaluna – Ode à la femme

The latest Cirque du Soleil show brings Girl Power back from the 90’s to create a breathtaking spectacle of beauty, femininity and playfulness.

A couple of weeks ago, I was driving with some friends to Toronto and to entertain ourselves on the road, we started playing 20 questions. When I got asked what my guilty pleasure was when it came to music, my answer was: “Duh! The Spice Girls!”. What can I say… back when I was 11-12 (and still to this day) I truly believed in the whole girl-power thing. I always knew that men and women could be equally impressive when they put their minds to it. Well, that little teenage girl in me was ecstatic as ever when I got to attend the Cirque du Soleil 32nd production, Amaluna.

This new show, presented at the infamous blue and yellow Big Top in the Old Port, takes you on a journey centered on the theme of women. Amaluna, directed by Diane Paulus, is the first ever Cirque show to feature a cast majorly comprised of female artists (70% to be precise). A total of 52 artists, from 15 countries, speaking 11 different languages took part in this creative piece. Despite how tricky it can be to have such a diverse group of people working together in such symmetry, the Cirque Du Soleil has yet again succeeded in making it a thing of beauty, art really.

I know it’s all about the homage to the woman in this production, but as a girl I can’t avoid the obvious! Romeo, played by Édouard Doye in the Chinese pole number is H-O-T. How spectacular was it to see him climb, only with his hands, up that bar and perform tricks that certainly showcased his muscular strength, and entire love and devotion to Miranda.

On any other given day, my eye would have lingered on the mesmerizing, bare-chested men, but the show had my eye straying from left to right and all over the stage. It was the Amazon girls who truly caught my eye. They were in such control and had so much power, yet did it all with such grace. The costumes that the artists were wearing were sensational and vibrant. They made every stunt seem effortless, with a tinge of sensuality lingering in the air after each pirouette, looking the crowd straight in the eye… flirting with them. It was beautiful to watch, and left me wanting to see more.

It wasn’t only about the way everything looked though, it was the way it was married with a soundtrack that caught your ear with every movement. It was so much more than women playing music, it was a statement. They were gorgeous AND they had rhythm, BAM! Not only did they know how to play music, they knew how to get the crowd to feel as though they were a part of the show, hearing the sounds, but also feeling the vibe.

Cirque Du Soleil has once again found a way to impress me, even though I came in with such high expectations. Bravo Cirque Du Soleil, Bravo! Definitely a well deserved slow clap.

Info : Amaluna

Circus

1 hotel room, 2 strangers and a 25 year old love story: Same Time, Next Year

1 hotel room, 2 strangers and a 25 year old love story: Same Time, Next Year is an unadulterated tale of adultery sprawled over the course of a quarter of a century.

I’m becoming a regular in the Montreal theatre scene. This is my second play in less than three months–more than I have ever attended in the last 25 years of my life.  So much can happen in life and in society during that period; particularly wars and political conflicts. Depending on your age, you might have witnessed the war in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Afghanistan… only to name a few. I know for a fact that every person in my entourage can tell me with vivid details where they were and what they were doing when the Twins Towers were hit by airplanes in 2001.

On a brighter note, you most probably have very fond memories of the music, the fashion, and the culture characteristic of the swinging 60’s, the hippie’s 70’s or even the disco 80′s. As a child of the 90’s, I could go through a never-ending list of icons that have marked my generation (think NKOTB, Full House, scrunchies and overalls). The play Same Time, Next Year by Bernard Slade, directed By Diana Leblanc, is built on that premise of time and evolution. We follow George (played by R.H. Thomson) and Doris (Michelle Giroux) as they evolve in their relationship over the course of 25 years after a one-night stand in 1951!

The emotional journey that the unconventional couple goes through–they are both married, but not to one another–is complemented during every scene change with a video animation by the very talented Patrick Boivin. They say that songs and images can convey a heavy set of emotions. That was beautifully depicted in these short animations by highlighting significant moments in history and in pop culture. Some members of the audience sang along, reminisced on headlines that had marked their life, something you rarely get to experience at the theatre.

Let’s not forget what struck me as genius: How do you keep an audience captivated when your play takes place on only one set with the two same characters? Phillip Silver had the task of creating an environment on the set that was an important as the play itself. As he would describe it in this behind-the-scenevideo, as a set designer he became “part of the storytelling team”.  Every table, prop and fabric was carefully selected to relate the intimacy and chemistry the actors had between themselves and with the public. We almost felt like voyeurs, being allowed a glimpse into this evolving relationship, like peeping Toms looking through the window of this hotel room. Even the costumes, designed by Eo Sharp, had they own story to tell. Every time they were representative of the changes in the personality of the characters; Georges went from corporate suits to flared pants and Doris from hippie to emancipated business owner.

With only a couple more days to go at the Segal Centre, it is a must-see for everyone. For a trip down memory lane or as a “period piece”, this play has so much to offer that it would be a shame to miss it!

Theatre

The Art of Pretending: A Contemporary Love Story

A modern twist on the classic French play by Marivaux : The Game of Love and Chance

Before I reveal my thoughts on this play, I must admit that the last time I attended a play was back in high-school where my preferred method of transportation was a yellow school bus. I saw the never-aging tale of Romeo and Juliet, surely a rite of passage for any teenager. I had always loved theatre and had even gotten to be center stage a couple of times (this stays between us), but as I grew older my interest for this art form faded… I was in for a pleasant surprise when I walked into the Centaur Theatre for the premiere of The Game of Love and Chance on March 6th.

Theatre always appeared to me to be mostly for older, sophisticated and refined people. Believe me when I say that this play surely proved me wrong; it gave a new meaning to the term “accessibility”. I LOVED every moment of this very enjoyable and unpretentious love story! I don’t even know where to begin…

The plot, although written in the 18th century, was timeless and reflected all the intricacies of today’s love stories. As a 21st century entertainment buff, I’m used to all of the twists and turns of modern day love and friendship ties brought to you by yours truly,HOLLYWOOD. As the show progressed, I found myself entwined in the complexities, deceits and musings of the characters on stage. It felt as though I was watching an episode of Gossip Girl live. Rich people deceiving one another for love (it had Chuck and Blair written all over it!).

Not only was Nicolas Billon’s adaptation of Marivaux’s play funny, witty and daring, but it was filled with an underlying, sexually comical tone that was sure to spark crowd reaction, all without losing tact of course. The humour was on point and so well delivered that you could not help but burst out laughing (to the dismay of my next-seat neighbourgh…).

The interaction between the cast members was graceful and the scene changes were seamless (Kudos to Catherine Tardiff, an eclectic choreographer who brought the stage to life with her choreographies).There was always something going on to keep the audience interested whether it was the brother’s silly candy eating habit, Bourguignon’s grandiose entrances, or the sly comments. Although all of the cast members were quite exceptional, my coup de coeur goes to Gemma James-Smith, acting as Lisette. Her ability to transfer from one role to another is captivating and her acting is inspiring.

Billon’s modern adaptation of old-fashioned theatre has left me wanting more. It’s great to see that theatre for everybody. I can certainly say that my days of theatre-going are far from over.   For more on the play, have a look at behind the scenes videos HERE, but mostly take advantage of their last week inMontreal to go see the play live before they move on to the big TO.

Theatre
sugarsammy

Sweet but Tangy: Sugar Sammy’s You’re Gonna Rire

Who said being provocative was not funny? When your name is Sugar Sammy, you understand that a lesson in humility and humour can be a recipe for success.

As my first assignment as a blogger for the Lèche-Vitrine I decided go big or go home (that’s just how I roll!) And by big, I mean the premiere of Sugar Sammy’s new show, You’re Gonna Rire, at l’Olympia on February 29th.  That same day, Sugar Sammy happened to be turning 9 years old (blame it on that crazy thing called a Leap Year birthday).

There’s something about Sugar Sammy’s aura that gets me going. How can you not love a guy that watches the hockey game in Punjabi and still lives with his parents? He is your typical first-generation immigrant stuck in the language vortex otherwise known as Quebec. He grew up in Côte-des-Neiges and went to public school in French. To him, it’s perfectly normal to hear people say: “Me, I go to the dep au coin de la rue…” Coming from the same background, I relate to each and every one of Sugar Sammy’s jokes and his aller-retour from one language to another. It didn’t even seem strange to me, my brain is actually wired that way too.

Talking about his love for hockey, the best part of the show was when he started on PK Subban and the Habs; apparently the two of them are good buddies. I wonder if he knew that Subban was in the audience when he made fun of him (not that he understood because that part of the show was in French).

Now, let’s talk posse. For his show, Sugar Sammy went all Vinnie Chase with his entourage! You rarely see one-man shows with more than one man (just saying…) First wingman, DJ Yo-C, warmed up the crowd with an upbeat mix of songs in French and in English that got show-goers feeling excited from the moment we stepped foot in the venue. It felt like a legit party, the kind where you fist pump and dance your bum off. Everyone in the audience had huge grins on their faces, not to mention they also left their dignity at the door (especially if sitting in the first few rows). What better remedy for the February winter blues then to have a good laugh at yourself (and everyone else sitting around you, Montreal being so multicultural)?

Next up were Dan Bingham, originally from Pierrefonds (or as he calls it, « Rock Bottom ») and Nile Séguin from Toronto. Funny how the Montreal guy did his number in English, while Nile Séguin (aka the guy with the million facial expressions) performed his in French. If one didn’t get that this was going to be a Franglais/Frenglish show, this was a good wake up call. Forget the stereotype of the first act just filling the stage before the actual show starts… These guys were on fire! There was a camaraderie between all of them that was really captivating.

I truly believe that it’s our duty as Montrealers to attend one of Sugar Sammy’s shows and witness this verbal stunt pilot live. After all, what’s the point of living in a land of stereotypes if you can’t poke fun at un ou deux of them?

Comedy