encoreNOW is a bi-weekly column by Paul Rellinger where he features upcoming music, theatre, film, and performing arts events and news from across the Kawarthas.
This week, Paul highlights a pair of back-to-back Folk Under The Clock concerts, the 31st Vintage Film Festival at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre, the staging of Mary’s Wedding by the Peterborough Theatre Guild, Aces of Harmony’s annual fall concert featuring hits from the ’50s and ’60s, a spooky good time at the Bancroft Village Playhouse, and Public Energy’s presentation of Out of Wounds at Trent University’s Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space.
Two concerts in four days for final season of Folk Under The Clock in Peterborough
VIDEO: “Deckhand On A Trawler” – Miscellany of Folk
A busy week for Mike Barker means a very good week for fans of traditional folk music.
Now in its 38th and final season, Barker’s Folk Under The Clock series is presenting not one but two concerts this week at Market Hall in downtown Peterborough.
First, on October 17 at 8 p.m., Miscellany of Folk brings us three musicians from Newfoundland and Ireland and then, on October 20 at 2 p.m., Scotland’s Breabach shows why it was named Folk Band of the Year in its native country. Both concerts are presented as part of what’s billed as the International Celtic Music Series.
Formed in 2022, Miscellany of Folk features Newfoundland multi-instrumentalist and producer Billy Sutton, accordionist and former Danú member Benny McCarthy from Ireland’s County Waterford, and guitarist and singer Eddie Costello who calls the Emerald Isle’s Tipperary County home. A touring act in high demand, the trio blends rich musical traditions from both sides of the Atlantic, the result being a unique and engaging folk music experience for its audience.
VIDEO: “Revolutions” – Breabach
Breabach, meanwhile, has garnered an impressive array of accolades, including six Scots Trad Music Award nominations, their latest album Fas bringing the aforementioned Folk Band of the Year honour.
Over 18 years, Breabach has performed on some of the world’s most impressive stages, from Sydney’s Opera House to New York City’s Central Park. The current configuration of Jenna Moynihan, James Lindsay, Calum MacCrimmon, Conal McDonagh, and Ewan Robertson calls upon a musical arsenal that includes a wide range of instruments, the fiddle, bagpipes and bouzouki being but a few.
Tickets to each show cost $49 but, if you bundle buy both, the ticket cost is $88 — a savings of $10. Hey, a penny saved is a penny earned, right? For tickets, visit www.markethall.org.
Hollywood directors’ finest work showcased at the Capitol in Port Hope
VIDEO: “Some Like It Hot” trailer
What’s old is refreshingly new again at the Capitol Theatre as the historic Port Hope venue hosts the 31st Vintage Film Festival over three days starting October 18.
Under the banner “Great Directors,” 13 films will be screened, among them Robert Wise’s West Side Story, Roman Polanski’s Chinatown, Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot, and Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane. Two silent films — Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr. and Lois Weber’s The Blot — will be screened alongside live piano accompaniment by Jordan Klapman.
Visit capitoltheatre.com for the festival schedule and to buy $12.50 individual screening tickets or a festival pass for $89. If you’re 25 years old or under, lucky you — admission is free — while all can enjoy free popcorn regardless of age or teeth durability.
What’s really cool is the festival harkens back to the Capitol’s 1930 opening at the dawn of the sound film era — a sort of Hollywood North, if you will. In 1987, after operating as a movie theatre for decades, the Capitol was bought and refurbished to become the multi-use performance space it has been since 1995.
Love is in the air against the backdrop of war at the Guild Hall
VIDEO: “Mary’s Wedding” – Peterborough Theatre Guild
A major Peterborough Theatre Guild drawing card over many years has been its ability to effortlessly switch from theme to theme within the same season, giving its audiences a wide variety of stage experiences that bring forth a wide range of emotions.
On the heels of a season-opening double bill that featured zombies and ghosts, the Guild is now bringing us a classic love story in the form of Mary’s Wedding, opening October 25 and continuing until November 9 at the venerable Guild Hall on Rogers Street in Peterborough’s East City.
Veteran guild director Jane Werger is at the helm of Stephen Massicotte’s play, which features but two actors in the form of Justine Christensen and Eddie Sweeney.
Promoted as “an epic unforgettable story of love, hope and survival” set before, during, and after the First World War, the story commences with Mary’s pre-wedding dream of a thunderstorm during which she meets Charlie sheltering in a barn with his horse.
As the two realize a charming first love while the world is collapsing, they gallop through fields in search of a place and time where the tumultuous uncertainties of battle can’t find them.
Curtain is 7:30 pm October 25 and 26, October 31 to November 2, and November 7 to 9, with 2 p.m. matinees October 27 and November. Visit www.peterboroughtheatreguild.com for tickets.
Peterborough’s Aces of Harmony invites us to musically come and go with them
VIDEO: Aces of Harmony promotional video (2019)
When you’ve been around for more than 50 years as a singing ensemble, you’ve clearly hit upon a formula that works well for its members and their audience.
For Peterborough’s Aces of Harmony, that formula has been and remains rooted in a shared passion for a cappella singing combine with a generous helping of fellowship. The male chorus, led by music director Diane Martin, is comprised of singers from all walks of life of varying ages and musical skills. Together, they derive boundless joy from getting together and sounding great.
On October 26 at Cephas Christian Reformed Church off Goodfellow Road in Peterborough, the chorus will perform its annual fall concert in the form of The K-Tel Radio Hour, featuring hit music of the ’50s and ’60s.
The 2 p.m. concert will take the form of a two-hour CAOH-AM radio show, hosted by a deejay some of many of you know and some of you love — me! No worries. I’m not singing.
Along with the full chorus, a number of associated quartets will also perform, do-wopping and sh-booming through a generous selection of timeless classics. It’s a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon and, with tickets priced at just $20, $10 for students, a light hit on the wallet. Visit acesofharmony.com for tickets.
Rehearsals have shown me that this is a fun group, their collective love of music and it’s barbershop-style presentation as infectious as it is entertaining. Better still, the door is wide open to anyone who wants in on the fun, with rehearsals held every Monday at 7 p.m. at the church.
Be afraid, very afraid, and entertained at the Bancroft Village Playhouse
We all have that someone in our life who views Halloween as a bigger celebratory event than Christmas. So it is that they go all out on their costumes and decorations with a child-like giddiness.
One of my favourite Halloween traditions was and still is the candy tax I hit our kids with — and now apply to the grandkids’ haul. That’s proven way more fun than finding a mouldy chocolate bar in a dresser drawer.
Halloween will be pretty big deal at the Bancroft Village Playhouse as Tweed & Company Theatre presents A Night at the Grand Ghoul Opry. The fully immersive Halloween spectacle, staged October 30 to November 3, features Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolf Man, the Mummy, and other characters performing re-imagined classic country and rock songs in the form of ghostly trios, guitar-playing villains, and a live undead band.
A costume contest and adult trick or treating are also on the bill.
Created, written, directed, and starring Tricia Black, James King, Danielle Leger, Emily Mewett and Tim Porter, this shows speaks to everything we love about Halloween, that candy tax aside.
Show time is 7:30 p.m. each night, with 2 p.m. matinees October 31, and November 1, 2 and 3. Visit www.villageplayhouse.ca to order tickets.
Public Energy takes its 31st season on the road to Trent University
Public Energy Performing Arts presents the second production of its 31st season on November 1 and 2, this time doing so at the Trent University’s welcoming Nozhem First People’s Performance Space.
Featuring Sandra Lamouche, contemporary dance piece Out of Wounds is inspired by her research into wagimauskigan, the diamond willow fungus which grows out of the wounds of trees and has numerous uses among Cree people.
This is a homecoming of sorts for Lamouche, who holds a Master of Arts (MA) from Trent University in hoop dance and healing. Her dance creations are rooted in her 30-plus years collaborating and training with several Indigenous dance companies across Turtle Island as well as her experience as a storyteller, artist, writer, and champion hoop dancer.
Pay-what-you-can tickets to either 7 p.m. performance are available at publicenergy.ca.
A reminder that this is Public Energy founder and executive director Bill Kimball’s final season, with his “retirement” having been announced. If you come across him at the either show, a hearty pat on the back would be very much in order. He has most certainly earned that and then some.
Encore
- Two questions. Were you at the Peterborough Musicfest concert featuring I Mother Earth back on July 13 and, if so, did you buy a 50-50 raffle ticket? If so, turn the house upside down, rummage through your car glove compartment and take a peek inside the cookie jar – the winning ticket from that night is yet to be claimed. What you’re looking for is ticket number B-12163. If you stumble upon it, email info@ptbomusicfest.ca and attach a copy of your winning ticket.
- Speaking of 50-50 tickets, Market Hall is again holding its fall raffle ticket sale, with all proceeds supporting the non-profit downtown Peterborough performance venue and its goal of advancing the arts. Until December 10, tickets are on sale in person at the box office from 1 to 5 p.m. and for one hour prior to shows, as well as at www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/mhpac. You must be at least 18 years old and an Ontario resident to purchase.
