CNE and Medieval Times, August 30
Saw new highlights at the CNE this time, including an amazing Quilt of Belonging (right) that was created as a project by a multitude of new Canadians who wanted to share their cultural histories and personal stories. I could have spent the whole afternoon hearing all the wonderful details about each square: one was made from the shirt that a refugee wore when he escaped his country and made it to Canada. Awesome. The biggest surprise about the Canadian Mounted Musical Ride show (above) was the fact that half the riders were woman. Way to go! It was a great show.
Had dinner at the ever-entertaining Medieval Times show. (right) The games were still fun and the hand-to-hand combat scenes were well 
choreographed and the addition of a brief falconry display was terrific. It was a great time again even though our red and yellow knight did not win.Ended the evening on the ferris wheel for an aerial view of the midway. (left)
Avenue Q, Elgin Theatre - Aug 29
You've got to see it to believe it! With adult themes and life challenges, this is an award winning puppet show for grown-ups who can take a joke. And plenty of them! It is a "clever musical that pokes highhearted fun at...sex, racism and homophobia." I fell under the spell of the Bad Ideas Bears: two adorable, fluffy teddy bears who could talk straight-arrow Princeton into spending his parents' money on beer. And, not just a six-pack but a whole case because "it's more economical." It all turns out well in the end, but the journey left me awestruck and breathless. Robert McClure was a standout - performing double duty as the two lead characters, Princeton and Rod. St. Jacob's and Elora - August 23
It was a perfect day for a visit to the old farmers market in St. Jacob's followed by a Bruce Trail hike to the refreshing Elora Gorge.
Chinese Lantern Festival Ontario Place - August 22
Spent a bit more time at the CNE watching the Super Dogs and getting comfortable in a CF18 (below) before the sun set and the lanterns lit up at Ontario Place (right). It was a colourful world for the third year in a row with animals from all continents and iconic historic and contemporary buildings. Musical and acrobatic performanes enhanced the magic of the warm summer evening on the lake.
Let’s Go To The Ex! – August 16What a perfect day with perfect weather! It started with a quick visit to the gardens at Casa Loma, and then we hopped on the tour bus for a scenic and amusing ride through town to the Distillery District. Did some sightseeing there plus the obligatory Mill Street beer samples before catching the Queen Streetcar for viewing more Toronto sites. Shoehorned into the Bathurst streetcar bound for The Ex. Hopped off early and beat the traffic to the Princes’
Gates. Just in time for the horse show - Hippike: A Gypsy Legend. Terrific. Also, just in time for Michael Harrison’s ventriloquist show. Very funny. Missed the dog show, but visited the Armed Forces display and tried on a flack jacket and helmet (right). Caught the shuttle across the grounds to see the Green Living building and Arts & Crafts building. Picked up dinner and arrived early at the BMO field for the Veteran’s Day tribute show. Videos on the jumbotron supplemented the great band music that included Ode to Joy and the 1812 overture – love those cannons! The show ended with a flourish as the full moon rose on the horizon. From the north side of the Lakeshore, we managed to see quite a bit of the Chinese Lantern Festival at Ontario Place before catching Rod Stewart’s first few songs farther east at the Amphitheatre. Phew, what a day! 
Textile Museum: Afghan War Rugs - August 13It was the curatorial tour that finally got me to this exhibit, and I'm glad I went. The rugs were colourful, intriguing, troubling and beautiful.
The Way of the World
August 2 - It was the threat of rain that sent me digging through NOW Magazine for a theatrical matinee as entertainment on the weekend. And, that's how I discovered this 300-year-old gem. The play, written by William Congreve in 1700, "concerns lovers confronted by a tangle of intrigue, and their skill in extricating themselves from the mess." It took just one scene to grow accustomed to the historical phraseology before the complications began sounding all too modern. There was inheritance, impersonation, imbibing, and indiscretion. And, a family matriarch named Lady Wishfort. The cleverly up-to-date staging served to anchor the dialogue firmly in our own time. These devices included a Playboy bunny tending bar, telephone messages, in-house intercom and an hysterical image of a "lady" in her undergarments using one of those 1950s giggly weight-loss contraptions. There was much laughter throughout and the penultimate scene, a group dance, brought the house down. Glad I didn't miss the joy of this show on it's final weekend.
August 2 - It was the threat of rain that sent me digging through NOW Magazine for a theatrical matinee as entertainment on the weekend. And, that's how I discovered this 300-year-old gem. The play, written by William Congreve in 1700, "concerns lovers confronted by a tangle of intrigue, and their skill in extricating themselves from the mess." It took just one scene to grow accustomed to the historical phraseology before the complications began sounding all too modern. There was inheritance, impersonation, imbibing, and indiscretion. And, a family matriarch named Lady Wishfort. The cleverly up-to-date staging served to anchor the dialogue firmly in our own time. These devices included a Playboy bunny tending bar, telephone messages, in-house intercom and an hysterical image of a "lady" in her undergarments using one of those 1950s giggly weight-loss contraptions. There was much laughter throughout and the penultimate scene, a group dance, brought the house down. Glad I didn't miss the joy of this show on it's final weekend.
August Movies
Hellboy II: The Golden Army - August 1
I haven't seen the first Hellboy installment, so am unable to compare. But, that won't stop me from saying how much I enjoyed No. 2. Our hero, portrayed by Ron Perlman, rankles against authority, as he gets the job done with much unwanted publicity. He's just a guy with extraordinary strength and powers who's only trying to make a name for himself. "You're in the newspaper, again!" cringes his boss. I was smitten with the visually rich sensibility, the dense (if largely subterranean) landscape and the unending array of gadgets. I particularly enjoyed watching as the intelligent, ecoplasmic fog inhabited a wall of lockers and took a few shots at "Red" as payback for smashing his boss in the head. Fun stuff.
Swing Vote - August 5
Kevin Costner steps into familiar territory as "Bud," America's favourite Everyman. It's a role that I like him in, so I really enjoyed this lightweight comedy-with-a-conscience. With a solid supporting cast and homage paid to such classics as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Miracle on 34th Street, it's dang near impossible to criticize. This is not a BIG film but the message resonates with an informed voting population as we watch events unfold in the US. You don't have to love Costner to enjoy this film, but it helps.
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired - August 12
The title refers to the director's status as a criminal in the United States and an acclaimed artist in France. The documentary was made for HBO and has found a select audience at the cinema, which is fitting. Nothing about Polanski or his persona would suit the small screen. He is a larger than life character who was singled out in a 1977 court case that became a mockery of the American judicial system. The back story of his tragic beginnings (his parents died in Nazi death camps) and the love match with Sharon Tate and ensuing horrors helped to paint him as a sympathetic character. Focusing on the lengthy court battles, director Marina Zenovich brings to life the struggle that both the defence and prosecuting attorneys encountered by offering contemporary interviews. Archival film footage and testimonials from friends all support our intimate knowledge of a man who still intrigues and stimulates.
Mongol – August 17
It’s essentially a love story with plenty of graphic battle scenes and a host of historical inaccuracies, but I enjoyed this film so much at last year’s Film Festival I just had to see it again on the big screen. It’s loosely based on the life and times of Genghis Khan, born in 1162: starting as a child picking a bride then through skirmishes and captivities and on to his leadership of the Mongols. Filming took place on location on the Mongolian Steppes with a cast of thousands, mostly on horseback. It’s those thundering, galloping hooves that will linger with me the most. Breathtaking scenery and magical elements, not to mention the authentic costumes and settings, made Mongol an intense and satisfying foray into man’s exotic and barbaric past.
I haven't seen the first Hellboy installment, so am unable to compare. But, that won't stop me from saying how much I enjoyed No. 2. Our hero, portrayed by Ron Perlman, rankles against authority, as he gets the job done with much unwanted publicity. He's just a guy with extraordinary strength and powers who's only trying to make a name for himself. "You're in the newspaper, again!" cringes his boss. I was smitten with the visually rich sensibility, the dense (if largely subterranean) landscape and the unending array of gadgets. I particularly enjoyed watching as the intelligent, ecoplasmic fog inhabited a wall of lockers and took a few shots at "Red" as payback for smashing his boss in the head. Fun stuff.
Swing Vote - August 5
Kevin Costner steps into familiar territory as "Bud," America's favourite Everyman. It's a role that I like him in, so I really enjoyed this lightweight comedy-with-a-conscience. With a solid supporting cast and homage paid to such classics as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Miracle on 34th Street, it's dang near impossible to criticize. This is not a BIG film but the message resonates with an informed voting population as we watch events unfold in the US. You don't have to love Costner to enjoy this film, but it helps.
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired - August 12
The title refers to the director's status as a criminal in the United States and an acclaimed artist in France. The documentary was made for HBO and has found a select audience at the cinema, which is fitting. Nothing about Polanski or his persona would suit the small screen. He is a larger than life character who was singled out in a 1977 court case that became a mockery of the American judicial system. The back story of his tragic beginnings (his parents died in Nazi death camps) and the love match with Sharon Tate and ensuing horrors helped to paint him as a sympathetic character. Focusing on the lengthy court battles, director Marina Zenovich brings to life the struggle that both the defence and prosecuting attorneys encountered by offering contemporary interviews. Archival film footage and testimonials from friends all support our intimate knowledge of a man who still intrigues and stimulates.
Mongol – August 17
It’s essentially a love story with plenty of graphic battle scenes and a host of historical inaccuracies, but I enjoyed this film so much at last year’s Film Festival I just had to see it again on the big screen. It’s loosely based on the life and times of Genghis Khan, born in 1162: starting as a child picking a bride then through skirmishes and captivities and on to his leadership of the Mongols. Filming took place on location on the Mongolian Steppes with a cast of thousands, mostly on horseback. It’s those thundering, galloping hooves that will linger with me the most. Breathtaking scenery and magical elements, not to mention the authentic costumes and settings, made Mongol an intense and satisfying foray into man’s exotic and barbaric past.
Henry Poole Is Here - August 18
Well, with a free pass from my radio station and based on the recent ads I thought it would be light and entertaining. I must agree with the official Ebert & Roper reveiw - "incredibly low key." In fact, it felt like a short story that was stretched into a feature-length film. Sure it was a well-written story, but without any extra filler...just a lot of slow well-filmed empty spaces - presumably mimicing the emptiness in Henry's heart. Although I became engaged with the characters, there just wasn't enough movie to go around.
Well, with a free pass from my radio station and based on the recent ads I thought it would be light and entertaining. I must agree with the official Ebert & Roper reveiw - "incredibly low key." In fact, it felt like a short story that was stretched into a feature-length film. Sure it was a well-written story, but without any extra filler...just a lot of slow well-filmed empty spaces - presumably mimicing the emptiness in Henry's heart. Although I became engaged with the characters, there just wasn't enough movie to go around.
Sunday, July 6 - Monton, NB
Michael Ruse asked himself Has Darwin Expired? and talked to us about his answer. It's hard to imagine that Darwin made mistakes along the way but he did, and he learned from them. Ironically, his legacy has evolved and he never used the word "evolution" in The Origin of Species. The scientific results presented during Plant Sexual Diversity were elegant and straightforward and far more interesting than the research that uncoverd them. The changeable nature of Darwin's Finches was less surprising than the speed with which the changes occurred, usually just one or two generations.
Black Watch
