The Seuss-Odyssey is a fun play by Chatelech Secondary School students running Dec. 9 to 10 for two performances.

It takes Homer's Odyssey and retunes it in the language of Dr. Seuss. Circe, The Cyclops, Athena, the Sirens, Penelope and the Suitors all speak an outrageous mix of epic poetry and bouncy rhymes. It's a funny, crazy play with lots of music and dance and wonderful costumes by Sherry Wallace and the students. It's a play that will appeal to kids and parents and anyone with an irreverent sense of humour.

The show starts at 7 p.m. in the Chatelech Theatre. Tickets are available for $7 at the door.  

Snow show

Stop by the Goldmoss Gallery in Roberts Creek (2840 Lower Road) for Body Of Snow, a contemporary painting and sculpture exhibition opening this Saturday, Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. All are welcome. This is an artist-priced show with no gallery commissions. New works by Ines Tancre, R.B. Wainwright, Jennifer Seymour, Diego Samper, Bon Roberts, Donna Balma, Heather Gatz and Lee Roberts. They will also showcase the works of Susanne Biden. Appetizers and refreshments will be served. Hosts Bon and Lee Roberts hope you can make it.

Festive sale

The third annual Festive Sale at the Arts Building takes place on Saturday and Sunday Dec. 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a delightful selection of unique and quirky work by local artists. A dash of vintage is included this year, and some local farm produce and delicious treats. See www.artsbuilding.org for more. The building is at 464 South Fletcher Road in Gibsons.

Sunshine Coast book

Join local author Howard White and photographer Dean van’t Schip as they celebrate the release of the fully revised second edition of The Sunshine Coast: From Gibsons to Powell River (Harbour Publishing, $34.95).

There will be a book signing at Woods Showcase in Sunnycrest Mall on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. Breathtaking prints from the photographer's collection featured in the book will be on display at Woods Showcase. There will also be an evening with the author and photographer when they give a talk and slide show at the Pender Harbour Music School in Madeira Park on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. 

Christmas Carol

Driftwood Players Story Theatre continues with their performance of A Christmas Carol at a public venue for free during Tim Hortons/Wendy's Festival of Lights on Dec. 3 from 2 to 2:30 p.m., Dec. 4 from 4 to 4:30, Dec. 11 and 18 at 4 p.m. and aired live at the annual Elves Club Telethon, Coast TV on Dec. 3. Join local audiences as they share in Charles Dickens' classic tale.

Sinmobile

Here's a winter wake up call. Original rock music is alive and kickin' on Saturday at The Lighthouse Pub in Sechelt starting at 9 p.m. Rock out with female fronted bands, the Coast's Sinmobile and Vancouver’s One Life Animal. No cover charge.  

Coast Phoenix

Members of Gibsons Coast Phoenix Singers merrily sang children’s carols to welcome Santa to Sunnycrest Mall on Nov. 26. They will be heard again at their Joy to the World concerts: Sunday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. in St. Hilda’s in Sechelt, and on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 3 p.m. at Gibsons United Church. Under the capable direction of Bill Bourns, this small group will present a traditional Christmas program of sing-along carols, readings, and more. Kelly Smit will provide the piano accompaniment and special guest Sarah Harding will add her magical flute to accompany The Shepherds, a short Christmas cantata, which the choir has prepared. Tickets are $15 with children 12 and under free, available at Laedeli and Monkeychips.

WaterCan, a project that works to provide clean drinking water to villages in developing countries, will benefit from the proceeds.       

Film Society

On Monday, Dec. 5 the SC Film Society presents Polytechnique, a docudrama from Quebec by director Denis Villeneuve in French with English subtitles. The Polytechnique murders of 13 women on Dec. 6, 1989 left an indelible mark on Canadian society. This film explores the tragedy from the point of view of the parents and the male students who witnessed the terror and were helpless to prevent it. Following the film there will be a discussion led by Keely Howard of Yew Transition House. That's at Gibsons' Heritage Playhouse at 7:30 p.m. Members are $5, single event is $8.

Local music

A concert put on by the Registered Music Teachers' Association in honour of Canada Music Week was held last Sunday at St. Hilda's in Sechelt. Many of the Coast's music students performed from a variety of Canadian composers and several of them selected music from local composers who have published volume two of their book, More Music by Carolynn Cordsen, Thora Rogers and friends.

GPAG

The last exhibition of 2011, the oil paintings of Pamela Hall Hunt, at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery (GPAG) ends Dec. 5. The gallery opens again on Jan. 10 with installations of the enhanced digital photography of Bodhi Drope, A Birder's Journey, and the delicate watercolours of Vivian Chamberlin in the Eve Smart Gallery. The St. Mary's Auxiliary is holding a pre-Christmas sale at GPAG on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  All are welcome. 2012 memberships are now available at the gallery.

Tuesday deadline

Send notice of your arts events to jandegrass@dccnet.com or phone 604-886-4692 by Tuesday at 5 p.m. for Friday's newspaper. Let me know who, what, where, when, why and ticket info briefly. Because of the volume of submissions, Art Beat covers events one day to one week ahead only.