This weekend, the Coast Messiah Choir is promising Bach “like it’s never been heard on the Coast.” A 14-piece chamber orchestra and five soloists will perform Magnificat in D, BWV 243 and Orchestral Suite No.3, BWV 1068 with musicians from the Sunshine Coast and Lower Mainland. “We’ll also showcase two of our resident flautists playing his Trio Sonata in G, BWV 1039,” the choir tells us. At St. John’s Church, 5085 Davis Bay Rd., Friday, April 5 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, April 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30 at the door, or $25 in advance from brownpapertickets.com
‘One of the best’
Honoured with heady praise from the likes of novelist Yann Martel and the late poet Al Purdy, writer Steven Heighton from Kingston, Ontario, presents a reading at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre in Sechelt on Saturday, April 6. The author of four novels, three books of short fiction, two works of non-fiction and six collections of poetry, Heighton is also an active critic, reviewer, translator and teacher. He was cited by Purdy as “one of the best authors of his generation, maybe the best.” Underway at 7:30 p.m.; doors at 7. Admission by suggested $10 donation.
Jan’s memorable jams
Coast author Jan DeGrass will read from her new book, The Co-op Revolution: Vancouver’s Search for Food Alternatives, published by Caitlin Press of Halfmoon Bay. It’s a photo-rich, warm and elucidating account of her time as a food production and distribution activist in 1970s Vancouver. Saturday, April 6, at 2 p.m. at the Gibsons Public Library. Refreshments and books will be available for sale.
Comic Strippers
They promise it’s rude, but not lewd. “No extreme nudity, just extreme hilarity.” The “male stripper” improv comedy show comes to Raven’s Cry Theatre in Sechelt on Friday, April 5. The two-hour reveal starts 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $34 for the group rate, $39 individual, from brownpapertickets.com.
Live music
Among the choices this weekend, Darren Cassidy and Scott Reinson put on a free show at Gibsons Public Market on Saturday April 6, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Coast String Fiddlers present Food, Fiddles, ‘n’ Fun, with special guests Mossy Rock Wailers at a 6 p.m. dinner and show Saturday, April 6 at St. Mary’s Church Hall, 956 Gibsons Way. Tickets are $20 at St. Mary’s or Laedeli Gifts and Cards.
And at Gibsons Legion on Saturday, April 6, Funktete, with Karen Graves, John Rule, Budge Schachte, and Anna Lumiere, plays at 8 p.m., $5 for members, $10 for guests.
Child’s Play
Sunshine Coast artist Ben Tour is most recently known for his huge eagle mural gracing a wall at the Capilano University campus in Sechelt. He does many finely executed, smaller paintings and illustrations, too. There’s an opening reception for his show, Child’s Play, a “series of illustrations motivated by skateboard and youth culture,” at The Kube in Gibsons on Saturday, April 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. Ben’s show runs until April 30.
The Wife
Glenn Close was nominated for an Oscar for her role in this film, playing the spouse of a long-celebrated novelist. For 40 years she has suppressed her own ambitions in favour of the great writer, played by Jonathan Pryce. But when he is nominated for the Nobel Prize, it all finally gets to be too much as she sees how she’s settled for too little, and the relationship rips apart. A strong supporting cast includes Annie Stark, Harry Lloyd, Elizabeth McGovern and Christian Slater. It screens at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons on Monday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Sunshine Coast Film Society members $5, non-members $9.
Worth noting
It will be Coffee House night at the Pender Harbour School of Music on Friday, April 12. On the bill, the women’s vocal ensemble Reflections; singer/songwriter/guitarist Matt Richards; the J-Tones jazz vocal trio; and pianist Matthew Douglas. Doors at 7 p.m., music at 7:30. Admission is a $10 suggested donation.
Submissions
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