Scores of dancers from Sechelt’s Waldorf Ballet presented their biannual stage spectacular over four performances last weekend, bringing a colourful and emotion-rich Alice in Wonderland to the Raven’s Cry stage.
On the eve of the Kananaskis G7 summit, Waldorf’s interpretation offered a cautionary tale about the perils of autocracy (the Queen of Hearts was played by Sophie Cimbala and Waverlee Meisinger in alternating performances) and the collective triumph of humility, kindness, and whimsy.
Alice (Gracelyn Mailey and Brooklyn Turner) embodied the guileless heroine, summoned to Wonderland by the nimble-footed White Rabbit (Acesea Enga and Audrey Altenburg) and the enigmatic Cheshire Cat (Adele Dubin and Sophia Cimbala). Taho Shinagawa, as the lugubrious Caterpillar, reclined on her oversize toadstool during all four performances.
Tanner Mitchell’s ebullient Mad Hatter hosted the world’s most frenetic tea party, while the White Queen (Waverlee Meisinger and Adele Dubin) offered a gracious counterpoint to the Red Queen’s dour severity.
At the opening performance, audience members were charmed by a member of the junior ladybug corps who spotted her mother among the spectators. Her enthusiastic “Hi Mom!” became the only words spoken during the ballet (Tchaikovsky’s score was arranged by Carl Davis).
In the end, the grace that Alice early showed to her fellow creatures paid off in spades: she was sheltered by butterflies and ladybugs as the red queen pursued her with murderous intent.
Waldorf Ballet now launches into a summer of day camps: schedules and information are available at waldorfballet.com.
Jazz festival a class act
Two days of free concerts and ticketed events brought the 29th annual Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival and Beyond to a triumphant close last weekend — aided by spectacular sunshine for outdoor shows at Hackett Park (Sechelt) and Winegarden Park (Gibsons).
The Creek Big Band made its return to the festival, under the direction of saxophonist-conductor Carl Montgomery. Vancouver’s Big Easy Funk Ensemble drew gyrating dancers to an impromptu mosh pit, inspired by irrepressible grooves from the nine-member ensemble (it was trombonist Kevin Tang’s second appearance in the Hackett amphitheatre, after playing last year with Camaro ‘67).
On Sunday, Sechelt-based sax virtuoso Jon Bentley headlined his quartet (“As a musician, he’s absolutely meticulous,” commented festival producer Paul Hood). Bentley’s group was followed by performances from the Mary Ancheta Quartet (“Is it alright if we get funky?” asked Ancheta of her audience, “Is it alright if we get greasy?”) and the old-time western groove ensemble The Tumbling Tumbleweeds (complete with washboard and steel guitar).
In total, 16 performances during the week attracted capacity audiences and a healthy prognosis for the festival’s 30th anniversary in 2026.
Workout with the Bard
The Driftwood Theatre School — still riding high after its production of The Brave Little Tailor and a series of well-subscribed youth workshops — is offering a one-of-a-kind Shakespeare workshop to members of the public. The facilitator, Allegra Goodman, is highly recommended by theatre school instructor Gabriel Ditmars, who worked with Goodman during stints at Bard on the Beach.
The workshop will take place on Friday, June 27, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Mission Point House in Davis Bay, and on Saturday, June 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. John’s United Church in Davis Bay. A $100 registration fee will be charged per participant.
More information and online registration are available at driftwoodplayers.net/register-online/.
Cellists take a bow
The Grace Notes Music Studio year-end recital on June 16 in Davis Bay featured an unprecedented sight (and sound) on the Coast: a cello choir of 22 instrumentalists, composed of current and former students of the studio.
Amid the keyboard and string performances that followed, a singular vocal solo electrified its listeners: Julian Falkin, accompanied by Caitlin Beaupré (vocals) and David Poon (on piano), delivered Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Pie Jesu with muscular sublimity.
The recital concluded with a farewell trio highlighting graduating cellist Salma Atoui. For her Grade 12 project, Atoui resolved to learn the viola da gamba, whose origins lie in 16th-century Venice. She joined fellow viol players Sarah Poon (her longtime instructor) and Tegan Ceschi-Smith for a heartfelt interpretation that brought the sweltering evening to a well-tempered conclusion.
Served with extra passion
The group that kicked off the Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival, Coctel de Pasion, has announced an intoxicating follow-up concert in Gibsons. The group plays a mellow, yet danceable, mix of bolero, salsa and montuno styles.
The trio-turned-quartet features veteran jazz musician and teacher Martin Nemcovsky; Mariel Yglesias, a singer and songwriter from Costa Rica; Jeremy Forst, a multi-instrumentalist and music educator; and newcomer percussionist Blake McAndless (also leader of the group Passing Clouds).
The Coctel foursome perform on June 29, at 6 p.m. at the Sweet and Savory Bakery. Tickets ($25) are available at the door.
