In Wakefield Sept. 13-15
Ta Da! Festival line-up: gender-bending laughs, dance, magic, and Ian Tamblyn’s new satirical play Nun of It
The seventh annual Ta Da! Festival (Sept. 13-15) in splendiferous, arts-happy Wakefield promises a fat line-up of gender-bender laughs, spicy dance, and Ian Tamblyn’s new satirical play, Nun of It.
The play opens the fest at the Black Sheep, about beleaguered poet Zephyr Fallutin and his gal Phoebe Selmeci, taking pokes at religion, Bill 21, being gay but playing it straight and the foibles of the artistic temperament. (Remember Sister Sourire’s hit song Dominique from the 70s? Put on your nun’s habit and prepare to hear the real story.)
On Saturday, Sept. 14, right after the Wakefield Farmers’ Market, in Gwen Shea Hall at the Centre Wakefield La Pêche, a Family Event: a short dance duet based on Chagall’s paintings of his wife Bella by Toronto dancers Eddie Kastrau and Mairead Filgate, choreographed by Danny Grossman. Then it’s magic and fun with Michael Bourada.
At 4 pm, look for the unveiling of a mandala by artist Stephanie Hill, just outside the main doors of the Centre.
Later in the afternoon, there’s a reading of a new play from one of 12 emerging playwrights working with dramaturge Peter Haworth.
Balancing Gender at 7 pm explores binary sexuality as male Peking Opera artist William Lau portrays a woman and man. Then Ryan Kostyniuk and Yiming Cai perform an excerpt from Nobody’s Business, where two men dance a playful sexy tryst.
The evening ends with stand-up comedian Candy Palmater – who describes herself as “a gay native recovered lawyer turned feminist comic, raised by bikers in the wilds of northern New Brunswick”.
Saturday night lights up with the Ta Da! Party as local musicians Sue Johnson and Christian Patterson entertain while revellers sip, chat, hob nob with artists while tasting treats donated by local restaurants and caterers.
And in case you missed it, there’s a second showing of Ian Tamblyn’s Nun of It, Sunday, Sept. 15 at 4 pm. More info at www.tadafestival.ca.
