Free Willy
The Freewill Shakespeare Festival is winding down for another 
summer.
Macbeth (a personal favourite) and Much Ado About Nothing have been taking over the Heritage Amphitheatre in Hawrelak Park for nearly one month. And you’ve got just about one week left to catch the plays.
Tuesday night (why, that’s tonight…) and Saturday matinees are also “Pay-What-You-Will” so you don’t need to even pay the usual $22.50 ($15 for students and seniors) to see one of the great plays.
This reminds me, Romeo + Juliet was on the other night. Transferring the words of Shakespeare into modern day locations just seems weird.
Some stuff going on in some places
I really thought my photo was going to make the poster.
And a good day to you, fair Edmonton.
All excited for the weekend, are we? Well, other than sleeping in, perhaps you’d like to try one of these out…
Again, I’m peering into the goody bag of ShareEdmonton this week. They’ve got one of the biggies of winter; The Silver Skate Festival goes this weekend in Hawrelak Park. And it’s not even freezing cold.
Speaking of skating, the revamped Bill Hunter arena opens this weekend and the city is offering some free (free!) skating.
Carey Hart is signing autographs at the West49 in WEM. That’s pretty cool.
Also cool is the Royal Winnipeg Ballet doing “Moulin Rouge,” at the Jube.
Seeing that The Hat has a brunch on Saturdays. Anyone been? Is it just breakfast burgers?
The Fray could show you how to save a life (*groan*) at the Winspear Centre on Sunday.
I’m out.
Success under the Sky
You won me over, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.
I’m not against classical music (Dvorak’s “From the New World” is a favourite, since high school), I’ve just never been one to head out to an evening at the Symphony. Which makes me probably the exact kind of person being targeted by the ESO’s annual Labour Day venture into Hawrelak Park.
Well played, orchestra.
Symphony Under the Sky was a lot of fun. I had the pleasure of checking it out Friday night, Day One.
Earlier storms couldn't keep people from the music.
The park amphitheater is a great setting. Everyone (except me) remembered to bring a chair or blanket if they didn’t have reserved seating. The ESO was selling blankets and seats for people just like me. Some of the proceeds of those items fund the ESO.
One of the things I do find neat about classical music is how often a piece will be introduced and I’ll have no idea what the person is talking about. Once the music starts, however, I’ll say “Oh, THAT song.”
Such was the case Friday evening when conductor Robert Bernhardt (a visitor to our city who keeps coming back for this big event) talked about playing Modest Mussorgsky‘s “A Night on Bare Mountain.” Instantly recognizable (probably a lot of that due to Fantasia).
There were also parts of the night’s closing Concerto in F (by George Gershwin) that I recognized. ESO Music Director William Eddins hit the piano for this finale.
I hope others who took in the event for the first time found it worthwhile. I know I’ll be checking into what’s on tap for the rest of the symphony’s season.
Please note that staff of the mini donut tent are wearing TUXEDOS.
GO LONG!
My attempt at mixing our pending long weekend and football catch phrases aside, we do have a three-day weekend ahead of us. That means lots of stuff to do in the city we call Edmonton.
We wrote about it this morning, but it’s worth mentioning again; the Sobey’s Symphony Under the Sky happens Friday, Saturday, Sunday AND Monday. Every day has different concerts. That’s a lot of symphony! (Follow all the action on Twitter if you’re not going to be in Hawrelak Park.)
Did you miss the big Blues Festival in Hawrelak? Well, blues fans, you are in luck. The Beaumont Blues Festival is on this weekend. I had no idea Edmonton was such a hotbed of blues before coming here.
Our Weird Canada friends are presenting The Wicked Awesomes!’s LP release party at Bonnie Doon Bowling Lanes. They sell it best: “Music and bowling.”
He will be 18 ’til he dies, questioning if he’s ever really loved a woman. Bryan Adams plays Telus Field TONIGHT.
The Shaw Conference Centre is hosting the Metropolis Electronic Music Festival. Not usually my scene, but I recognize MSTRKRFT as a big deal.
British rock-blues group Band of Skulls plays Brixx Saturday night. Could be a good time indeed.
Speaking of music, radio station Sonic 102.9 and The Union present SONiC Boom; a modern rock festival up at Northlands with such guests as Franz Ferdinand, Metric, Billy Talent and Edmonton’s own The Wet Secrets. Get your rock on.
The Citadel Theatre begins its season this weekend. Its first show is The Drowsey Chaperone.
The Labour Day long weekend also means summer is coming to a close. Have you tried to get lost in the Corn Maze yet? For the long weekend, you can save $1 off the admission price with a donation for the Edmonton Food Bank.
Symphony Under the Sky
I have never considered myself smart or cultured enough to enjoy something as high end as the symphony. I envision any attempt I make to go to the symphony as being received about as well as Julia Roberts shopping for clothes in Pretty Woman.
“I’m sorry, Samsonow, We have nothing for you here. Please leave.”
But this weekend, there’s an event that may change my mind.
First off, “Symphony under the Sky” is in Hawrelak Park. So tuxedos and evening gowns (or whatever people wear to such events) are out. It’s a park, the weather is supposed to be decent (it better be, Classen!) and the atmosphere is casual. Interested? You’re interested. (more…)
