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Tag Archives: titanic music
Include lunch or dinner at Terroir La Cachette – but make a reservation!RAGTIME MUSICAL AT THE SHAW FESTIVAL THEATRE
RAGTIME MUSICAL AT SHAW FESTIVAL THEATRE
The Shaw Festival is pinning its hopes on Ragtime for the 2012 season. Early buzz and ticket sales are strong. PHOTO: Emily Cooper, Shaw Festival
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE – Last year felt like a big party.
This year, it feels like a new era. Most of it by design, some of it by necessity. After a year-long celebration to mark its 50th season last year, Shaw Festival artistic director Jackie Maxwell knows there’s potential for a letdown. There will be fewer galas this year, less hype, a tighter budget. And while the season offers its usual assortment of mirth, music and melodrama, Maxwell has one big gun in the holster: Ragtime.
The Tony-winning musical based on the 1975 E.L. Doctorow book (and 1981 film) was a surprise when announced last year, but Maxwell feels the socially charged show fits the Shaw of 2012 perfectly.
“After last year and all the celebrations, I started to think of this year as the first of the next 50 years,” she says. “To show we should be here for another 50 years and still maintain our relevancy.”
“I thought of Ragtime as a real symbol of that, as our anchor of the season. It contains a conversation that we’ve not had at The Shaw, the whole notion of America at the turn of the 20th century.”
Set in New York City, Doctorow’s book examines the American experience from the perspective of three families: A white upper-middle class clan; a family of Jewish immigrants; and an African-American couple. A racial incident sets off events which eventually unite the families.
The 1981 movie directed by Milos Foreman was nominated for eight Oscars, and was notable for being James Cagney’s final film appearance.
Funded by Garth Drabinsky and Livent Inc., the musical debuted in Toronto in 1996 before moving on to Broadway in 1998, where it ran for two years. Critics were lukewarm on the $11 million production, but it tallied 13 Tony nominations – the most of any show that year. It won four but lost Best Musical to The Lion King.
The show hit London’s West End for a three-month run in 2003, then returned to Broadway in 2009 (the first ‘90s musical to enjoy a Broadway revival). Despite better reviews than the original production, it closed after 65 performances because of its immense budget and moderate ticket sales.
At seven months and 109 performances (including previews), Ragtime will enjoy a longer run at Shaw than for its second stint on Broadway.
Which is music to actress Patty Jamieson’s ears. The 16-year Shaw veteran has provided solid support in shows like The Women, The Admirable Crichtonand last season’s box office champ, My Fair Lady. This time, she gets the major role of Mother in a musical she loves.
“When it was coming up last year I did a little lobbying with Jackie because I love this piece,” she says. “The character of Mother … as I’ve gotten older, I understand it (more). Fifteen years ago, I saw her as one of those ladies dressed in white. I didn’t really understand what she was going on about. But I’ve lived life, I have my own little person now, and I have more of a frame of reference.”
The Shaw’s take on the musical has earned plenty of buzz in previews. It opens May 26 at the Festival Theatre, capping the company’s opening week.
Jamieson isn’t surprised the show is already causing a stir: It was good then, it’s better now.
“The scope of the story is very large,” she says. “The original production had problems because the story got lost in a swirl of lovely music and costumes and big sets. Jackie’s forte is to clarify the story. You walk away feeling unsatisfied if you don’t understand the story.”
The show’s heavy American slant won’t hurt the box office – 42 percent of the Shaw’s audience is from the U.S. But Maxwell feels Ragtime’s themes still feel fresh.
By John Law, Niagara Falls Review
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A Night to Remember – Irish Harp Pub to host Titanic-Themed Dinner
A night to remember in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, Canada
Irish Harp Pub to host Titanic-themed dinner
A night to remember. Trevor Smyth, owner of The Irish Harp Pub in Niagara-on-the-Lake, will be honouring the 100-year anniversary of the Titanic with a special dinner event on April 12, 2012.
Get out your boarding passes, the Irish Harp is taking people on a journey back in time for a night to remember.
On April 10, 1912, the RMS Titanic, dubbed the ‘unsinkable ship,’ set sail from Southampton, England, with a final destination of New York City, N.Y. Operated by White Star Line, at the time of her maiden voyage she was the largest ship afloat, carrying 2,224 passengers, including some of the wealthiest people in the world.
However, five days after its departure the ‘unsinkable’ ship collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic and did what no one thought possible: it sank. More than 1,500 people died in what many call one of the deadliest maritime disasters in history.
Over the years the legend of Titanic and her story have lived on through movies, literature, and song. For many, including Trevor Smyth owner of The Irish Harp Pub in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the mystery surrounding the ship has proven to be a lifelong fascination.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s first and last journey. To mark the occasion, Smyth is hosting a Titanic-themed dinner event, “A Night to Remember.”
His King Street pub will be transformed into the luxurious surroundings of the first-class dining hall, with replica dishes and table linens, servers dressed in period costume, and the exact 10-course menu that was served on the ship the night before it sank. Courses include lamb in mint sauce, roast duckling, Lyonnaise chicken, filet mignon Lili, roasted squab and cress and more. Smyth said they turned to the Titanic Historical Society for help understanding some of the outdated menu items, like vegetable marrow farci and punch romaine.
“We wanted to make it as authentic as possible,” said Smyth, who admits he’s had a lifelong fascination with the Titanic.
Growing up in Ireland, Smyth said he was always intrigued by the stories about the ship built in Belfast at Harland & Wolff, the world’s biggest shipyard at the time.
“I was always reading books and doing research on the Titanic,” he said, adding he was drawn to the many myths surrounding the ship and also the unanswered questions.
“Why were there not enough lifeboats, how did so many people die, why didn’t any of the other boats in the area get there quicker?” he rambled off, listing some of the questions that haunt people interested in the ship’s legend.
Some of those questions, he said, experts will attempt to answer during the question-and-answer portion of the night. Music will be provided by a string ensemble playing selections that would have been heard aboard the ship. There will also be rare footage of the Titanic’s departure, and memorabilia including letters from survivors and replica items.
Smyth will be dressing up as the ship’s captain, Edward John Smith, and the Irish Harp managers will be dressed as the ship’s officers.
Space will be limited for the event, with only 50 spots available. Smyth said seats are filling up fast and many of the guests have already indicated that they too will be coming dressed in costume. While it’s not a requirement, Smyth does encourage attendees to wear formal dress.
In lieu of tickets, guests will be given a reproduction of the White Star Line boarding pass that would have been used to board the Titanic.
“It’s going to be a great evening,” said Smyth.
The April 12 event kicks off at 7 p.m. The cost is $90 per person for the 10-course meal and evening activities.
The Irish Harp is located at 245 King St. in Niagara-on-the-Lake. To reserve a spot for “A Night to Remember” call 905-468-4443 .
If you’re looking for accommodations call 905-980-0346 or 1-866-226-4730 .