Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet

Hot Dates

Artistic Measures
The artistic season begins September 14 and 15 when the Victoria Symphony Orchestra launches its 2008-09 season, joined on-stage by international opera star Jane Eaglen, performing Wagner. Other early fall highlights include the stunning Silk Road Ensemble, premiering new works by leading Canadian composers and featuring virtuoso performances on Chinese, Indian and western instruments.
The Victoria Dance Series opens its season with Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet, in town October 1 and 2, and the Tara Cheenne Performance, visiting October 23 to 26.
Pacific Opera Victoria kicks off its 2008/09 season with Jules Massenet’s Thais. The story of a courtesan torn between the pleasures of the flesh and the demands of her soul, this celebrated opera boasts voluptuous music and compelling characters exploring the bond between erotic and religious passion.

Gorgeous Glassworks
West End Gallery’s 12th annual Canadian Glass Show will delight art lovers through September 30. Highlights include local talents Lisa Samphire and Jonathan Mossop plus Canadian artists June Pham, Don MacLennan, Susan Rankin and many others. A must see on your summer calendar, this is the largest glass show in Canada, boasting new works arriving throughout the exhibit.
From October 4 to 16, the gallery welcomes a solo exhibition by Vancouver Island artist Paul Jorgensen, whose “landscapes feature intricate patterns and bright colours that convey a sense of whimsy.“ Visit the gallery for an opening reception with the artist Saturday, October 4 from 1 to 4pm.

On Stage
Opening on stage at Victoria’s historic Belfry Theatre September 16 is John Mighton’s Half Life, winner of the Governor General’s Award for Drama and the Dora Mavor Moore Award for outstanding new play. Exploring the realities of love, beauty, memory and aging, this is the tender, humourous story of two elderly residents of a home who may have been lovers years earlier. Their children, confronted by their parents’ blossoming romance, must also cope with their own feelings.
At the University of Victoria, Phoenix Theatre presents Jacob Richmond’s Legoland, October 9 to 18. “Wildly inventive and darkly funny, this coming-of-age tale chronicles the misadventures of two precocious teens on their odyssey from a hippie-commune to the big city world they call ‘Legoland.’ Acclaimed at festivals across North America, this offbeat comedy is a contemporary vaudeville routine, complete with ukulele, puppets and gangster rap.” (Note that this is not suitable for children.)
Things get a little spookier when Craigdarroch Castle and Giggling Iguana Productions continue their tradition of Halloween spectacles with an original adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. As in past performances, the magnificent interiors and grounds of Craigdarroch serve as the setting for Wilde’s tale of a beautiful young man’s descent into narcissism and corruption, all the while untouched by his sins. Instead, his painted portrait reveals each and every flaw which his hedonism heaps upon his soul – sure to send a tingle down the spine and a twinge in everyone’s conscience.

Best Beers
Beer lovers unite! The always-anticipated Great Canadian Beer Fest comes to Victoria’s Royal Athletic Park, September 5 and 6. Your chance to sample the creativity of the Pacific Northwest’s burgeoning craft brewing industry, the 16th annual festival in support of a local children’s charity gets under way Friday from 3 to 8 pm. The fun continues Saturday from noon to 6 pm. Enjoy entertainment, food and plenty of samples. For details, call 250-383-2332 or visit www.gcbf.com

Victoria Heritage Festival
Help celebrate B.C.’s 150th anniversary September 13 to 21 when Greater Victoria’s museums, art galleries and historic sites will highlight the province’s rich cultural heritage with nine days of special events. Victoria Heritage Festival activities will include special tours, demonstrations, exhibits and a concert series sponsored by Parks Canada and presented at seven of the city’s national historic sites. For more details call 250-478-6481 or 250-592-5323 ext. 22 or visit www.victoriaheritage.org