“If music be the food of love, play on,
Give me excess of it; that surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.”

-         Duke Orsino, Twelfth Night, Act 1, Scene 1

Spring has arrived in Lennoxville, and so has another musical here at Bishop’s University. This year, director George Rideout brings his adaptation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night to the stage – a story of love, mistaken identities and now… hit songs from the 1950s and 60s.

Rideout is Drama professor here at Bishop’s and knows nearly all of Shakespeare’s works inside and out. According to him, Twelfth Night has a loving feeling that should be paired with classic rock hits of the 1950’s and early 60’s. The production features tunes such as Twelfth of Never, Great Balls of Fire, Fools Rush In, Teen Angel, Don’t Be Cruel and many more.

Being a playwright, Rideout has excised parts of the original Shakespearean text and replaced it with song; a task that takes a considerable thought. Rideout has done this before with previous Bishop’s productions and claims that the overall message of the play must remain the same. Another difficult step of adapting a play for the Bishop’s stage is keeping the level of entertainment high enough for the audience to remain drawn into the action of the scene.

The musical side of this play is undertaken by the dynamic duo of Fannie Gaudette and Jamie Crooks. Both of them have worked on the University Singers choir shows and previous spring musicals together. Having years of experience behind them, the two bring valuable talent and knowledge to the table.

This year Cory Bowles will once again join the team, adding his expertise by teaching dance styles such as the Lindy Hop  (a swing staple) and the Twist. In addition to choreographing the show’s dances, Bowles will be seen on stage as the often-inebriated Sir Toby Belch.

Returning to the stage are the familiar faces of Peter Jarvis and Kyle Gleason, who are double cast in the roles of Duke Orsino and Feste. Kelly Van der Burg and Renee Myers will play the role of the lovely Viola on alternating nights. Jill Thorpe, a second year English and Drama student and new to the spring musical experience, comments that her favourite part of the musical is “getting to know more about everyone in the cast.

“It’s a great mix of people and we’re all meshing really well. Everyone has been working hard from the beginning but also playing hard… a nice balance. My favourite dance in this production is Rock Around the Clock. With the musical, the only ‘school work’ I do is fun stuff!”

This star group of individuals will most definitely create an evening filled with entertainment and fun for all music lovers, dancers and Shakespeare enthusiasts. Come join us for the festivities in Turner Studio starting Friday June 11^th until Saturday June 19^th at 8:00 p.m. Get your tickets while they’re hot; being sold now at Centennial Box office.

The Corporation of Bishop’s University effectively voted itself out of existence last month, adopting a motion to scrap the unwieldy governing body and replace it with a much smaller board of governors.

The proposal, presented to Corp by the Governance Task Force, represents a “sweeping change in the governing structure of the university,” according to Corp president Robert Gordon.

The shift has been described as the most drastic governance overhaul since Bishop’s severed its ties with the Anglican Church in 1947.

Among the more drastic changes in the new statutes are a greatly reduced governing board (from 63 members to 17), the abolition of the Executive Committee, and a reduction in size of the Committee on Life at the University (CLU).

As far as committees go at a university overburdened by bureaucracy, CLU is one of the most influential on students’ daily affairs; its purview includes the Code of Student Conduct and the Alcohol Policy.

Furthermore, its budget subcommittee decides what to do with the $685 that each student pays in annual student services fees.

CLU is also the most student-heavy body at the school; currently, 12 of its 25 members are students. After the committees have been restructured this fall, CLU will shrink to just seven members, four of whom will be students – including the chair.

To contrast, only one student will sit on the board of governors. It is not the SRC President ex officio, but sitting President Paige Johnson told The Campus that she will assume the lone student’s seat on the new board of governors.

Currently, three SRC members sit on Corp – the President, the VP Academic, and the Corporation Representative (“Corp rep”). Johnson said that if students are given a seat on the Council of Advisors (an advisory board to the Board of Governors), the Corp rep will assume that seat. If not, then the position of Corp rep will be eliminated.

The new statutes also contain a minor but noteworthy change in academic freedom for students.

Previously, students had “the right of enrolment in courses regardless of race, sex, religion or politics.” This has been updated to read, “the right of enrolment in courses regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or politics.”

The statutes are the product of a long and arduous process which began in October 2008, and which has seen a number of intense discussions, according to Gordon, who joked that the governance task force’s meetings occasionally turned violent.

The task force was formed following news that the provincial government would be introducing a bill to strictly regulate universities’ governing bodies.

The bill (Bill 38), which has not yet been passed, includes mandatory gender equality on schools’ boards of governors, as well as a provision that one member of the board shall be selected by the province.

At its spring meeting on May 15, one Corp member wondered aloud if the new statutes were entirely necessary, given that the legislation is not guaranteed to pass.

President Robert Gordon responded that the massive changes are necessary regardless of the fate of Bill 38.

Other concerns raised included the large proportion of exterior members on the new board of governors. It was suggested that if exterior members are expected to attend all board meetings (at least six per year), it could limit the talent pool to Quebec and Ontario.

Corp member Drew Leyburne said that one solution to this was for the new board to explore teleconferencing and videoconferencing as viable alternatives to six-a-year trips to Lennoxville. This option is also encouraged in the statutes themselves.

Despite a handful of relatively minor concerns, Corporation approved the statutes unanimously, and the room was filled with enthusiastic applause from all sides after the vote.

The statutes, weighing in at a hefty 45 pages, will come into effect on September 14.

Those who are able to gain access to companies involving their field of study, often have to put in time working in unpaid positions before being considered for a paid job. By serving as an intern, one can gain vital experience as well as contacts in their field of interest. This can assist in obtaining meaningful employment, as managers prefer and favor candidates with in-house experience.

Another way to learn life skills is to travel or study abroad. Bishop’s students in particular are familiar with the benefit of stepping outside one’s comfort zone and thrusting themselves into another culture; one can’t avoid developing new perspectives and attitudes.

One recent Bishop’s graduate, Craig Atkinson, took full advantage of opportunities to travel when he was studying here. He carried out his co-op placement at the Australian Trade Commission, and went to the Netherlands on exchange. Craig asserted that the experience he gained abroad could not be acquired any other way. “It was a great experience; I learned a lot that you don’t read in a book”.

Craig attests that living for a period in a foreign country, immersed in the culture, is the key to gaining the most from the experience. “When I lived in the Netherlands, I got a really good idea of what they’re about; which doesn’t happen when you just visit somewhere”. He recommends that everyone go on exchange at some point.

The internship in Australia was an important milestone for Craig, who often changed his focus of study. He started out in Accounting before switching to a Marketing and Co-op degree. In the end, he chose to “change to international trade after finding the internship” in Australia.

It is a common experience for students to change their desired career path during their studies. For Craig, the changes were made easier by the unique ‘Bishop’s experience’. He claims that “it gives you a broad perspective”, and says that it’s fortunate that many classes are offered in various different departments.

Craig graduated from Bishop’s in 2008, and is now working as an intern for the Trade Commissioner’s Service at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT). He’s working with officials on a new Investment Cooperation Program, which was recently created to support Canadian businesses that want to invest responsibly in developing countries. This position combines Craig’s experience at the Australian Trade Commission with his interest in politics and his passion to help Canada.

For those graduating from Bishop’s, the ‘unique experience’ of the institution may be one of their best assets. Craig commented on how he was encouraged to learn how to deal with various obstacles. “Bishop’s doesn’t just provide you with internships”, he said, “I had to find them. I would have to speak with various people and jump through various hoops”.

One of the key elements of the ‘Bishop’s experience’ is learning how to network and communicate effectively with alumni. They can be a valuable resource when it comes to finding opportunities: Craig got his first placement through an Alumni member. Many Bishop’s graduates are currently working in a variety of industries. Being able to utilize this resource is an important skill for students to learn while studying at Bishop’s.

The administration at Bishop’s recently created a graduate task force to see how the school could help students acquire important job skills. The initiative was prompted by a noticeable lack of preparation skills displayed by some students. Principal Goldbloom commented on a meeting he had with alumni in Toronto, where they essentially said that they’re “not so sure if [they’re] prepared to continue to meet with students…they were unimpressed with the preparation the students had prior to coming to the meeting”.

Bishop alumni can be a fantastic resource; they can provide practical advice and access to job opportunities. Craig believes that our Alumni are more valuable than most, claiming that “they’re more successful than students from other schools”. He observes that many are “doing something worthwhile and interesting”.

However, this valuable asset should not be taken for granted. Goldbloom’s comments indicate that, despite the strong loyalty of our alumni, student must still be prepared to impress. Being a Bishop’s grad may help with getting a foot in the door, but the rest is up to the individual.

Dubstep. Unless you’re an avid listener of electronic music, the term is probably one you’re not familiar with. The only thing you really need to know about dubstep is that it focuses heavily on bass… lots and lots of ear-splitting bass.

The reigning king of this genre is Christopher Mercer. Better known by his stage name, Rusko, Mercer is originally from England and comes from a musically affluent family. After graduating from the University of Leeds with a degree in music performance, Mercer has been hard at work developing his own unique way of producing dubstep. Normally dark, serious and somewhat intimidating to listen to, Mercer’s take on the genre has begun to get some mainstream attention, and has other artists like M.I.A and Britney Spears chasing him to produce their upcoming albums.

Much of Mercer’s success is due to the recent release of his first album, titled “Rusko: O.M.G.” Mercer’s melodic breakdowns fused with heavy bass-lines, has given the unique genre the chance to be on the radio.

The more tracks Mercer produces, the more people give the music a chance. Could it be the next big thing? Who knows. At only 25 years of age, Mercer is poised to rule his scene for a while. Unlike a lot of electronic music producers, he’s committed.

Last year Mercer moved from his home in England all the way to Los Angeles in an attempt to bring dubstep to Canada and the United States. The first track that he put out after his move was a dubstep remix of Tupac’s “California Love” re-titled, “Da Cali Anthem”. Even if you’re not interested in electronic music I’d suggest checking it out. Dubstep is here to stay.

Rusko’s Top 5 songs to check out:

-         Pro Nails (Rusko Remix), by Kid Sister feat. Kanye West

-         Day N Night (Rusko’s Big Trombone Remix), by Kid Cudi

-         Da Cali Anthem, by Rusko

-         Hold On feat. Amber Coffman, by Rusko

-         Splash ft. Coco (Rusko Remix), Sub Focus

http://www.myspace.com/ruskonfire

It all started when graduating Bishop’s Drama student Lucy Collingwood decided that she wanted to direct some theatre in her free time this spring. Along with four other students, they set about to put on a play, just for the heck of it.

They called themselves The Poutine Players.

With second year Drama and Secondary Education student Emily St-Aubin as Stage Manager, and fourth year Taylor Demontigny, third year Trevor Marlatt and alumni Jeffrey Basiliere as the cast, they discussed which play to put on. Demontigny suggested Art, and they simply went from there.

For those not familiar with this play, Art was written by French playwright Yasmina Reza. It first premiered in 1995 in Paris, and even after such a short time it has already become a classic of contemporary European theatre. It has been translated and produced worldwide and honored with numerous awards, including the Moliere Award for best author and the Tony Award for best play.

Art is a play of ideas, which is very difficult to stage, because if the audience cannot follow the argument, the play is lost. Art tempers this with its dialogue. Reza’s play is filled with hilariously sharp dialogue, and all three leads do a superb job of tackling it.

The true strength of the play is the humor. The actors really find their stride in the chemistry of the three men, and the little moments of humor that aren’t found in the script.

The first strength of this play is its casting. Demontigny as Marc shows an aggression and hostility in his performance akin to a feral predator. Every laugh he makes seems to bare fangs, making him instantly captivating. Demontigny also shows incredible depth of character. Of all the men, Marc’s transformation is the most profound, and Demontigny sells it perfectly.

Marlatt is cast brilliantly as Serge. Serge is imbued with a quiet strength and underlying snobbishness making him an ideal counter to Marc’s ferocity. Marlatt has a talent for subtlety that gives power to his character.

Basiliere rounds up the cast as Yvan, who is on the fence between the two. Basiliere balances the whiny timidity and the eccentric explosions masterfully, switching between them with ease.

The play was performed in Bandeen Hall. Collingwood explained that staging a play in Bandeen provided challenges and opportunities for unique stagecraft. The stage is a long strip with the audience on either side of it. Collingwood claims the tricky part was to solve the problem of sight lines. Based on the performance, it was successful. Everything is clearly visible, and the audience feels a great deal of intimacy with the actors.

Another good thing about setting a play in Bandeen Hall is that the acoustics are incredible. Volume was never an issue, even when the actors were at other ends of the stage, with their backs turned.

Art by The Poutine Players is not only a great show, (and at $6 for students and $8 for adults, a price that can’t be beat) but it shows how resourceful and proactive students here at Bishop’s really are.

These students decided they wanted to challenge themselves with an incredibly demanding play, and with their success, they proved that art can happen anywhere. The result is a great accomplishment to cap off another school year, and an ideal swan song for some of our graduating Drama students.

Summer is here, and that means a lot of things to the students here, such as eternal sunshine on the beach, seeing our families, mind-blowing barbecue and scrambling for employment to get some much needed liquidity. But more importantly, summer is the season for festivals.
Canada has a proud tradition of festivals, with events spanning the whole nation, and most don’t even know what they’re really missing. Here’s just a taste of what is out there.

If you want music, our nation’s capital is not a bad place to be this summer, because from there you can check out the Ottawa Jazz Festival. Now celebrating its 30th year, the Jazz Festival was founded by local musicians Bob Misener and Tony Pope.

Since then it has evolved and gained a loyal fan base, as well as greatly contributing to the rise in popularity of Jazz. The Jazz Festival opens on June 24th and runs through July 4th.

If you’re in Bytown but jazz isn’t you’re thing, there’s the Ottawa Bluesfest, opening on July 6th until the 18th. The festival started sixteen years ago with a performance by Clarence Clemons, and it has blossomed from there. The Bluesfest now showcases music of different genres. This year, headliners include Carlos Santana, Iron Maiden, Rush and Arcade Fire, to name a few.

For our friends in Quebec, July 8th is the opening of the Quebec Summer Festival. The Festival was started in 1968, making it the oldest on the list. It was founded by Quebec artists to promote popular music in the province.

It is now an award-winning festival within Quebec, and showcases stars not only from this province, but the rest of the country as well. Take a look at the show that claims to be the biggest outdoor artistic event in the country.

Later in June is The North by Northeast Music Festival and Conference (NXNE), in Toronto. NXNE was founded in 1994, and plays host to over 650 musical acts across 50 venues, ranging from newcomers to headline acts. On top of that, the NXNE also includes a film festival with 40 of the best music related documentaries and videos. And if that’s not enough, there are conferences that bring delegates and celebrities from the business for interviews, workshops and demo listening.

If music is your thing, or if you’re a musical newcomer, this is the place to be. NXNE opens on June 14th and runs until June 20th.

If you happen to be in the east coast sometime this summer, you will want to take a look at the Evolve “Music and Awareness Festival” in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Founded in 2000, “Evolve” is a three-day festival that celebrates music, culture and social responsibility and awareness.
What sets apart Evolve is that it’s environmentally friendly. It has a zero-waste policy as well as a number of workshops that teach everything from belly dancing and meditation to solar chimney construction.
If you’re still unsure of making your way to small-town Nova Scotia, consider this: Evolve was rated the “Best Festival in Canada” in a survey conducted by CBC Radio 3, and has an incredible lineup of musical performances this year. Evolve runs from July 23rd to the 25th.

For any theatre goers, there are the Canadian the Fringe Festivals. The first North American Fringe Festival was opened in 1982 in Edmonton, Alberta. Since then, it spread to ten other major cities across Canada, as well as the United States.

What makes the Fringe festival different from other theatre festivals is that the theatre is all original, created and produced by travelling actors and artists. On top of that, the work is not censored, or screened by any jurors.

Needless to say, most Fringe shows are more controversial than mainstream. But, if you have a love for theatre and a thirst for edgy entertainment, the Fringe is a great bet.

Even all this is just a taste of what’s happening across the country, so there’s no reason not to get involved. The summer is yours – make the most of it while you can.

Turner’s performance at the CFL combine was so impressive that he even caught the eye of NFL scouts. Turner made headlines as he ran the 40-yard dash in a record-breaking time of 4.31 seconds, topping his former Gaiter teammate Jamall Lee, who broke the record last year with a time of 4.39 seconds. He also posted a vertical leap of 43.5 inches, only half an inch short of Lee’s record 44-inch jump last year. To cap his unbelievable combine, he was the fastest to perform the shuttle run, with a time of 4.03 seconds. If Turner had participated in the NFL combine, he would have ranked second in both the 40-yard dash time and vertical jump.

The wide receiver and kick returner from Brampton, Ontario was not given a contract offer from the Bears after attending their mini-camp, but it opened the door to another dream come true. The Toronto Argonauts had previously drafted Turner after he fell through the scouting standings because of his undecided fate with the Bears. When Chicago fell through, Turner was not disappointed, but rather thrilled to sign with his hometown team.

“Going to Chicago was a learning experience. I’m not going to go somewhere and cry about it and be down about it. At the end of the day, I’m still a CFL player. Not getting a call from the Bears doesn’t affect me at all.”

Turner likes the idea of playing close to home so that his family can watch him play more often as an Argo than during his days at Bishop’s, where the ten hour trip to Lennoxville just wasn’t feasible. “My family is really excited to watch me play more than they have in the past,” he said. Turner may only be 5′9″, 185 pounds, but he led the CIS last season in punt returns with an average of 20.4 yards per return, two of them going for touchdowns. “Being a smaller player, I’ve always faced challenges, always having to prove people wrong and stuff like that. I basically just have to go out there and show my potential.”

Keeping in mind that retired Argonaut and CFL Hall of Fame inductee Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons was only 5’6″, 170 pounds, Turner can surely fill the void that the Argonauts are missing on special teams and punt return, with the loss of Dominique Dorsey, who signed with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders during the offseason.
“I hope to help in their return game as much as possible. That’s one of the things I think I can excel at,” Turner said.

The Argonauts open up their season in Calgary on Canada Day against the Stampeders. If you want to check out Turner in action close to Bishop’s when classes starts up in the fall, the Argos face the Alouettes in Montreal on November 7.

If you saw the games firsthand, you witnessed the speed and explosiveness. If you encountered him at the Bishop’s gym, you witnessed the undeniable dedication and focus. If you viewed his YouTube highlights, you were likely dazzled by the tantalizing playmaking abilities. So where has all of this gotten former Bishop’s wide receiver, Shawn Gore? Only an incredible three-year contract, signing with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers.

Where does Gore set his sights at this time, now that he’s already accomplished such a feat? “My goals are simple”, says Gore, “improve as a football player and earn a spot on the team’s game-day roster.”

Thanks to his impeccable work ethic and strong play, Shawn Gore will now have that opportunity with the Green Bay Packers, whose training camp begins at the end of July.

“I’m now doing Organized Team Activities”, explained Gore, who stressed the importance of maintaining a high level of play, day in and day out. At the highest level now with the Green Bay Packers, it is definitely a tall order. Earning a spot in the roster meant Gore was one of three, of a possible 28 candidates during tryouts. Now that he has the spot, retaining it is the challenge. “I can be released at any time,” Gore said, fully understanding of the level of competitiveness that surrounds him.

So how did he get to where he is today?

A native of Toronto, Shawn Gore began impacting the Gaiters upon arrival, with stellar numbers and play. Things like a 21-game catch streak exemplify mere pieces of the wide receiver’s gifts on the field. With this said, the stage where Gore had to prove himself the most, he excelled. This was at the CFL Combine in March. Gore ran a fierce 4.50 second time in the 40 yard dash, then followed it with a 43.5 inch vertical leap.

Couple those numbers with eye popping stats throughout his ’09 campaign, and the Packers went calling, dialing him in just 20 minutes after the NFL draft. Furthermore, CFL’s B.C. Lions were quick to snatch him up, taking him as their 10^th pick in the second round of the draft.

As Bishop’s University’s reigning Male Athlete of the Year, Gore further padded his numbers in 2009, only making his resume more appealing. In his fourth season, he posted five touchdowns while hauling in 32 catches for 496 yards. Translating CIS successes to the NFL will be his biggest challenge of all, and Gore knows it.

“My mindset each day is to do better than the day before; my performance has to continuously improve. Meaning the mistakes I make should never be repeated and the plays that I didn’t make the next day should be. I believe if I do that I will be successful wherever I play.”

Playing for a team with as rich a history as the Green Bay Packers is surely a dream of many aspiring football athletes. The team owns the NFL record for most championships for a franchise with 12, and occupies the historic Lambeau Field.  Now one of Bishop’s finest athletes has a chance to join the history. Like many other football athletes for Bishop’s have done, Gore praises Coach Leroy Blugh for so much of his success.

“Leroy Blugh has played 15 years of professional football and he has put all that experience into his coaching.  Our players learn to play with a very high level of discipline and dedication on the field and in the weight room which transfers straight to our performance, allowing many of us to play professionally.”

This early in his career, there is no telling what can become of Shawn Gore. He will rely on his work ethic, drive, and focus to keep his three year contract with the Packers, and try to embark on something special.

“I would like to say that I was one of the focal points on, not just a championship winning team, but a team that will go into the history books as a great dynasty,” Gore said, when asked what he strived for 10 years from now. Hard work has gotten him this far – why can’t it be possible?

This hurricane season could be a threatening one according to predictions by a top U.S climate agency.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts between 14 and 23 named storms.  These NOAA predictions place the 2010 Hurricane season in the highest category of ‘hyperactive.’ While the NOAA does not predict the whether or not these storms will hit land, Jane Lubchenko, PhD., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere told the CBC, “The greater likelihood of storms brings an increased risk of a landfall.”  The NOAA predict an 85% chance of an above-normal hurricane season this year and anticipates 3-7 major hurricanes. Hurricane season runs from June 1 until the end of November.  The NOAA estimates its predictions on the number of storms to be 70% accurate.

An active hurricane season could obliterate any effort to clean up the BP oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, now the largest oil spill in American history.  Depending on future weather patterns, a storm or hurricane in the Gulf could further spread the oil along the storm path.  In light of the oil leak, the NOAA has released some historical statistics on hurricanes in the Gulf, following their commitment to avoid predicting landfall or damage due to hurricanes.  The NOAA states that “Historically, all above normal seasons have produced at least one named storm in the Gulf of Mexico, and 95% of those seasons have at least two named storms in the Gulf.”

Despite whatever may occur between hurricanes and the oil spill, preventing human casualties is paramount.  U.S President Barack Obama encouraged U.S citizens to make a family disaster plan, secure their homes and take other precautions listed on the NOAA website.

Canada, one may recall, is not immune to hurricane strikes.  Hurricane Juan hit Nova Scotia in 2003, causing extensive damage and eight deaths.

Omar al-Bashir Still President of Sudan

Despite being wanted for war crimes, Omar al-Bashir has again been sworn in as the Sudanese president.  Even though the April elections are regarded as ‘controversial’ the election has been recognized internationally.  For the first time in 24 years, Mr. Bashir faced other parties in the election.  His victory has been credited to the mistrust within the opposing parties and election fraud.

International rights organization Human Rights Watch suggested that governments interested in justice for Darfur should avoid attending the inauguration.  In defiance of this organization, five African presidents did contribute to Mr. Bashir’s audience, those of: Ethiopia, Chad, Malawi, Mauritania and Djibouti.  Of those in attendance, BBC correspondent James Copnall had this to say: “it gave a touch of prestige to the proceedings, though Western nations were in general represented by locally based diplomats, and sometimes not even the ambassador. In some circles it is not the done thing to be seen in public with a man wanted for alleged war crimes.”

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has charged Mr. Bashir with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.  In his 30 minute inauguration speech, Mr. Bashir did not refer to the court.  Because of Mr. Bashir’s internationally recognized government, the effectiveness of the ICC has been called into question.  Amnesty Africa specialist Noel Kututwa denied the apparent powerlessness of the ICC: “It delays justice, but it doesn’t make the organization ineffective.”

The next few months will be interesting for Sudan.  In January southern Sudan will vote on possible independence.  Mr. Bashir has been a longtime supporter of Sudanese unity, having initially come to power during the 21 year long civil war between north and south.  Southern Sudan is statistically the “hungriest place on earth” despite having the oil fields which provide much of Sudan’s wealth.  It is believed if the January vote is free the South will break away from Mr. Bashir, taking its oil with it.

North Korea Still the Worst Neighbour in the World

North Korea has decided not to participate in an agreement preventing naval clashes with South Korea.  This action from North Korea comes in the wake of the conclusion the South Korean ship Cheonan was sunk by a North Korean torpedo.  The Cheonan was torpedoed on March 26th, and all 46 people on board were killed.

South Korea proposed an agreement with the North in order to clarify nautical behaviour between the two nations, with the interest of avoiding future clashes and loss of life.  North Korea has denied they were responsible for the torpedo which sank the Cheonan in the face of the international probe, which states the opposite.  Throwing out the possibility for an agreement between the two countries has been retaliation for the North being blamed for the torpedo.  The North Korean military has warned they will attack in the case of a South Korean naval violation of the disputed border in the Yellow Sea.

On May 24th, South Korea issued a statement that all trade between with the North had been frozen.  North Korea followed this with a statement the next day that it was severing all ties with South Korea.  The emerging scene is one of increased tension – North Korea has also banned all ships and planes from its territory.

In response, South Korea has begun anti-submarine drills.  These drills are the first visible sign of South Korea raising its defense in response to the sinking of the Cheonan.  South Korea has also sought action through the United Nations Security Council.  North and South Korea have technically been at war since 1953, when conflict ended without a peace treaty.  The sinking of the Cheonan has been the first naval conflict between the two Koreas since a North Korean submarine ran aground near Gangneung during a spy mission in 1996.

Director Marshall Pynkoski’s comedic production of The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart maintains the perfect balance of drama and music. There is a lot of detail in Opera Atelier’s recent production, asking the audience for their full attention to every flourish of this delightful romp. Getting the chance to view the performance from box seats in the Edwardian atmosphere of Toronto’s historic Elgin Theatre added to the fun.

Mozart’s first of three masterful operatic collaborations with librettist Lorenzo da Ponte had a rough debut in Vienna in 1786, because the opera was in Italian rather than Austrian court-friendly German. What would have disturbed the Austrian court even more was Toronto’s version – performed in English. Each singer had clear pronunciation and the subtitles (in English) were often unnecessary and distracting.

The Marriage of Figaro is about a young couple, Susanna and Figaro, trying to have a successful wedding day, despite the madness that enfolds. Susanna and Figaro are head servants in Count Almaviva’s court. The Count is trying to enforce an old tradition that states that he is allowed to sleep with the bride on her wedding night, before the husband is allowed to. As he continues finding excuses to delay the wedding ceremony, Susanna, Figaro and the Countess decide to hatch a plan that will expose his scheming. The Count tries to make Figaro legally marry an old woman, who ultimately turns out to be his mother. Through Figaro and Susanna’s clever manipulations, the Count’s love for his Countess is restored and Figaro and Susanna are happily married.

The costume design by Martha Mann was breathtaking. All of the bodies on stage were clothed in such a dazzling fashion that even the servants looked like royalty. Susanna, played by Carla Huhtanen, was a feast for the eyes every time she took the stage. Huhtanen has a very expressive face, fit for theatre. Beginning her career in Italy and France, Huhtanen has become a regular with the Opera Atelier in Toronto.
On the other hand, Canadian performer Olivier Laquerre, playing the role of Figaro, needed some work on his overall projection. With the quietest voice of all the performers on stage, it was hard for the audience to be convinced that this was indeed the magnificent Figaro. In concert, Laquerre often sings Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Magnificat and St. Matthew Passion, as well as Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. One of his upcoming projects includes his return with the Symphony Nova Scotia, in Mozart’s Requiem.
The Countess played by American soprano, Peggy Kriha Dye, complimented Huhtanen very well on stage. Their fine voices are featured in several well balanced duets in this production. Dye started her training at the Julliard Opera Centre and continued as an Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera as well as appearing in many elegant operatic roles since then.

The great Count Almaviva was played by baritone Phillip Addis, who embraced the role and made it his own. Addis had clear projection and pronunciation, as well as an obvious comfort with the stage. Addis, who thrives on dramatic flair, will end this season with his Paris debut at l’Opera Comique in the lead role of Pelleas et Melisande.

Last but certainly not least, is little Cherubino played by Wallis Giunta. Providing the audience with comic relief as she switched genders, Giunta was delightful, particularly in her male role. Cherubino was a joy to watch as he scurried across the stage trying to figure out his feelings for the great Countess and singing love songs to her. Giunta has made her debut on stage in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Carmen. She completed an Artist Diploma in 2009 at The Glenn Gould School, and plans to achieve more title roles in upcoming productions.

The small but powerful orchestra that accompanied the performers on stage was outstanding. Old instruments that were standard of the day when the opera was performed were used. One audience member remarked, “I enjoyed this performance because it was in English so I could understand it.  The music was very good, especially the French Horns.”

Another spectator of the evening said, “I enjoyed the opera very much. It was lively, energetic, colorful and entertaining through music, song and dance, and the venue was beautiful. Even though most people love Bach and Beethoven, my favorite composer is Mozart. The Marriage of Figaro has historical meaning in Mozart’s life. It was radical, funny and truthful to the current day when it was first performed.”
All aspects of this opera came together to create a fabulous evening out in the city. Mozart’s music is so moving that the end of overture and the opening of the curtains brought me to tears.  Rapturous applause at the end suggested I was not alone in my enjoyment of this timeless classic: The Marriage of Figaro.

*The last names have been changed in order to keep the interviewees anonymous.