The God that Comes

A quick post about a true delight this week:  Hawksley Workman's "The God that Comes", part of Vancouver's amazing PuSh Festival.  I've gone to a show or two at PuSh the last few years, and will see three this year, but next year - next year I'm determined to really give it the time it warrants.

Anyhow - what an incredible treat this performance was.  I have been a fan of Hawksley's since I first saw him perform in 2001, and I've seen him god knows how many times since - but never quite like this.  He has always been a theatrical performer, and this story-telling version of Hawksley was just...perfect.  A perfect demonstration of his myriad talent, a perfect subject, the perfect sized room, the perfect seats (front row, natch), the perfect company.  It was another one of those moments where you forget about the irritations of the day, and just marvel and how lucky you are to be just where you are.

There is a trailer for the piece posted below.  It doesn't do it justice, but it gives you an idea.  Now, just add on some lipstick, and a mannequin with a crotch-mounted harmonica, and you must just start to scratch the surface ...

This musical, theatrical delight will be touring nationally and internationally.  If it comes anywhere near you, GO.  Really.

Sans Soleil

I went to see a screening of Chris Marker's remarkable Sans Soleil last night, part of a retrospective at Pacific Cinematheque (purveyors of fine films and absolutely ASS KILLING theatre seats).  I feel like a bit of an idiot for not having heard of Chris Marker before, but thankfully A. was a fan and invited me to tag along.

I'm not too sure what to say about the film - it is a documentary of sorts, structured around letters sent from a fictional traveller, focused largely in Japan but moving to Africa, San Francisco, Paris, Iceland.   The hypnotic and beautiful musings on memory and history pull you right in and keep your attention, even if your tailbone is screaming due to the ass-killing seat you are sitting in.  I kept wishing I had a pause button to stop and reflect on some of the voice over - luckily it is available as a Criterion DVD so that possibility exists.

If you too are a bit of an idiot, do try and see it.  

It's the new year...

..and really only one question is plaguing me:

Raylan Givens....

...or Cullen Bohannan?

2013. Seriously?

Hard to believe.  But I guess it warrants a quick new year's post of some sort.  I'm admittedly a bit of a New Year's Eve Hater - it's an overblown night, with a focus on a fake sort of happiness that for me is infinitely depressing.  That being said, when spent with close pals, in a close pal's home laughing and eating and playing, it does give me an opportunity to reflect on what I have, and what I want for the year to come.  For once I have made a mental resolution list - it is a small one, and manageable - I think.  I will let you know how successful it was in 2014...maybe.

New Year's Day was spent with my frequent partners in crime, going on a chilly but lovely slightly-hikey walk in Cap Canyon, followed by soup and crazy good ginger cake.  It's important to start the year as you mean to go on, and so much of that day reflects exactly what I want my year to be.

And yesterday was spent on the ferry, going to meet the next member of the family in Nanaimo.  She should arrive next week.  She is extremely sweet, and seems just neurotic enough to fit in perfectly with this family.  Apparently she vomits on long car rides. So do I.  Obviously we're related.