Under the coordination of library staffer Nancy Relova, the Gibsons Public Library welcomed dozens of community members to its third-annual Mid-Autumn Festival on Saturday, Sept. 7. Sometimes known as the Moon Festival, the event is a traditional observance of the harvest in Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
The afternoon festivities included musical performances, dance, demonstrations of Chinese traditional calligraphy and instruction on origami lantern-making. A wide array of mooncakes were served, some featuring the two Chinese characters that denote the word “reunion.” Author Jennie Tschoban howled at the moon to accompany a dramatic reading from her book Tales & Lies My Baba Told Me, performed by Johanna Rzepa.
“[It was] a true cross-cultural community event,” said Relova. “Thanks for spreading the happiness and togetherness in the community!”
Alphabet with animus
The Sunshine Coast Film Society will present its second movie — Wicked Little Letters — in a tightly-packed season on Monday, Sept. 16 (7:30 p.m. at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons) and Thursday, Sept. 19 (2 p.m. at the Ravens Cry Theatre in Sechelt).
The 2024 full-length film portrays a 1920s English seaside town that bears witness to a farcical and occasionally sinister scandal. The riotous mystery comedy follows two neighbours: deeply conservative Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley).
When Edith and fellow residents begin to receive wicked letters full of unintentionally-hilarious profanities, foul-mouthed Rose is charged with the crime. The anonymous letters prompt a national uproar, and a trial follows.
Membership is required to attend SCFS screenings. Memberships and tickets can be procured with cash at the door or by paying with a credit card online at www.scfs.ca.
Any dream will do
The Coast Music Theatre Company — still riding high after The Pirates of Penzance, its inaugural musical spectacular this spring — has announced that auditions are being booked for its 2025 production: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The cultural mashup of Biblical proportions first hit stages in 1968.
Auditions take place at St. John’s United Church in Davis Bay on Sept. 27 and 28. Background information and audition instructions are available at coastmusictheatre.weebly.com.
These poets surely rock
A folk, pop and roots ensemble that brings together a blend of lyricism and emotionally-powerful instrumentation will perform at the Gibsons Legion on Saturday, Sept.14. The Stone Poets create music sparking hopefulness and a sense of optimism by diving deep into material that celebrates authenticity.
The Vancouver group was founded in 2011 by three artists who combine years of experience gathered from their time spent in multiple bands and solo projects. Its fifth studio release, HUM∀N, is available as a 17-track album on stonepoets.hearnow.com.
Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are available online via gibsonslegion.ca.
Musicians primed for Nicaragua night
The musical lineup has been revealed for the unique cultural event scheduled for Sept. 14 at the Sechelt Seniors Centre. Hosted by authors Mike and Jennie Starr, Nicaragua Night will feature authentic Central American food and stories from the Starr’s travels and service throughout the country bordered by the Mosquito Coast.
The event’s musical performers gathered at Chatelech Secondary School last week to finesse their Spanish-language selections. Three School District 46 instructors are collaborating to delight listeners: Marial Yglesias, Spanish teacher at Chatelech Secondary; Jeremy Forst, band teacher at Chatelech; and Martin Nemcovsky, music teacher at West Sechelt Elementary. The band members’ collective ancestral heritage includes Costa Rica and Argentina.
Admission to the fundraising event is by donation ($10 is suggested). Doors open at 6 p.m.
