by AMY BARRATT

With Divers/Cité about to wind up for another year, it's time to start thinking about the next Queer festival on the calendar. No, it's not Image et Nation; I'm talking about Harvest/La Récolte, otherwise known as the Montreal GLBT International Theatre Festival (Sept. 15–25). For the fest's inaugural year in 2004, the organizers, Village Scene Productions, kept it manageable with mainly local shows on the bill. There's no doubt this second edition is more ambitious than the first, though it may take a while for the festival to become truly international.

The 2005 edition consists of three shows from the U.S., three from Ontario and eight from Quebec. They will be presented at various venues in and around the Gay Village, some of which are yet to be determined. Unlike the Fringe festival, which now squeezes nearly 100 shows into a 10-day period, it will be possible to see all 14 shows in Harvest, if you are so inclined.

From New York City comes a one-man comedy called Unaccessorized, written and performed by Rich Kiamco. It is the (at least) semi-autobiographical story of a young Filipino-American who comes out at age 14 to face his mother's prayers for his immortal soul and his father's threats of shock therapy, not to mention harassment at his Illinois high school. Laugh along as he flees to New York in search of community and a career in fashion design.

From the Shoebox theatre in Vermont presents John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask's rockin' musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The festival has its first dance show in a Fringe fest remount called Joe in Winter. It's a solo work by Louis Kavouras of Las Vegas about how the heart survives the desolation of winter. How appropriate in a festival that takes place just as summer ends and we face six months of cold.

From Toronto comes Lady in Waiting, another one-man piece, this one about a character who's a respectable businessman by day and a drag queen by night. Playwright Judith Thompson was the dramaturge on this project, written and performed by Charles Hayter.

A highlight of the local offerings is a Michel Tremblay double bill presented in French. La Duchesse de Langeais is a monologue about a fading drag queen, and Surprise Surprise is about three girlfriends organizing a surprise party for another friend. In this production, the girls are played by Daniel Leblanc, Marielle Léveillé and Montreal's premier drag personality, Mado.

Cuthbert's Last Stand, by Andrew Biss, is based on the unusual premise of a mother bringing home prospective suitors for her son. Local entries also include two Fringe alumni, Fairy's Tale, from a couple of years ago, and runaway hit Sex and La Cité.

For the latest info on shows, venues etc., visit www.villagescene.com.

Tickets for Harvest shows are no more than $15 (regular) and no more than $12 (students and seniors). A limited number of festival Rainbow Passes will be available as of July 30 (look for the Village Scene booth at Community Day). Individual tickets go on sale Sept. 1. Box office: 574-GLBT or boxoffice@villagescene.com.

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