Hustling Xmas
PEOPLE’S THEATRE:
Cast of My Christmas in New York (Mercieca third from L)Alain Mercieca had no idea what he was in for when he got a gig hustling Christmas trees in Manhattan three years ago. My Christmas in New York is Mercieca’s autobiographical play about a young Montreal poet selling Fraser firs to the rich while guarding his lot from thieves, mobsters and the “endless stream of junkies” emanating from a methadone clinic next door.
He also doesn’t forget to mention that all this happened to him during the worst hemorrhoids of his life.
Mercieca managed to distill the hundreds of characters he encountered during his month-long stint into a cast of seven, including himself, who perform tonight, Thursday, Dec. 10, through Saturday, Dec. 12, nightly at 8 p.m., and again next week from Dec. 16–19 at Théâtre Ste-Catherine (264 Ste-Catherine E.).
While the events of the story may be far-out, Mercieca is a big fan of realism and calls his plays “theatre for people who hate theatre.” This show is also bilingual, making it a distinctly Montreal play about New York. According to cast member Sandi Armstrong, “People who don’t speak English can enjoy the play as much as people who don’t speak French. Alain’s work is really about building bridges.” Tickets $10–$15.
by DAVID LEVITZ
Party for the arty
WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES: Donzelle
With exams winding down, the streets aglow with coloured lights, and those giant billowing snowmen, the holiday season is clearly upon us. If you’re not there already, tomorrow night, Friday, Dec. 11 provides an excellent opportunity to get into the spirit of things, and support a good cause at the same time (tickets are $15).
Hosted in tandem by the folks behind La Centrale, Articule, Dare-Dare and Skol, the annual Xmas Office Party at Ateliers Jean-Brillant (661 Rose-de-Lima) offers a bounty of entertainments, and a chance to support some of the city’s artist-run centres. Like Santa’s elves, the La Centrale team has been busy all week, making decorations to further enhance the celebratory mood.
The evening gets started around 9 p.m. with a set by rockabilily lounge lizard Bloodshot Bill, followed by local electro-rock heroes We Are Wolves. Adding to the festivities, a roving magician will perform tricks throughout the night, and the bar is stocked with seasonally appropriate beverages and grilled cheese. And while you wait for Donzelle to hit the stage at midnight, you can chat with Mrs. Claus, who has the inside scoop on who has been naughty and nice.
by STACEY DEWOLFE
Clowns in the family
St. Petersburg-based group Teatr Licedei arrive at la Tohu (2345 Jarry E.) this week, Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m., with their show Semianyki (“Family”), a creation from Russia’s first clown and mime theatre, founded in 1968.
Their take on the dysfunctional household shows a ceaseless power struggle  between an alcoholic father constantly threatening to leave, a pregnant mother and a bunch of rotten kids who want to kill their parents.
“The idea came to us by chance during a rehearsal,” says Licedei member Alexander Gusarov. “We were all dressed in different costumes and when we looked at each other, we realized we looked like a family.”
And though the family dynamic is exaggerated, the audience response is the same. “When we perform in Italy,” says clown Marina Makhaeva, “they say: ‘Oh, it’s an Italian family!’ When we arrive in Israel, ‘Oh, it’s a typical Israeli family!’—each country we tour, we’re taken for the local family.”
“The first goal, however,” Gusarov says, “is that people laugh at the funny moments. Now, between these moments, they may not laugh, but laughter makes them receptive to everything else.”
by NEIL BOYCE
Hideous for the holidays
Last month, the low-key art house Ctrl lab (3634 St-Laurent) sent out an open call for ugly sweater submissions. From about 50 submissions, they curated the Ugl(y)est Winter Sweater Exhibition.
Rejoice in Christmas kitsch with Ctrl lab this Friday, Dec. 11, when the precious pullovers will be on view in the gallery, 7–11 p.m. There will also be eggnog, a Santa Claus photo backdrop and a DJed set that Ctrl lab co-founder Eduardo  Menz describes as a “mix of Alvin and the Chipmunks’ Christmas music and electro.”
The party itself is an ugly-sweater competition, so guests are encouraged to get dolled up. “We’re looking for really ugly or tacky,” he says. “It needs to be the kind of thing that really gets a second look.” Non-Christmas sweaters are welcome, too, and Menz says he is particularly excited about one Teletubbies submission.
Menz hopes visitors will bond over what he sees as a universal experience. “Living in Canada, everyone’s gotten a sweater as a present from a family member with horrible taste,” he says. “You’re never going to wear it, but you’re never going to throw it away, either. We wanted to celebrate that.” Cover is a suggested $5.
by DAVID LEVITZ
IS IT ART?
GEEKY STOCKINGS: Tradition is a big part of the holidays, but in this world of ours it only makes sense to tweak tradition. A store at Etsty.com, The Grotto of Geekery, does just that with Christmas stockings.
 Taking the enlarged sock form, Grotto eschews imagery like Santa and mistletoe and instead decorates the Christmas stockings with bright, shiny sequins, smooth velvet and iconography from geekdom. We’re talking Pacman, the Flash, World of Warcraft, Yoshi and many other classic comic book and video game characters (as well as Bigfoot and zombies), all nicely appliquéd onto the sparkling background.
Selling at a reasonable $5.00 USD (plus $2.50 for shipping), these pleasantly tacky stockings are (almost) guaranteed to brighten up your Christmas.
Etsy.com/shop/hooligan777
Arts hole
INDEPENDENT LADIES: Ten independent female designers will be selling their wares—clothes, jewellery, toys—just in time for the holidays. Style Cutters is at Blizzarts (3956A St-Laurent) this Saturday, Dec. 12 from noon–7 p.m. • SOLID CREATIONS: Pierre Fournier presents Assemblages, his latest steel, corten and aluminium sculptures at Galerie Orange (81 St-Paul W.) alongside Judith Bellavance’s photographic work, entitled l’observatoire. The exhibit opens tonight, Thursday, Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. and runs until Jan. 19. • FRINGE IN DECEMBER: Two of the top acts from this year’s Fringe Festival, Inertia Productions’ Dancing in My Unbirthday Suit and Uncalled For’s Today Is All Your Birthdays, get together for a special holiday edition to raise funds for CoMotion Farm’s Dance Week, which will take place in January. The double bill, however, is happening tonight, Thursday, Dec. 10 at 9 p.m. at the MainLine (3997 St-Laurent), for $10
Artistat
The number of plays that will be presented as part of the third edition of Urban Tales: A Day In the Life of the City, which runs at the Centaur (453 St-Francois-Xavier) Dec. 16–19 and provides holiday entertainment for mature audiences: 8 |
