Got hunny?

by AMY BARRATT

Cast your mind back, if you can, to a simpler time, a time when Winnie-the-Pooh wasn't a trademark adorning everything from lunchboxes to underwear.

It's A.A. Milne's own stories of his son Christopher's favourite bear that inspire Geordie Productions' musical Winnie the Pooh, opening tomorrow (Friday, Nov. 2) at the D.B. Clarke theatre.

Just as the original stories had as much to offer the parent reading it as it did to the preschooler listening, the first show in this year's subscription series boasts topnotch adult talent. The director is Corey Castle, with musical direction by John Sadowy, and design by Eo Sharp. Kevin Ryder plays our whimsical, versifying hero, Pooh, with Eric Davis (Dead Ducks) as Christopher Robin and Rabbit; Laura Teasdale (Oliver!) as Piglet, Roo and Owl, and Michelle Heisler (Jack's Giant Adventure) as the overprotective Kanga and the chronically depressed Eeyore.

Sing Ho! For the life of a bear

Nov. 2, 7 p.m.; Nov. 3 & 10, 3 p.m.; Nov. 4 & 11, 1 p.m., 3 p.m. For ages 3-8. 845-1955, or visit www.geordie.ca.

Poland in pictures

by Mark Slutsky

The Cinémathèque québécoise continues in the tradition of this year's great Ufa film poster exhibition with this month's Affiches de films polonais (1980-2000) show. The exhibit features around 40 far-out posters with artistic influences ranging from Soviet Constructivism to Surrealism.

They're a far cry from your average slick Hollywood product; many of the works have a much more handmade feel, often mixing painting, photography and hand-written text. Like the best movie posters, many of them are works of art in themselves.

At 335 de Maisonneuve E. through Nov. 27.

Happy un-retrospective

by Sholem Krishtalka

For its 10th anniversary, Galerie B-312 have put on Remettre-Ça, a show that could only be called an un-retrospective. Usually, gallery retrospectives focus on a theme that encapsulates the gallery's purpose, and exhibit works reflective of that. In this case, the B-312 collective have invited their four founding members to choose works from artists exhibited by the gallery that inspired them, regardless of theme (although all the works had to be from the same time period). The chosen artists are Marie-France Brière, Karelee Fuglem, Francine Savard, Claire Savoie and Andrea Szilasi.

Because there is no fixed topic, the result is thematically all over the map. Yet, the pieces are, for the most part, poetic and moving. Standouts are Brière's stoic, minimalist-tinged "Camé," Savoie's stark video-installation "Les Vases Communiquantes" and Szilasi's whimsical dadaist photo-collages "Man With Text" and "Fingerprint Text." At 372 Ste-Catherine W., #403, until Nov. 3.

East meets West

The next two weeks will offer a cornucopia of Arabic cultural events, with performances at the Musée d'art contemporain and at a jam-packed festival. Showcasing everything from dance and film to literature, theatre and traditional music, the Festival du Monde Arabe covers a lot of ground. Spanning 22 Arab countries, 275 artists will be performing at this frenzied celebration of culture. Lebanese-born, international superstar, songwriter and master oud player Marcel Khalifé headlines the affair with his group El Mayadine and singer Oumeima El Khalil (Nov. 3, 9 p.m.). Khalifé, a longtime proponent of social change and peace, will perform many works written with his creative collaborator, Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwich. Popular Algerian châabi singer Abdelmajid Meskoud also drops in

(Nov. 4, 9 p.m.). Then "Nubian bluesman," San Fransisco-based Hamza El Din brings his magical oud and his Sufi sounds (Nov. 9, 8:30 p.m.). From Ottawa comes Lebanese dance troupe Al-Arz (Nov. 4, 6 p.m.) and Coeurs et couleurs promises an evening that unites six folkloric Canadian and Arabic dance groups (Nov. 2, 9:30 p.m.). Info: 747-0000.

Over at the MAC, in conjunction with the Shirin Neshat exhibit, Iranian singer and composer Sussan Deyhim performs Nov. 1, 8 p.m. Unfortunately, Deyhim's performance is sold out, but you can still catch Roger Bellemare's musical renditions of poems by 13th-century Sufi poet Jalal-ud-din Rumi (Nov. 8, 8 p.m., $16-18). At 185 Ste-Catherine W. Info: 847-6226.

Is it Art?

Best friends forever: Can death tear true friends apart? Probably not, as evidenced by the Elvis Friendship Club, who continue to keep the flame of friendship burning bright in their heart of hearts for the king of rock 'n' roll. Part of keeping up their end of the friendship involves throwing an Elvis Presley Convention once in a while. Like the one happening this Saturday, Nov. 3, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Gilbert Hall (5415 Jean-Talon E.). The amicable revelry will include hourly door prizes, an Elvis trivia contest, all manner of Elvis memorabilia (from dolls to cologne), and an impersonation performance by Luc Bouffard. Admission, $5, info: 737-9347.

ArtsHole

All in the family: Part of Tangente's Danse en famille series, Sept-Îles choreographer Julie Lebel's Isabelle is a work for a woman and a child. Featuring Isabelle Chevrier and Geneviève Tremblay (who is 10 years old), the piece explores the inherent possibilities when one dancer is strong and fully-grown, and the other is small and light as a feather. At 840 Cherrier,

Nov. 2-3, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 3-4, 2 p.m. $5-10. Info: 525-1500. o Some body to love: Local artist Jean-Louis Émond explores the human soul through intensely physical sculptures. Two of his "larger than life" body sculptures, some head studies and welded metal works incorporating found objects make up La mise à nue, his exhibit is at the Saidye Bronfman Centre (5170 Côte-Ste-Catherine). Nov. 1-22, vernissage Nov. 1, 5-8 p.m



Artistat: Number of works featured in women's art gallery La Centrale's show The Past to the Present: 40