Plum Viewing
Welcome to the latest edition of Plum Viewing, my weekly roundup of arts and culture to view online. Happy viewing!
Well, we are officially going into the Labour Day weekend, which of course marks the end of summer. But, fear not, fellow culture lovers because it also marks the announcement of our beloved arts organization’s 20/21 seasons. And, on this front, we have so much to look forward to as the evenings get shorter and we prepare to settle in for our long winter naps :)
Let’s start with Canadian Stage, who this week announced a new subscription model called SubsciberPlus Pass. Starting at $95, it is a flexible all-access program that allows you to choose the experiences that best suit you, whether that’s all digital events, in-person events or a combination of the two. The pass also offers discounts on additional tickets, first access to programs as they are announced and invitations to behind-the-scenes events. It’s a smart way to meet people where they are while still allowing us to enjoy the wonderful programming Canadian Stage has on offer. For me, the highlights of this season are The Elements of a Story series, featuring a conversation with Khaled Hosseini, author of the beautiful novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns and a thousand ways by the rule breaking group, 600 Highwaymen.
Now, let’s hop over to la belle province to the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, who are also embracing the digital experience. During September and October, the OSM is offering seven concerts, performed with a live audience but recorded and live streamed to be enjoyed from the comfort of your home, anywhere in the world. There is a minimum donation of $10 per concert or you can purchase the series as part of an annual subscription. I know what I’ll be doing!
Okay, now let’s go back to New York (really, all roads in my life head back to NYC, alas… ) The wonderful people at New York Theatre Workshop have also reimagined their 2020/21 season and continue to outdo themselves with a truly incredible line-up of performances, which now, all of us can enjoy. On Sept 22, Oct 6 and Oct 20, we can enjoy a new piece from NYTW alun Denis O’Hare and LIsa Peterson. Called What the Hell is a Republic Anyway, is it an interactive examination of community, democracy, and the things that made the Roman Republic fall. Presented as a four part serialized virtual, theatrical event, each performance will have a unique script portion, in which Lisa & Denis discuss various aspects of the Roman Republic, and interview a guest scholar. You can choose to see one part or all four.
Later in September, we’ll have TRUMP IS JUST THE NAME OF HIS STORY by Ayad Akhtar, the Pulitzer prize winning playwright of Disgraced, an incredibly powerful play about race in America (I saw it twice — so powerful!) This piece, written and performed by Akhtar, is adapted from his upcoming novel, Homeland Elegies, which is being released on Sept. 15. NTW membership is available at a number of different levels, which you can find here.
If you want a sneak peek at what to expect from this year’s season, here you go: Song Cycle by Martha Redbone and Aaron Whitby, a five-minute performance featuring a group of NYC students, examine their own digital privacy.
Whilst we think about which subscription tickles our fancy, let me introduce a palette cleanser. And, what a cleanser it is! On September 15, at 6 pm ET, tune in for a 90 minute virtual gala to celebrate what would have been the great opera legend Jessye Norman’s 75 birthday. Some readers might have been lucky enough to have seen the conversation between Ms Norman and Canadian Opera Company artistic director, Alexander Neef last year. Needless to say, she was an incredibly powerful performer with an unforgettable stage presence. This evening will be a fitting tribute to her talent. Tickets are free with a recommended donation of $30. Thank you, Michael for the recommendation!!
And, for those of you in Toronto this weekend, you can enjoy a special treat indeed. The wonderful photographer Edward Burtynsky is currently showing his latest project, Natural Order, at Toronto’s Nicholas Metivier gallery. Created during lockdown, the images are of Grey County, Ontario, an area he first photographed in the early 1980s. Proceeds from the sale of the Natural Order portfolio will be donated to the Art Gallery of Ontario and Ryerson Image Centre in Toronto for the establishment of new funds dedicated to acquiring the works of emerging to mid-career Canadian artists.Bravo to Ed for this incredible gesture! The exhibition is showing from Sept 3–26. Here’s a look at what you have to look forward to.
Enjoy!!
And, an ask: While we’re enjoying these wonderful performances, let’s remember that for the arts organizations producing this incredible content, this is their livelihood; not a hobby. If we can, now is our time to continue to support our incredible arts community!
And, if you’d like to receive Plum Viewing weekly, send me a note at maggiefairs@gmail.com and I will add you to my mailing list.