Jung’s Red Book comes alive

The Red Book Review, a light-hearted look at the Red Book of Carl Gustav Jung, will be performed at Concordia U October 4. Written by Margaret Piton, a former journalist, and directed by Dr. Stephen Snow, Professor of Creative Arts Therapies at Concordia, it offers an introduction to the most famous work of the Swiss psychoanalyst.

“Jung’s most important ideas, such as the anima, the shadow, complexes, introversion, and extroversion are in the Red Book, an exploration of his own unconscious,” Snow says. The book was not published until 2009 although Jung died in 1961. He wrote and illustrated the Red Book from about 1913 to 1928.

The Chain makes a comeback

Vittorio Rossi’s first play, The Chain, a runaway success when it was first produced 30 years ago, is being reprised with 31 performances at Moyse Hall opening Sept. 10. It was first performed at Centaur Theatre, and it showcased Rossi as an important playwright. It is being presented in conjunction with McGill’s English Department.

Tulio Tesla is the patriarch, proud of his modest landscape contracting business. When his brother visits from Italy, Tulio feels a need to impress him with his success in the New World. They have been estranged for some 20 years in a dispute over land inheritance in Italy.

Tulio wants to create the impression that he is a man of leisure, so he turns over the business to his sons. Massimo, the more educated and favourite son, is in charge, and Joe, who has toiled alongside his father in the dirt, feels shunned.

It is part of a trilogy of Rossi plays that will include a sequel, entitled Legacy: The Chain Part II, scheduled for April/May, and the newly written Paradise by the River, in Sept. – Oct. 2020.

Tickets and times: thechainplay.com

Life in a Mumbai brothel

Honour: Confessions of a Mumbai Courtesan will be performed at Teesri Duniya Theatre, MAI, Montréal Arts Interculturels, 3680 Jeanne-Mance from Thurs. Oct. 3 to Sun. Oct. 6.

It is written and performed by Dipti Mehta and directed by Mark Cirnigliaro with an original score by Rhythm Tolee and Choreography by Monica Kapoor.

This is a poignant coming-of-age story of a girl in a brothel, offering a glimpse into the exotic, dangerous life of Mumbai’s real-life brothels and why they exist. Visit India’s red light district and meet the eunuch, priest, pimp, mother and daughter who call it home.

The show reveals the truth about millions of sex trafficked-girls across the world. There will be a post-show talkback after the Saturday, Oct 5 matinee.

The show runs Thurs. to Sat at 8pm plus matinees on Sat. and Sun. at 2pm on Oct. 5 and 6.

For tickets: 514-848-0238 or online at Teesri Duniya Theatre. $20-$28 (various discounts: early bird/students/seniors/groups) teesriduniyatheatre.com

Dawson play about undocumented workers

Living Out, a play about undocumented migrants, family, and motherhood, will be performed by Dawson’s Professional Theatre Department Sept. 18–21. By Lisa Loomer, the play is about Ana, an undocumented Salvadoran nanny and Nancy Robin, the American mother she works for.

Surrounding the two women are communities of mothers and families who uplift and support one another but inevitably find themselves at a cultural crossroads. When the lies and half-truths these women tell come to light, a tragedy unfolds.

Starring Juana Diaz as Ana, and Vassiliki Gicopoulos and Chiara Marri-Boivin as Nancy, the play will be performed by 2nd year students in their first studio production.

“This play is vital at this moment, given the dangers faced by undocumented workers worldwide and specifically on the southern US border,” says Fanny Dvorkin, who plays Wallace Breyer. “Living Out is a deeply personal story about one mother’s unbelievable love and sacrifice — yet Ana’s struggle is not unique, and the personal has always been political.”

Info and tickets: 514-931-8731 #4451

First of three Yiddish Theatre events opens Sept. 19

It is so much fun, the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre is bringing back Di Komedyant’n – the hilarious two-man show that was hit on Broadway in English as The Sunshine Boys by Neil Simon. Two estranged vaudevillians try to reunite after a decade apart, but can they get beyond their rivalry to make it happen, one last time? English supra-titles will accompany the dialogue.

Veteran actors Aron Gonshor and Sam Stein are reprising their roles in this staged reading, and it’s on for two nights, starting at 8 pm, Sept. 19 and 21, with a matinée on Sunday Sept. 22
at 2 pm.

In another much loved program, to celebrate Hannukah, the Yiddish Theatre ensemble once again presents Lyrics and Latkes, on Sunday, Dec.22, at 2 pm. This is a not-to-be-missed show for the entire family, presented in the full Sylvan Adams Theatre.

The most ambitious project is the restaging of Sages of Chelm, one of the most beloved
musicals in the Yiddish Theatre repertoire, written by Abraham Shulman, with music by Eli Rubenstein – a loving tribute to eastern European Jewish folklore.

For a limited time, tickets to all three events can be purchased as a package for $92, or $86 for seniors.

Tickets & info: 514-739-7944 or segalcentre.org

Tchaikovsky’s Eugene-Onegin opens opera season

Described as the greatest Russian opera, a production of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin opens the 2019-2020 season of l’Opéra de Montréal with a real-life romantic couple in the lead roles.

World-renowned baritone Étienne Dupuis returns here to perform the lead role as Onegin. According to a Concertonet reviewer, Dupuis brings to the stage a “seductive baritone voice and his amazing sense of phrasing.” And playing the role of Tatyana – the ultimate object of Onegin’s desire – is none other than Dupuis’ wife, the Australian star soprano Nicole Car. Montreal’s Carolyne Sproule, described as having a “rich and imposing sound” sings the role of Olga.

The story centers on two sisters, Olga, light-hearted and in love with the poet Lensky, and Tatyana, dreamy and melancholic. Lensky introduces Onegin to Tatyana, and she falls for him big time, but the feelings are not mutual. Instead, Onegin flirts with Olga, Tatyana becomes more miserable, and a jealous Lensky challenges Onegin to a duel, but dies. Years later, Onegin undergoes a change of heart and realizes he really does love Tatyana, but it’s too late, she rejects him, and Onegin ends up alone and miserable.

French conductor Guillaume Tourniaire in his debut performance here leads the Orchestre
Métropolitain and the Chœur de l’Opéra de Montréal, prepared by Claude Webster. The play in three acts is sung in Russian, with French and English surtitles.

This is a co-production with opera companies in Kansas City, Hawaii, Michigan, Atlanta, and Seattle. It’s on for four performances here – Sept. 14, 17, and 19, 7:30 pm, at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier of Place des Arts, and at 2 pm, Sept. 22.

For tickets – singles start at $25, a subscription to four operas starts at $99. Call: 514-842-2112.