The Moonlight Sonata of Beethoven Blatz

"Music is the one incorporeal entrance into the higher world of knowledge which comprehends mankind but which mankind cannot comprehend." Ludwig van Beethoven

This man composed many great works, one being the Moonlight Sonata

It was this work that inspired this man....

....to write one of many of his own.

The CreComm sheep were herded to The Rachel Browne Theatre on Tueday April 12 to a sold out play where former CreComm instructor Armin Wiebe showed us the way.  This creative shepherd showed us that creativity never needs to be put out to pasture. Nearly in his mid thirties when he came out with his first novel in 1984. Now twenty-seven years later he is still hard at work on his craft as he delights audiences with his new stageplay that was based on his novel. The Moonlight Sonata of Beethoven Blatz.

Wiebe went to great lengths to capture the essence of his story on stage from getting a dialect coach to make sure the accents came across the way he saw it. Wiebe also did research on how to properly make a Brommtopp which is a European friction drum or in classical circles also known as a lion's roar. In Russian Mennonite folk tradition it is traditionally played by men in costume on New Years Eve as they go door to door.

It was the cast who really brought this play to life, the carpenter, his farm wife, the mid wife and the German musician known as Blatz. Blatz is a perfect example of the above Beethoven quote. He couldn't comprehend anything  aside from the music that drew him in and his memories of Sonia. He was oblivious to his encounter with Sush and the consequences that may follow as he tickled the ivories of adultry. 

Wiebe said in his visit to RRC during our weekly seminar that he writes plays as a distraction from life, and The Moonlight Sonata of Beethoven Blatz was a nice distraction from all the hustle and bustle of CreComm as Wiebe took us to a simpler time under some complicated construction.

It was more than just that Sush hoped for a nicer home that was under contstuction but moreso a family as Sush and Obrahm lived a life of biblical portions resembling that of Mary and Joseph.

Wiebe stayed true to his mennonite roots while tiptoeing through the risque garden of adultury and the love and lust of one woman for another. It was a pivotal point when Sush says to Teen I acknowledge your wanting.

None of us are strangers to wanting, and sometimes those wants are granted like in the case of Sush embarking on the path of motherhood by the end of the play Then there are wants in the ways of having love for another that is not or can't be returned.

Wiebe takes us on a roller coaster of emotion as he says it best: "Stage actors give you their whole being with intricate shifts of emotion and it was under the great direction of his words that this was done. Sush and Teen were characters that could be most identified with as we live in a world of wants.

Oscar Wilde once said: There are two tragedies in life one is getting what you want and the other is not getting it, and both women are victims of this same tragedy. As Sush is living a lie with Obrahm and Teen is living a lie with herself.

Armin Wiebe said" "I felt like my play was a trampoline and I wanted to get actors to jump on it to see if it would hold."

Not only did it hold, but the performances and words jump up to bask a little closer to the moonlight.

This is my review from Me to EWE

Blah Blah Blog Sheep. Out.



My Best Heartbreak Ever

I've loved and lost and lost the girl even before I got a chance to love her, even if in fact I already did.

But it was a Tuesday night, on March 29 where I experienced my best Heartbreak ever.

When it comes to the sheep of cover bands Brian James is a shepherd, the beau of an outstanding CreCommrade of mine led a Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Tribute band  at the Park Theatre.

It was outstanding, I was free falling in love with them right from the get go.  James, captured the true essence of Tom in every breath that he exhaled in to my Tuesday night eargasm.

If you were to close your eyes, you would think you were in front of the real deal. But let me assure you this band is the real deal.

Not only does James belt out the pretty Petty vocals but his band is also amazing and the irony is, is that you will feel anything but heartbroken after seeing them.

Jeremy, a very talented blind musician played two different guitars and the keyboard, and at one point during the show James referred to him as Roy Orbison which is both a compliment to Jeremy and Orbison. To watch him play was divine, the guitars lain across his lap as he beat and plucked on it like the kid from the movie August Rush. I was in awe.

The drummer was from New York and the other guitar player also had his own band and together they made beautiful music, no pun intended.

It was a small crowd, but that only spoke in volumes about the people that missed out. If the name Brian James & the Tigers crosses your path, I highly recommend you check them out.

Surrounded by good people, as I downed cool beers while intoxicated by even cooler music, it was the best Tuesday night this cat has had in a while.

A night filled with toe tappin, sing along favorites, James and the band ended it off with the hit Even the losers get lucky sometimes which not only made my head bob, but also restored me with hope as I hold out for luck; whether it be in life or love or both.

This is a concert review from me to EWE

Blah Blah Blog Sheep Out.

Win Kissed Goodbye, Love Never Lost: A Spormance story

While the Manitoba Moose kissed a win goodbye at Tuesday night’s  AHL hockey game where 6,572 were in attendance, Verne Frantz kissed his wife Isobel of 55 years to a good night.   There may have been no scoring by the Moose where Eddie Lack was named the first star of the game, but there was also no lack of excitement or scoring in section 111.

“The lady in front of us caught a puck,” says Verne. “Well it actually fell at her feet, but when she picked it up she gave it to the little boy a few seats down, it really made his night.

            The young boy clenched the puck in his hand while jumping up and down with a grin from ear to ear while Verne gave Isobel a gentle squeeze as they watched the Moose scramble to make a clear shot.

By the third period the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were leading the Manitoba Moose 2-0 and when section 111 began to bubble with excitement Isobel Frantz looked up to see her face on the jumbotron.  Verne gave his wife a soft kiss that scored hard with hockey fans and they were awarded the Don’s Photo smooch of the game.

“ It really caught me off guard, I never win anything,” blushes Isobel.

The Frantz’s come to six Moose games a year when their brother-in-law can’t attend but when the Winnipeg Jets used to fly across the ice in the old arena they were season ticket holders.

“I would like to see them return here, but I don’t think that will happen,” says Isobel.

While Verne and Isobel have shared many warm nights watching quick movements and maneuvers on ice, they first fell in love at a dance in Starbuck where they went to school together.

“I’m a little bit older than him,” says Isobel as she nudges Verne with a smile. “Verne was very persistent and romantic in wooing me and I still feel the same way as the first day I fell in love with him.”

Inside the envelope that was awarded to Verne and Isobel for best kiss was a gift certificate for $20, but to see love like that in this day at their age is priceless. 

I feel like I have been cheating EWE, my followers as of late with just posting my last few J assignments, more riveting things such as my thoughts of what has happened in Japan and how I want to help coming soon.

Blah Blah Blog Sheep. Out.

My Travel Story:Neepawa Keeps History Present:

Neepawa Keeps History Present:

 Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition anchored recently in Winnipeg, the only passenger of the world’s most famous ship to be buried in Manitoba, resides in Neepawa’s Riverside Cemetery, which is nestled on the escarpment of the Whitemud River. Come summer, Neepawa’s most alive attraction is its resting place for the dead.

“It is hands down the most beautiful cemetery in North America and full of interesting history,” says Darren Graham, who is the sales manager for the Neepawa Press and literally has the town’s history at his finger tips.

Overlooking Neepawa Golf and Country Club, Riverside Cemetery is located on land that was once owned by Peter Graham, who first homesteaded there in 1885. The first burial there was that of Peter’s 99-year-old father, James in 1877.

“In 1911, Leonard Hickman worked just north of Neepawa at the Honeyman Farm, his love for Canada had him return quickly to England to bring back two of his brothers. The three of them were passengers on the Titanic,” says Graham.  “Once his body was recovered, it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. It wasn’t until the day of the service that family discovered Leonard was actually his brother Lewis. But the burial carried out as planned.”

Neepawa has “plenty” of history in its land. The ashes of author Margaret Laurence were brought to Riverside from England in June, 1987. To the right of the cemetery’s entrance is the Davidson monument, a marvellous attraction which has become known as the “Stone Angel” because it was depicted in Laurence’s novels.

Upon entering the cemetery, I was galvanized by the towering spruce trees and smaller shrubs groomed to perfection. In the summer months, there are over 2,500 graves covered with flowers when Neepawa blooms with its annual Lily Festival.  Neepawa prides itself as the world lily capital and celebrates its 15^th festival this July (www.lilyfestival.com/).

Neepawa is two hours west of Winnipeg up Yellowhead Hwy. Its name is derived from the Cree word for “Plenty”.  Neepawa has plenty to offer those who appreciate history and heritage and like to take the time to stop and smell the lilies. Beautiful turn of the century heritage buildings such as the Roxy Theatre line Mountain and Hamilton Street. The Roxy built in 1906, served as the opera house, and was the social hub of the community. 

Marilyn Dietrich serves on the volunteer committee to keep the single screen running. According to her, most of the town’s people feel connected to the theatre, and would feel a major void if it were to shut down.

“There are three top ranked things you must see in Neepawa,” says Dietrich. The Roxy Theatre is the third, the Margaret Laurence Home is second, and number one is Riverside Cemetery.”  

            There is nothing arrogant about Neepawa naming itself “Manitoba’s Most Beautiful Town.” It makes a wonderful rest stop, nesting or resting place.

            For more information on this charming, historical town, visit www.neepawa.ca.

Neepawa: Ewe Will Feel Like You've Gone Back In Tme.

Growing up, Back to the Future was one of my favorite movies, I loved the town of  Hill Valley and so many other small towns that I see in movies today, I've only ever lived in the city, but being an old soul I've always had  love for that small town feel and no matter the decade, just the sense of feeling you are in a simpler time, the preserved buildings, the town barber, the character old fashioned movie theatre, rather than the plain jane multiplex.

Today, I had the pleasure of visiting Neepawa for the first time with fellow classmates Ryan McBride and Pam Vernaus, and had I known Manitoba had it's own version of Hill Valley just two hours outside of Winnipeg, I would have made the trip much sooner.  The whole look of the town is very soothing as you drive in, a little hilly, the style of the homes look like something you may see in old Connecticut. We parked on Hamilton Street right across from the building you see above which is the oldest courthouse in the prairies and oldest buildings in town. It was constructed in 1884 and is still used today.

Across the street from the courthouse is the Roxy Theatre, it was built in 1903 and originally used as an opera house and for vaudeville acts, it was the social hub of the community.
A committee of 19 volunteers keep it running and only the projectionist and caretaker are paid. They show a single show on weekends and during the warmer season, add a Wednesday and Thursday showing as well.

We were fortunate enough to get a hold of one of the volunteers on the committee and get a tour inside. All the lighting is original and some of the seats are 1939 art decor, while other seats came from the King's Theatre on Portage, when that became Royal Sports.
Under the theatre was once a bowling alley and now it is used for the storage of props and equipment of the Whitemud Theatre Group who frequently put on shows there as well.
I have to admit with me being an old soul and movie buff, the tour of the theatre was one of the highlights to me for sure.

If I ever had the money and planned on staying in Winnipeg, I would ressurect the Metropolitan Theatre and show old movies there, and try to bring an element of class back to our downtown.

While Neepawa, has a few bigger outfits like Safeway, Subway, and Home Hardware to name a few, most of the businesses that line Mountain and Hamilton Street are small local businesses and shops such as Hymie the Haircutter, an old fashioned barber shop.

The majority of the homes in Neepwa are bungalows or two storys. One of the exceptions to this rule is a home on Second Ave that was built by local lumber merchant William Burley in 1903. Featuring bracketed eaves, fishscale shingles and two sets of two storey bay windows. This home is now the Garden Path Bed and Breakfast and owned by George and Susan Phillips.

George was a little busy when I knocked on the door but he let me in for a moment.

My first impression of him and the home made me decide on the spot that I will be going back there to spend a few days for some post CreComm R&R, perhaps during the Lily Festival. The rooms I managed to see on the main level were exquisite with old country charm and big windows that I was told face out on to a beautiful garden while a fish pond with 3 large coy is out back.

I was hooked and even more so when I asked George what  a typical breakfast might be, he listed off many items, starting with saskatoon berry pancakes, I needed to hear no more. Yum.

Another great home that should be on anyone's list would be the one of renowned author Margaret Laurence.This character home is located on First Street and Laurence lived in it from 1938 to 1944, she is famous for many of her works including the "Stone Angel".

The Stone Angel is just to the right when you drive in to the Riverside Cemetery and is beautiful. This place looked magical in the winter as the tall spruce trees and rounded shrubs were capped in white. I wanted to make snow angels among the dead all afternoon, but I was on a time crunch.

Laurence had her ashes brought from England to Riverside Cemetery, but even more interesting, Riverside Cemetery is the only place in Manitoba where one of the recovered passengers from the Titanic is buried.

Leonard Hickman worked on Honeyman farm, near Neepawa, in 1911, his love of Canada sent him back to England in 1912 to bring his brothers over. During a coal shortage, and a time when the Titanic took precedence their original source of travel became that of the Titanic. At the time Leonard Hickman was discovered, all evidence pointed to it being him, it wasn't until the day of the funeral, it came to the famil'y attention that in fact it was the body of Leonard's brother Lewis. Burial carried out as planned as Lewis was buried as Leonard.

This small town just oozed history and magic of small town life that often draw us in, in certain films. It is a place this sheep, could seriously consider be put out to pasture in.  

Blah Blah Blog Sheep. Out.

Lost Sheep

Lost Sheep; 
Two words that can be referred to many different things.

The lambs left to slaughter:

Candace Derksen was a young girl full of innocence and promise when she went missing on her way home from school on November 30 1984.

Derksen's disappearance caused quite a panic within the community and and broke the hearts of family and friends. The Derksen family not only lost their daughter, but they lost peace but were out to find justice.

In this world, often finding justice is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. 


We live in a cynical world, where people can do some pretty awful things with little guilt and consequence, the bad guys often go free or get a lesser punishment then they deserve and the nice guys finish last.

When justice is served, it restores hope and balance in the world.  

That balance was restored last Friday if even for a moment, when Mark Edward Grant who is 47 with a laundry list of priors, was convicted of second-degree murder in connection to death of Candace.

Dwight D  Eisenhower once wrote: 
Peace and justice are two sides of the same coin.

Now the Derksen family can begin to move forward to a richer life with that coin.

Thomas Fuller once wrote: 
It is madness for sheep to talk peace with a wolf.

The thing is, there are wolves all around us, and often they disguise themselves in sheep's clothing.

To The Grave is yet another example of this; a book that unfolds the case of Erin Chorney who disappeared in Brandon back in April of 2002.

 The term lost sheep can be referred to more than just the abductions and kidnappings of precious lambs that never had the chance to bring their full potential to fruition.

Maybe we are all lost sheep in a way.

We live in a world where we have advanced so far in technology but have regressed in the human condition.

Our world has become jaded, and romance is dead.

 

Every once in a while, when the few die hard romantics try to jump start the flat line, someone pulls the plug.

People are quick to say Life isn't like the movies or it's not a fairy tale but... why not....there was a time when art imitated life and not the other  way around.

The most beautiful things in this world were built and inspired by dreamers.

People may think I am naive because I believe in the idea, that when you meet the "ONE" you just  know, and all that jazz but that is a badge I will wear proudly if that is the case.

Love should be the shepherd that leads us through life, and all else should be secondary.  


It takes a lot of time to figure out who we are and what we want. 


Often we find ourselves running around in circles through this process.  If during this time we find another, that makes us want to devote a  large amount of time to figure out who they are, and share with them what we have figured out thus far, then I say follow it to the bitter end.

It boggles my mind that I even feel the way I do. 

Time for a haggis moment.... a look into my inner sheep...

My parents were never the romantic type, and my dad treated my mom like crap, a lesson he learnt from his dad. My parents split up before I finished elementary school and to say it was messy would be an understatement. I was rebelling against the example that was set for me as a boy.

I knew that there were great men with better examples to follow.

Thomas Carlye once wrote: 

A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge. 

On the road I walked alone  I learnt the lesson of empathy and is a trait I pride myself on.

My friend lost his grandmother today, my heart went out to him. 

I always try to empathise in these situations. My mother's parents died when she was a girl, her family drifted apart. My father got along as well with his , about as well as he gets along with me, so I never really knew him  my grampa on his side either.

His mom, my grama lives in Victoria BC, although me and my dad don't speak, I call his mom, my grama at least once every two weeks. I have aspirations of travelling the world, but when ever I get a chance to travel I find myself going to see her. 

I am the only grandchild that she talks to, even my younger sis, who I love very much has never kept in touch.

Many times I find myself looking at more exotic destinations or places I would like to see, but I feel I have years for that, but am never sure how much longer I'll have her.

She deserves better than how she has been treated. 
I never take for granted the connections I have, since the special ones I have, always been few and far between for me.

Whether it is girls that make the news that have gone missing, or a family member or a piece of ourselves that we've lost or maybe haven't quite yet found, it is important to be true to what your heart tells you and not your surroundings.

Herd in the ones you want close to you.

Some points of view and personal tidbits from me to Ewe.

Blah Blah Blog Sheep. Out.

"Natalie ewe were perfect."

In her obsession and striving for perfection, her sanity became the sacrificial lamb.

Darren Aronofsky retells the story of Swan Lake like it has never been seen before. With amazing, riveting stories under his belt such as Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, and The Wrestler; Aronofsky brings his emotional close ups and stylistic shots to capture the trials and tribulations of a tortured ballerina.

Natalie plays the role of Nina Sayers and leaps off the screen with brilliance as she floats like a butterfly across the stage metamorphosing from Caterpillar to Butterfly, from White Swan to Black Swan in a vivid picture of Swan Lake in only a way that Darren Aronofsky can paint it.

Nina's  mom is a few sheep short of a herd which she displays in her unnatural obsession she has with her daughter such as brushing her hair, filing her nails, and inspecting her skin, not to mention her obsession with Nina's success as a dancer.
Babying her daughter would be an understatement, Nina would have to be at least 21 since there is an epic scene that depicts her raving in a New York club on ectacsy. However her room looks like it is that of an eight year old as it is dorned with stuffed animals and other childish things. Nina's mom is also an amateur painter however the only subject she seems to paint is Nina.

Aronovsky has a way to really bring her art to life.

Watching Natalie go from a delicate flower to a darker venus flytrap as she consumes herself is something spectacular to see. This film grabs a hold of you and doesn't let you go even when it ends.

I had the pleasure of watching it last Sunday with fellow CreCommer Dylan Hughes, we both found it to be a visceral experience and even as the credits rolled we sat still.

Unable to part ways without sharing our thoughts we went to the Pony Coral and discussed an intoxicating film over a cold one to intoxicate us.

Almost a week later I still can't get the film out of my mind, I am postive Natalie will be taking home the award for best actress, even though the whole cast really does a stellar job.

We are all humans burning with desires and wants and when we want something bad enough, the true dreamers and romantics of the world follow it to the very end like sheep to a shepherd.

Something has gotta give...and that something like Nina's sanity ends up being the sacrificial lamb.

This is just one point of view from me to ewe.

Blah Blah Blog Sheep. Out.