June edition online by Ryan Crocker

St. John’s LGBT Guide/Lifestyle Magazine

The

OUT PORT

Bianca Del Rio In St. John’s

Ask Doris! Theatre in St. John’s 13 The Musical ABBA: Gotta Get The Scoop! Edition 06/14

www.theoutport.com

This Edition’s Contributors Writers DJFabian Newfoundland Betty Boo @DJFabianNL betty_boo_kakke@hotmail Darryl Davis Taylor Stocks @darryl_m_davis taylor.stocks@gmail.com Doris Anita Askdorisanitadouche@gmail.com

|DJ Fabian’s Top 10| 10. XO |Beyonce| (Cosmic Dawn remix )

Josh Eddy (Publisher/Design & Layout) theoutport@outlook.com Ryan Crocker (Editor/writer) theoutport@outlook.com Check out the new things happening at www.theoutport.com

Well the flowers are finally starting to bloom as are the new dancefloor hits...lots of new tunes as Summer kicks into high gear. Here are a few making waves on the dancefloor. Visit www.theoutport.com to watch these music videos

June June

Theatrical Events NightlifeEvents Other Events

LGBT Specific Events

Repeating Shows One Night Stand

Three weeks, three artists, one series. Coral Short (Montreal), Kailey Bryan (St. John’s), and Evelyn Donnelly (New York) explore spectacle, community, and body politics through a diverse series of performative acts, interventions, and collaborations.” Eastern Edge Gallery June 6-21

LA BOHÈME Giacomo Puccini Opera On The Avalon Puccini’s poignant tale of love, sorrow and sacrifice among the starving artists and poets of 19th-century Paris is brought to vivid life by the brilliant operatic stage director Michael Cavanagh (Nixon in China) and two dazzling casts. Production sung in Italian with English supertitles. Holy Heart Theatre 8:00 pm

Events *

Sunday June 1

Thursday June 12

Self Care Day for Youth Group

LA BOHÈME

Holy Heart Theatre 8:00 pm

Ages 16-25 or thereabouts. CalléTextéEmail to Register: 709-699-0509 lbgtq@nlsexualhealthcentre.org Yoga Kula Co-op in Coaker’s Meadow Plaza 9m-4pm

Thursday June 5

Pride Volunteer Night Orbit Room Rocket Bakery Drop by and find out about volunteering with this year’s St. John’s Pride Festival 4pm-7pm

Friday June 6

One Night Stand Eastern Edge Gallery June 6-21

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Opera On The Avalon Oberon, the fairy king and Tytania, his queen are locked in a conflict which spills over into the human world. Shakespeare’s witty words and the composer’s mesmerising music come together in this colourful and vibrant production where costumes and music are equally sparkling. Production sung in English with English supertitles. Holy Heart Theatre 8:00 pm

Events subject to change.

Saturday June 7

Denis Parkers Blues Revue #2!

The annual blues fest featuring all that is hot in on the local blues scene! LSPU Hall 8:00 pm

Friday June 13

LA BOHÈME

Holy Heart Theatre 8:00 pm

Divas After Dark: Count Down to Pride! Velvet Club & Lounge 11:00 pm

Thursday June 19

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Holy Heart Theatre 8:00 pm

PFLAG Meeting

Friday June 20

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Holy Heart Theatre 8:00 pm

Saturday June 14

Saturday June 21

LA BOHÈME

Holy Heart Theatre 8:00 pm

Sunday June 15

St. John’s Pride Forum

A forum to keep the public up to date on St. John’s Pride 2014 Orbit Room, Rocket Bakery 1-4 pm

MUN room TBA 9-7pm

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Holy Heart Theatre 8:00 pm

Friday June 27

Flashback Friday Doris’s B-Day Show Velvet Club & Lounge 11:00 pm

Womyn’s Station Dance

The Station Lounge 10:00 pm

Online Store www.theoutport.com

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Well, b’ys - we did it!

An honourary Newfoundlander is America’s Next Drag Superstar. Just days after performing at Velvet Club She seemed to take extra pleasure in tor& Lounge in St. John’s where she was Screeched In, Bianca del Rio was crowned the winner of the popular reality show competition, Ru Paul’s Drag Race. Arranged by Del Stamp and Party NL, Bianca del Rio’s visit to St. John’s was her first to Canada and she was genuinely thrilled. The insult comedy queen has been famous for years in the American drag community, especially her native New Orleans and current stomping grounds in New York City, but is still getting used to her newfound international renown.

Her razor-sharp wit,

which she loving describes as a rolodex of hate, has placed her in the usual circumstance of having countless adoring fans scrambling to be read (insulted, in a humourous way) by her. It also makes her performances unique for a queen of Drag Race fame - no singing or lip syncing and a great deal of audience participation.

And she certainly didn’t disappoint. The ‘Out’port was fortunate enough to drive Bianca del Rio, wearing a soft onesie in full hair and make-up, from her hotel to the venue and she had us in stitches the whole way. After sharing a shot with Del Stamp, she took the stage and rocked it. Introduced by our own reigning Drag Idol, Amanda Twerks, Bianca del Rio immediately launched into her hilarious, politically incorrect routine - cracking jokes at the expense of an ecstatic crowd. “I made a bad choice,” she said to one young woman after downing a strong shot. “Like you and those shoes. Were you planning on going hiking after the show?”

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June Photo Credit Mathu Anderson

menting the straight people in the audience, chatting at length with a man who attended with his wife. “Do you know where you are right now?” she asked with a laugh. “Oh you saw me on a poster and came to check me out? You creep. Security, for real...”

Another young woman who earlier con-

fessed she left her boyfriend home in bed to attend the show raised her hand when Bianca del Rio asked who in the audience was a bottom. She cracked up and said, “You know what it means when a woman says she’s a bottom? No one wants to look at you.”

Of course, as with any Bianca del Rio per-

formance, most of the best bits aren’t fit to print. To view a recording of the highlights, visit The ‘Out’port Magazine’s Facebook page. As the queen herself said, “Usually the audience gives you half of the jokes, and you just look out at the people in front of you and go with the flow. It works out to a good show.”

Following the performance, the queen sat

down for an interview with The ‘Out’port. We asked her how she’s enjoying her new international fame as a result of appearing on Ru Paul’s Drag Race, but accidentally referenced the name of our local competition, Drag Idol. “Drag Idol? I’m not Courtney Act,” Bianca joked. “I’ve been doing drag for 18 years so to have this new fan base, this opportunity, is insane. To be this welcomed here in St. John’s has been fabulous. I just wish all these friendly people at the bar tonight were working at customs when I came here. It would’ve made things a lot easier.”

She said one of the most amazing things

has been realizing the impact the show has internationally. “That’s a great credit to the show, and it really has nothing to do with me,” she said. “They gave me this great platform where I could just be myself. I don’t usually have cameras following me around all the time, so all most people knew of me was what they saw on stage. With Drag Race, 80% of it you’re out of drag, and it’s at those times you kinda forget the cameras are there. So they see the real you, and if you try to put on an act, you can tell. So it’s been a truly humbling experience. It’s been overwhelming, in a good way.”

Bianca

said her newfound fame wasn’t actually the end goal. She simply pursued her career, always striving to remain true to herself, and things fell spectacularly into place along the way, “I just went with the flow, and it’s opened up a million doors for me. Six months ago, no one here knew me. Six months ago, I wouldn’t be here having this conversation with you. The catch is you have to know yourself. As a drag queen, you have to be yourself and be true to what you do, what you offer. You can’t blame the show, these people, your life, where you’ve been, or what you’ve done - the show is a golden ticket to be able to perform and do what you want to do, and the price is knowing yourself.”

Part of knowing yourself is having a distinctive style. Bianca del Rio is one of a handful of queens whose make-up is iconic - she’s recognizable even as a simple line drawing.

“Take Lady Bunny, for example, you know exactly who it is the moment you see her. Coco Peru, Varla Jean Merman, Jackie Beat, and all of those people who have created their style, their craft, and know what they’re doing, I give hats off to them,” she said.

“When I was younger and just starting out, Lady Bunny gave me great advice, she said: babe, find your own look, do your own thing, and that’s that. The facts are the facts. Joslyn Fox likes to wear bikinis, Courtney Act likes to wear as little as she possibly can, Adore Delano wears whatever’s in front of her, I like a long gown and my clown face. I’d rather have a polished, consistent look than 12 off-the-rack disasters.” And it worked.

Shortly

after returning from St. John’s to the United States, Bianca del Rio was crowned America’s Next Drag Superstar on the season finale of Ru Paul’s Drag Race. Teary-eyed and visibly touched, the queen once again revealed the kind heart behind one of the world’s most quick-witted insult comedians.

As she told Ru Paul while filming the series:

“There’s an old saying that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. For me, it wasn’t going through the competition with adolescent charm, going through it with a fabulous body and beauty, or going through it with great lip sync talent. I had dresses, I had hair, and a guard. I have built up this wall, and this experience has changed me - and I didn’t expect it to be this magical, or this inspiring, but it is. I went through a self-discovery, accepting that I’m not such a bad bitch, and I thank all of you, personally, from the bottom of my chilly, little heart. Thank you.”

Fans

can look forward to a new, feature-length comedy starring the queen herself. It tells the story of a young, gay man who takes a job teaching in a conservative American town. After being outed and consequently fired, the man returns in disguise - as a drag queen - to get his revenge.

Photo by Ryan Crocker “We started fundraising for the money before I went on Drag Race,” Bianca said. “But then I had to leave for a hot minute, and I couldn’t tell anyone I was going to film the show, so people were wondering where their money went and thought I was in Mexico buying drugs or with some hustler. It seemed shady, but I’m back now and people know I was on the show, so we’re fundraising again, and we hope to start filming next summer.”

For more information about the film, or to make a donation to help get it made, visit www.hurricanebianca.com. Fans can also get their fix by joining Bianca del Rio - and a boatload of other famous queens - for a cruise. She’ll be performing on two of Al and Chuck Travel’s Drag Queens at Sea cruises - the Mayan Adventure and Europe All-Stars. “I’m so excited to be on a boat with all these people that I hate,” she said. “There could be a queen overboard. I’ve done cruises before, and it’s a lot of fun, but I’m looking forward to being with a group of queens that I love, and not just from Season 6, but others as well. We’re all going to hang out and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Now that the dust has settled on Season

6 of Ru Paul’s Drag Race and the winner’s visit to St. John’s, life returns to (mostly) normal - not just for us, but for Bianca del Rio as well. For her, that includes spending time with goddaughter Lola, the child of a lifelong friend. Describing the love and acceptance of her family, Bianca sums up an important life lesson for everyone: “Ignorance is taught. When there is none, tolerance exists naturally. It’s effortless, and it’s real.

by Ryan Crocker

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June

Photos provided by Del Stamp

Photos by Ryan Crocker

Equal, without a second thought

he courage of The Outport helps keep Newfoundland and Labrador strong. It takes that same courage to be who we are sometimes. And to fight for what is right. Diversity empowers us all. Let’s not forget that LGBT people around the world still suffer prejudice and discrimination — even to the point of violence and death. As Jack Layton said: “Our work is not done.” It’s far from done. New Democrats will

continue pressing issues of concern to LGBT Canadians — LGBT Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Our work won’t be done until we have a world that includes members of the LGBT as equal, without a second thought.

Ryan

Cleary MP St. John’s South-Mount Pearl ryan.cleary@parl.gc.ca 709.772.4608 l ryancleary.ca 9 Commonwealth Ave., Mount Pearl

Angry Feminist Rant By Taylor Stocks

As recent addition to the queer world, I admit I know the arguments against my feelings: This Coming to being a bit behind when it comes to queer media. I had the luxury of taking a queer film course at one point, exposing me to the classics: Hedwig and the Angry Inch; The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert; My Own Private Idaho. However, from there, I knew I had a long way to go. Thus, in the last six months, I have attempted to remedy this deficit, bingeing on as many queer films as I possibly could.

esterday, I watched the finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race, a day later than most. I was thrilled to have our honourable Queen Bianca crowned Ruler Supreme. I loved that a girl with a brain and a mouth to match could snatch that sceptre away from both the teen-girl and model-esque types. I must confess, though, that the fantastical musical number exploring the magnificent possibilities of drag left me feeling a bit… sad. I was happy that they brought to the fore many different expressions of drag reality, giving examples of everything from out-there queens to cornerstone films, like Paris is Burning. But, I was sad because there were no female-bodied performers. Anywhere. At any time. Man-turned-woman had claimed drag, loud and proud.

is RuPaul’s idea of drag, therefore it is male-bodied; Drag as people really *know* it is filled with queens, so let’s give them what they want; Drag queens appeal to women too, just look at DragU; Hollywood TV still favours gender roles as they are; The show is meant for drag queens, not drag in general; It is a commercial production, what more can you expect? There are more. I remain discontent.

ou see, I went to an all-girls school for thirteen years, where I was unknowingly prepared for battle against a patriarchal world. Quite frankly, I didn’t believe that world still existed. The skeptic in me raised questions at such a strictly gendered society. I certainly had no problems affecting my surroundings and enacting my desires; if the situation was really as bad at they said, why wasn’t I feeling it? Nonetheless, they did their best to warn me that I was born into a world of men where the voice of women was subordinate if not downright absent in many arenas.

On Our Gaydar Gladys Bentley

Gladys Bentley was a trailblazer - a cool Blues singer, a renowned performer, and an out and proud lesbian before LGBT identities were acknowledged or tolerated in public. Born in Philadelphia in 1907, Bentley became a Blues singer in Harlem in the 1920s, a period known as The Harlem Renaissance. Intellectuals and artists, almost all of them African Americans, blessed the world with a flourish of creativity and some sweet, sweet music. Bentley was just one of several LGBT people who rose to fame during that time, and she packed performances full of LGBT, straight, and racially mixed audiences.

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into my own gender questions many years later, I have revisited areas of gendered-power, and come solidly to the conclusion that, yes, there is a lot of legitimacy ascribed to language, behaviour, and practice that is correlated to ‘male’ and ‘man’. I have adopted manness and experienced the shift in privilege that I have. I feel the difference between someone accepting my ideas from me as a woman vs. me as a man. My beliefs are reinforced by things like the RuPaul finale or the fact that when I search ‘genderbending movies’ in Google, 70% of all that were made are about male-bodied folk. I want us all to be united in combatting the problems of cis-het norms, but I need us to acknowledge that there still is rampant sexism that is coupling with genderism that often presents as harsh and lacking reality to us female-bodied genderbenders.

Difference

cannot be forgotten even during times when we come together in sameness. Sex is merely one facet of this; I cannot ignore different experiences of trans* through race, creed, ability, no more than a male-bodied genderqueer folk can ignore my difference of schooled-gender and genitalia. We are the same; we are different. Let us not stifle other voices in the proclamation of our own.

In her trademark men’s tux and top hot, she was perhaps one of the most openly lesbian celebrities in recent history. She even had a highly-publicized, if illegal, marriage to a white woman in New Jersey. And, of course, the charmer could always be counted on to flirt skillfully with female audience members at her shows. However, as is often the case with LGBT people in the 1900s, her story ends tragically. As the United States became more socially conservative in the 1950s, Bentley had to go back into the closet to protect her freedom and career.

She claimed that he had gone straight, became a devout member of the Temple of Love in Christ, and died of influenza in 1960.

Ask Doris!

Ask me a question at: Askdorisanitadouche@gmail.com @officialdoris

Hello kittens, I hope all is well!

Dear Doris: After almost a month of dating a guy, I told him I loved him. Shortly after, he broke up with me. It happens a lot with guys. I really want to be in a relationship! I hate sleeping alone. I always need someone to be there but guys don’t see eye to eye. Any advice?

Just want to say it’s been a great year answering your questions for The ‘Out’port. This magazine is quickly becoming a staple for the gay community and I’m grateful to be a part of it. Now, on with the questions!

Dear Doris: Summer is quickly approaching. A guy I like is coming home for the summer, and I gained winter weight. How can I lose weight quickly before the summer to fit into my bathing suit? -Winter Weight

-Gay in Love

Dear G.I.L.. Dear Proud Mom,

My advice won’t fix the problem, but it can As RuPaul said “If you don’t love yourself,

help you to move in the right direction.

Judging by your question you have never Our world is changing rapidly with accepseen a photo of me... the only advice I can give is there really isn’t any healthy options to lose weight quick. If you add healthy options to your regular routine, walk more or join the gym, you may shed a few pounds before then.

In the meantime, if your crush hasn’t no-

ticed you looking the way you are, and if he doesn’t like your personality, I wouldn’t waste my time looking good for him. Look good and feel good for yourself, gurl. And if you do find a way to lose weight quick before summer... you have my e-mail address and I’d like to know!

Dear Doris: My wife and I have been married for almost 4 years. I have a daughter from a previous marriage. She’s in Junior High and she is made fun of for having two moms. Do you have any advice to stop the bullying? -Proud Mom

First of all... stop.

tance, and what we classify as “The New Normal”. Some people don’t change with the times or even try to educate their children.

First, which I know you’ve been doing, talk

to your child. Let her know that kids her age make fun of the unknown and what is different because they don’t have the knowledge. There’s nothing wrong with having two moms (unless they were two of my mom, then that would be something to worry about).

She’s

growing up with more acceptance and knowledge than most kids her age. I’d talk to the school board, or even get in touch with local organizations that are willing to bring some education for a workshop or even visit the classrooms to have a Q&A.

But for now, do what you’ve been doing since she’s been born, and even a part of your family, and that is shower her with love and understanding.

how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?” LIVE BY THAT! It’s appropriate for this situation.

You hate sleeping alone? You always need someone else for company? No. Enjoy the time you have by yourself. You are your own best friend for life! There shouldn’t be a constant need for a boyfriend.

If you crave having a relationship so badly, you will be blinded by the characteristics of your partner that may keep your relationship a toxic and unhealthy one. What you need to do is not go LOOKING for one. Let it develop naturally. Like, when they clone animals and they develop at a rapid rate and become mutated and gross looking? Same if you rush into a relationship. And while you wait, get to know yourself.

Spend time alone from time to time. Go to a movie, a walk, make yourself a gormet meal. You always know you’ll get to third base with yourself so the meal doesn’t have

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Theatre in St. John’s 13 The Musical

By Darryl Davis (@darryl_m_davis) Music by Jason Robert Brown, Book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn Direction by Timothy Matson Musical Direction by Kiersten Noel Band Direction by Emily Follett Choreography by Jessa Vokey Produced by Best Kind Productions Starring: Matthew Hardy, Caitlin Harte, Andrew Hepditch, Maggie Follett, Ryan Aspell, Lauren Shallow, Kyle Dalton, Mackenzie Drover, Ben Halfyard, Jenny Mallard, Callum McGann, Hannah Wadman-Scanlan, and Nathan Mackey. Venue: LSPU Hall, St. John’s, NL. Played From April 3rd to 6th, 2014

With successful stagings of “Honk!” and “Freckleface Strawberry The Musical”, Best Kind Productions has positioned itself as one of St. John’s premiere theatre companies for showcasing young talent. It’s a streak that continued with the recent presentation of “13 the Musical” at the LSPU Hall in St. John’s, Newfoundland. A lively musical about growing up, “13”, based on the book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn, with lyrics and music by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown, can be thought of as the flip side of “Spring Awakening.” While the latter Broadway hit show explores teen angst in dark, woeful terms, “13” is humorous and optimistic as its adolescents bounce along to a happy beat. Unlike the complicated storytelling of the “High School Musical” franchise, the ninety minute “13” tells a more straightforward story. Upper West Sider, Evan Goldman, played exceedingly well here by Matthew Hardy, is uprooted to Appleton, Indiana due to his parents’ divorce. As this move occurs just prior to his impending bar mitzvah, Evan now faces the challenge of befriending the cool kids of his new school to make his party a success. Evan quickly meets the smart, sweet Patrice (the winsome Caitlin Harte) and Archie (scene-stealer Andrew Hepditch), a crippled boy with quick wit and a deceptively steely spine.

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The book, by Dan Elish and Robert Horn, follows a nicely modern path along what is a somewhat predictable route. Upon discovering that Patrice is considered an uncool geek, Evan ditches her to persuade the cool kids, led by quarterback Brett (stage natural Ryan Aspell) and head cheerleader Kendra (a splendid Lauren Shallow), to come to his party. Through a series of mishaps, however, Evan eventually learns who his true friends are. Whether “13” is an accurate musical comedy depiction of junior high is for a younger set to judge. It can be said that with a storyline involving rumour starting, boyfriend stealing, and enough talk about ‘the tongue’ that it literally felt like a fourteenth character, “13” certainly doesn’t whitewash the teenage experience. Girls are regularly called “sluts” and “skanks” by characters of both sexes in the show, and at one point quarterback Brett declares that advice provided to him to woo Kendra is “a little gay”. While it’s true that language of this nature is typical of teenagers, it’s a small flaw in a mostly hilarious book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn which they, unfortunately, choose to perpetuate. On the plus side, the book is not condescending and it does drive home points about gaining self-confidence, priorities, and responsibility. Even better is the extremely enjoyable score written by Jason Robert Brown. His lyrics provide scope for the characters and give them a shade more depth than the dialogue provided in the book. Brown’s tunes are exceedingly catchy, and the big ballad of the show, “What It Means To Be a Friend,” imparts a message that surely registers with audiences of all ages.

The entire cast gave great performances all around, and there were plenty of opportunities for individual members to shine. In the lead role, Matthew Hardy gave an impressive, committed and understanding performance as Evan Goldman. He even sang convincingly in Hebrew for a short period of time in the show. Caitlin Harte brought an understated fragility and strength in her portrayal of Patrice, a character obviously hurt by the actions of others but too strong to let it show. Andrew Hepditch was a knockout in his portrayal of Archie, the school’s resident special needs student. He demonstrated natural comedic-timing, a strong voice throughout, and effortlessly nailed his rendition of “Terminal Illness”. Ryan Aspell might not be the conventional All-American Jock type, but he found layers of menace and charm in his performance of Brett.

As Brett’s sidekicks, Kyle Dalton and Ben Halfyard where hilariously funny and had terrific chemistry with each other as the characters Eddie and Malcolm. Lauren Shallow made a great Kendra, infusing her performance with just the right mix of naïveté and trust. As the scheming and deceitful Lucy, Maggie Follett was a revelation. She had the presence of a young Rose McGowan - all cellphone and attitude. Her performance of “Opportunity” was a delight. Rounding out the cast were Mackenzie Drover, Jenny Mallard, Callum McGann, Hannah Wadman-Scanlan, and Nathan Mackey, who were all completely committed to their characters and gave standout vocal performances.

ABBA

Gotta Get The Scoop!

By Darryl Davis (@darryl_m_davis) Written by Peter Halley, Deborah Wells-Smith Musical Direction by Peter Halley Produced by Spirit of Newfoundland. Starring: Janet Cull, Peter Halley, Shelley Neville and Keith Power Venue: Masonic Temple, 6 Cathedral Street, St. John’s, NL. City: St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

Swedish

The show was lovingly directed and briskly paced by Timothy Matson. He has a true talent in working with younger actors, made obvious here by the sheer performance level of his cast. His staging of the show had an elegance to it, and the spinning set pieces used to illustrate changes in location was an inspired choice. The vocal harmonies, under the direction of Kiersten Noel, were exceptional, and some of the solo moments from the cast members were simply astonishing. Jessa Vokey’s dance numbers were all extremely well handled and executed by the cast, and the onstage teen band, comprised of Courtney Harnum, Taylor Quinn, Ben Delaney, Chris Ball, Tristan McKeever and Liam Robbins, sounded amazing with great direction work from Emily Follett. The energy level of this show was spectacular, exuberant and extremely contagious. In all, Best Kinds’ staging of “13” was a solidly entertaining production, with some standout comedic moments and real vocal fireworks. This province certainly has some amazing young musical talent that are truly worth seeing and supporting.

pop group ABBA are undeniably one of the most commercially successful and internationally beloved musical acts of all time. All to often; however, they are still unfairly viewed as a campy Seventies novelty act who are synonymous with the disco music era. If one were to momentarily look past the sparkly jumpsuits and less than impressive dance moves, even the more ardent naysayers would likely appreciate their musical brilliance. Their amazing back catalog of songs, all written by group members Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, are incredibly melodic and understatedly complex in both vocal and musical arrangements. Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, the lead vocalists of ABBA, were also talented musicians in their own right with tremendous vocal ranges, their deliveries being a powerful mix of pop sensibility and musical theatre.

In “ABBA: Gotta Get The Scoop!”, a dinner theatre experience by Spirit of Newfoundland currently in its third incarnation due to immense popularity, the focus is wisely placed on the great musicality and history of the the Swedish supergroup, the show playing more like a loving tribute than farce. As with a majority of Spirit of Newfoundland productions, the show has a number of hilarious moments, although none coming at the expense of ABBA or its members. Rather it takes the form of a reoccurring skit involving four employees of a local newspaper doing an exposé of sorts on the history of ABBA. This proved to be an effective method for the cast to impart information about the musical group and its members to the audience in a light and candid manner, while also giving the show a decidedly Newfoundland slant. Hilarity and clever wordplay, of course, ensued. The true strength of this production, howev-

er, were its talented cast members. Janet Cull, Peter Halley, Shelley Neville and Keith Power, all proved to have the chops to pull off vocally challenging numbers like ‘Waterloo’, ‘Take a Chance on Me’, ‘Fernando’ and ‘Dancing Queen’.

They

were also extremely interactive with the audience throughout the show. Whether it took the form of sharing personal experiences they have had with the music of ABBA, hilariously changing and recounting misheard ABBA song lyrics, or directly chatting with the audience, the candidness, energy and spontaneity of the cast was infectious. Janet Cull, also great in Spirit of Newfoundland’s production of “Women Doin’ Men”, has an astonishingly pure and clear voice with precise enunciation and pitch. It is beautifully showcased here during her pristine rendition of ‘I Don’t Know How To Love Him’, a song connected to Agnetha’s past as she played Mary Magdalene in the original Swedish production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” in 1972. Shelley Neville, as demonstrated by her mesmerizingly hilarious turn in the recent staging of “Les Misérables” by Atlantic Light Theatre, simply radiates with stage presence and charisma, a true powerhouse vocal talent which is equally matched by her comedic performance abilities. A highlight of the show is her tour de force rendition of ‘The Winner Takes It All’ which she performed with overwhelming power and emotion.

Keith Power continues to demonstrate what a charming musical theatre talent he really is, literally having audience members squealing with approval as he moved and gyrated across the stage. His comedic timing is impeccable, and vocally he has such a great tone for pop music with a theatrical flair. His rendition of ‘Does Your Mother Know’ was an exhilarating treat. Rounding out this fine cast is the musical director of the production himself, Peter Halley. He is the definition of a natural stage performer, conversing with the audience with great ease and wit all while singing with exceptional skill and power. He is truly a dynamic performer. As per usual, the house band was exceptional and had great camaraderie with the cast. In all, “ABBA: Gotta Get The Scoop!” is a per-

fect testimonial to why the music of ABBA has not only endured but has truly stood the test of time. It is an extremely fun, hilarious and exhilarating musical experience featuring some of the best musical theatre talents in the province. It is not to be missed!

Baking

Potato Chip Cookies

with

Betty Boo

Welcome back to Baking with Betty! Ingredients

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened • 3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar • 3/4 cup granulated sugar • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract • 2 large eggs • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour • 1 teaspoon baking soda • 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt • 4 cups coarsely crushed salted potato chips, divided • 1 cup pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped

This month, I figured we all try something different and veer off the totally sweet side of things. (Even though I still very much have a sweet tooth)! During my search for recipes this month, I’ve come across alot of great-looking treats with the trend of mixing salty and sweet together, so I figured, why not – Betty’s a girl willing to try anything once, so let’s experiment and try something new. Below you will find a couple of recipes that at first, I thought, “O.K., this could be interesting...” but was pleasantly surprised to find out how well the two sides worked together. I hope you are willing to try something new as well and enjoy the following as much as I did!

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat togeth-

er butter and sugars with a mixer on high speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add vanilla and eggs, and beat on medium speed until just combined.

2. Add flour, baking soda, and salt, and beat on low speed until just combined. Stir in 2 cups potato chips and the nuts.

364 Duckworth Street (709) 579-5485

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June

thesproutrestaurant.com

Roll dough into balls using approx. 1/4 cup of dough per ball, and then roll balls in remaining potato chips to coat. Place cookies 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until golden, 18 minutes. Let cool completely on baking sheet.

Pretzel Brownie Bars Ingredients Crust

• 1 1/2 cups crushed pretzels • 1/4 cup granulated sugar • 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

Brownie

• 1 box Betty Crocker™ fudge brownie mix – or your favorite brownie recipe, even I use the shortcut sometimes • 1/4 cup water • 2/3 cup vegetable oil • 2 eggs

Frosting

• 1 cup powdered sugar • 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened • 2 squares (1 oz each) unsweetened chocolate, melted • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 2 to 3 tablespoons milk • 1/2 cup crushed pretzels

Directions: 1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). In medi-

um bowl, mix crust ingredients. Press in ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Bake 8 minutes; cool 10 minutes.

2. In medium bowl, stir brownie ingredients until blended. Carefully spread batter over cooled crust. Bake 24 to 26 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out clean or almost clean. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1 hour.

In medium bowl, beat powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons butter, melted chocolate and the vanilla with electric mixer on low speed until combined. Beat in 1 tablespoon milk until blended. Beat in additional milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until frosting is desired spreading consistency. Frost cooled brownies; sprinkle with crushed pretzels. Cut into 8 rows by 4 rows.

-XO Betty |13|

June

For the Love of Learning and Breakwater Books presents

stories of lbgt youth Directed by Agnes Walsh Featuring Greg Malone and many, many more!

ONE NIGHT ONLY Thursday, July 17th, 2014, 8pm LSPU Hall / Resource Centre for the Arts 3 Victoria Street, St. Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s FOR TiCkeTS call the hall: 753-4531 or book online: www.rca.nf.ca

whatsup@ftlol.org Community Youth Network St. John's

709.722.8848 FTLOL is an arts-based charity helping young people to successfully overcome social and economic obstacles.