Corrinne Wolcoski's Burke Mountain, oil on canvas.
guffaws and a side of wry, the award-winning movie A Christmas Story has long been hailed as a holiday classic. Set in 1940s Indiana and focusing on Ralphie, a boy desperately hoping to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas, Story is narrated by the now-adult Ralphie, who looks back on that time with nostalgic affection — and the awareness his family was a bit crazy. The many fans of the quirky and endearing 1983 movie will likely want Santa to give them tickets to the Victoria Operatic Society’s production of A Christmas Story: The Musical, which is getting its BC premiere right here in Victoria. “This show is so fresh that the script we’re using hasn’t even been published yet,” says director Pat Rundell, who saw a Seattle production a few years ago. (It had a limited run on Broadway in 2012, and was nominated for three Tony awards.) “The musical is very true to the original movie in terms of the narrative, but is more lively and fun,” adds Rundell. “For example, when Ralphie first spots the BB gun on Christmas morning it turns into a dream sequence where he becomes a cowboy.” With a cast of 35 and some huge production numbers, Story promises to be lively and engaging. “The songs are touching but also wonderfully catchy — plus they help tell the story,” Rundell says. “Overall, the production is heartwarming and full of love … but also a bit kooky. It’s the perfect Christmas show.” Running from December 5-14 at the McPherson Playhouse. For tickets, call 250-386-6121. 70
PUTTING A BOW ON ART Madrona Gallery opened in June of 2010 and, aside from its core focus on landscape paintings, has gradually incorporated more abstract work, as well as becoming a national player in terms of presenting contemporary Inuit carvings and drawings. This will all be reflected in its fifth annual “Deck the Walls” Christmas show, drawn from its roster of artists. “We put aside selected works during the fall, pieces that we love the most and that express what we do best in the gallery,” says co-owner Michael Warren. Like with most group exhibitions, there will be a lot of diversity; the unifying theme, according to Warren, is in the choosing of representative pieces that express where each artist finds joy in their work. Gallery regulars will know to expect the lush nature paintings of Karel Doruyter, the history-filled collages of Morgana Wallace and the fantastical canvases of Meghan Hildebrand. Other participants will include local painter Nancy Ruhl, whose Victoria streetscapes revel in the small but characterful details that are often overlooked by passersby. Warren also loves the intricate ink-on-paper drawings of Luke Ramsey. “He has amazing technical ability, but the work is very accessible and related to local human activity and concerns,” Warren explains. There will also be drawings by acclaimed Inuit artists Mayoreak Ashoona and Shuvinai Ashoona, and a few important pieces of historical Canadian art as well, likely including a canvas by Group of Seven icon Arthur Lismer. The works will range in price