The Children Act a character study
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The Children Act starring Emma Thompson will be screened Thursday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m., by the Brantford Film Group at the Galaxy Cinemas.
Tickets are $9 for members and $11 for non-members. An annual membership costs $10.
Here’s a synopsis of the film: “Fiona Maye (Emma Thompson) is a British High Court judge who must rule on life and death matters involving minors as set forth by the principles of the Children Act of 1989. Inevitably the emotional toll from Fiona’s job affects her personal life. After 20 years of marriage, Jack (Stanley Tucci) desires intimacy no longer offered by his wife. (He plans to enter into an affair with a younger colleague.) Jack feels that Fiona is married to her work, rather than to him.
“In the meantime, Fiona must decide on the fate of a minor, Adam Henry (Fionn Whitehead), a 17 year old Jehovah Witness who has refused on religious grounds, to undergo a life-saving blood transfusion. She visits him in hospital: he is a talented young man, a budding poet and musician. What will she decide?
“Fiona is at a crossroads both professionally and personally. With Emma Thompson’s nuanced and stellar performance, director Richard Eyre and writer Ian McEwan draw a deeply affecting portrait of a complex modern woman, continually forced to straddle logical, moral and emotional contradictions in order to uphold important legal principles that inform British institutions.”
Theatre
Paris Performers Theatre presents Bare Bear Bones on Feb. 21,22 and 23 at 8 p.m., and Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. in the special events building at the Paris fairgrounds. Written by Michael Grant and directed by Terri-Lynn Graham, this laugh out loud comedy, with some touching moments, has been selected to be part of the Western Drama League Festival as a 2019 finalist. Paris Performers are among four theatre groups advancing to the festival at the Guelph Little Theatre during the week of March 11. Tickets for the Paris shows are $20 for adults and $5 for students. They are available at Green Heron Books in Paris, or by calling 519-302-0169. Festival information and tickets are available at www.guelphlittletheatre.com/tickets
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Assumption College School is in full rehearsal mode for its production of Hairspray, set to appear on stage on Feb. 28 and March 1 and 2. Curtain is at 7 p.m. for all shows with an added matinee at 2 p.m. on March 2. The answer to the winter blues is a night out at the theatre. Hairspray will not only warm your heart, but it will get your toes tapping with its high energy dancing, the electric acting and the dynamic singing. Tickets are $10 for students/seniors and $15 for adults and may be purchased by calling 519-751-2030, ext. 365. Reserved seating avoids the mad rush at the door.
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Playful Fox Productions presents a musical production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Performances are March 1 at 7 p.m., March 2 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and March 3 at 2 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Church, Broadway Street West in Paris. Directed by professional actors and singers Malakai Fox and Marissa Kate Wilson, the cast consists of many locals from Brantford and Brant County, including Alexandra Boyd of Paris in the title role as Ariel. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for children and students, aged 6 to 18, and free for children under five. They are available through Brown Paper Tickets at https://pfpmermaid.brownpapertickets.com.
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ICHTHYS Theatre has announced its 2019 lineup, which kicks off with Burs of a Feather by Martin Smith. Described as a comedy among friends, performances will be held March 29-31 and April 5-7 at St. Mary’s Church hall at East Avenue and Murray Street in Brantford. Tickets are available at www.ichthystheatre.ca, at the door, or can be reserved by calling 519-751-5411.
Comedy
Ed the Sock’s War On Stupid comedy tour makes a stop at Club NV in Brantford on Friday, March 8, at 8 p.m.
The Canadian late-night TV star turns his surgical wit on fake news, outrage culture and North America’s growing love affair with idiocy.
And, in addition to excoriating modern ignorance, Ed unveils video clips of his interviews with celebrities and classic MuchMusic moments, revealing the backstage stories behind them.
Tickets available at The Beat Goes On, Ticketscene.ca and edthesock.com.
Music
The 11th annual Big Hair for Little Kids takes place Friday, March 1, at the Army Navy Air Force Club, 645 Colborne St. in Brantford. A Just For The Kids event from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. features magic and juggling with Doug The Great, pictures with Batman and face painting. Admission is $5 a person for the kids event. At 8 p.m., music begins with headliners, The Shoeshine Boys Blues Band, special guests Shiny New Groove, and Music Mania DJ Services featuring DJ Monkey. A silent auction also will be featured in this charity benefit for children with cancer. Tickets are $10 each. They are available at the Army Navy Air Force Club, Colby’s Billiards, Kreative Khaos, Manny’s Place and Inspirational Hearts.
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The Brant County Singers present their annual Charity Concert on Sunday, March 3, at St. Andrew’s United Church, 95 Darling St., Brantford. The concert supports the Kids Country Inn Respite Care Program provided by Lansdowne Children’s Centre. Special guests will be the Girl Guides of Canada. Admission is by free will offering.
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The Country Legends Tribute Tour will perform Friday, March 15, at 8 p.m. at the Burford Agricultural Hall. Performed by The Country Classics, Newfoundland recording artists Gordon Cormier and Dave Pike, you will hear songs by Johnny Cash, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty and Charlie Pride along with jigs, reels and songs from Newfoundland. Tickets are $25, which includes a light lunch. They are available from the Burford Lions Club, or by calling 519-732-0883.
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Brantford Open Stage presents a concert on April 5 at 7:30 p.m. with Lennie Gallant and his band – Jeremy Gallant and Patricia Richard. Lennie Gallant is a singer/songwriter and recipient of the Order of Canada, and the East Coast Music Awards Entertainer of the Year. The concert will be held at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Centre. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. They can be purchased at any Brantford Open Stage session, from Dave Jensen, or John and Sheila Ludgate at 905-634-0692 or sjludgate@gmail.com
Art
Blue Dog Coffee Roasters this month features the original acrylics by Kathy and Tara Gaskin in a mother-daughter exhibit. The Blue Dog is located at 199 Brant Ave. in Brantford.
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Mosaic artist Lily Crawford welcomes visitors to her Pop Up Studio located at 438 Colborne St. E. in Brantford. Hours are Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant is offering a March Break art camp entitled Life Hacks! From drawing and building to making their own arts supplies, children can explore creative solutions to everyday life and art dilemmas. The camp runs March 11 to 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with daily and weekly sign-ups available. Extended care is available at no cost, and all materials are included. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Information and registration is available online at www.glenhyrst.ca or by calling 519-756-5932.
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Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant has just released its spring 2019 classes and workshops in a variety of media, for both adults and children. For a complete listing of classes, please visit www.glenhyrst.ca
Panel Discussion
Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant and Freedom House are presenting a panel discussion on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 5:30 p.m., at The Kindness Centre, Lower Level, 1 Market St., in downtown Brantford.
“Behind The Curtain – an inside look at homelessness and addiction in our community” aims to open up conversation and hear stories from people on the front lines. Glenhyrst curator Matthew Ryan Smith will navigate the conversation starting with Glenhyrst exhibiting artist Jeff Bierk, a recovered addict who will speak candidly about his journey, and how art became a catalyst for recovery and change. Panelists will include Dave Carrol, Becca McLellan, Tim Philp and Jeff Bierk. All are welcome to this free event. Refreshments and food to be served.
Lectures
The Brantford Historical Society presents Enhancing Medicine with Indigenous Knowledge on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. at Myrtleville House Museum, 37 Myrtleville Dr. in Brantford. First Nations physician Amy Montour will discuss what medical school could not teach, as she presents the life journey she took to become a “western” trained physician and the intersection with Indigenous culture, including concepts for relationship building with Indigenous people in the context of health. Admission is free.
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Grace Gallery presents author Robert J. Morrow on Friday, March 1, during the gallery’s First Friday event from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at 29 Nelson St. in Brantford. Morrow was a member of the Tim Hortons marketing team in the 1980s. In 2018, he created Sunao International Publishing to help other authors self-publish. Morrow writes fiction and real estate books. Admission is by donation, whether monetary, non-perishable food, household goods or slightly used clothing. For more information visit www.gracegallery.ca
Preview welcomes story ideas and news of coming arts and entertainment events. Deadline is 4 p.m. Tuesday. Submit information to Ent., The Expositor, 195 Henry St., Building 4, Unit 1, Brantford, N3T 5C9, or e-mail brex.preview@sunmedia.ca.
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