Christy Chase's

Big news

Last weekend, I checked out our website, www.newsdurhamregion.com, to make sure stories I'd posted had gotten onto the site ok and to get caught up on local news. There I found a story about how well our local newspapers had done in the Suburban Newspapers of America competition, with a pile of firsts, second, thirds and honourable mentions among non-daily newspapers in Canada and the US. To my surprise, I found my name in that story - yes, I've won first place in arts and entertainment writing feature for a story I wrote over a year ago about opera, in relations to a concert by Oshawa Durham Symphony Orchestra. I am still having trouble believing it! Any writers and editors I know aren't in this business for awards. But when they come along, they are nice. So I'll add this one to the others I've got (including three provincial ones) and feel proud of myself. You can find the full list of our award-winning writers, editors and photographers here -- www.newsdurhamregion.com/news/durham/article/92845

That's entertainment

What an amazing weekend for entertainment! This past weekend, I enjoyed three great events - one of which you can still experience for yourself. And that is Oshawa Little Theatre's production of The Laramie Project, a New York theatre group's play about the town of Laramie, Wyoming, where in the late 1990s, a young gay student was brutally beaten, tied to a fence and left to die. OLT took a risk on this one, knowing it might not be its regular audience's taste. But it's a wonderful production, one of the best I've seen there. Very moving. It's on through Feb. 2 so I'd advise you to go see it. www.oshawalittletheatre.com for ticket info. Next up was an intimate concert by Glissandi at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery, part of its Gallery Players concert series. A harp-flute-violin trio performed glorious music, especially some modern harp pieces, in the permanent collection gallery, which has great acoustics. We were sitting just a few feet from the performers and surrounded by art. A great way to spend a late Saturday afternoon. Then, for something different, it was the Oshawa Durham Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra debuted a work specially commissioned for it, composed by Mathieu Lussier, a fantastic piece with South American flavours. The composer, in the audience after flying back from Europe for the performance, the music and the orchestra got a deserved standing ovation. The orchestra and guest pianist Shoko Inoue then tackled Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2. Where I was sitting, I couldn't see her fingers but I could see her face - a wonderfully expressive face that made her astoundingly powerful performance all the better. I didn't start out liking the piece but by the end of the first movement, I was on board with it. (Can't say the same for some people sitting near me.) Another well deserved standing O for all involved. I have to say that's probably one of the best ODSO concerts ever. Did you catch any of these events? If so, let me know what you thought.

Global warming, music style?

I wonder what they are trying to tell us. When I opened my e-mail this morning, after a weekend off, there were the weekly listings for the Velvet Elvis. Nothing unusual in that. Then I read the lineup for Jan. 17. Now this is probably coincidence (but I don't believe in coincidence), but the names of the bands certainly send a message about climate change. Playing on Jan. 17 are The Burning Hell, Weird Weather and Entire Cities. Make up your own story line. And enjoy the mild weather we're experiencing.

Best present ever

The holidays are over and it's back to work for most people. And I have taken some time to reflect on my favourite Christmas presents this year. That's easy. Both are entertainment related and both are from my daughter. First up is the first season of Babylon 5, a science fiction series from the 90s. It's one of my favourite shows. Second is the trip we took to TO to see White Christmas - she bought the tickets, I bought lunch and GO passes. Despite the rain, it was lots of fun to spend that time with Sarah - and that is absolutely the best present of any kind ever.