A Distillery Drama

Unusual performances in our newest and oldest venue

The 150-year-old Distillery Historic District, known to some as the Gooderham and Worts site, reopened this summer as a multipurpose public dining, shopping and recreational area. The developers wisely invited members of the arts community to occupy some of the lovely old brick buildings very early in the process, and it seems that Toronto theatre, dance, musical and visual artists now know the space better than most members of the public. Certainly they're already being inspired to produce unusual theatre and dance projects there, no doubt the precursor of many more to come.
On October 1 and 2, 32 beautiful horses arrived in town for an equestrian show called Cavalia, conceived by Normand Latourelle of the Cirque du Soleil. It will be performed from October 14 to 19 under a giant white tent in the parking lot at the southeast corner of Cherry and Mill Streets. The spectacle features over two dozen performers including equestrians, acrobats, dancers and musicians. (For tickets, call 416.870.8000.)
In the second week of October, the Distillery District see the opening of another kind of outdoor spectacle, a retelling of the story of Joan of Arc featuring song, dance and giant puppets. Joan is created with an extremely talented group of performers: Christine Brubaker, Karin Randoja, Patrick McManus and John Cleland, and it will be performed right in the midst of the charmingly uneven cobblestoned streets that connect the antique buildings throughout the picturesque neighbourhood.
For the original music, the creators wisely sought out John Millard, a Toronto theatre composer who has made himself a remarkable career that's poised partway between onstage musical theatre and outdoor marching bands. His compositions have the robust, slightly dissonant quality that you might associate with the work of Kurt Weill, and a little of the circus-like flair of Nino Rota, the frequent collaborator with Fellini.
Millard was involved in the early work of Ida Carnevale, including her summertime carnivals in Kensington Market. He wrote music for the full-length satirical musical comedy Ratbag, which premiered at the St. Lawrence Centre in a production by the Canadian Stage company. He has also often collaborated with the theatre productions of Martha Ross, founding co-artistic director of Theatre Columbus; no coincidence, since the two are married.
For Joan, Millard has created seven original songs, many of which he will accompany himself on a medieval instrument called a cittern, which he describes as his "newest instrument. I needed some romance in my life, and so I decided to learn this," he quips. Performer Christine Brubaker also lends accordion accompaniment to some of the numbers.
Although he enjoys the ambience of the Distillery District, Millard complains that it suffers from the same acoustic ailment as most of the urban environment: "It's polluted with air conditioners," he says. "You hear all the fans on the tops of the buildings."

Red Red Rose presents Joan from October 8 to 26 outdoors at the Distillery Historic District, 55 Mill Street. Audience members are reminded to dress for the weather, but there will be an alternate indoor venue in case of rain. For tickets and further information, call 416.516.8158.

Publication Date: 2003-10-05
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3223