Entertainment Beat

Scarborough Players present Parfumerie, by Miklos Laszlo, and adapted by E.P. Dowdall.

Parfumerie tells the story of George Horvath and Amalia Balash, two employees at an upscale Budapest shop. While the two hardly get along in person, little do they know that they are, in fact, secret pen pals who share their frustrations, dreams, and desires with each other by mail. When the two decide to finally meet in person, the encounter leaves George and Amalia – and the audience – wondering whether they will reconcile their differences and find true love.

Directed by Cory Doran, produced by Linda Brent, and stage managed by Teresa Bakker, Parfumerie will show on Dec. 4, 5, 10 to 12, and 17 to 19 at 8 p.m., and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 6 and 13. Tickets are $20 or $17 for seniors and students. Performances take place at Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston Rd. at Markham Road.

 

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Paul Novotny and Robi Botos will perform the next installation of Beach Jazz and Reflection at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Beach United Church. The theme is ‘Man in a Red Suit.’ Admission is free, and an offering will be collected.

Novotny has performed with Junior Mance, Kenny Wheeler, Joe Sealy, Jackie Richardson, Holly Cole, and more. He has composed themes for CBC’s National News, News Now, and The Hour with George Stromboulopoulos. For his work with Sealy, they have been nominated for three Junos and won one.

Botos has performed with Branford Marsalis, Chaka Khan and Al Jarreau, and performs regularly in commemoration of Oscar Peterson. He also plays with Molly Johnson, as well as his own group. He wrote the score for A People Uncounted, a documentary film about the Romani people.

 

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Cantemus Singers present Gloria in Excelsis Deo! at St. Aidan’s Anglican Church on Sunday, Dec. 6.

The Dec. 6 performance will feature 16th century Spanish, German and Austrian Christmas music under the direction of Michael Erdman. Highlights include Guerrero’s Magnificat from the Vespers of the Three Kings, and Flecha’s La Negrina. Familiar German carols will be sung, along with rarely-heard motets from Jacob Handl, Philipp de Monte and Jacob Clemens non Papa.

Gloria in Excelsis Deo! takes place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6 at St. Aidan’s, 70 Silver Birch Ave. at Queen Street East. A quarter of the proceeds will be donated to Community Centre 55’s Share A Christmas program. Tickets are $20 (free for children 12 and under), and are available at Centre 55, 97 Main St., or at the door.

For those unable to make the Sunday performance, Cantemus will present the same concert at the Church of the Holy Trinity at the Eaton Centre downtown at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5.

 

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Toronto Beach Chorale presents Handel’s Messiah on Sunday, Dec. 6 at Kingston Road United Church.

To open its eighth season, the chorale will blend the choir, soloists, and an orchestra for one of Handel’s best-known works, including the timeless Hallelujah Chorus. Under the direction of Mervin W. Fick, Toronto Beach Chorale’s singers will be joined by an orchestra and soloists Jennifer Krabbe (soprano), Jillian Yemen (alto), Charles Davidson (tenor) and Matthew Cassils (bass).

The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6 at Kingston Road United Church, 975 Kingston Rd. Tickets are $25 for adults, $12 for youth 7 to 18 years old, and free for children under 7.

 

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Get into the holiday spirit with Charles Dickens. A reading of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11 at St. John the Baptist Norway Anglican Church, 470 Woodbine Ave.

Holm Bradwell, Reverend Canon Michael Burgess, Michael Coren, Paula Davis, and Heather Goodall will read, with music by the choir. Tickets are $10, free for children under 12. Proceeds will be split between the Anglican United Refugee Alliance and the Save the Children Fund.

The annual ‘Tis the Season event on Kingston Road will feature an afternoon of festive activities on Saturday, Dec. 12, including roaming carollers in the shops along Kingston Road.

After some holiday shopping, stop into Kingston Road United Church, 975 Kingston Rd., at 3:30 p.m. for a reading of A Christmas Carol and sing along with the Belle Carollers. Donations will be collected at the door for the church and Community Centre 55’s Share A Christmas program.

 

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Eat, Drink and Be Merry!, a festive evening of songs, stories and Christmas desserts will feature music, singing, and stories at Birchcliff Bluffs United Church. The event is the church’s annual fundraiser for the Churches by the Bluffs food bank.

Singer Mandy McDermott, singer-songwriter Anne Walker, and musical duo Yoel Yemane and Miriam Khassay will perform. The BBUC choir, under the direction of Virginia Gies, a children’s chorus, and a community choir will also perform. Local councillor Gary Crawford, CTV correspondent Avis Favaro, and local resident Malcolm Wallace will share festive stories of holiday dining. Christmas desserts, mulled cider and refreshments will follow the evening’s main event.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry! takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12 at the church, 33 East Rd. near Warden Avenue and Kingston Road. Admission is $10 or $2 for children, plus a non-perishable food item for the food bank. The building is accessible. Call 416-694-4081 for more information.

 

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Kimbourne Park United Church presents The Colours of Christmas, a swinging concert of classic Christmas and holiday music for children. The show will feature Sarah Jerrom singing, with Carissa Neufeld on piano, Rob McBride on bass, and Kevin Coady on drums. After the show there will be a light lunch of sandwiches and sweets available.

The concert, a fundraiser for the Glen Rhodes United Church food bank, takes place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. Kimbourne Park United Church is at 200 Wolverleigh Blvd., northeast of Danforth and Coxwell. Tickets are available online.

 

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Greg Pilo hosts live jazz at the Salty Dog, 1980 Queen St. E., every Tuesday night from 7 to 10 p.m. with no cover charge.

Tonight, Dec. 1, will feature Shawn Nyquist on saxophone, Ben Bishop on guitar, Bernie Senesky on organ, and Pilo on drums. On Tuesday, Dec. 8, Pilo will be joined by Alison Young on saxophone, Stacie McGregor on piano, and Neil Swanson on bass. The lineup for Tuesday, Dec. 15 will be Pilo, Pat LaBarbera on saxophone, Ted Quinlan on guitar, and George Koller on bass.

 

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Jazzy Sundays continue at Morgan’s on the Danforth, 1292 Danforth Ave. On Sunday, Dec. 6, the 2 to 5 p.m. weekly free jazz show will feature Adelaide Falling, featuring Ryley, Devon Morrrison and Dan Stuart. Thyron Lee Whyte and David Restivo will perform on Sunday, Dec. 13.

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