It's been a busy week.....

Thursday I attended my Uncle Victor's funeral
Then... my girlfriend Deb and I drove to Vernon to stay at her parent's home in Vernon, enroute to attend the 3rd annual Banff Dragon Boat Festival.

On Friday morning, we went for a short kayak/canoe paddle, as 4 of our dragon boat team members had joined us at Kalamalka Lake.  We paddled just around Rattlensnake Point, for a good stretch of our paddling muscles.  Then after lunch we headed on the road to Banff.  It was longer than we expected.  I made the mistake of googling for road distance and calculated travel times - that did not take into account winding roads nor road construction.

When we reached Revelstoke, we all agreed not to take the scenic circle route of going to Radium Hot Springs, but instead to proceed straight to Banff.  Along the way, we had a brief stop in Golden BC, and a short visit to Lake Louise.

Upon arrival to Banff, we checked into our motel where the team was staying then headed to the Banff Brewing Company for a bite to eat and some socializing time with team members.

Saturday morning, we climbed on board the buses that took us to Lake Minewaka, where the 3rd annual Banff Dragon Boat Festival was being held.  Our first 200m race was a doozy.  The Dynasty style dragon boats are tippy enough with a round hull as opposed to the traditional double hull dragon boats - but we really did not need the Lane 4 boat Bear Scare going off course and forcing Lane 3 into our lane, and continuing to cut across the lanes until they finished off course, as lane 1 collided into us too.  A time penalty was accessed to Bear Scare team.  We finished off our Saturday racing with a 500m that saw us place 2nd.

Saturday night we went to a social at The Paddock bar, organized for all the dragon boat teams.  Then we went to the Legendary Wild Bill's restaurant where many of our team member's orders got terribly mixed up.  Steaks ordered as rare came out as well-done, and the prime rib that my girlfriend ordered came out as rare.  We did send it back to be returned as well-done minus the vegetables.  We can't recommend the service, but the restaurant was very interesting with cowboy decor, and a fun dance floor that saw a few of our team members joining in for some line dancing.  We did not stay for the KISS tribute band.

On Sunday, we came second in our semi-final heat that placed us into the C Final.  Then we relaxed and took lots of photos at the gorgeous Lake Minewaka site.  I was interviewed for a Banff Tourism video, as the film crew Matt and Jeff asked me questions about why I was in Banff, and what I enjoyed about my visit.  I enthusiastically told them I was in Banff for the dragon boat races, and the water was soooo much cleaner than in Vancouver, and it was great to see all the abundance of wildlife in Banff.

I also told them that I was wearing my kilt, because: 1) Banff was named after Banffshire in Scotland as the town's founders were from Scotland; and 2) the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team celebrates BC's founding pioneering cultures of Scottish and Chinese.

We raced in the C Final Division on Sunday afternoon.  It was a very tight race.  We were behind on the starts but caught up to the leading teams at the half-way mark.  We closely raced to the finish line against our ealier nemesis Bear Scare and an Edmonton team named Rice is Right.  We appeared to pull ahead and challenge Bear Scare for the finish.  All our paddlers dug in deep and reached out for front water, as our drummer Keng called for Power Series.  We called an early finish, and our team paddled harder, knowing we had good cardio training as our team core had been paddling since March - long before Calgary teams could get on the water before the ice melted on the Bow River.  Lanes 1, 2, and 3 all crossed the finish line, practically together.  Further behind in Lane 4, was the Red-Eyed Dragons, which were led by our team captain's cousin. (Talk about family rivalries!)

Spirit of Vancouver GHFC dragon boat team with a strong core of Gung Haggis paddlers, Gung Haggis alumni paddlers, 2 brand new first timers, + Richard's cousin from Calgary.

1/10th of a second was all that separated us between 2nd and 1st place.  Rice is Right came 3rd. We came in second place , as Bear Scare came 1/10th of a second faster than us.

Oh well.... medals for us!!!  We were happy!

Chinese Restaurants and small-town Canada exhibit at Royal Alberta Museum

My friend Linda Tzang, cultural curator at the Royal Alberta Museum is responsible for this: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/Museum+probes+link+between+Chinese+restaurants+small+town+Canada/3360480/story.html

Way back in 2002, Linda had initiated a project proposal on the Three Canadian Chinese Pioneer Families at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum and Archives - but had moved to Alberta, before the project really started.  Linda was also a guest speaker at our 2nd Rev. Chan Legacy Family Reunion dinner in 2000.  In 2002, she was also part of our board for Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop that created the 1st ACWW Community Builders Dinner that honoured Roy Mah, Paul Yee and Wayson Choy.

Back on April 6th, Linda wrote to me:

I guess the guy who came up with the idea of ‘six degrees of separation’ was right – the world is much smaller than we think.

Now that you’ve written, I’m going to hit you up for some help.  I have almost accomplished the impossible - the museum is on the brink of giving me permission to do my Chinese Restaurant project.  It doesn’t look anything like the project I was working on at the CCCMA – I think it’s a better version.  I was wondering though if you knew anyone with memorabilia related to Chinese restaurants – ideally someone with a menu collection.    I don’t need a huge number of them but a few would be nice.

If you had any leads it would be appreciated.  Maybe one day I’ll be able to attend another Gunghaggis banquet but I always just seem to miss the date.

Linda

Larry Kwong: A Hero to Me


Here is Gavin Donald's winning display on Larry Kwong - photo Todd Wong

Vernon student Gavin Donald creates a prize winning history display about the first NHL hockey player of Asian ancestry


Silver Star school student Gavin Donald, with his project, Larry Kwong: A Hero to Me, one of the winners in the recent Vernon and District Heritage Fair.

Gavin Donald, 11, is a Grade 6 Silver Star student, that I sat beside at last night's BC Hockey Hall of Fame induction dinner.

I was surprised at how much compassion and information that Gavin conveyed when he talked about Larry Kwong.  Gavin is passionate about his hometown of Vernon, and really wanted to choose a person from Vernon for his project.  The young man beside me wore a tie, and was thrilled to meet Larry Kwong at the BC Hockey Hall of Fame Dinner last night in Penticton.  Even though the induction of Trevor Linden, one of the greatest hockey players to wear the "C" for the Vancouver Canucks, was undoubtedly the evening's highlight - Gavin was only there to meet his hero - Larry Kwong. 

When MP Stockwell Day came over to meet Larry Kwong, it was Gavin who quickly had a pen in Day's hand to sign a petition to nominate Larry Kwong for the BC Hockey Hall of Fame.  By the end of the evening, Gavin was proudly carrying a newly won silent auction prize of a goalie stick signed by Mikka Kipprusoff, and asking other of the inducted hockey players Trevor Linden, Dallas Drake to sign the stick.  An evening highlight for Gavin was having Larry Kwong add his signature that same goalie stick.

Gavin did his history project on Larry Kwong, a Vernon native who was the first person of Asian descent to play in the NHL.  Gavin is 1 of 4 Vernon students who went on to the Okanagan Regional Heritage Fair in Kelowna and four projects from Vernon students were selected for the prize of a trip to the Provincial Heritage Fair in Barkerville June 30 to July 4.

Here is a quote from the article:

LARRY KWONG - the first Chinese-Canadian NHL player, will receive the first annual PIONEER AWARD from the Okanagan Hockey School.

The award is being presented at the BC Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration in Penticton on July 23, 2010.  For more details, including ticket info, click www.bchhf.com


Larry Kwong is one of Hockey's great trivia questions.  Who was the first non-white hockey player in the NHL?  He played one shift in the 3rd period against the Montreal Canadiens, in Montreal in 1948. - photo courtesy of Chad Soon. 

During the 1947-48 season, Larry ('King') Kwong is the first Chinese Canadian to play in the NHL as a member of the New York Rangers Hockey Club.  Also known as the 'China Clipper' during an illustrious juniors and seniors hockey career in B.C., Kwong went on to become Assistant Captain of the Valleyfield Braves in the Quebec Senior Hockey League where he led the team to a Canadian Senior Championship and received the Byng of Vimy award for sportsmanship.  Kwong later accepted an offer to play hockey in England and coach in Lausanne, Switzerland. 

The Larry Wong Appreciation Society Face Book Page writes:


Tom Hawthorn wrote a story in the Globe & Mail: Larry Kwong Beat Long Odds


Larry Kwong at the Homecoming Tribute Night in Vernon, BC, March 27, 2010.  He was honoured by the Vernon Vipers before their BCHL (Junior A) playoff game. - photo courtesy of Chad Soon. 

Here's some more information from the Larry Kwong Appreciation Society Facebook Group

Toddish McWong takes his kilt to
Squamish Nation Pow Wow


Here I am trying to learn a simple First Nations dance step from my 2nd cousin Shelley on my right, as we dance in the closing event at the 23rd Annual Squamish Nation Pow Wow.

I had never been to a First Nations Pow Wow before, so when my 2nd cousin Shelley sent me a Facebook message about the 23rd Annual Squamish Nation Pow Wow, and that she was going to watch her nieces compete in dance competition, I knew I had to be there.

The event was held at X̱wemelch'stn Park, also known as the Capilano Indian Reserve near the South end of Capilano Road in North Vancouver.  I had grown up in North Vancouver since I was 14 years old, and have driven through the reserve many times going to Park Royal.  I had only once before attended and event at the Capilano Longhouse once before in 1990, when the Squamish Nation presented David Suzuki with an eagle feather.  Soon after, I visited Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) where I met carver Claude Davidson, father of renowned artist Robert Davidson, and also traveled to the ancient village site of Skedans.

When I was about 7 years old, my favorite book was titled "Indian Lore and Craft", I became enamored of creating buckskin clothes, moccasins, face paint, bows and arrows and other accessories.  But I never followed up.



I found lots of aspects of interculturalism happening at the Pow Wow:
Click on each of the pictures for an enlargement on my Flickr account.



Here is a video of two of my favorite male dancers at the event.  The dancer with the Purple top, has a green & crimson red tartan as a loin cloth and also on his hat.  The dancer with the eagle head mask is wearing a vintage RCMP red serge tunic with HBC blanket leggings.  Watch the background for a female dancer in a red & black jingle dance costume - that's the niece of my cousin Shelley.  At the end of the video, watch for a young boy in a white tunic with a yellow porcupine headdress with 2 eagle feathers - pretty intense performance, eh?


This video is a very intense... This is the two finalists for senior male fancy dance.  It was a great way for the dance competitions to end!

Happy Canada Day!

I am listening to the cd music of 15 year old half-Chinese/half-Scottish 100% Canadian fiddle player Jocelyn Pettit.  Perfect for the recognition of Pioneer Chinese and Scots who helped to build British Columbia.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jocelyn and her mother Siew, at the BC Highland Games last Saturday. 

I had written:


Her father replied:

 

Nancy Lee reading and interview at Joy Kogawa House on Monday, June 28

7:30pm
1450 West 64th Ave.
attendance by reservation
Please RSVP at kogawahouse@yahoo.ca

Nancy Lee, author of Dead Girls, is the 2nd Writer-in-residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House.  She has hosted and interviewed 4 other authors during her 3 month stay, which were also recorded for CBC Radio.

The time with Nancy and her husband John has been a great experience, as she has brought her insightful thought, probing questions, and wonderful wit to Joy Kogawa House.  Additionally, she hosted a memoir writing workshop on Saturday June 26th.

15 Piping bands including the World Champion Simon Fraser University Band

220 Highland Dancing Competitors

30 Heavy Event Competitors (these are the caber tossers)

30 Venders (with all sorts of food and items galore with a Scottish twist)

21 Scottish Clans and Societies

Plenty of rides and activities for the children

And 16 Haggis

Yes, again this year those mythical Haggis will be hiding throughout the stadium grounds for the wildest hunt you have ever seen.  Spot enough and you become an Official Haggis Hunter!  They are elusive, fast, and can usually be found lurking around Tartan.

Highland Games are about competition and we are happy to report some of the best dancers, drummers, pipers and throwers are back to defend their titles.  The caliber of sport is exhilarating!

Our entertainment this year includes the Jocelyn Petit Band and Blackthorn.  Both will be playing on the main stage.  They are the best of our local talent and showcase our deep talent pool here in BC.

The Beer Tent, British Car Show, Whisky Tasting, Sword Dancing, Cultural Tent and even a second Beer Tent are back!!

18 Mighty Mountain Warriors HOOT CAMP comedy show Emmy Award Winning Asian Sketch Group from Los Angeles Coming to Vancouver - June 5 & 6 @ the Roundhouse www.vact.ca HURRY! Tickets only available for 2 remaining performances! 2 evenings: Saturday June 5th & Sunday June 6th Only 2 hilarious performances remaining at the Roundhouse Performance Centre 181 Roundhouse Mews (corner of Davie & Pacific Blvd) Vancouver, BC * $20 in advance – general admission * $25 in advance – reserved section (first 2 rows in raised centre section) * $25 at the door – general admission only * $108 in advance – SAVE! – group rate for 6 tickets (general admissions) Buy on-line at www.vact.ca or at the Roundhouse at 604.713.1800 18mmwtoservesouth.jpg Back by popular demand from 2009 for their very own show are: The 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors (18mmw) from Los Angeles! This group has garnered three awards including the 2007 Emmy Award “Mighty Warriors of Comedy”, the 2006 International Sketch Comedy Championships, and the 2005 Bay Area’s Best Comedy Troupe award. They continue to rock the San Francisco Bay Area and San Jose with their unique blend of Asian and political themed sketches. Visit www.18mmw.com or www.vact.ca for more information.   more »

Chinese Laundry Kids grow up to be writers, professors and community activists:

Friends of Foo's Ho Ho launches another successful event combining Chinese Canadian history with local cuisine and issues of the global Chinese diaspora.  When Committee member Elwin Xie discovered that author Judy Fong Bates was coming to speak at UBC, and that she was reading from her memoir about growing up in a chinese laundry - a light must have gone off.

Elwin quickly remembered that retired psychology professor Dr. John Jung had expressed interest in coming to speak to the Friends of Foo's Ho Ho committee, after learning about their effort to save Vancouver Chinatown's last restaurant serving pioneer style Cantonese cuisine.  A community activist with an interest in Vancouver's Chinese Canadian history, Elwin had also ordered books by Dr. Jung about Chinese restaurants and laundries.  It turned out that like Judy Fong Bates, Dr. Jung had also grown up in a Chinese laundry - but instead of Canada, Dr. Jung had grown up in Macon, Georgia - deep in the American South.  Elwin's interest was keen, because he had grown up at the Union Laundry, owned and operated by his parents in Vancouver.

Event host Todd Wong, with featured guests Dr. John Jung, Judy Fong Bates and Elwin Xie.

Guests began arriving at the 6pm reception time. Books by Dr. Jung and Ms. Bates were for sale, and the authors were set up to sign copies for the evening's patrons.

The event started off with a 10 minute film about Chinese laundries in the United States.  This really helped set the tone for the evening, showing pictures of laundries, the laundry machines, and even some of the racist cartoons and songs of the times.  

Soon the first appetizer dish of deep-fried squid, pork and chicken wings arrived. Yum Yum, some good food to accompany the hearty conversations that filled the upstairs banquet hall.

Elwin Xie was the first speaker.  He gave a power point presentation with pictures of his family's laundry that included himself as a little child.  He described how he was encouraged to climb into the giant washing machines to find coins, only to figure out many years later that he was "exploited" because of his small size.

Dr. John Jung was the second speaker.  He also had a power point presentation that featured pictures of both Chinese laundries and restaurants from across North America. It was really interesting to hear how he grew up in the only Chinese family in Macon Georgia.  An especially amusing story was how the family became media stars one day.  In 1943, they were asked to come out and attend a media photo opportunity with Madame Chiang Kai Shek, the First Lady of China, came to visit Macon.  As the only Chinese family, they had been invited to help welcome the wife of the Taiwanese leader, who had grown up and attended Wesleyan women's college in Macon, before marrying Chiang Kai Shek.

My role as the evening's emcee, was to make sure the presentations flowed smoothly and try to keep the evening running on time.  With John's stories, it was a good way to illustrate that no matter where Chinese had settled in Canada, USA or even Scotland, their stories all had universal themes.  As John had talked about the influence of the Church during his growing up, I shared that my own family was descended from two Chinese Methodist missionaries Rev. Chan Sing Kai and Rev. Chan Yu Tan.  While Yu Tan stayed in Canada and ministered in Vancouver, New Westminster, Victoria and Nanaimo, his elder brother had ministered in Oregon and Nevada, before settling in the Los Angeles area.  Similar to John discovering that he had distant relatives operating a Chinese restaurant in Sasketchewan, my grand mother's cousin Dennis ran a restaurant in Prince Albert SK.  John had even seen the CBC documentary about Dennis' daughter Janice Wong, returning to Prince Albert to sign copies of her book CHOW, about growing up in the restaurant.

Judy Fong Bates reads from her memoir "The Year of Finding Memory"

Judy Fong Bates was the final speaker of the evening.  She remarked how a friend had described the evening's program as "sexy"!  Judy read from her memoir about how her family had come to Canada, and how she had grown up.  Like John and Elwin before her, she also commented about the racism against Chinese that had permeated the social issues of the day, and how growing up in a laundry also had a stigmatism.

It was a wonderful evening with an appreciative audience.  The evening had unfolded with discovered stories that one attendee had had his wedding banquet at Foo's Ho Ho Restaurant 38 years ago.  Another woman, my Aunty Sue, was also a Chinese Laundry Kid, with her family involved with Keefer Laundry in Vancouver.

Todd Wong: A Cultural Revolutionary in a Kilt" - pg 16-18 Pacific Rim Magazine - pick up Today's Globe & Mail. It's a nice"day-after-birthday" gift!

VACT's Etch-YOUR-Sketch-OFF presents new teams for new Asian-Canadian sketch comedies!

special to www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com

by Michael Brophy

Thursday night I attended an event put on by Vancouver Asian Canadian Theater which is organized by Joyce Lam. She is the original creator and producer of the Etch-YOUR-SketchOFF comedy show who has recently been honored with the BC Community Achievement Award for her work in shaping our provinces theatrical community.

Host of the show, Tom Chin, related his witty observations on the lifestyles of the stereotypical aspiring Asian lawyer, dentist, or doctor and disclosed "what happens to Asians that don't make it to med school". With a piercing "Aiyya!" Tom introduced the first group SFUU MAN CHU which promised the most value for ones dollar during these hard economic times by presenting "one sketch for every dollar spent".

Banana Drama, winner of this years People Choys Awards, began with a sketch bringing light to our North American dependence on all things made in China by stripping a young man of all his Chinese made clothing until left wearing only a skimpy man-kini -- more male nudity ensued as a comedic theme of the night.

New teams to the sketch-off scene include Beef Noodle Soup, a two man group that presented bi-curious characters wanking to an image of Gordon Campbell, had the audience cringing with muffled laughter. Asians Bleed Red, also a new addition to the theater, did a well choreographed dance to the tune of "Domo Arrigato, Mr. Robato".

One of my personal favorite groups this year and a 2008 recipient of the Rice Bowl Prize had Simon Yang of The Yangtzers performing a contemporary dance with a hoover vacuum revealing the eroticism between one man and his servile machine. Other gut-busting notables Angry Asian Men and Laughing Make Mind Damage helped make it clear that Asian North Americans have come a long way in comedy from the likes of William Hungs short lived career as an entertainer. 

My night with the V.A.C.T. crew was capped with an after-party that took place at Earls in Yaletown which had members of the audience and actors in the sketch-off socializing well past midnight. I would highly recommend attending if you haven't in the past years. This annual event is always brimming with a culturally diverse humor that resonates the funny bone with gratuitous displays of raunchy buffoonery.

Asians are talented in sketch comedy too!

I chatted with VACT's founding creator Joyce Lam last week.  There is big drama for this year's Etch-YOUR-SketchOFF2!#$%.  One of last year's comedy sketch teams has split into two new teams for 2010.  That's right... dramedy is happening!  Members of last year's Darin' Joes, have formed new teams.  Fane Tse has helped to form new team Angry Asian Men. Josette Jorge was also with Darin' Joes last year but has returned to SFUU Man Chu.

Will there be a comedic show down?

Other teams competing are: Beef Noodle Soup, Laughing Make Mind Dangerous, Banana Drama, Asians Bleed Red, The Yangzters.

Of special note: Tricia Collins is performing with SFUU MAN CHU.  Tricia co-hosted the 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner with me.  She is one of my favorite Vancouver actresses - having performed in her solo show Gravity, as well as Firehall Theatre's Ecstasy of Rita Joe and Urban Ink Production's Hunted.  She is also a writer, contributing to Ricepaper Magazine and Completely Mixed Up: An Asian North American Mixed Race Anthology.

35 performers will be on stage.  Mostly Asians with some members of non-Asian minority groups, representing token inclusivity and plain old friendship between races.

Check out the VACT website:  www.vact.ca

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 – Vancouver Rice Bowl Competition Thursday, April 29, 2010 – People’s CHOYS Award Nightly at 7:30 PM Buy your tickets online now! NEW GROUP RATE! BUY 8 TICKETS FOR $120! Tickets are $15 each! Buy Group Rate tickets online now!

Be a Friend of VACT

Wed Apr 21, 03:15 PM by editor

For those who have enjoyed our shows and want to support us financially – we are recognizing our fans with special benefits.  Depending on your friendship level, you will receive premium reserved seating upgrades, recognition in the programs, opening night tickets and invitations to cast parties, signed productions posters and special concierge ticketing services & privileges.  Our way of saying thank you to you.

For more details, click here.

Fellow nominees for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize: Larissa Lai for "Automaton Diaries" and Fred Wah for "Is A Door".  Fred will be interviewing Larissa Lai for an upcoming issue of Ricepaper magazine.  Fred was the eventual winner of the poetry prize!  The banners of each prize hangs in the background.

It was great to attend the 2010 BC Book Prizes. Very happy to see my friends Fred Wah and Larissa Lai nominated for Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize - Fred won! and Charles Demers was nominated for Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize.

My pals!  Fred Wah with Cara Ng and Charles Demers - who was nominated for the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize.  Charlie was going around saying I was responsible for his expected niece/nephew.  In actual fact, Cara's brother met his wife on the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team.  Fate took its course as they fell in love, married last year, and are expecting a baby this year.  I am still trying to recruit Charlie and Cara and Fred to the dragon boat team.  We will have the "most literary" and "most poetical" dragon boat team in Canada!

Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas and Masako Fukawa & Stanley Fukawa, and Dal Ric...hards nominated for Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award. Great to make new friends with many of the authors such as Ian Weir, Lori Culbert, Ehor Boyanowsky.  

Todd Wong, Masako Fukawa & Stanley Fukawa - authors of  "Spirit of the Nikkei Fleet: BC’s Japanese Canadian Fishermen", and Ann-Marie Metten.  Ann-Marie and I are the executive director and president of Historic Joy Kogawa House Society.  We invited Masako and Stanley to come do a reading at Joy's childhood home.


Terry Glavin, last year's winner of the Lieutanant Governor's Award for Literary Excellence, accepts for Stan Persky, the 2010 winner!  Shirley Yew, president of the West Coast Book Prize Society and Lt. Gov. Steven Point present the award.

Ian Weir, author of Daniel O'Thunder - nominated for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, chats with Charles Demers nominated for non-fiction.

And always great to spend some time with Shelagh Rogers!

Shelagh Rogers emceed the BC Book Prizes Gala at Government House.  I emceed the BC Book Prizes Soiree back on April 7th, in Vancouver.  Shelagh is a great supporter of Historic Joy Kogawa House and the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.  I hope soon to have a Gung Haggis dinner in Nanaimo or Gabriola Dinner with Shelagh as my co-host!

And of course there was dessert!

Ali & Ali 7 Return to the stage for another outrageous skewering of Canadian Multiculturalism

WORLD PREMIERE of Ali & Ali
Created and performed by Camyar Chai, Guillermo Verdecchia and Marcus Youssef
Co-starring Laara Sadiq and Raugi Yu
Directed by Guillermo Verdecchia

at the Cultch’s Historic Theatre
Apr 14–24
Tickets for Cultch Performances available at 604-251-1363 or https://tickets.thecultch.com/

at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts’ Studio Theatre
April 28 - May 1
Tickets for Shadbolt performances at 604-205-3000 or boxoffice@burnaby.ca

Ali & Ali are to Canadian multiculturalism what Wayne & Shuster are to Canadian culture.  They poke fun at ourselves, to help us laugh at the absurdity of our history and culture.

But in today's world, Wayne & Shuster, comedy kings of the 1960's and 1970's, have given way to Kids from the Hall, and Russell Peters.  Canadian culture is no longer white and red, our cultural diversity includes black and yellow and pink and especially brown.  Canadians also come from Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Azerbaijian.  Wayne & Shuster used to make fun of foreign accents.  Camyar Chai and Marcus Youssef as brown immigrant refugees from the fictional country of Agraba, take ethnic jokes to a whole different level - but with some very serious political commentary.

This was my first time at Ali & Ali. I really enjoyed reading the published play Ali & Ali and the Axes of Evil.  I couldn't stop laughing at some of the bits about Asian Heritage Month, and the Scottish stage manager.  For the 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner, I had invited Marcus Youssef to read/perform an excerpt with comedian Charles Demers.  So I wasn't going to miss them.

The show opens with a montage of  current world leaders from Libya, USA, and Canada.  It's a tribute rap to Moammar Gadhafi.  Wow... we are definitely in a different cultural perspective here.  The play is interactive with the audience, asking questions, getting responses.  Surprise!  They are spoofing and utilizing experimental theatre audience participation as well as Bertolt Brecht's agitprop theatre.

Ali & Ali are presenting a show to the audience.  They introduce their assistant as Yogi Ru, in actuality Vancouver actor Raugi Yu.  Raugi is the straight man to this zany duo, even dressing up as Obama's Portuguese Water Dog. 

Along the way, an ethnic South Asian RCMP officer (Laara Sadiq) appears, to charge Ali & Ali with illegal immigration to Canada.  A kangaroo court (or would it be a "moose court" in Canada?) ensues and Ali & Ali must defend and explain themselves. This is where the character of Raugi steps up as an interpreter to explain the actions of Ali & Ali to the RCMP officer.  But true to Ali & Ali interpretation and misinterpretion, as Canadian sacred institutions such as the RCMP are poked with scenarios including tasers and cultural sensitivity training. Broad outrageous humour got loud laffs from the audience - especially the puppet show!

Ali & Ali poke some fun at Barak Obama's New World Order. The puppet show took on a weird outrageous vibe, as talking heads of Afro-American movement cultural icons, criticize Obama policies in the White House.  It would have been nice if they had been able to identify who their "Jiminy Cricket" conscience guides were, as many audience members are probably not versed in Afro-American revolutionaries such as Malcolm X and Angela Davis.  

Some serious topics are addressed such as prison detention & torture, illegal immigration and deportation.  This show uses the slap stick humour to set up and explain the underlying social commentary.  How does a normal human being cope with being detained in prison on unspecific charges?  The balance between the serious and absurdist swings back and forth, eliciting emotional reactions from the audience.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  There are many in-jokes, dependent upon the audience's knowledge of many things.  It is like a television channel-flipping barrage of issues.  But the play succeeds in informing the audience about our country's detention of prisoners, and it creating new cultural perspectives of multiculturalism.  Sometimes, how you see the world really does depend on what colour your eyes are.

Definitely not for everybody - but neither was Monty Python or Wayne & Shuster.


Check out the Neworld website:
http://www.neworldtheatre.com/productions-ali-and-ali-7.html