Author Archives: barczablog

Ouzounian’s Gatsby

Posted on April 12, 2021 by barczablog

Tonight I watched a 60 minute adaptation of The Great Gatsby from Talk is Free Theatre, the closing night of “Dinner a la Art”, presented virtually as a reading adapted & directed by Richard Ouzounian. Ouzounian explained that TIFT Artistic … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Baudelaire Bicentennial

Posted on April 10, 2021 by barczablog

I must be brief. How does one speak of the bicentennial of a poet such as Charles Baudelaire, born two hundred years ago on April 9th in 1821? how to find the right words,…? Some know him for his poetry, … Continue reading →

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Mr Smith wasn’t Born Yesterday

Posted on April 4, 2021 by barczablog

TV programming sometimes brings us serendipitous discoveries. TCM’s Good Friday offering was Mr Smith Goes to Washington. This morning we watched Born Yesterday. I never noticed how many similarities there are between the two films. An innocent recently come to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Popular music & culture, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Young Cassidy, Old Stoppard

Posted on March 28, 2021 by barczablog

Celebrating World Theatre Day in a pandemic that prevents one from going into a theatre might seem to be an oxymoron. Or it might be the best time to really understand what one has lost. Absence and abstinence make the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, University life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

St Patrick’s week at Kingston Social

Posted on March 21, 2021 by barczablog

It can be a kind of March madness. With the arrival of St Patrick’s Day we celebrate a change of season through indulgence. It’s supposed to be fun. I remember the St Patrick’s Day in my late teens when I … Continue reading →

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Meditation with dog

Posted on March 15, 2021 by barczablog

My title might be an unconscious imitation of Tom Robbins’ Still-life with Woodpecker. Might? I suddenly felt the need to make a parenthetic google search. Tom Robbins. Is he still alive? And I see that he was born in 1932, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Personal ruminations & essays, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SFO Rheingold

Posted on March 8, 2021 by barczablog

As I ponder the future of streaming performances & concerts, I’m checking out Wagner’s Ring Cycle as produced by the San Francisco Opera in 2018 in their co-production with the Washington Opera. If you go to https://sfopera.com/opera-is-on/ you choose between … Continue reading →

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Techno-salvation, or a real Canadian Opera Company / National Ballet of Canada

Posted on March 7, 2021 by barczablog

The pandemic has offered a measure of clarity to the world of performing arts. Artists have been knocked for a loop by the lost pay due to gigs that couldn’t happen. Businesses are badly messed up by lost revenues, wondering … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Leave a comment

Irresistible

Posted on March 6, 2021 by barczablog

I’m not sure I understand the title, but it’s a perfect description all the same. I sat through Jon Stewart’s new film Irresistible tonight, sometimes moaning sometimes laughing but unable to tear myself away. So whatever it means, the title … Continue reading →

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Seraphia in Scarborough

Posted on March 5, 2021 by barczablog

I’m ridiculously late, overdue writing about Seraphia, the gourmet shop in Scarborough that has been as essential to me as my left hand. Maybe that’s why I’ve been so slow to write, clearly taking them for granted. Peter Captsis is … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health and Nutrition, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments