THE ‘OUT’PORT
St. John’s LGBT Guide/Lifestyle Magazine
Remembering Tommy Sexton Theatre Reveiws Sexless in the city On Valentine’s Day
Edition 02/14
The ‘Out’port Fairies Valentine’s Day Events
www.theoutport.com
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This Edition’s Contributors Writers
Doris Anita Doris Twitter: @OfficialDoris E-Mail Doris: AskDorisAnitaDouche@Gmail.com Robyn Noseworthy vcarrie_1@hotmail.com Taylor Stocks taylor.stocks@gmail.com
Betty Boo betty_boo_kakke@hotmail Darryl Davis @darryl_m_davis DJFabian Newfoundland @DJFabianNL
Josh Eddy (Publisher/Design & Layout) theoutport@outlook.com Ryan Crocker (Editor/writer) theoutport@outlook.com Check out the new things happening at www.theoutport.com
|DJ Fabian’s Top 10| A Brand New year means some brand new hits along with some old faves. Here are some of the hottest tracks on the dancefloor as we kick off 2014.
10. Animal |Martin Garrix| (Javier Dee tribal mix) 9. Can’t Remember To Forget You |Shakira ft. Rihanna|
8. Stay The Night |Zedd ft. Hayley Williams|
5. Love Me Back To Life |Celine Dion| (Dave Aude remix)
7. Story Of My Life |One Direction| (Maestro Billy remix) 6. Donatella |Lady Gaga| (Dirty pop reconstruction)
4. Take It Like A Man |Cher| (7th heaven remix)
3. Do What You Want |Lady Gaga ft. R Kelly & Christina Aguliera| (various mixes) 2. Work Bitch |Britney Spears| (various mixes) 1. Timber |Pitbull ft. Kesha| |3| February February
Theatrical Events NightlifeEvents Other Events
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LGBT Specific Events
Theatrical Shows Les Miserables
Atlantic Light Theatre presents the beloved musical Les Miserables February 6-9, 2014. Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel.Featuring a stellar cast led by: Jonathan Monro, Calvin Powell, Tolson Barrington, Kiersten Noel, Shelly Neville, Peter Halley, Sarah Loveys, Erin Winsor, Darrin Martin, Tim Matson with Megan Moret, Nicolas Keough and Lauren Davis. Along with an exuberant chorus and orchestra. Directed by Jacinta Mackey Graham and Douglas Vaughan Ats & Culture Centre Feb 6-9 7:30pm
Fortunate Ones
Fortunate Ones are Andrew James O’Brien and Catherine Allan. Their earnest blend of acoustic folk/pop and roots, bare-bones arrangements and delicately precise harmony allows for the intimate musical conversations that make their performances so special. Feb7-8 8:00pm
Events Saturday Feb 1
Opening Reception of Legacy
Saturday Feb 8
Les Miserables 7:30pm
The Craft Council Gallery invites you to the Opening Reception of LEGACY: New Work - Two Generations. Come and celebrate the work of two generations of clay artists, Isabella St. John and Erin Callahan St. John. Craft Council Of Newfoundland & Labrador 2:00pm
Seraka Dance Company presents Synthesis: Speakeasy
Fortunate Ones 8:00pm
Sunday Feb 9
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Les Miserables 7:30pm
Laughter is the Best Medicine: Stand Up for a Cause hosted by Ray Aylward
Join us for a night of Uncensored Get ready for a night on the town with this evening of belly dance solos entertainment and music for a fanand duets inspired by the roarin’ 20s. tastic cause, the Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation. LSPU Hall Special Guest Comics: 8:00pm Ray Aylward, Adam Benson, Jennifer Somerton, Chris Pearce, Charles Pickett, Josh Taylor, Sarah Walsh, Nicole Downtown, and more! (Comics are subject to change) Les Miserables Musical Performances by Jeremy 7:30pm Dicks, Todd Scott & Doris Anita Legacy Concert Douche In conjunction with the exhibit a With Appearances from some LCW Legacy concert will take place at the Wrestlers! LSPU Hall on February 6. Cover is $5 Minimum, and will 8:00pm accept any other contribution made for entry 8:00pm
Thursday Feb 6
Friday Feb 7
Friday Feb 14
Les Miserables
The Sound of Music
The final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein was destined to become the world’s most beloved musical. When a postulant proves too high-spirited for the religious life, she is dispatched to serve as governess for the seven children of a widowed naval Captain. Her growing rapport with the youngsters, coupled with her generosity of spirit, gradually captures the heart of the stern Captain, and they marry. Upon returning from their honeymoon they discover that Austria has been invaded by the Nazis, who demand the Captain’s immediate service in their navy. The family’s narrow escape over the mountains to Switzerland on the eve of World War II provides one of the most thrilling and inspirational finales ever presented in the theatre. The motion picture version remains the most popular movie musical of all time..” Arts & Culture Centre Feb20-22 7:30pm
For up to date events check out the Events Section at www.theoutport.com
7:30pm
Soirée d’amour
Fortunate Ones
MASTERWORKS 3 8:00pm Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra FROM DUSK TILL DAWN Marc David conductor David Pomeroy tenor All Night Masquerade Ball Marianne Fiset soprano Heavy, Dirty electronic masquerade Xiaoyu Liu piano for 8 hours! Delibes March and Procession of 10pm until 6am Bacchus (from Sylvia) THE SHINING WIZARDS Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 5, DR. DRAKE Op. 103, F Major DIGITAL DAN French Opera Arias and Duets ALL NIGHT MASQUERADE is a mask/costume party that starts at Vel- “ Put simply, the guy has a hell of a vet Nightclub until 3am and continues voice. His golden-hued tones offered not only beauty but also great clarity a couple minutes away at Liquid in pitch and enunciation.” nightclub until 6am. Arts & Culture Centre 8:00pm
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Corner Brook Thursday Feb 13
Feb 14th-16th Jibfest Weekender
Hot Dogs & Ski Bunnies Dj RRLS and DJ Dy 3 for 5 till 12:30, $5 cover Night Sounds 10:00pm
Many live acts each day Visit www.jibfestweekender.com for event schedule and ticket info.
|4|
February
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Saturday Feb 15
The Womyn Station group: Valentine dance
The Womyn Station group is hosting a Valentine dance on Feb 15th. Although this is a woman`s group and a woman`s dance, all are welcome. Please go to `The Womyn Station`facebook group or email me, rozmorgan88@gmail.com, for more info. 11:00pm
Thursday Feb 20
The Sound of Music 7:30pm
Love Who You Love - Best Kind Cabaret Series
In the second installment of Best Kind Productions’ Cabaret Series, married-in-real-life couple Kiersten Noel and Timothy Matson take the stage at the LSPU Hall. In this month of Valentine’s Day, these two explore songs of love--about the make ups, the break ups, the hook ups, plus all the joy, excitement, heartbreak, and all-too-common awkwardness that happens in between. With Wade Tarling on piano and special guest Emily Follett, this evening will feature the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Ahrens and Flaherty, Noel Coward, Adam Guettel, and more, along with tunes from up-and-coming composers Zach Redler, Rob Shapiro, and Caleb Hoyer. LSPU Hall 8:00pm
Friday & Saturday Feb 21 & 22 The Sound of Music 7:30pm
Monday Feb 24
RuPaul’s Drag Race Viewing Party
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The Rose & Thistle 10:00pm
Sunday Feb 14
Evita Presented by TaDa! Events
EVITA, by Andrew Lloyd Webber, tells the story of Eva Perón and her rise from the slums of Argentina to the presidential mansion as First Lady. Arts & Culture Centre Feb 28-Mar 6 8:00pm
|The ‘Out’port Fairies| Stories of fairies are a common theme in Newfoudland Folklore, it comes as no surprise that this ‘Out’port also has Fairies. Meet Ernán, the first ‘Out’port Fairy to be featured. We will continue to introduce you to more of the Fairies in future editions.
|Ask Doris!|
Why Hello Kittens! I hope you all enjoyed a fantastic holiday season and took time to work off that weight from all the food you stuffed down your throat. Me, I’m still working on my extra weight... since 1995. I’ve received a few questions from you over the Holidays, and it was really hard to choose. If your question didn’t make it into this article, it might next issue!
Dear Doris, I’ve always had trouble with keeping my new years resolutions, how can I keep motivated enough to actually achieve my goals? Signed, Desperately Seeking Results Thanks DSR... first of all, CAN YOU PEOPLE PLEASE STOP USING “Desperately Seeking...”, IT’S NOT ORIGINAL AND IT MAKES ME VOMIT! People always use the new year to create a new them... I don’t understand why you would have to wait until a ball drops for you to achieve your goals. If you want to, lets say, lose weight really badly, lose weight! If you want to set a goal for yourself, do it when you’re ready for it. Don’t wait until a new year, don’t wait for a new week or month to start, when you are ready, you know you are ready. We all get caught up with resolutions, and fail miserably. You aren’t alone, and you won’t be the last to do so. When you’re ready... you’ll do it, and will love yourself for achieving it.
Dear Doris, I have a co-worker who is mean. She either makes fun of me, in a “nice way” whenever I go near her, or she spreads really stupid rumors about me while she’s outside smoking prompting the gullible old ladies to come up and ask me about them. How can I get her to stop? from Bullied Adult Dear BA Mean Girls... LOVES the movie, hates the real people who emulate them. First of all, no one likes a mean co-worker. It makes work very unpleasant and it makes you dread going every morning. First of all, what you need to do is gather up the courage and talk to her. Ask her why she is treating you in a poor manner. Try asking if there was anything you did wrong. See if there is a reason for why she was making false stories about you, and work out a resolution. If that doesn’t work... go to HR and hand the bitches ass to her on a silver platter and say she got fired for sexy times in the handicapped stall. Hope this helps!
|5| February
Dear Doris, I’ve just gotten a divorce after 15 years of marriage. I haven’t been “out on the town” in a long time and I’m not sure how to get back out there after my husband left me. How to I get myself back into the dating scene? Fr: Single in the City Dear SITC, First of all, I’m sorry to hear about your husband leaving you. We all have tough times and heartaches in our lives. If we didn’t... we are living life wrong! Now... first of all you need to make sure that you are ready for dating. There are two ways of doing this. Sleep around for a while with men from the internet until you have the self esteem to ask someone out, or go out with girlfriends, or co-workers and meet some of their friends and see where that takes you. Check out community events and mingle there! There are a lot of things happening in this city where you can meet new people and become friends, or date. Just make sure that you are comfortable with yourself dating before you take the plunge back into the dating scene! Hope this helps!
Doris Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/DorisAnitaDouche Doris Twitter: @OfficialDoris E-Mail Doris: AskDorisAnitaDouche@Gmail.com
|Remembering Tommy|
Editors Note : The Tommy Sexton “Taste of Life” Fundraiser is scheduled for April 23,2014. A list of participating Restaurants is still pending. Keep watching for details!
By Fabian Fitzpatrick
1988 was barely a few months old and winter in St. John’s was in full swing. I was still very much a newbie on the DJ scene, having only been at it a few months. It was one of my first weekend shifts DJing at Private Eyes, the local gay haunt at the time. At some point during the night I heard a voice behind me in the DJ booth saying, “Hey Gorgeous, can I make a request?”. I turned around to be greeted by a beaming smile and dancing eyes - and there before me stood a guy who I had grown up watching on TV. “What are the chances of hearing Gloria Gaynor’s I will Survive? Thanks Darling!” I said of course, and off he went to dance the night away. This was a request from Tommy Sexton, a Newfoundland celebrity who graced our local TV screens every week for much of the early 80s. He was a star on WGB and was now a celebrity with a TV show called Codco on the national CBC network. Later that night, at closing time, Tommy approached and asked if my friend and I would like to go to a house party. We were both like two giddy school girls as we headed off to Tommy’s house for a late night afterparty on Rennie’s Mill Road. We spent most of the time at the party mimicing lines from old WGB skits and were just in awe of being in Tommy’s presence. Tommy also proved to be a most gracious host and was clearly flattered by our adulation and made us feel like we had been friends for years. Tommy could clearly see how much I loved his work and, before leaving that night, he went upstairs and came back with a VHS tape for me.
It contained outakes and runs from Codco and I was overwhelmed by the gift. As we headed off into the night, little did we realize that within the next few years several of the people in the room that night, including the much beloved TV star I grew up watching, would all have their lives cut short by a disease that was engulfing the national media spotlight at the time: AIDS. At the beginning of the 1980s, AIDS hadn’t yet entered the national consciousness. Across North America, TV audiences were swept up in the Three’s Company and a nightime soap called Dallas - while in Newfoundland viewers were captivated by a game show called The Price is Right and a daytime soap called Another World. But all that was about to change. In early 1980, the local CBC affiliate decided to take a gamble on a local TV production. It was centered around a popular band on the local music circuit, including members of an up-andcoming comedy troupe called Codco.
The new show was called The Wonderful Grand Band or, as most of us knew it, WGB. I can still recall watching that very first episode that centered around The Royal St. John’s Regatta and, as a young 15-year-old still not fully out, I was captivated most by the two actors Greg Malone and Tommy Sexton. They donned dresses, high heels, and makeup to open a Kissing booth. Greg and Tommy’s brash turn as two local St. John’s girls won not only me over, but an entire province. The show became an overnight TV sensation in the province as we were introduced to characters like Dickie Budgell - a slick-haired, smarttalking wannabe Newfie Elvis; Nanny Hynes, who was not quite ready for the nursing home yet; Mavis and Carmel Anne Breen, two saucy party girls from the Goulds; Jerome and Duncan, two flamboyant gay hair dressers; and more.
|6| February
It didn’t matter how outrageous they were, TV audiences loved them without judgement. Greg Malone and Tommy Sexton were the faces behind many of these great characters we came to know and love. At its peak, WGB was attracting 3/4 of the TV viewing audience in the province every week an incredible feat for a locally-produced show. What happened on WGB the night before would be all the talk at school the next day as we mimicked the lines and characters from the show. Looking back on the show some 30 years later, it still amazes me that Newfoundland audiences completely embraced the show and the characters Tommy and Greg created, many of which were men dressed in drag, without any judgement or malice. This alone is quite an accomplishment in an era when homosexuality and drag queens were still taboo subjects for many cultures in North America.
The show remained a cultural icon and TV staple for the next four years ... ...and each season you could be assured Tommy would be impersonating some famous Celebrity. Many of his most memorable were females, whether it be Carol Channing or evangelist Tammy Faye Baker - even Barbara Walters. Even when he took to playing a mentally delayed character for laughs, which would probably infuriate the average TV viewer Tommy knew just how to do it without any malice intended - and it certainly helped that he was merely honoring his love for his oldest sister who was mentally challenged.
By 1984, while WGB was still riding high in the TV ratings, differences among show members saw them all go their separate ways and the show came to an end. However, the Tommy/Greg professional partnership remained intact and, over the next few years, they experimented with a few TV projects - most notably the S and M Comic Book which was produced for the national CBC network. But bigger things were still to come for Tommy and Greg and a number of other members of their 1970s comedy troupe, which had made a splash with theatre audiences in mainland Canada in the mid-1970s with their Saturday Night Live-style comedy revues. In 1987, the national CBC took a chance and brought Codco to TV screens across the country. The new weekly series was a mix of everything and included many of the characters that Tommy and Greg had created on WGB. Over the next five years, Tommy and Greg along with other Codco alumni including Mary Walsh, Cathy Jones, and Andy Jones - pulled out all the stops and pulled no punches as they mixed everything from religion, to politics, to local Newfoundland humor. Along the way, they caused a few controversies as well. One of the most memorable came from Tommy Sexton himself as he portrayed an elderly Newfoundland woman exclaiming the goodness and value in Good Luck Margarine (a well know TV ad in Newfoundland). As Tommy rubbed his bread with butter, he turned to the camera and said,
“Nan loved the Lucky Margarine, but she stopped using it when she found out what the priests were doing with it up at the church!” It was just one of several moments in the TV series where censors had to draw the line. From 1987 on, Tommy continued to bring his many great characters to life on our TV screens including the unforgettable Marg at the Mental; the chain-smoking, bandana-wearing, gossipy Aunt Mona who was convinced all the apostles at the Last Supper were gay; and, of course, his unforgettable take on Krystal Carrington of TV’s Dynasty.
As the 1990s began, Tommy’s work on Codco brought acclaim and accolades and even awards - seven Geminis in all - but, behind all the success, there was a dark cloud brewing. Regular viewers of Codco started to notice a change in Tommy’s appearance, including major weight loss. Looking back,
I recall hearing locals gossip that he was very sick- but no one ever really knew for sure. I did see him around a few times at the local gay bar and all he ever had to do was pop his head into the DJ booth and crack me that wide smile, and I knew exactly what song he wanted to hear. He was still the same Tommy that I met that winter night in 1988. Sadly, the words of Tommy’s favorite song “I Will Survive” would not ring true for him. On December 13, 1993, Tommy succumbed to complications from AIDS. In the years following Tommy’s death, his family mounted an annual benefit show in his memory. Those early benefits attracted huge numbers and big-name talent to help support a cause which had become so close to the hearts of many of his family members - including his mother, Sara. Her appearance a year after Tommy’s death to accept an award on his behalf made national headlines as she spoke so eloquently of her son Tommy and those struggling with AIDS. In an interview a few years later, she recalled her final conversation with Tommy as he lay dying. Tommy asked his mother “I didn’t do too bad, did I?” to which his mother replied, “Oh Tommy, you did great.”
Photos provided by Mary Sexton
|7| February
Yes Tommy you did do great. For those of us baby boomers over the age of 35 we will never forget your work and the many characters you created. . While some of the WGB shows have been made available on DVD sadly much of the CODCO material has still not been made available. Here’s hoping that one day it will be so that the next generation can view some of Tommy’s brillant work. In 2006 The Tommy Sexton Center opened in St. John’s as headquarters for The Newfoundland and Labrador AIDS committee and as a center for assisted living for those with HIV.In 2013 it was announced that Tommy’s mother Sara who recently turned 91 would be inducted into the Order of Canada for her tireless work in promoting HIV /AIDS awareness and she will receive that award in February 2014. Plans are also in the works to revive the Tommy Sexton Benefit in a new format as a Dining fundraiser to be called a “Taste for Life”. Clearly Tommy’s memory remains alive and well . Much like the Gloria Gaynor Song Tommy adored and the one he requested with me that first night we met here’s to remembering Tommy Sexton and ensuring that his memory “Will survive” for decades to come!
|Theatre in St. John’s|
- Darryl Davis (@darryl_m_davis)
Les Misérables and Atlantic Light Theatre
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hen it comes to musicals, they sure don’t get much bigger or more complex than “Les Misérables”. Bringing a show to the stage as incredibly epic and beloved as this 1980’s classic would be a daunting task for any theatrical production company to undertake. The sheer size of the cast, the number of costumes and complicated sets, the challenging operatic score, as well as the storytelling which spans decades makes staging this production a huge endeavor, no matter how you look at it. It was a challenged that artistic director Jacinta Mackey Graham, and music director Douglas Vaughan, decided to tackle head on. They applied for, and obtained the rights to “Les Misérables” in December 2012; doing so without even having a theatrical production company formed. ‘Atlantic Light Theatre’, the newly founded production company that they co-own, resulted from this collaboration.
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acinta and Douglas have known each other for the past thirty-five years, first meeting in 1975 while attending the School of Music Program at Memorial University, NL. They both graduated with Masters degrees in Vocal Performance and Instrumental Conducting respectively, as well as degrees in Music and Music Education. In addition, Jacinta also holds a Masters degree in Theatre Arts. Their paths continuously crossed over the years, and they ultimately ended up teaching together at Gonzaga High School in St. John’s before both retiring. During this period, they had the opportunity to collaborate on a school production of “Damn Yankees” in 2009, and indicated they immensely enjoyed this experience. After “Damn Yankees”, Jacinta and Douglas kept kicking around the idea of doing another musical together; agreeing that if the rights for “Les Misérables” ever became available, than this was the show they should stage. At the time, Jacinta indicated that she wasn’t very optimistic that this would happen anytime in the near future. Sure enough though, she received an exciting e-mail from Douglas on December 6th, 2012, which indicated that the rights for the show had just become available through Music Theatre International. They submitted a licensing offer that night; an offer that was accepted and paid out of pocket by Jacinta and Douglas.
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What followed was establishing the business side of staging a musical as grand as “Les Misérables”. Given that their collective expertise was in the creative and artistic aspects of musicals, Jacinta and Douglas openly admitted that the business of producing a show was new to them. They stated it involved creating a board of directors as well as hiring accountants, lawyers, media and advertising personnel, and even branding people to develop a company logo. “The artistic stuff is what we love’, Jacinta stated, ‘The business side of things was definitely a challenge for us”. Whereas various staff members took on producer-like duties in the past when staging elaborate school musicals, key decisions around advertising, finances, and media were now in their hands. Despite the challenges this presented, both Jacinta and Douglas indicated they are glad they were directly involved in this process . They indicated it provided greater awareness of the role and duties of a producer as they directly performed them this time around. They indicated that being surrounded by knowledgeable and resourceful individuals was instrumental in overcoming this learning curve, and stated that the professionals sitting on the Board of Directors of ‘Atlantic Light Theatre’ were excellent.
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acinta and Douglas also discussed the lengthy process involved in coming up with the right name for their theatre company, indicating that they went through about sixty options. They initially selected ‘MV Theatre Productions’ before being told the name was already registered. They eventually settled on ‘Atlantic Light Theatre’ for a number of reasons. Douglas indicated that they wanted a name that suggested something huge and momentous in scale. Given thatNewfoundland and Labrador is one of the Atlantic Provinces, and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean which connects us to the rest of Canada, the incorporation of Atlantic in the name of the company seemed like a good fit. With regard to the choice of ‘Light’, Jacinta and Douglas thought of a number of different connotations. Newfoundland is the first province to see the sun rise in North America. Spotlights are used to illuminate and light theatre stages. Probably the most meaningful explanation, however, can be quoted from the company’s mission statement; the illumination of “talented performers from [Newfoundland and Labrador] who have established themselves as “lights” in the arts world locally, nationally and internationally.” Jacinta and Douglas stated this was precisely the reason they wanted to start ‘Atlantic Light Theatre’, to bring back talented individuals native to the province who are now working as professional performers around the world. The hope is that these performers will serve as role models, and mentors for younger actors still living and performing in the province as they all work alongside each other.
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uditions for “Les Misérables” started in June 2013. From hearing them speak about this process, Jacinta and Douglas clearly took the casting of this show very seriously; stressing they wanted the best theatrical performers in the field who they felt would truly embody these iconic roles. This often meant a great deal of negotiation and accommodation with regard to the schedules of the actors they selected. Jacinta and Douglas indicated that they frequently rehearsed and worked without the entire cast present, but stated that they put up with this frustration as the trade off meant settling for a lesser show. The date the show opened, and the number of performances that they could do, also depended on the availability of the actors they selected. Jacinta and Douglas both expressed that they feel they have the best group of actors they could have ever hoped for. They also voiced that all the performers in this show have a great degree of respect and admiration for each other, regardless of the level of individual training and experience. “There is no indication of competitiveness or egos in this production’, stated Jacinta, ‘Everyone is supportive of each other and bring goodwill to other members of the cast.” There was a meet and greet for all cast members in October 2013, as well as a concert, ‘Do You Hear The People Sing?’, which was staged on November 7th, 2013, so the general public could be introduced to the cast. Rehearsals for the show started immediately after this concert. Jacinta and Douglas noted that finding appropriate rehearsal spaces also proved to be challenging at times, but indicated that the Arts and Culture Centre, Gonzaga High School, and St. Patrick’s Mercy Home, were extremely helpful, accommodating, and supportive.
|8| February
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n discussing the specific roles of the show, and the casting decisions made, Jacinta and Douglas indicated that they selected Jonathan Monro, a native Newfoundlander living and working in New York City, to play the heroic role of ‘Jean Valjean’. Monro is a talented lyricist, composer, and actor. Calvin Powell, a trained operatic singer who has performed around the world, takes on the role of the sinister ‘Javert’. Powell is originally from Carbonear, and now makes Bay Roberts his home where he has started his own music studio, ‘Harbour Music”. Douglas indicated that Powell is a very commanding performer with a massive persona, making him excellent for the role of ‘Javert’. They also indicated that they brought back Sarah Loveys to the province to play the role of ‘Cosette’. Loveys, a Gonzaga High School graduate, is a renowned soprano vocalist currently living and performing in London, England. Mackey-Graham noted that it’s Sarah’s warmth and comforting demeanor which makes her a great match for this part. Kiersten Noel, Memorial University of Newfoundland and New York University graduate, is playing Fantine, while Erin Winsor, recent graduate of Sheridan College, and recently seen in ‘Theatre St. John’s’ excellent production of “Mary Poppins”, will play Eponine. Darrin Martin, aregular performer with Spirit of Newfoundland, will play Marius, and Timothy Matson, a transplant to Newfoundland who recently directed “Avenue Q” for ‘Best Kind Productions’, will play Enjolras. Finally, well known and incomparable musical performers, Shelley Neville and Peter Halley will play the comedic and impishly-evil Thenardiers. Jacinta and Douglas indicated that it’s not only the talent that Neville and Halley possess that make them excellent as the Thenardiers, but their friendship and long history with each other. The directing duo indicated that Neville and Halley have an unspoken connection, as well as a playfulness in their personalities, which makes directing them in these roles a dream. In fact, Jacinta and Douglas indicated that the entire cast is great in that they bring their own personalities to their roles; making their performances all the more authentic and true. “Les Misérables” opens on February 6th at the Arts and Culture Centre and plays until February 9th. Tickets are currently on-sale at the Arts and Culture Centre Box Office in St. John’s, NL. Due to demand and brisk ticket sales, a matinee will been added on February 9th and tickets should be on-sale by the time this article is published. In addition to the amazing performances, costumes and sets that this show will offer, audiences can also look forward to seeing eighteen original paintings by local artist, Ian Sparks. These paintings will be displayed on the largest projection screens ever used at the Arts and Culture Centre. Putting together this show, and working with the talented cast and crew has truly been a labor of love for Jacinta Mackey Graham and Douglas Vaughan; one that they can’t wait to share with the audiences of this province.
|In the Spotlight|
- Darryl Davis (@darryl_m_davis)
Phillip Goodridge
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ere at “The Out’Port, we like to point the spotlight on some of the incredible talent we have in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. One way is by profiling local theatre actors, directors, playwrights, as well as the crew behind the scenes. This is the first of what will be a regular series of profiles which will appear monthly in this column. This month we are profiling one the most prolific talents shining on stages across St. John’s today; actor, musician, and writer Philip Goodridge. You may have seen Philip last year as Amos in”Chicago” by ‘TaDa! Events’, as well as in the role of Brian in ‘Best Kind Productions’ staging of “Avenue Q”.
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hilip grew up in the Goulds with his parents, Alan and Eileen Goodridge, and his brother, David Goodridge. He indicated that his parents were extremely supportive; always encouraging his pursuits and nurturing his interests from a very early age. As a child, Philip stated that he always enjoyed films from the fantasy and action genre; films such as: “The Goonies”, “The NeverEnding Story” and the ‘Indiana Jones’ films to name a few. He recounts watching these films as a child and fantasizing about being characters in them. It wasn’t until junior high that Philip started becoming involved in school theatrical productions. He stated that his initial motivation for doing so was the fun he thought he would have. When entering high school, he stated that his involvement in artistic ventures became more serious. He took the two year drama class offered at Bishops High School and gained more exposure to acting, dancing, singing, as well as directing. During this time, Philip was involved in the staging of musicals such as “Alice in Wonderland” and “Little Shop of Horrors” by ‘Bill’s Bad Dance Productions’ where he was cast as the ‘Mad Hatter’ and ‘Seymour’ respectively. He also produced and directed a staging of “Godspell”, the 1971 musical made up of a series of parables largely based on the Gospel of Matthew. Philip indicated there was no formal support from the school regarding this production given it’s affiliation with religion. Despite this fact, he stated it was a great and immensely creative experience. He indicated that this show, in particular, is open to a great deal of interpretation as the setting is never explicitly stated, hence it allowed for a great deal of artistic and creative freedom. He recalls that it was also a great experience in that it forced him to creatively solve problems when obstacles where encountered; a skill he considers to be of vast importance in the world of live theatre.
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hilip’s first paid acting job occurred in 1997 when cast as part of the ensemble in the original production of “Under Wraps” by ‘Artistic Fraud’. He indicated he was sixteen years old at the time, and was already working and becoming acquainted with many of the top theatrical talents in the province, talents such as: Robert Chafe, Petrina Bromley, Peter McDonald, and Amelia Curran to name a few. “Under Wraps”, described as a story of unrequited gay love and friendship, was directed by ‘Artistic Fraud’ founder Jillian Keiley, and was staged at the LSPU Hall in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Philip remembered that being a part of this production was the first time he truly thought that acting could be a viable career path for him rather than just a hobby.
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fter graduating from Bishops High School, Philip applied to the Fine Arts and Theatre Program at York University, as well as the Music Theatre Program at Sheridan College. He ended up auditioning for both schools and remembers having to perform in front of other applicants; a scary and nerve-racking experience but one he felt he needed to do. He ultimately ended up enrolling in the four year Fine Arts and Theatre Program at York University in 1999; graduating with Honours in 2003. Philip indicated that it was an extremely intensive program but feels his educational experiences at York were instrumental in becoming a fully rounded, versatile and knowledgeable theatre practitioner. He stated that this was due to the fact that the program exposes students to all aspects of theatre before going through the process of selecting areasof specialization. Philip stated that during the first year of studies, students are all required to complete courses in acting, design and production, as well as, theatrical theory and history. At the end of the first year, students undergo a selection process, either by audition or interview, and seek admission to an area of concentration. Philip indicated that while he was completing his training at York there was also the option for students to seek admission to the Creative Ensemble Program; a program that not only focused on acting, but also on writing and creating ones own work. He was accepted into this program and stated that its focus on group work and the collaborative process was extremely beneficial in learning to work with others. It also provided him with the opportunity to apply and take part in the Play writing Program. Philip has since worked not only as an actor but also as a playwright. He has been commissioned by both Rising Tide Theatre and Shakespeare By The Sea to write original plays appropriate for children.
S
ince graduating from York University, Philip has continuously worked and has had a multitude of experiences as an actor, director, musician and playwright. He has been cast in a number of huge musicals, including: “Cabaret”, “Rocky Horror Picture Show”, “Alice in Wonderland” and “White Christmas”, all of which have been put off by Terri Andrews and ‘TaDa! Events’. He has had the opportunity of being directed by Mary Walsh in the ‘RCA Theatre’ production of “Makin’ Time with the Yanks”. He has also participated in smaller shows within the province which have had very little in the way of funding and financing. He stated that these are often passion projects for him; projects that he felt he just needed to be a part of for artistic and creative reasons. He has also been featured on the CBC television show “The Republic of Doyle”, and has worked as an actor with both Rising Tide and Corner Boys Productions. As previously mentioned, Philip is also a prolific playwright and has written several plays, including: “Eli and the Death Curse”, “Three Tales of Terror”, and “Above and Below” to mention a few. One of his plays, “The Ogre’s Purse”, recently toured around the province and ended its run in December 2013. Philip indicated that “The Ogre’s Purse” tells the story of three siblings who live on a small island in the middle of the sea. One day they learn that they are in danger of losing their home, and the two male siblings, Mark and Arthur, leave the island to try and find work. When they don’t return, their sister, Mary, learns they have gone in search of “The Ogre’s Purse”, a magical purse which constantly replenishes itself with gold coins once they are removed. As a result of their actions, the ogre blames the children for stealing his purse and seeks revenge. This predicament requires the children to work together to save their home from the vengeful ogre. In addition to this, Philip is also a talented singer/songwriter and performs as one half of ‘The Duds’ with Melaine O’Brien Hutton.
|9| February
W
hen asked by “The Out’Port”, Philip did offer some advise to individuals contemplating a career in the performing arts. He encourages these individuals to take risks, face fears and to do things that scare them, to continuously audition and try out for roles, and to not take rejection at auditions personally. He also indicated that there is no shame in taking smaller roles in the chorus, ensemble or in the swing of a musical production; that it isn’t always about having the lead role. For instance, he indicated that the female dancers in the recent staging of “Chicago” by ‘TaDa! Events’ where front and center for the majority of the show, despite being part of the ensemble.
P
hlip indicated that his favorite musical of all time is “Cabaret”, in particular the 1998 Broadway revival co-directed and choreographed by Rob Marshall. It featured Allan Cumming as a highly sexualized version the Emcee, as well as the late Natasha Richardson as Sally Bowles. Philip stated that the look and aesthetic of this staging of the show differed from previous productions in that it was much darker, sexual and artistic. He went on to say that he felt “Cabaret” was a musical of great substance, and that the lyrics of the songs have a great deal of thematic purpose. He also indicated that his favorite film is the 1985 comedy mystery spoof “Clue” starring Tim Curry, Lesley Ann Warren, Christopher Lloyd and the late Madeline Kahn. When asked to name a performer who he admired and was inspired by, Philip choose local stage talent Petrina Bromley, saying that she was an amazing actor, has a beautiful voice, writes her own music, and is a fantastic director.
P
hilip Goodridge will next be seen in the epic Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical “Evita”, being staged in St. John’s, NL by ‘TaDa! Events’ at the end of February. When he is not acting, writing or crafting music, Philip works with Steele Communications as a copy editor and writer. He currently lives in St. John’s with his partner Mark, and their Westiepoo (a West Highland Terrier and Poodle Mix) named Oscar.
Check out the the new and improved website for The ‘Out’Port’ (www.theoutport.com) for exclusive material and content this Month, such as; an article on HBO’s new gay themed television series “Looking”, a review of the show’s first two episodes, as well as a review of other notable television and web series’, past and present, that have primarily focused on the LGBT Community.
|Meeting Ke$ha|
- Darryl Davis (@darryl_m_davis)
Ke$ha is undoubtedly a polarizing figure in pop music today. She has definitely left her mark on the collective consciousness with her brand of ‘white trash chic’ aesthetic, while her party-girl antics and love of glitter have become an indelible part of her persona. Her vocal stylings, a combination of a ‘talky’ rap, yodelling and the excessive use of auto-tune, clearly displayed on drunk-pop anthems like “TiK ToK”, “Your Love is My Drug”, and “Take it Off ”, have simultaneously become her trademark and the primary source of criticism regarding her vocal abilities. Most would agree, however, that Ke$ha has a knack for crafting amazingly catchy pop music with great hooks. Since bursting on to the scene with her first single “TiK ToK, a track which is one of the biggest selling digital singles in history, she has all but dominated pop music radio. She has also always come across as a very outspoken, fearless and authentic individual who truly speaks her mind, often regardless of popular public opinion. In a March 2013 interview with Seventeen magazine, for instance, Ke$ha confessed to being bisexual and having a girlfriend. “I don’t love just men. I love people,’ the 25-year-old pop star revealed. ‘It’s not about a gender. It’s just about the spirit that exudes from that other person you’re with.” She didn’t reveal any details about her partner, but indicates she has always defended gay rights. “I’m all about standing up to gay/ lesbian/transgender bullying, but it’s also about my little brother. He’s 13 and he gets made fun of because he has a stutter. I just have zero tolerance for people making fun of others.” Although a bold move, this wasn’t even the first time Ke$ha has spoken out about her sexual orientation. She made a similar statement to Out magazine two years ago, in 2010, when she confessed to simply “liking people”. “I wouldn’t say I’m gay or straight,’ she told the magazine, ‘I don’t like labelling things anyway. I just like people.” One thing is for certain, however, there surely appears to be nothing fake or forced about Ke$ha. I had the opportunity of meeting Ke$ha in Montreal on June 4th, 2013. Like many, I first became aware of the singer due to the backing vocals she provided on the Flo Rida single “Right Round” released in January 2009. I was taken by her distinctive voice and wanted more. I started noticing her name popping up on a variety of music forums and online blogs as the buzz regarding her songwriting and unique sound intensified.
I downloaded and listened to mix-tapes of hers posted online while “TiK Tok” continued to gain traction with the record buying public, and on radio. The song hit Number One on Billboard’s Hot 100 in January, 2010, and stayed there for nine consecutive weeks, ultimately becoming the biggest selling single worldwide for that year. Much like Lady GaGa in 2008, Ke$ha felt like a singer that I stumbled on by accident and started listening to, seemingly in isolation, before taking off with the general public and becoming a musical superstar. When the opportunity arose to both meet and see Ke$ha perform live in Montreal last June, I jumped at the chance. We were all led down a narrow corridor somewhere in the bowels of the Bell Centre to a small room. If I didn’t know better I would’ve probably thought we were being taken there to be executed. It actually turned out to be a small, quaint room with a television, which no one even looked at; as well as a small bar that wasn’t serving. Looking around this room, people either looked completely panicked or like they were about to have some sort of religious experience. There was relatively no talking. Shortly before people where led into an adjoining room one by one, the singer’s management reappeared briefly to inform everyone that they would allow for the signing of one personal item. Before walking in to this room to meet popstar royalty, the only thing on my mind was to remember everything Tyra Banks has told viewers over the course of, what seems to have been, 120 Cycles of “America’s Next Top Model”: present good posture, do not forget about your body, find the light, do not lose your pretty, and always ‘smize’ (smile with your eyes) for the camera. The second I walked into the room and around the photography backdrop to where Ke$ha stood, however, I literally forgot all about the’ABC’s” of good picture posing; I just wanted to chat with her. The first question people always ask me when learning that I’ve met Ke$ha is, “how did she look?” My typical response: “Beautiful, of course!” There is more to it than that though. I would have to say she looked constructed; her makeup and complexion were beyond flawless. She had the look of someone where a great deal depended on the way she looked; a chilling statement to make in light of her eating disorder admission. Other things I remember were her bright blue eyes, the ring she had in her nose, a small dollar sign tattoo on her hand, and that her outfit was softer, warmer and more feminine than usual.
The second question I’m asked is “how did she act?” This is a much simpler question to answer as she was, undoubtedly, very friendly, chatty, and sweet. She asked my name of course, we hugged [turn, picture taken] and I told her that I came ‘all the way’ from Newfoundland to meet her. “Whoa! That’s really far away”, she responded. When I told her she was actually scheduled to play a show in Newfoundland back in August 2010, she immediately knew the date and said it was cancelled due to weather. “I know! But that wasn’t my fault though, it was due to the weather, right?’, she said as she turned to her management for clarification, ‘A hurricane I think?” She went on to say that she was disappointed and was really looking forward to going, to which I stated that she should still come visit. I indicated that I thought she’d really like Newfoundland for it’s beautiful scenery, and its people, who are among the friendliest in the world. She voiced that she had heard that, and went on to say that she has also heard that one of her favorite animals were in Newfoundland; Narwhals. She asked if I was familiar with these animals, describing them as sea creatures with a singular horn upon their heads, and saying to me that they were often referred to as the ‘unicorns of the sea”. When I indicated that I wasn’t familiar with Narwhals, she told me I should ‘Google’ them because they were awesome. After the picture taking and our initial chit chat about Newfoundland, Ke$ha’s manager asked if I had something for signing. I proceeded to tell the singer that I thought long and hard about what I wanted to have signed; I wanted it to be something that was meaningful, and which would look cool displayed. I told her that I ultimately decided on a vinyl copy of her debut album, and proceeded to take it out of its box. Her response was “Oh My God! The “Animal” vinyl? Cool!” I heard her manager coming toward me asking me for my name. I don’t think I even looked at him, but he came over with a black sharpie which Ke$ha took. I reached into my pocket, pulled out a bronze coloured sharpie, and suggested to her that this one might be better as it went with the colour scheme of the album. Her eyes lit up, she said something to the effect of “Right On!”, and proceeded to sign the album cover; “Darryl! Much Love! XX K$.”
Read the rest in the extended version online at www.theoutport.com!
With the vinyl signed and knowing that my interaction with her was coming to an end, I indicated that I just wanted to tell her that I thought she was an extremely talented song writer, and that she clearly knew her way around writing great pop songs. She appeared touched and thanked me. I went on to say that one of my favorite songs of hers, in particular, was ‘Harold Song’ off the “Cannibal” EP. I even recited my favorite lyrics from the track to her. “Remember the time/we jumped the fence when/The Stones were playing and we were too broke to get in. You held my hand and/they made me cry while/I swore to God it was the best night of my life”. I went on to tell her that there was a sincerity in her voice and in the way she sang those lyrics. I could tell, as a listener, that it was a moment that meant a great deal to her. She again seemed moved and said, “Thanks, that’s very sweet of you to say.” She then stated to me, “Have you heard?”, before she stopped herself saying, “No, you wouldn’t have heard that one, would you.” She proceeded to ask me anyways, “Have you heard “Machine Gun Love?” I stated that I hadn’t, but that I took a peak at the set list for the show and saw that it was included. She then stated with a mockingly shocked voice, “You looked at the set list?” I told her I needed to see which songs she was doing and that I noticed she wasn’t performing “Harold Song” on this tour. She went on to tell me that “Machine Gun Love” was a song she wrote about the same relationship which was the basis of ‘Harold Song’. She then added that she didn’t think she was doing “Machine Gun Love” tonight, but would be performing ‘Last Goodbye” off the “Warrior” album, which was also about the same relationship. I told her I loved that song as well, and that I had an affinity for her ballads. Knowing that I had gone well over my allotted time, I concluded by telling her that it was truly an honor meeting her. She again stated I was too sweet, and as I walked away I could hear her saying to her people how sweet and nice I was. Given the information regarding the lack of creative control she has over her music, as well as the songs that are released as commercial singles, I’m glad I expressed this sentiment to her.With regard to the actual concert, Ke$ha was on stage and performing at 7:30 pm EST; a relatively early stage time for a Rock/Pop Concert.
She also had less than an hour after the fan meet and greets to change, have her makeup completely redone, and prepare to perform. There were plenty of empty seats while she performed, which was pretty jarring and hard to ignore. There were also people in attendance who were still mulling around getting food and beverages. She put on an enthusiastic show nonetheless, but it really felt like she was there opening for Pitbull. She deserved better. In terms of critiquing her stage show, the twelve song set was a weird mixture of “Pop Star Ke$ha’ and ‘Rock Out Ke$ha”, which probably would have been more balanced had it been longer and more complete.
The first few numbers had heavily choreographed dance routines, on point live vocals, and an outfit that suggested Wonder Woman-on-acid. She was likely more at home; however, when she was rocking out with her band, playing the guitar, or messing around with her dancers, who appeared as drag queens for “Take it Off ”, and later in animal suits for “TiK ToK”. It was the kind of show which would translate really well at Mile One Stadium here in St. John’s, NL, or an outdoor venue. Meanwhile, ‘Mr. Worldwide’ came out to a jam-packed stadium, and even got pricey firework displays. I know the decision to have a double billed tour was likely to ensure brisk ticket sales, and I will admit that I enjoyed Pitbull’s set, but I would have preferred seeing Ke$ha in a more intimate setting if it meant seeing a complete show from her.
|11| February
In conclusion, meeting and seeing Ke$ha perform was undoubtedly one of my highlights of 2013. I do want to point out though, that this article was planned long before the singer’s personal problems came to light. It would be seriously remiss of me not to discuss them; however, as eating disorders are quite serious and are often life threatening. In fact, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental disorders at about 20%. Individuals with eating disorders are often both emotionally weak and physically unstable; slowly killing themselves regardless of the form this illness takes. It’s a topic that’s also of personal interest to me, as I have previously struggled with an eating disorder. At that time, I reasoned that my eating issues resulted from feelings associated with lacking an interior locus of control over my life. I erroneously thought that the only thing I did have control over was the food I put in my body, the amount of exercise completed, and my weight. This was an illusion of control, of course, as my eating and exercise habit soon started dictating my life rather than the opposite. In retrospect, I was also seeking validation and acceptance from others when I needed it to come from within. While I would never claim to know Ke$ha’s situation or what she is going through, her story does speak to me as I do see commonalities that are universal to all individuals who have been impacted by eating disorders. I wish her all the best in her recovery process. It’s a bit of a silver lining for Ke$ha that “Timber”, her collaboration with Pitbull, ascended to Number 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 on January 9th, 2014, and remains there as of press time. With talk of her lacking creative control over her music, it is probably debatable whether she wanted to be involved in this project or not. This does not take away from the fact that she again wrote and crafted another truly great pop hook. ‘Timber’ is Ke$ha’s tenth Top Ten Single on Billboard’s Hot 100 overall, and her forth Number 1.
Baking with
Betty Boo
Toblerone Cheesecake Bars
This month celebrates the beginning of a fabulous new
year and my favourite dessert, as many people know, is my go-to thing to make and share with friends and family. It’s been known to bring friends together and solve any problem, no matter the time of day or night. That’s right, the category is cheesecake! The following is one of my favorite recipes - and stay tuned for more soon - so lets get baking! Ingredients For the Crust: 7 whole graham crackers, crushed into crumbs (about 1 cup crumbs) 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled 3 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/8 teaspoon salt For the Filling: 2 bricks of cream cheese (250g each), softened 2/3 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1/4 cup sour cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup chopped Toblerone chocolate For the Topping: ½ cup of Toblerone chocolate, chopped ½ cup of Toblerone
chocolate,
Method: For the Crust: -Preheat oven to 325°F. -Line an eight-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving a few inches of foil draping over the sides of the pan (which will help with removal later). -Crush the graham crackers in a food processor (or a Magic Bullet) until they form fine crumbs. Transfer the crumbs to a large bowl and add the brown sugar, flour, and salt. Whisk together until well combined. Add the melted butter and mix together with a fork or whisk until all the crumbs are moistened (alternately, if using a food processor, you could just add all the ingredients to the food processor with the crumbs and pulse until combined). Transfer the mixture into the prepared pan and press evenly to form the crust. -Bake in the preheated oven until crust is beginning to brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for about 30 minutes. melte For the Filling:
-In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth, about three minutes. Beat in the sugar until well combined, about 1 minute. Beat in eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each egg into the mixture. Beat in sour cream and vanilla until fully combined, about 30 seconds. -Chop 1 Cup Toblerone Bar into small pieces and stir into the cream cheese mixture. Pour the mixture into the pan over the cooled crust and spread evenly. Bake 35-40 minutes, until the edges are set but the middle jiggles slightly when you shake the pan. Place pan on a cooling rack and let cool to room temperature, or about two hours. Cover and refrigerate for at least three hours and up to 24 hours before serving.
364 Duckworth Street (709) 579-5485
For the Topping: Melt ½ cup Toblerone pieces in the microwave (I did it in two 30-second intervals), and transfer melted chocolate to a ziplock bag. Cut a corner off the bag and use it to drizzle half the melted chocolate over the surface of the cheesecake. You may have to cut a larger hole than you’re used to for drizzling chocolate, so the nougat pieces don’t get stuck. Sprinkle 1/2 cup chopped Toblerone pieces evenly on the surface to stick to the chocolate, then drizzle the other half of the melted chocolate over top.
|12| thesproutrestaurant.com
February
Using the overhanging foil, lift the bars from the pan. Remove the foil and cut bars into 16 pieces (or more for smaller pieces). Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Nanaimo Cheesecake
Ingredients For the Crust: 1. 4 tbsp butter, melted 2. 5 tbsp cocoa powder 3. 3 tbsp sugar 4. 1 tsp vanilla 5. 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 6. 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 7. 3/4 cup sweetened coconut flakes For the Cheesecake 1. 4 (8oz) bricks of cream cheese, softened 2. 4 eggs 3. 1 1/2 cups sugar 4. 1/3 cup sour cream 5. 1 tsp vanilla 6. 3 tbsp vanilla custard powder For the Chocolate Ganache 1. 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips 2. 1 cup heavy cream
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. For the Crust: 2. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, walnuts, coconut, cocoa powder, and sugar in a food processor and process until fine crumbs. Pulse in the vanilla and melted butter until moistened. Press into the bottom and a little up the sides of a 10 inch springform pan. Bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven, but keep oven on. 3. Place a 9x13 baking dish on the bottom rack of your oven and fill with warm water. For the Cheesecake: 4. In the bowl of your stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add one egg at a time, beating in-between, and scrape down sides of bowl occasionally. 5. Add the sour cream, sugar, vanilla and vanilla custard powder. Mix until smooth. Pour onto the prepared crust. Bake on the rack above the pan filled with water for 1 hour. 6. Turn off the oven, crack it open slightly and leave in oven for 1-2 hours. Remove from oven and let come to room temperature completely. Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge to chill for 2 hours. Fix any cracks, if necessary. For the Ganache: 7. Place the chocolate chips in a bowl, set aside. Heat the cream in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes, then pour on top of the chocolate chips. Let sit for 30 seconds, then whisk until smooth. Let cool slightly, then carefully pour on top of the cheesecake. Refrigerate again until set. Enjoy!
|13| February
|Navigating GEnder Binary|
It is impossible to come to a genderqueer identity
For
the genderqueer person, (and many others, I’m sure), the navigation of the gender binary can be particularly harmful. Those whose tendencies naturally fluctuate between the masculine and feminine are often rejected by their communities for exhibiting non-normative traits; a woman may be called out for being too aggressive, a man for being too passive. This can lead to suppression of those behaviours and, in turn, psychological distress. The gender binary also creates unrealistic expectations for our relationships. It limits or stifles conversation about gender roles and what actions are appropriate by which partner, from something as simple as taking the out garbage to the complexities around dominance and penetration.
Relationship Column by Robyn Noseworthy
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner,
couples everywhere are starting to get a little antsy. However, on the other side the anxiety that one can feel at this time of year can be more damaging to one’s ego than anything else. All of the little Hallmark Holidays, as I like to call them, can really make people become introverted when they don’t see the steretypical displays of these days being lived out in their own lives.
So while all those couples out there are
celebrating the love they feel for each other, I am offering to others the chance to celebrate another day, of the exact same date, known as Single’s Awareness Day!
-Taylor Stocks
It should come as no surprise that grief and anger
are a requisite part of coming to terms with the gender binary. There is the automatic reaction to reject any possible good from the binary system. And yet, I believe that if we can process those instinctive responses, there is possibility for meaningful manipulation of the gender binary. For instance, if I can acknowledge two gendered modes of existence (I essentialize for simplicity’s sake), that of the masculine and feminine, I can reasonably hold two ideologies that would be paradoxical if they were resolved into a unitary framework. It allows me to be flexible on a contextual basis: it is be okay for me to be aggressive and assertive in one context without worrying that it undermines my ability to be reflective and facilitative in another. Essentially, I can be the gendered self that the situation calls for.
There
is no question that the way society understands and enacts gender is problematic. However, I believe we, as gender questioning folk, can navigate the system to our advantage.
If you are single on this year’s February
14th, rejoice! This year you don’t need to stress yourself over how the cost of the presents you need to buy. Presents that need to show your loved one how much you love them. Instead buy yourself something you’ve wanted and crack open a bottle of wine and celebrate being stress free!
The best thing about being single on Valen-
tine’s Day is the fact that the next day you can go buy the chocolate at discount without the guilt of being a day late with affections. You can also go to the movies by yourself and relax when you are able to find a single seat rather than disturbing others by asking them to move over and make room for you and a date. Besides saving money on spending for two, you can freely spend as much, or as litte, on yourself which can be liberating when you truly discover how much love you have for the person staring back in the mirror.
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November December December February January
Don’t get me wrong, I like being romantic.
Nobody would ever go astray giving me roses and chocolate, but I think ther is simply too much hype that goes into Valentine’s Day. I mean why show how much you love someone on one day out of the year when you should do it all the time. And let’s be honest, not all of us are lucky to be married to our soul mates, so where is the happiness for those who enjoy their solitude?
There’s enough red decor and chocolate sales
on for all those happily connected to somebody else, I say let the single people out there have some fun too! Don’t get down on yourself and let loneliness creep in, sit in the mall and laugh at all those who are “happy” around you gorging on their loved ones. Laugh and be selfish and most of all show the one person who needs it the most, the love they deserve. That person is you! Happy Singles`Awareness Day!
Sexless In The City
without first coming to terms with the gender binary that structures everything from our expression of self to our social relations and our ability to navigate our communities. As soon as we come into the world, we are subjected to gender assumptions: blue is for boys, pink for girls; girls play with dolls; it’s okay for boys to be violent with each other, etc. We learn early on from these experiences that there are masculine traits housed within male-bodied people and that which is feminine belongs to females. In recent years, we have begun to question this link between gender and sex, raising our eyebrows at some of these entrenched stereotypes, like pink toys geared toward girls. In spite of these trends, however, the dichotomy persists; society continues to hold gendered expectations of our aesthetic and behaviour that correlate with our bodies.
|St. John’s Pride Inc.| Meet the Board of Directors
Danny Coombs Daniel Coombs is originally from Corner Brook, NL. His hobbies include photography, DJing and collecting Star Wars merchandise. He is excited for Pride 2014 and guarantees it will be the biggest one yet.
Ky Rees Homegrown townie Ky has lived in St. John’s all their life and has been an activist in the queer and trans community for over 5 years. Ky has volunteered with the NLAIDS Committee, LBGT-MUN, Make it Better NL, and was a delegate on Canadian Blood Services’ LBGTTQ working group that helped peel back the blood ban. Ky also founded the Trans Needs Committee at Memorial in 2011 and continues to serve as cochair today while majoring in Sociology/Social Work.
Taylor Stocks Still relatively new to the Rock, Taylor has jumped into the LGBT scene of St. John’s with both of their genderqueer feet, writing for The Outport, performing in drag as Doctor Androbox, and serenading the gulls of Signal Hill with nonheteronormative ballads. In their spare time, Taylor enjoys long walks on snow covered beaches and watching sunsets filtered through the smog of oil refineries.
Josh Eddy Josh grew up in the St. John’s area. He is an International Business gradute from Memorial University. Josh has always had a passion for St. John’s and has a drive to get involved where he can to make the city the best it can be. Besides being on the Pride Board, he is the Owner/Publisher of The ‘Out’port Magazine.
James Moriaty James Moriarty is a Queer trans man who enjoys long walks on the beach and dismantling the patriarchal and heteronormative ideals of the society in which he lives. He is passionate about community education and engagement, and welcomes any and all opportunities to open and participate in dialogues surrounding Queer culture and gender-y bender-y things.
Photo by Steven Crummy
Jamie Harnum-Davidson
Matt Caravan
Jamie Harnum-Davidson is a young, queer, non-binary trans person. They’ve been involved with the queer community in St. John’s since they moved here from Carbonear in 2008 to attend MUN. Besides being one of Pride’s board members, they’re also involved with Memorial’s Trans Needs Committee. They will be graduating from MUN with an English degree this May and (because they’re a special blend of ‘complete nerd’ and ‘sucker for punishment’) they hope to go on to do graduate work relating to gender diversity and life writing.
|15| February
Matthew Caravan is originally from Corner Brook, NL, however he currently resides in St. John’s with his husband Jon and their son Jensen. In 2009, he became a registered massage therapist, and has been working in a busy multidisciplinary clinic ever since. Matthew and his husband Jon had been talking about having a child for several years, and on May 19th, 2013, that dream became a reality when their friend Amelia gave birth to their son; also making them the first couple (gay or straight) in this province to conceive a child through surrogacy. By participating as board member his goal is to help spread the message and reach of equality, to create a better community in which to raise their son. Matthew see’s a thriving LGBT community in St. John’s and is looking forward to watching - and helping - it grow and prosper.
|On Our Gaydar|
|St. John’s Pride Forum|
-Ryan Crocker
St. John’s Pride held a public forum on Jan. 25 to unveil its new logo and website as well as detail some of the exciting plans they have for the year ahead.
At the top of the list is a restructuring proposal for the
committee. Although not finalized yet, St. John’s Pride would like the change the current system of one President and several board members to one they hope will be more democratic and inclusive. “We want to increase lateral decision-making and decentralize final power from one person to a group of three,” the committee explained. “We believe a nine person board will avoid the potential gridlock of our current eight person board. We acknowledge that directors work together best once they can come together and recognize strengths and weaknesses and decide from that point who is best suited to a task. We believe this flexibility is helpful for the board in the long term and thus should be institutionalized.”
The board’s three co-Chairs would each be responsible for one of three portfolios: finance, internal relations, and external communications. The six additional directors would be assigned portfolios based on their individual talents and interests, including Administration, Volunteering, Sponsorship, Community Engagement, and more. St. John’s Pride is welcoming feedback on this proposal via its new website, www.stjohnspride.ca.
Other major changes for the year ahead include the
creation of an Inclusion Committee comprised of members of the LGBT community who, in the past, have not been adequately included in Pride-related events such as people over 50, people too young to drink, and people living with disabilities. In addition, St. John’s Pride has developed a professional corporate sponsorship package designed to attract high-profile donations from national organizations currently sponsoring Pride events in all other major Canadian cities.
Actress Anna Paquin is probably best known today for her role as Sookie Stackhouse in the hit HBO series True Blood.
But this actress from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was famous long before she became a fang-banger. She won an Oscar for her performance in The Piano and starred in numerous other films such as Fly Away Home, the X Men movies, and Almost Famous.
Although she is now married to her True Blood co-star Stephen Moyer, Anna is bisexual and still a passionate supporter of LGBT causes. “My sexuality is not made up,” she told the press. “For a bisexual, it’s not about gender. That’s not the deciding factor to who we’re attracted to.”
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