2007-2008 Season

Our Most Recent Performances:

Helen's Necklace by Carole Fréchette
Translation by John Murrell

Directed By Vanessa Porteous
Starring Elinor Holt
Set, Lights, and Costumes By Cimmeron Meyer

MAY 7-17, 2008

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Helen's Necklace is a contemporary exploration of loss and hope, and - set in an unnamed Middle Eastern city - deals explicitly the western world's indifference towards the plight of this tumultuous and war-ravaged territory. This is a poetic, hopeful and touching play about personal and cultural loss.

At its core, Helen's Necklace examines the chaos of our contemporary world and human connection. Helen loses her necklace in a city very much like Beirut or Baghdad. The necklace is irreplaceable. As she searches for it she meets locals who have lost much more than she'll ever know as a Canadian Woman. The city is a maze of danger and emotion, especially for Helen who just came to this city to attend a conference. Time and reality are slipping through her fingers.

As a modern parable on loss, this play will bring the complexities of the world we live in alive for our audience here in Calgary. A deceptively simple elegy, Helen's Necklace deftly and succinctly distills a slew of complex social and political conflicts into a series of concise, haunting scenes: topical, relevant, empowering, pensive, sad, conscience-ridden, uplifting, intimate and challenging.

".Language as shimmering as the strand of pearls itself. Fréchette's lyrical, nuanced text - sometimes dialogue, sometimes first-person narrative - keeps taking us layer by layer into the psyche of this superficially kind, unwittingly self-centered character." - NOW Magazine Review

"If you're looking for a piece of theatre that's simple yet profound, then look no further than Tarragon Theatre and Helen's Necklace." - Toronto Star Review

We are pleased to support at this event:

   Curvilicious 2008
An Exclusive Evening Celebrating the Women of Calgary Theatre

In 1996, Eve Ensler created The Vagina Monologues, a massive worldwide hit that won widespread audience and critical acclaim, enjoyed numerous star-studded performances, and became the theatrical poster-child for female empowerment. When women gathered to chant the 'C' word, or considered what their vaginas might wear or say, this small dramatic step became a giant leap for all womankind…or so we thought.

In THE VAJAYJAY MONOLOGUES, playwright/performer Lindsay Burns (creator of the smash hit comedy DOUGH: the Politics of Martha Stewart) dares to ask if, eleven years later, we're really any farther ahead? Photos of Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan's 'landing strips' are a mere click of a mouse away, the Pussycat Dolls are top of the charts, and Oprah - arguably the most influential woman on the planet (and an outspoken admirer of Ensler's play) - calls hers a vajayjay. Is this progress? Using The Vagina Monologues as a template, wielding an arsenal of current pop-culture references, and with the courage to plumb the depths of our sexual attitudes and taboos, Burns will expose and extol both the women who sneered at Ensler's message, and those who answered the clitoral call. A remix, revolt and homage - this is truly BUSH UNPLUGGED!

Urban Curvz Theatre - nominated for three Betty Mitchell Awards, including Best Overall Production (2007) - is thrilled to announce our fourth production, The Vajayjay Monologues, written and performed by Lindsay Burns. Jeff Kubik (FFWD Magazine) said the collaboration between Burns and Urban Curvz at the 2007 High Performance Rodeo's Ten Minute Play Festival proved they "…have ovaries made of solid brass. Cajones, ladies and gentlemen - they've got 'em too."

We are proud to see that Lindsay Burns' two one-woman plays are being published soon! For more information, contact: www.bhousepublications.com.