The Planta Notebook: Charlotte's Web and web interviews

BY JOSEPH PLANTA

Saturday, 26 November 2005

VANCOUVER - Friday last week, we caught the latest from Exit 22 at Capilano College, a musical version of Charlotte's Web. Somehow growing up I missed reading the E.B. White classic, and this musical was an able introduction.

Exit 22 can be counted to provide terrific entertainment, with inspiringly enthusiastic performances from its performers. Charlotte's Web, which runs until today-check out their website (http://www.capcollege.bc.ca/theatre) for more information-boasts fine chemistry from its cast. With a somewhat memorable score from Charles Strouse (whose name has been attached with Annie and Bye Bye Birdie), fine singing performances were turned in by Elicia MacKenzie (Fern) and Jennifer Neumann (Charlotte), who also danced quite adroitly. Erin Palm as Wilbur and Elliot James as Templeton stood out as well.

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After a month in mothballs, The Commentary's interview segment returned this week, with my conversations with author and journalist Lloyd Mackey and publisher Howard White about their respective new books.

Mackey has just written a book called The Pilgrimage of Stephen Harper (ECW Press, 2005), an interesting look at the Conservative Party leader and his political background. Mackey's a veteran journalist who writes about the politics-faith interface, and it's a fascinating look at Harper and his faith, which is intriguing.

The Conservative Party needs the religious right. They're influential if only that if they choose not to show up on election day and sit on their hands, Conservative support is few and far between. When Harper defeated Stockwell Day for the Canadian Alliance leadership, it was thought that he had dealt the religious right a defeat as well, as Day was seen as a Christian with greater zeal than Harper, even Preston Manning. Mackey made a thoughtful point, saying that the religious right had seen just how ineffective Day was as a leader, that they realised Harper was one of them, and he was a better champion for their cause.

Stephen Harper has done well in straddling the fence. He's appeasing the base, but trying to soften his image to the general populace. Just how successful he is, we'll see at the next election, which supposedly be called early next week.

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I enjoyed talking with Howard White, the owner and president of Harbour Publishing. I've talked to many of Harbour's authors in the past, and the one thing that I've thought has made their company produce quality books is that they all have the underlying theme of British Columbia as their subject matter, and or authors. It's obviously unique to this area, however we very often need the opportunity to see ourselves reflected in books and other literature, if only to help ourselves better understand ourselves. The latest book he's edited is Raincoast Chronicles Fourth Five, a collection of previous Raincoast Chronicles editions.

It's been thirty-three years since the first Raincoast Chronicles was published amidst rather humble beginnings. Today, they're literally automatic bestsellers, thanks to the stories they tell of British Columbians and their province, as well as the fine list of authors who've contributed over the years. In Raincoast Chronicles Fourth Five there are first class authors aboard, including Pat Wastell Norris and Stephen Hume amongst others.

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And as I write this, I'm listening to Dr. Draw. Eugene Draw that is, an electric violinist, whose first CD The City sold over 7,000 copies in this country. He's playing Richard's on Richards Tuesday night, 29 November, and his newest album, Train 64 is in stores now. Go on and buy a copy, he's independent and he's Canadian.

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An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE.