6 - PARRY SOUND NORTH STAR • Wednesday May 6, 2009 Worms to visit the Stockey centre

BY CARLI WHITWELL “That’s what we know. North Star Staff We’ve driven across the country dozens of times. Thank goodness for Hollywood tartlets When you see it all, you get and big box stores. a certain appreciation for The “big dumb world” provides all the it and you find the things fodder need for their that are funny about it,” musical comedy show. he laughed, adding. “The “We always say the world’s really dumb short easy answer is it’s a and we try to make it rhyme,” said Chris way to get played on CBC Patterson, one third of the Arrogant Worms if you have a song about trio. “We were worried we’d run out (of .” material), but now we’re at album 12.” All three share music and The Arrogant Worms — which includes lyric-writing responsibilities, Patterson, who plays bass, Mike McCormick, said Patterson, though the who plays guitar, and Trevor Strong — will person who writes the song be on stage at the Stockey Centre for the tends to sing it. Performing Arts on June 10. The group has Strong to What started 19 years ago as a radio thank for the interesting sketch comedy by three Queen’s University and somewhat nonsensical students who met in a cabaret theatre name. group, has grown into a musical sketch When the act was first comedy act that has performed around formed in Kingston, Strong the world. and his buddies compiled a “It’s a high energy show, every show list of adjectives and nouns is different. There is lots of audience and crossed them off one by interaction,” said Patterson. one until “arrogant” and This won’t be their first visit to the “worms” was left. Stockey. The band played at the performing “We considered calling Agency stock photo arts centre’s opening. In 2003, they won the band the Adjectives Musical comedy trio The Arrogant Worms, which includes (left to right) Chris Patterson, Trevor Strong and Mike touring act of the year from the Canadian Nouns,” said Patterson. McCormick, visit the Stockey centre on June 10. Art Presenters Association and have played, This tour kicks into the act — the group has no plans in winter and get separate hotel rooms so in one of their biggest gigs ever, in front of off in Cornwall on May 27. to retire. “We’ll stop when it’s not fun you don’t get on each other’s nerves. 150,000 people on Parliament Hill during They rescheduled two earlier shows anymore. We don’t make enough money Good material helps too: Coming up a Canada Day show. because guitar player McCormick broke to stay in it for the money. We’ve been next for the group…maybe a song about That’s what makes their material so his pinkie playing basketball (a real rock able to eke out a living at it and pay some swine flu. intensely Canadian, said Patterson, who and roll injury, says Patterson). bills,” said Patterson. “The pig with the sniffles,” laughed lives in Toronto. Despite the injury — and two decades His advice for young acts? Don’t travel Patterson. Book’s characters inhabit a house of secrets BY CHARLOTTE STEIN very visual writer; Shani Mootoo brings country where race and religion and social and new wife of the son of family friends, memory alive as she walks us through the status were so very important. and it is Anick who awakens Viveka’s busy streets of San Fernando, Trinidad. In some ways Valmiki and Devika have sexuality. Valmiki’s Daughter by Shani Mootoo She looks beneath the surface, into the a good marriage. It is now Viveka who realizes how When I saw an early press release for cracks of people’s lives. There are the They care about each other, they love much she will lose, whether she denies Valmiki’s Daughter by Shani Mootoo, I people we place on a pedestal – the people their home, they take pride in their place her sexuality, and is open about it. She learned that the author was now living she exposes as not-so-perfect – and she in society, they enjoy hosting lavish contemplates the consequences, knowing in Toronto after many years in Western shares her compassion for them with the parties. she cannot make either choice. Canada. reader. Valmiki has continued to have liaisons I immediately contacted her publisher Valmiki Krishnu is a Trinidadian medical with other men – and more publicly with See ‘Mootoo’ page 7 and arranged for Shani Mootoo to do a doctor with a busy practice, a home above other women as an effective smoke reading in Parry Sound. She will be at the the slums, in the prosperous suburb of screen. Devika knows of these Charles W. Stockey Centre on Wednesday, Luminada Heights. infidelities, but they are not May 13, at 7:30 p.m. He lives here with his wife, Devika, and spoken about between husband Shani Mootoo’s first novel Cereus Blooms two daughters, Viveka, the elder, and Vashti, and wife. “Theirs was a house at Night is among my favourite books. the younger. Dr. Krishnu, however much of secrets.” If I discover someone who has not read a family man he may seem, is in reality a There is hurt and anguish for it, I am happy to be the one to introduce man denying his true sexuality. both, but they have lived this readers to this author. Shani Mootoo is Valmiki is homosexual, but after a way for many years; they have a good writer – very, very good. personally satisfying sexual relationship survived, together, the death of a Her most recent novel Valmiki’s Daughter with another man while away from Trinidad young son, the “death that changed is the work of a more mature writer. A at university in Scotland, he returned things between us all,” and both home, married a suitable wife and had a cherish their daughters. family. Valmiki did not have the courage We meet the family when Viveka or determination to do otherwise. is in university and Vashti in He, also, did not want to hurt his parents, secondary school. lose all of his family ties and never be We realize that Viveka is able to live in his homeland again - a homosexual at the same time that her parents do. They are both concerned – to say the least - about how this will affect her future. Valmiki does not want his daughter to have to live her life as he has, denying an important part of who he is – he wants her to be able to live fully and completely, and openly, as the woman she is. Devika just wants her daughters to be normal – she does not want to have anymore of this in her life. Viveka meanwhile has a sort of boyfriend who is encouraging her to have sex with him. She is confused by her lack of Charlotte Stein desire – until she meets Anick. Anick is a young French woman Local prodigy Thank You! The Georgian Jumpers would like to thank all our Gordon Mok, a young Parry Sound pianist, won first family, friends and community businesses for helping place in the primary piano age group at Barrie’s Kiwanis Music Festival. He is invited to play at the make our 2008/09 competitive season so successful. closing recital Spirit of Music Showcase in Barrie We appreciate your continued support. on May 10. In late April, Gordon received two gold and two GOLD SPONSORS: Connor Industries, Township of Seguin, silver diplomas in the Grade 3 piano category and Town of Parry Sound also competed at the Grade 7 level receiving bronze. SILVER SPONSORS: Shaw Almex, Weeks Contruction, Parry Sound Insurance, He is a student of Parry Sound School of Music and Ross Windows and Doors has been studying piano with Maia Vimboule for BRONZE SPONSOR: Parry Sound Fuels two years. Together, with other local talents, he will perform ADDItIONAL Optimist Club, Parry Sound 4-H Club, Wal-Mart in Parry Sound School of Music’s new production, SPONSORS McNabb Lumber, Royal Canadian Legion-Branch 117 Spring Fantasy, which will take place May 24 at 2 DONAtED GIFtS FOR SILENt AuctION p.m. at the Charles W. Stockey Centre. 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