It is traditional to finish off the year with either a list of resolutions for the new year and/or remember great things from the past year. I am going to disappoint you. Sort of.
Sure, I make lists. But these lists are for me. You have to make your own lists.
As for reviewing the year past, I can only say there were some very great moments that I will treasure. Again, you will have to find your own moments to treasure. Get involved. Do something. Take note of all the opportunities waiting for your participation.
Social media makes it easy for us to share practically every moment. This new millennium gives us communication capabilities that are both magical and irritating. We are learning new social mores (I hope) on how to use all this technology and still be civilized. Not necessarily to tweet, text or 'Tube everything. Sometimes the best discoveries are the ones you find for
yourself, maybe by reading about it in print, like this traditional information distributor: a newspaper.
Anyone following this column for any length of time will know that I love live theatre. It is an event we share with a large group in a comfortable environment. Who has not yet attended a performing arts performance at Surrey Arts Centre? Seriously? That many of you? If you have on your New Year's Resolution list to remedy this oversight, here is a show for you....
Neil Simon's The Odd Couple comes to Surrey Arts Centre's mainstage theatre from Jan. 14 to 24. This Arts Club On Tour production is the classic comedy of mismatched roommates. The Odd Couple was also a hit television series and is still almost as popular today as it was when the play premiered on Broadway in 1965. I guess you could ask the question if Neil Simon's writing is still relevant in the high-tech modern world. Find out for yourself.
Meet Felix Ungar (played by Robert Moloney), the neurotic, neat-freak news writer. Meet Oscar Madison (Mike Wasko), the slovenly sportswriter. When life changes bring them together as roommates, will these two friends learn to meet in the middle? Or
will their irreconcilable differences split them apart? The Odd Couple, the play that earned Simon his first Tony Award, is one of his funniest and most affecting works - or so it is written in the media.
Director John Murphy says, "this is ultimately a comedy about friendship... and a 1960s period piece - think Mad Men, but really, really funny."
Book your tickets now by calling 604-501-5566 or visiting Tickets.surrey.ca.
Oh, I just remembered a "resolution" that
I made last year at this time, and that was to include more about visual art. Not an expert here, but Wendy Mould is someone who has made a huge impact in our community as a visual artist. Her Art by Wendy studio/gallery, located at 9349 152A St. in North Surrey, offers original art, private drawing lessons,
prints and cards and even commissions for portraits, including pets. Wendy loves blogging and you will have no trouble finding more information just by searching "Art by Wendy." Look for workshops coming up in the new year;
the marketing-focused "Let's Get Your Art Out There!" session will, yes, help you get your art out there, and maybe get sold. It's on Sunday, Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and costs only $65. Register via email to wendy@artbywendy. Just never know what lies ahead for you in the new year. Your "moments to treasure" are waiting for your call.
Happy New Year.
melminty@telus.net