Time, it is a changing. Of course time flies. There is no such thing as time travel (except in sci-fi) and we really can't affect much in the way of changing time.
Except, of course, we still change our clocks twice yearly - and do we really need to do this anymore? I like standard time and hate messing with digital clocks. We don't actually have more time (you know we didn't really gain an hour last weekend), it is just a clock change.
We are all affected by time change. Put simply, we age. We get older. Some people like to recapture an era or time period and preserve it. The academics call it history and the Vaudevillians call it entertainment.
The Vaudevillians, officially known as "B.C.'s #1 entertainment troupe," are experts on time and getting older. Most members of the troupe are in their 70s and 80s - and still going strong! You have to be at least 55 to join, have your Monday afternoons free for rehearsals in North Delta and your schedule has to allow for 20 or more performances every year.
On Nov. 8 and 9, the Vaudevillians bring us their main show of the year, Vaudeville 101. Both weekend dates have 2 p.m. performances only. When you accumulate time in the form of old age, driving at night is challenging - thus, matinee performances at Surrey Arts Centre.
This delightful collection of true vaudeville is good entertainment, though, regardless of age. All tickets are $20 and proceeds go to the Society for the Preservation of Vaudeville Performing Arts Bursary at Douglas College. Get tickets now at the arts centre box office, 604-501-5566.
Two weekends in a row at Surrey Arts Centre is not a bad way to spend some of your time. I highly recommend it, in fact. The Bear Creek Park venue presents
Leave it to Cleavage, a look at "the really real housewives of Surrey," on Saturday, Nov. 15, 8 p.m. Tickets are priced from $25, including all fees. For info, call 604-501-5566 or visit Tickets.surrey.ca.
In Leave it to Cleavage, according to the press material, "three ridiculously perky '50s housewives (hampered only slightly by their sullen Russian maid) aim to instill the virtues of the good ol' days, with the audience joining in as though they were guests at a giant dinner party.
These delightful homemakers cook up an uproarious interactive evening, including a second-act battle of the sexes to determine who really wears the pants in the family - with the winner taking home a can of Spam. How appropriate! At the end of the day, there's no problem that can't be solved with some good, old-fashioned common sense, matching satin party dresses... and a martini."
Leave it to Cleavage contains adult material and situations, and may not be appropriate for all audiences. Diana Frances, Ellie Harvie, Denise Jones and Christine Lippa star in this Rock.Paper.Scissors production.
Frances is a comedy writer and performer, and vice-president of Rock.Paper.Scissors. She can be heard on CBC Radio One with her national syndicated column, Dating Diana, and as a contributor to the sketch comedy show The Irrelevant Show. Harvie is an actress, stand-up comedian and improviser who played Morticia on The New Addams Family, and is currently filming the teen sitcom Some Assembly Required. Jones, a film, TV, and stage actor ,co-stars in the current feature film Preggoland (starring James Caan and Sonja Bennet). Lippa has been performing stand-up and improv for more than 14 years. What a cast. Interesting concept, and good time and place.
Some people have a way of using their time allotted in very positive endeavours. For many years now, Ellen Neal has kept me informed of the White Rock Chamber Music Concerts. The concerts are held at Crescent Gardens Retirement Community, 1222 King George Blvd. (beside the "pink palace" hotel in South Surrey). The next concert is Saturday, Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m. start. Admission is $5 and funds raised go to the Peninsula Foundation for bursaries and scholarships.
These concerts do so much more than give young musicians - as well as seasoned - a place to perform. They bring great joy to the audience as well. And the audiences
have been most generous in supporting the young people. But here, I will let Ellen tell the story herself: "We try to have very young children perform so they get used to being in front of an audience at an eary age. I was five years old when I was first in front of an audience. My dad was great on the idea that people should be able to feel comfortable in front of an audience, and this is one thing I feel quite strongly about and that is for youngsters to know that an audience is usually on their side.
Our audiences are not only appreciative, they are forgiving if the child does not do everything perfectly. One young girl ended up not being able to play piano so, during intermission, I spoke to her and asked if she would be able to come up and try once again. She did, and the audience applauded long and loud. I know she no longer felt a failure. She played well with the music in front of her, although she hardly looked at it during her performance."
What a good use of time. Time well spent, regardless of what the clock says or how many hours of time we have added to our life span. Praise to groups like the Vaudevillians and White Rock Chamber Music Society for enhancing our time. And seriously, let's abolish Daylight Savings Time changes. I'd rather spend my time going to concerts than twice yearly anguishing on how to change the digital clocks on my stove, radio, microwave, car, thermostat and other things with clocks.