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the week in events by brad wheeler

The Addams Family

ART

The Kingston Prize

They come in all different poses and settings, some close-ups and some not, and the self-nude in front of the bathroom mirror is nonchalantly full of Monty. Thirty finalists in Canada's biennial portrait competition make for a curious exploration of human expressions. To Jan. 29, 2012 . $12 to $15 . Royal Ontario Museum , 100 Queen's Park , 416-586-8000.

RBC Canadian Painting Competition

Not only was the influential German performance artist and theorist Joseph Beuys an inspiration for Vancouver's Rebecca Brewer, he was her subject. Her Beuys painting, a depiction of the static figure (and this year's winner of the annual $25,000 prize) is part of an exhibition of pieces by emerging artists. To Nov. 20 . $3 to $6 . Power Plant , 231 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4949 .

CLUBS

Tribute To Fraser Finlayson

As testament to his high regard within the blues crowd, the life of the late blues harpist Fraser Finlayson – he co-led Cueball in the 1970s and '80s, some will recall – is celebrated with performances by all-stars Fathead, Morgan Davis, Carlos del Junco and others. Nov. 15 , 8:30 p.m. $14 to $16 . Hugh's Room , 2261 Dundas St. W. , 416-531-6604.

Deer Tick

No relation to Deerhoof, Rhode Island's Deer Tick is the band and vehicle of John McCauley, a scratchy folk-rocker who makes ragged indie music comparable to that of Bright Eyes and Elliott Brood (who, by the way, play the Phoenix on Friday). Live shows are robust and prone to go haywire – part of Deer Tick's charm. Nov. 16, 8 p.m . $16.50-18 . Lee's Palace , 529 Bloor St. W. , 888-222-6608 .

CONCERTS

Crazy to Kill

First staged at the Guelph Spring Festival in 1989, a chamber opera based on a 1941 detective novel – who's killing all the wealthy patients on the loony-bin ward? – features 23 roles but only five stage performers, the difference made up with original puppets designed by Anna Wagner-Ott. The music reflects popular forms from the 1930s and straddles the line between speaking and singing. Nov. 12, 8 p.m . $20 to $40 . Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W., 416-410-4561.

Matthew Barber with Louise Burns

Two singer-songwriters invoke the music of the Nixon era for a double bill of pop melody and vintage presentation. The big-voiced Louise Burns from British Columbia, who makes music that swirls and gazes, opens for Toronto's Matthew Barber, a gifted songster whose latest album (self-titled) reveals an appreciation for Paul Simon, eight-track analogue equipment and the Rolling Stones' classic Beggars Banquet album. Nov. 18, 8 p.m . $20 . The Music Gallery, 197 John St., 416-204-1080 or maplemusic.com.

Nagata Shachu

Its o-daiko is so massive you could probably fit three of Neil Peart's entire drum kits inside the thing, with room leftover for the local Japanese-percussion troupe's various bells, wooden clappers, shakers and bamboo flutes. Hana, a show of song, bong and gong, rolls like thunder for three performances. Nov. 18, 19, 8 p.m, and Nov. 20, 2 p.m. $20 to $35 . Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay West, 416-973-4000.

THEATRE

The Addams Family

We always pegged Uncle Fester as a Curly Howard ( Three Stooges) knockoff, but the macabre mid-sixties television series The Addams Family did have its charm. And now a finger-snapping musical-comedy, created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, attempts to sing and dance – not lurch – back into our hearts. Nov. 16 to 27 . $62 to $180 . Toronto Centre for the Arts , 5040 Yonge St., 416-644-3665.

Imprints

While undergoing an experimental procedure for an incurable disease, a woman is inadvertently transported down a very peculiar rabbit-hole, where she encounters the ghosts of her genealogical past and discovers disturbing keys to her present. And you thought you were having a bad day. New from the physical-drama troupe Theatre Gargantua. To Nov. 26. $17 to $27. Factory Studio Theatre , 125 Bathurst St., 416-504-9971.

The Children's Republic

From the industrious Hannah Moscovitch, currently Tarragon's playwright-in-residence, an affecting drama concerns the real-life story of Dr. Janusz Korczak, a Holocaust-era champion of children who finds courage and inspiration from an orphan boy named Israel. Nov 16 to Dec. 18 (now in previews). $20 to $51. Tarragon Theatre Mainspace , 30 Bridgman Ave. , 416-531-1827.

DANCE

Living Dances

Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie presents an evening of James Kudelka-choreographed classics: Fifteen Heterosexual Duets, Soudain l'hiver dernier and In Paradisum, 27 minutes of pure and provocative lyricism from 1983, originally created for Montreal's Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. Nov. 12, 8 p.m . $20 to $35 . Ryerson Theatre , 43 Gerrard St. E., 416-364-8011.

60 Years of Rhythm & Movement

It seemed like just a decade ago that we were celebrating the 50th anniversary of Mi Young Kim's devotion to Korean dance. Here the Korean Dance Studies Society of Canada presents its most elaborate production ever with a range of traditional and contemporary choreography that includes a smashing, new drum-dance medley. Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m . $35.75 . George Weston Recital Hall, 5040 Yonge St. , 855-985-5000.

LITERATURE and LECTURE

Prohibition Then and Liquor Control in Ontario Today

A guy walks into a bar ... but it wasn't always that way. Dr. Mariana Valverde, author of Diseases of the Will: Alcohol and the Dilemmas of Freedomand Kathy Klas of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario speak easy about the province's unique liquor sales system and its effect on Torontonians since 1927. Nov. 15, 7 p.m . $12. Spadina Museum, 285 Spadina Rd, , 416-392-6910.

Jeffrey Sachs

Our broker suggested we buy stocks in the Occupy Wall Street movement – is that wise? The economist Jeffrey Sachs discusses the shortcomings of American-style capitalism with CBC's Carol Off. Nov. 14, 7 p.m . Free. Reference Library , 789 Yonge St ., torontopubliclibrary.ca.







FUNDRAISER

Twelve Trees Of Christmas Gala

Popcorn's for movie theatres, not Christmas trees. A cocktail supper by Jamie Kennedy and an auction of pines decorated artfully and untraditionally by local designers and architects benefits the Gardiner Museum's educational programs. Nov. 17, 6:30 p.m. (trees on display, Nov. 19 to Dec. 11). $200 . Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, 111 Queen's Park , 416-586-8080.

FREE

Ghost

Young Andrew Huang, with mentorship from Metric singer Emily Haines, unveils an installation entitled Ghost. And interactive exploration of music utilizes multiple videos (each containing a different audio track) which can be controlled by audience members, resulting in simultaneous playback of sounds. Nov. 14 to 16, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Four Seasons Centre , 145 Queen St. W., 416-363-8231.

COMEDY

Debra DiGiovanni: Single Awkward Female

With a raspy voice, a feisty demeanour and a burly delivery, the quick-fire comedian is as much singular as she is single. The riotous stand-up artist, who plays the big room on Sunday, riffs on her current man-free situation. Nov. 13, 8 p.m . $40.50 . Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge St., 416-872-1212.

Sketch Comedy Festival

Sketch as sketch can: The annual laugh fair continues with numerous options this weekend, but you can't go wrong with the closing capers of the Sketchersons and their lauded Sunday Night Live affair (Sunday, 9 p.m., Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor St. W.). To Nov. 13. $15 to $20. Various venues, torontosketchfest.com.

EVENT

Ice, Wine & Dine

The charred sweet corn and buffalo mozzarella will melt in your mouth, but let's hope the lip-smacking liquefying doesn't extend to the ice sculptures, possibly endangered by the unseasonably warm weather of late. Caroling, roving performers and wine-tasting round out the winter-themed one-night affair. Nov. 12, 4 p.m . Free. Elm Street (between Yonge and Bay streets). wintermagic.ca.

Meet Your New Ride

Check out a mock-up of the city's spiffy, new Euro-style streetcars – it's must-see TTC. Nov. 12 to 15, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free. Toronto Transit Commission Hillcrest Facility, 1138 Bathurst St., ttc.ca.

SPORT

Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Classic

Groin strains, war stories and diminished athletic prowess mark a shinny contest between squad led by all-timers Borje Salming and Ray Bourque. It's part of the weekend of events that mark the induction of four players – including one-time Maple Leafs Joe Nieuwendyk, Ed Belfour and cult-hero Doug Gilmour – into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Nov. 13, 2 p.m. $20 to $55 . Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay St., hhoflegendsclassic.com.

Hero vs. Prodigy

For an actor, Hayden Christensen is pretty fair tennis player – how's that for a backhanded compliment? He'll be on hand for an exhibition of tennis that features a main-event meeting of the former serve-and-volley stud Pete Sampras and the fast-rising Thornhill native Milos Raonic. Nov. 17, 7 p.m. $25 to $100 . Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay St., 855-985-5000.

FAMILY

Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

Do the winners of the giant-pumpkin contest win seed money? Find out at a barnyard fandango of horse shows and vegetable showdowns. To Nov. 13 (Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ). $16 to $22 . Exhibition Place , 855-872-7777 .

Seussical

Not only is there no junk in his trunk, Horton the Elephant is big-hearted and sensitive to the plight of the residents of super-tiny Whoville. A musical, based on the landmark books of Dr. Seuss, entertains charmingly. To Dec. 30 . $10 to $20 . Young People's Theatre , 165 Front St. E., 416-862-2222.

CONTINUING

Mary Poppins Princess of Wales Theatre, 416-872-1212.

Lang Lang Nov. 12, 17 and 19. Roy Thomson Hall, 416-872-4255.

The Babytime Show To Nov. 13. Metro Convention Centre, babytimeshows.ca.

BOOKING AHEAD

It's Always Something (Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Catherine O'Hara, Andy Kim) Nov. 19. Sony Centre, 416-214-9898.

Maya: Secrets of their Ancient World Opens Nov. 19. Royal Ontario Museum, 416-586-8000.

The Met, Live in HD: Satyagraha Nov. 19. Cineplex.com

Randy Bachman Book Signing Nov. 19. Indigo Manulife, chapters.indigo.ca

One of a Kind Christmas Show and Sale Nov. 24 to Dec. 4. Direct Energy Centre, 416-960-3680.



bwheeler@globeandmail.com

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