Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, ON (April 2, 2013) What does the condo boom mean for the future of Toronto? Interdisciplinary director and playwright Gein Wong of Eventual Ashes creates a multimedia theatre dance piece that asks - Are we doing enough to cultivate a community for future generations, for our children? Do we even care?
9 Loons presented April 27 at 8 p.m. at the Harbourfront Studio Theatre integrates theatre, dance, original electronic music, classical erhu (Chinese violin) music, film, as well as interview footage from condo residents in the Harbourfront area. 9 Loons begins in a condo presentation centre where a queer couple contemplates purchasing a new unit. The piece then shifts 33 years into the future focusing on this couple’s daughter and how their decisions have unknowingly affected her life. This is a future where condo living is no longer chic and our downtown is filled with run down empty buildings. The HATCH phase of the project will explore the concept of overcrowding and living in tight quarters by examining design and artistic elements such as video projection, choreography and complex layering of music and sound.
Gein Wong explains: “Currently, Toronto has the highest number of high rise buildings under construction in the world.We draw our inspiration from other places that experienced the after effects of construction booms. From recent examples such as the 45 story shanty town housed in an abandoned 1990’s condo tower in Caracas Venezuela, to long term settlements such as the walled Kowloon City in Hong Kong, where 33,000 people lived in abandoned buildings within a 0.03 km2area. The title of this piece 9 Loons is a play on the name Kowloon. The Chinese word “Kow” in Kowloon means the number nine. The word loon is of course slang for crazy, and it is also an archaic word meaning someone of low societal standing.”
With 9 Loons, Wong brings together dance artists from Ill NANA DiverseCityDance Company, Jelani Ade-Lam, Sze-Yang Ade-Lam and Kumari Giles. 9 Loons also includes actors from lemonTree creations, Cole Alvis and Indrit Kasapi, Tawiah M’Carthy as well as Jasmine Chen, who worked on Eventual Ashes’s Summerworks co-production of A Song for Tomorrow.
Gein Wong returns to Harbourfront after presenting her piece Hiding Words (for you)at the Enwave Theatre in Sept 2012. Recently, she directed and co-created Homewhich opened the USA National Performance Network’s Annual Showcase in Philadelphia; filmed directed and video designed a workshop presentation of Chang(e) at HERE Arts Center in New York City; and dramaturged/directed Ill NANA’s popularFIREat the Rhubarb Festival in Toronto. Wong is a Canadian Stage BASH Director in Residence, a two time Philadelphia Asian Arts Initiative Resident Artist, and is collaborating on a New York City HERE Arts Center Residency. She is currently shortlisted for the KM Hunter Award in Literature.
Eventual Ashes is a performing arts company that creates interdisciplinary works with strong narratives. We are currently developing work in Toronto, New York and Glasgow. www.eventualashes.com
9 Loons - Eventual Ashes
Directed and Written by Gein Wong
With: Jelani Ade-Lam, Sze-Yang Ade-Lam, Cole Alvis, Jasmine Chen, Kumari Giles, Indrit Kasapi, and Tawiah M’Carthy
Choreography by Ill NANA Dance Company (Jelani Ade-Lam, Sze-Yang Lam and Kumari Giles)
April 27, 8:00 pm
Studio Theatre at Harbourfront Centre’s York Quay Centre, 235 Queens Quay West
Tickets: $15.00 or $12.00 for Students/Seniors/Arts Workers
Box Office Info: 416-973-4000 or www.harbourfrontcentre.com/hatch
HATCH: emerging performance projects at Harbourfront Centre
Entering its tenth year, HATCH is a key initiative in Harbourfront Centre’s mission to develop local artists and their unique practices. Curated by Trevor Schwellnus, the 2013 HATCH residency and mentorship programme provides resources and professional assistance to a new generation of engaging and innovative contemporary artists.
Photo: 9 Loons. ©2013 Gien Wong.
2013-04-02
Toronto: HATCH presents a meditation on Toronto’s condo-mania in “9 Loons” April 27