a3 BAILEY NICHOLSON photo Director and choreographer of ‘Glory’, Shay Kuebler (front) rehearses at the Norman Rothstein Theatre with his dance troupe. From left to right, Tyler Layton-Olson, Rebecca Margolick, Hayden Fong, Nicholas Lydiate and Lexi Vajda. Giving it a little Chutzpah! Performance arts festival dazzles audiences with cultural diversity By BAILEY NICHOLSON also the people who haven’t been here r4 4 too long, and it brings home to them,” e Chutzpah! Festival will cele- she said. Ify ou brate its 15th anniversary this The opportunity to see rare for- don’t get the image we were trying to portray, that’s nota bad thing. It’s about your inter- pretation HAYDEN FONG ‘GLORY’ DANCER year and promises to be packed with local and international tal- ent from all corners of the world. The festival is a celebration of cultural diversity through — perfor- mance art-dance, comedy, theatre, and music. In order to reach a variety of audiences, Chutzpah! is expanding this year beyond its usual home at the Nor- man Rothstein Theatre to include ad- ditional Vancouver locations. Alison Klein, the president of the Langara Jewish Student Association, is a long-time attendee of the festival. She said that it brings all Vancouverites to- gether, regardless of their background. “It showcases different cultures that are here, and cultures from around the world. It showcases local people, but eign performances up close is a big draw for many international people in Canada, said Klein. Her personal fa- vourite show in recent years was an Israeli rap group whose name trans- lates to “the fish snake”. A definite must-see show this year, according to artistic and managing di- rector Mary-Louise Albert, is Maria Kong’s BACKSTAGE. The 19+ rated performance features an Israeli dance team and live rock music. Described on the festival’s website as “a magical journey into life at sea — intoxicated by sirens, roused by pirates and immersed in the tumultuous flow of life on the merry waves,” Albert said it is a highly anticipated addition to the festival. Chutzpah! will also feature locally based performances that address im- portant social concepts. Glory features six Vancouver danc- ers and infuses elements of martial arts with hip-hop in a contemporary piece that raises questions about glori- fication of violence in the media. Within the festival’s 17 performanc- es, First Nations, Ethiopian, French, American, Israeli, Muslim and Arab cultures are displayed. “It’s important to show people new ideas,” said Glory dancer Hayden Fong, who said he believes audiences don’t need to fully understand an artistic performance to appreciate it. “Tf you don’t get the image we were trying to portray, that’s not a bad thing. It’s [about] your interpretation of what you see on stage.” Chutzpah! runs from Feb. 19 to March 15. Fast-paced play defies prejudice Production of Pride and Prejudice uses continuous action and quick staging to move the story along By MONA BUTLER tive Society is running a uniquely modern staging of Jane Austen’s classic novel, Pride and Prejudice. While audiences familiar with the novel might expect a subdued period piece, director Joan Bryans explained that the production is stylized to suit the attention span of a contemporary audience. “It’s very technically modern,” said Bryans. What sets this production apart from other stage adaptations is how fast-paced it is, she said. The play moves its characters through eight dif- ferent settings with no blackouts, mak- ing the action more continuous. T: Metropolitan Theatre Coopera- “It moves along much faster, like a film,” Bryans said. Chelsea Turner plays Elizabeth Ben- net, the main character. Turner said she has had to be more conscious about how she carries herself on stage and has done online research to learn the mannerisms of women in Georgian England. “A woman then would not stand like a woman now. It’s a matter of re- training the body,” she said. Historical accuracy was not the only consideration for the actors in their preparation for the play. Bryans also wanted to make sure the play was true to the book, as far as the character’s dialogue was concerned. “Each actor had to read the novel in order to know why they say what they say,” according to Bryans. This provid- ed the actors with context behind what they are doing and saying on stage. Pride and Prejudice opened at the Metro Theatre on Feb. 14, and will run until March 7. NANCY CALDWELL photo Chelsea Turner and Gavin LeClaire heat things up in their roles as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Holocaust heroism on display Glass house exhibit com- memorates little-known Holocaust hero for his role in saving Hungarian Jews By OWEN MUNRO n exhibit currently on loan from Ae: Carl Lutz Foundation in Buda- pest, Hungary has become a bea- con of understanding for Vancouver residents who want to learn more about the Holocaust. Carl Lutz and the Legendary Glass House in Budapest is a teaching exhibit at the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC) that is focused around Lutz, a Swiss diplomat who saved 62,000 Jews during the Nazi occupation of Hungary. The exhibit, originally scheduled for display until Feb. 20, was extended until March 13 to accommo- date the high volume of school book- ings. The centre’s ed- ucational director, Adara Goldberg, said she thinks the exhibit has gotten extra attention be- cause of the recent 70th anniversary of the Nazi inva- Director of educa- Sion of Hungary tion, Vancouver and the Jan. 27 In- Holocaust Educa- ternational Holo- tion Centre. caust Remem- (Photo submitted) brance Day. “Hungarian Jews were the last European-Jewish population to be tar- geted by the Nazis,” Goldberg said. “It is a significant moment in the history of the Holocaust.” Goldberg said that Lutz set up 76 safe houses in and around Budapest, but the Glass House was the most rec- ognized. “He had a clear sense of right and wrong which is difficult to teach,” Goldberg said. “It’s often innate to a LU TZ person.” “Tt’s not so much about Carl Lutz legacy and the Glass House,” Goldberg explained. “Tt’s Hin May, 1941 there also looking at the were approx. experience of Hun- 861, 000 Jews in garian Jews dur- Hungary ing the Holocaust = holistically.” Hillel BC, a Jew- ish student organi- zation that serves I Jews madeup several B.C. post- 15.8 % of the popu- secondary schools, lation of Budapest has partnered with the VHEC in the MH ®y145 only past to provide 255, 000 Jews teaching exhibits. ne ema ‘0 Jordan Stenzler, an outreach coor- gy dinator with Hillel BC, visited the ex- hibit and said he was interested to MM Lutzusedhis diplo- find out the extent matic status to help of Lutz’ contribu- save 62,000 Jews tion in saving Hun- in Budapest garian Jews. Stenzler com- mented on the fact that Raoul Wallen- berg has a day named after him for saving lives during the Holocaust, yet Lutz Is still relatively unknown. “Lutz deserves a lot more recogni- tion,” Stenzler said. Admission to the exhibit is by dona- tion. ADARA GOLDBERG Of those, 184, 000 lived in Budapest That is a meagre 29.6% survival rate of Hungarian Jews HE Of those, 3,000 found refuge in Lutz’ Glass House