Desi News Corp - Index

Desi News Corp - Desi News - Feb 09 - Index

desi DIARY
An epic love story
FEB. 4-15 Pleiades
Theatre presents the
Canadian premiere production
of Shakuntala
by the great classical
Sanskrit poet and
dramatist Kalidasa,
adapted and directed by
Charles Roy. Choreography by
Hari Krishnan, original music
by Reza Jacobs. Starring Anita
Majumdar, Sanjay Talwar and
Pragna Desai with David
Collins, Frank Cox-O’Connell,
Melee Hutton, Reza Jacobs
and Carrie-Lynn Neales.
At Fleck Dance Theatre. Shakuntala,
which means one who
is brought up by birds (shakun),
is an epic love story. Written
around 400 AD as a court drama
during the age of the Gupta
empire, Kalidasa’s play dramatizes
a fable from the great
Hindu epic poem, The Mahabharata.
It tells the story of a
warrior king, who, when deer
hunting one day, stumbles across
an ashram and spies a beautiful
young hermit girl, Shakuntala.
It is love at first sight. They
arrange a quick marriage and
soon after, she is pregnant with
UNTIL FEB. 12 WinterCity
Festival at Nathan Phillips
Square. Free entertainment
including performances that
celebrate South Asian culture.
Info at www.toronto.ca/
special_events/wintercity/
UNTIL FEB. 12 Winterlicious
again offers two popular
programs for you to savour the
Winterlicious Prix Fixe Promotion.
150 of Toronto's top restaurants
offering three-course
menus. Details at www.toronto.ca/special_events/
wintercity/culinary.htm.
UNTIL FEB. 21 Journeys.
Mona Kamal’s new body of
32 Desi News February 2009
his child. The king returns to
his palace, but assures Shakuntala
he will send for her shortly.
But tragedy strikes when Shakuntala
breaches her duties to
a cantankerous old hermit. He
curses her that the memory of
‘the one who loves her best’ will
be wiped clear of any knowledge
of her. Months pass
without any word from the king
and Shakuntala travels to the
court. The king, of course, fails
to recognize her, and accuses
her of abusing his generosity.
In an act of divine compassion,
Shakuntala is whisked away by
the gods, who provide her and
her new son with a home in the
clouds. Years later, the king’s
memory is restored after
finding a ring he once gave
Shakuntala, and while hunting,
the king once again stumbles
across a divine forest. He spies
Shakuntala and the two are
finally reunited.
Tickets: $30; previews, seniors
and students with valid ID,
$18. For tickets or info, call 416-
973-4000, ext. 1, or visit www.
pleiadestheatre.org or www.
shakuntala-canada.com.
work investigates themes of
deconstruction and rebirth. At
the YYZ Artists’ Outlet, Toronto.
Call 416-598-2282 or visit
www.yyzartistsoutlet.org.
FEB. 14 The Inaugural Valentine
Ball at the Liberty
Grand. Featuring Michael
Burgess, David Warrack and
the Canada Pops Orchestra.
Dance and fashion exhibitions
by Ryerson University; a live
auction; gift bags; and a draw
for a Mediterranean cruise for
two. Tickets: $275; $500 for
couples. The benefit supports
Youth Day 2009 (www.youth
daytoron to.com) and Ryer-
Anita Majumdar and Sanjay Talwar
in Shakuntala. Feb. 4-15 at Pleiades Theatre.
So much more to love about February!
son University. Info at www.
valentine ball.net.
FEB. 18-22 The Wizard of
Oz at the Isabel Bader Theatre.
Proceeds will be donated to the
Pediatric Oncology Group of
Ontario. Tickets: $25, $40, $55,
at uofttix.ca or 416-978-8849.
FEB. 20-21 The 24-Hour Spin
and Trillium’s Cardiac Challenge
for the Hazel McCallion Centre
for Heart Health. At Hershey
Centre in Mississauga. For info
or to register, visit www.24hours
pin.com.
FEB. 21 To celebrate the
first anniversary of the Sir
Christopher Ondaatje Gallery
of South Asia, the Friends of
South Asia join the ROM in
presenting the first-ever South
Asian Heritage Day. Children’s
activities, music and dance
performances, special gallery
tours and South Asian food.
Special discounted price for
online purchases; Use promo
code SAFUN before February 21
at websales.omniticket.
com/rom/index.cfm.
FEB. 24 Outsourced as part of
the Mississauga International
Film Series. At the Hammerson
Hall, at 8 pm. Tickets: $12. For
tickets or more info, call 905-
306-6000 or 1-888-805-8888.