Flower Bouquets carolynflower December 12, 2012 3505 The Little Red Riding Hood – A “Gleams” New Year treat for the entire family If you live in Westmount, chances are you have heard of or seen a production by Gleams Theatre, an independent theatre founded in 2004 by Ira Sokolova (a multi-faceted artist – musician, composer, actor and singer) and Constantin Sokolov (Playwright and Theatre Director and Videographer). As Executive Producer, Artistic Director and the theatre’s driving force, Sokolova’s objective is to produce contemporary and controversial plays focused on the inner world of the individual in modern society and to introduce new, seldom or not yet produced European, Canadian and American dramatic works and bring newly written, seldom or non-produced dramatic works to Montreal audiences in unconventional styles and spaces. The founders bring more than 25 years of European experience from working in Lithuania, Germany, Switzerland, Bulgaria and Norway in theatre, music and film. They produce flexible performances that don’t always require a specific theatre space and take great pride in producing shows for young audiences encouraging young actors and technicians to gain experience in their domain. One of her students writes “Ira is a gifted teacher who knows how to get the best out of her students. She is very perceptive, putting people at ease, enabling them to step out of their comfort zone and perform with and in front of others”. Their pilot production was the North-American Premiere of a one-act monologue play The Guitar Woman, by the Award-Winning Norwegian Author Jon Fosse, in October 2004 and February 2005 (The original title of the play is The Guitar Man adapted for a female character with permission). Gleams produced Callback by Bill Svanoe, a Canadian Premiere for the 2011 Montreal Fringe Festival marking Sokolov’s first foray as a director on the Montreal theatrical scene. French author Charles Perrault (Jan. 12, 1628 – May 16, 1703) laid the foundation for a new literary genre, the fairy tale, with his works derived from pre-existing folk tales. In 1695, when he was 67, Perrault decided to dedicate himself to his children. In 1697 he published Tales of Mother Goose making him suddenly widely-known beyond his own circles and marked the beginnings of a new literary genre, the fairy tale, with many of the most well-known tales, such as Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. The Gleams production features four actors and an original adaptation with live music written and directed by Ira Sokolov. It is entertaining with fun and surprises for the audience who get involved in the action of the play. Performances: Saturdays January 12 and 19 at2:30 pm and Sundays January 13 & 20 at 10:30 and 2:30 pm at Victoria Hall, 4626 Sherbooke St. West, Westmount. Info: 514-934-0535, www.gleamstheatre.com or email at [email protected]. $12 for adults; $10 for seniors; $8 for children. Free admission for children under 4 years old.
