URBAN TALES XI Comes to Montreal

The 11th edition of Centaur Theatre's Urban Tales will present for 5 shows only between December 7 to 16, 2017. Immigrant Song: First Xmas in Montreal is this year's theme for the storytelling series of rare and unusual holiday yarns, curated and directed by Montreal playwright, actor, director, and educator, Harry Standjofski, who also provides the live music. The Cole Foundation was a major contributor to this year's event.

Some of Montreal's best writers with roots in Haiti (Order of Quebec and Order of Canada and member de l'Académie Française novelist Dany Laferrière), the Philippines (Marie Barlizo), Italy (Michaela Di Cesare), Lebanon (Pascale Rafie), Turkey (Harry Standjofski), and rural Quebec (Urban Tales co-founder, Yvan Bienvenue) dip into their memories and imaginations for a behind-the-looking-glass view of Montreal's holiday season.

Despite living in a country populated by people from around the world, Christmas with all the trimmings is inescapable from the day after Halloween until Santa squeezes down the chimney. For newly arrived immigrants, navigating the onslaught of religious and social customs can be overwhelming as they try to adapt to their new home while clinging to the familiar, comforting traditions and memories of home and family.

The process of reaching out to local playwrights for material has become less of a necessity over the years as the popularity of the event grows. With Urban Tales entering its second decade, Standjofski now receives unsolicited work from playwrights as well as other theatre professionals working onstage and behind the scenes. Sometimes the scripts coincide with the year's theme but those that don't are kept for future Urban Tales, as Standjofski explains. "We usually get more than we can produce in one show anyway but those scripts are by no means wasted efforts. In fact, we've built quite a storehouse of outstanding material for future events."

Eda Holmes, Centaur's Artistic and Executive Director, said, "We are so fortunate in this city to have such a rich and diverse theatre community. With this year's Urban Tales, we shine a spotlight on some of these incredibly versatile and talented writers and performers. I've heard such fun and intriguing comments about this event; I can't wait to be initiated into my first Centaur holiday tradition!"

Here is this year's line-up of enigmatic teasers.
Unang Pasko Sa Montreal written by Marie Barlizo, told by Kenny Wong
We take the elevator up to the presidential suite; it's the only room on the floor. When I open the door my jaw drops. The walls look like solid gold in this place. There are topless HOT blonde women in G-strings and high heels surrounding my friend Justin, who's seated at the head of the dining room table. All eyes are on the Sushi Chef who's preparing sushi on a naked, big breasted young woman. "Ay Dieus mio!" I pray for strength to fight temptation. A boy screams, "Ay-yia -yia. Did I just die and go to heaven?" Justin gets up from the table. The DJ cuts the music as Justin says, "Maligayang Pasko, Joseph! Tatay ... merry Christmas! Join us!"

Midnight Mess written by Yvan Bienvenue, translated by Harry Standjofski, told by France Rolland
I should tell you right off that I come from a really poor family and growing up poor you don't get a childhood. I mean "no childhood". There's a sort of one but it's a second-hand childhood; a rag & bone childhood that someone lends you so you have something to grow up on. The frame of a childhood ... borrowed. And the day you become "of age", the day you become a woman, a man, they take it back. It's probably why a lot of poor people take a bad turn 'cause when they realize that they're gonna have to reimburse their childhood, they decide to just not become adults.

SanimaXmas written and told by Michaela Di Cesare
Pina looks out from her beautiful newly-built bay window with double-paned thermal glass and custom pine accents at the rotting corpses. It's an unseasonably warm December day, which makes the stench that much worse. It thickens the air, penetrates her newly-erected, insulated walls. She's trapped in a fortress, like Rapunzel, but instead of being named after a lovely purple flower, she'd be named after Rapini. Pina of the Rapini. The windows of her fortress are filled with argon gas, meant to keep the heat in. Today she wishes it was less warm. She suppresses a gag. She's getting good at that.

The Figurine written by Dany Laferrière, translated by Harry Standjofski, told by Patrick Abellard
Two things that count for me
Two things
Refrigerators and women

Sometimes I am looking for the refrigerator
I find the woman
Or vice versa
I am hungry
I meet Julie
Beautiful girl
We go up to her apartment
We make love
Extraordinary
Magnificent
After, in bed
During the moment of tenderness
Instead of looking at her
I look at the refrigerator

That's me in a nutshell

The Return by Pascale Rafie, translated by Harry Standjofski, told by Deena Aziz
My son was born with a great dream that gnawed at him. Where it came from I don't know. And he would fulfill that dream; yes! "Come what may" he would say. "Whatever the obstacles", he would conquer them. "Am I your roaring lion or not, ya oummi?" he would say. Mischievous seducer. Manipulator.

Smoke written and told by Harry Standjofski
Chez Solange there is a decorated tree like I've seen in American movies. In Canadian movies too probably, but I've never seen one. No trees like that in Istanbul, maybe in some hotel lobby. Look: we are seven billion on the planet; 70% are not Christian. No tree, no presents, no angels, no baby born in a barn, no subsequent "sacrifice, death and resurrection", no horrible music: it's the most wonderful time of the year. Five billion don't celebrate that: get over yourselves!

MEDIA CALL Thursday December 7th at 12:30PM

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Thursday Dec. 7 8PM
Saturday Dec. 9 8PM
Thursday Dec. 14 8PM
Friday Dec. 15 8PM
Saturday Dec. 16 8PM

TICKETS
$22 Regular adult admission
$18 Subscribers, Seniors, ACTRA, Equity, QDF, UdA, PWM, QWF & under 30
$16 Students

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