ON SCREEN: Moving Day
Where: The Vic Theatre, 808 Douglas St.
When: Thursday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m.
Tickets: Sold-out
Why: You’ll need a miracle to find an available seat for this sold-out screening, but the effort spent to procure one will be worthwhile endeavour. This engrossing local documentary about the unhoused community living in Beacon Hill Park tells the story of the people whose need for safe shelter was compounded by the stress of a global pandemic.
The city’s plan to remove and house all denizens of the park by March 31, 2021, is the story around which the 95-minute Moving Day is plotted, but the grassroots film — a year in the making — is about humanity more than anything else. A second screening set for Jan. 27 is also sold-out, so future opportunities are likely on the horizon.
ON STAGE: Beethoven Symphony No. 1 and Symphony No. 3
Where: Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton St.
When: Saturday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $20–$90 from rmts.bc.ca or 250-386-6121
Why: The Victoria Symphony is remounting some of Beethhoven’s signature works after its planned celebration of the German composer was cancelled mid-cycle in March 2020, due to COVID-19.
Conductor Christian Kluxen will lead the orchestra through an unofficial revisit of parts of the aforementioned Beethoven 250 Celebration during the course of the next week, with additional performances the Royal Theatre set for Sunday (Symphony No. 2 and Symphony No. 5), Jan. 29 (Symphony No. 4 and Symphony No. 7), and Jan. 30 (Symphony No. 6 and Symphony No. 8).
Performances are capped at 50 per cent capacity, but these will be welcome returns, indeed.
ON STAGE: International Guitar Night
Where: Farquhar Auditorium, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd.
When: Wednesday, Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $40 from tickets.uvic.ca or 250-721-6561
Why: The annual showcase of guitarists from around the world is back for three dates on Vancouver Island, with an all-star array of players.
Acoustic rocker Luca Stricagnoli (Italy), progressive classical guitarist Thu Le (Vietnam), slack-key sensation Jim Kimo West (Hawaii) and Latin swing favourite Lulo Reinhardt (Germany), a descendant of gyspy-jazz pioneer Django Reinhardt, are the featured performers in Victoria, and will appear on the bill for additional dates set for Jan. 27 in Duncan (Cowichan Performing Arts Centre) and Jan. 30 in Nanaimo (Port Theatre).
mdevlin@timescolonist.com
