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NV entertainer fronts Vancouver Symphony

Marcie Good
News Reporter mgood@nsnews.com

WHEN Norman Foote performs
with the Vancouver Symphony
Orchestra next week, he will
return to a place that his mother
always envisioned for him.

But pestering the conductor, imitating
teen pop star Britney Spears and being swal-

lowed by a giant monster is not quite the
role that Lorraine Barrington-Foote pic-
tured him playing in front of the orchestra.

When she pleaded with him almost 30
years ago to go to university and study
music, she would have rather seen him play-
ing his clarinet.

‘After he failed his entrance exains to

“UBC's music program in 1972, he saw the
chance to take a different route. Despite his
parents’ urgings, he spent years playing in
bands and doing solo work. He also travelled
through Australia and New Zealand with a
theatre troupe.

Since 1986, when he made his first chil-
dren’s recording, his career has included a
contract with Disney, music and puppeteer-
ing on the CBC children’s show Scoop &
Doosie, and writing the book Spider Dan.

_ Before his mother died of cancer a year
ago, she had never missed a local perfor-
mance and had become. his biggest fan.
(“After my wife Monique,” he added. “I
have to get that right.”)

Foote, who lives in North Vancouver,
says his performances with symphonies —
including sold-our shows in Winnipeg,
Calgary, Edmonton, and Norfolk, Va. — are
the most challenging and rewarding part of

NORMAN Foote plays his guitar at his
peril in front of a monster that has
already swallowed a janitor. The chil-
dren's entertenar plays with the VSO
on Dec. 27. ~

his work. He enjoys being able to perform
on a stage with 80 musicians and play songs
from his five CDs, arranged for the orchestra
by musical director Bill Sample.

“It’s a way for my songs to come to life,”
he said. “And I’m not saying that you don’t
have to study music, but it shows you can be
successful with perseverance. For me it’s a
big payoff and a huge moment.”

He makes no pretence of being a classical
musician, but takes pride in helping to intro-
duce children to the orchestra. In one song,
he points out each section as the musicians
make laughing sounds with their instru- .
ments.

“On the day that the keyboard can imi-
tate any instrument, this is the real thing,” he
sai

One of his songs, called “If At First,”
about Beethoven having a -writer’s block
while he is writing the 5th Symphony. He
tries many combinations of the famous
opening before he finally hits the right three
notes. The arrangement of the song incor-
porates phrases from the original work, and
the message to kids is that you have to "stick
at it.

Arnold Schwartenegger also makes an
appearance, in a bid to become a classical
musician (“Ill be Bach.”)

Props also come ative in the show, like an
upside-down bucket with velcro eyes and
wire brushes for eyebrows. After several
experiments, he has also perfected a 10-foot-
high monster that fills with air from an
industrial blower.

Foote’s symphony show is aimed at chil-
dren aged four to 11. But with lots of pop-
music references, like a rendition of “Old
Macdonald’s Farm” with a verse from
Britmey Spears (Kick me Horsie One More

. Time) and a reggae version of She’il be

Coming *Round the Mountain (“Don’t
worry, she'll get here,” he said) he keeps
parents entertained as well.

Tickets are still available for the VSO
show on Dec. 27.

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