THINK TORONTO, think theatre. For comedies, tragedies, and big-budget musicals, Canada’s largest city is ’ surpassed only by London and New York. The home of the Blue Jays and Maple Leafs has more than 140 theatre and dance companies pro- . ducing some 10,000 live perfor- manices annually. The town that in 1962 hada .. total-of two professional theatres has opened that many new ones in ~ the past six months. ‘Ed and David Mirvish, who also : own the itearby Royal Alexandra and London’s famous Old Vic, built the Victorian-style Princess ‘ of Wales especially to house Miss _ Saigon.: . ‘The interior of the 2, 000-séat theatre gleams with mahogany _ panelling and features an extraor- dinary series of murals by artist ’ Frank Stella. The seat rows are more steeply raked than at most North Ameri- can theatres, so no one sits more than 25 metres from the stage. Miss Saigon opened in May; 500,000 people have already seen 2 it. Booking well in advance is ad- "visable: call toll-free (800) 461- :/-3333 or visit the theatre’s box of- fice at-300 King St. W. Ticket prices range from $48 to $91. '-Even newer than the Princess of * Wales is the North York Perfor- »- ming Arts Centre, where an $8 -amitlion production ‘of Showboat. pened in October amid a certain amount of controversy over what some said were the musical’s de-° “meaning racial ‘overtones...’ Whatever you thinnk of the | - play, the centre itself gets excellent reviews. It includes two stages, a ‘recital hall; and an art gallery. . Showboat tickets cost from $41 to $82.50. For reservations call the . Live Entertainment | Line, (416) © 872-2222. ‘Many shows sell half-price -otiekets the day of the performance - , at the T.0. TIX booth at Yonge and Dundas streets, open noon to WHILE FEW: things’ are more. /. spectacular. ‘than:a’ balloon ‘-glide. over’ Maasai Mara,’ there are those who. like the thought of this adveniure . but. prefer: to keep their’* feet on the’ground. “For these would-be adventurers, - | Micato : Safaris: can: offer the ex- hilaration,: and: watching , without ever leaving the ground. “Balloon: chasers’”’ -will. rise at lawnto drive. to.the launch. sire «with. those - of, their’. group who have elected to’ascend. for. the balloon. safari over. game-rich Maasai Mara. . r.. There everyone shares in the ‘;beautiful spectacle as the balloon is. made ready to soar into the “skies above the Mara... In - four-wheel-drive — vehicles : for your holidays | Hawaii. Mexico: Caribbean "1126 Lonsdale Ave., N : 987-5244 Van. romance ‘of, : “the balloon. ‘safari, “THE ASTUTE TRAVELLER 7:30 p.m. Tues. to Sat., 11 a.m. to 3 p.mn., Sun. For more infor- mation call (416) 596-8211. _- In’B.C., you can book tickets for major Toronto shows (except Miss Saigon) through the Van- couver TicketMaster office at-: 280-4444, : For more information on shows in Toronto: Toronto Theatre Alli- ance, (416) 536-6468; fax (416) 536-3463. South Carolina; with January to” “March temperatures in the low- to mid-605, may not be as hot as the more-often favored golf haunts of California and Arizona, but does _ have some great deals. “Hilton Head Island isa golf” haven with 18 courses, many of- _ fering attractive packages. Ac- | commodation, green fees, and cart cost about US$100 per day per .; person.’ “ Some places; stich as the Island Getaway, let non-golfing spouses designed. ‘especially “for this pur- pose, the: chasers and drivers take off: pursuit of the balloon. _ The driver's mission is to chase ‘the balloon and rendezvous with it for-breakfast —- wherever it may land. “Depending on the ‘whim of the. wind, the balloon. may: glide past. “ waterholes and rivers; kopjes. (lit- “tle rocky hills), plains, herds of elephants: and . Zebra, baobab trees. : who must navigate safely across or around them. While: the driver keeps, his eye on the balloon, ‘“‘chasers’’ should keep a camera ready for the unex- pected —.a pride of lions, vultures enjoying \.the remains of a kill, or _ giant , stay free, For more information: Hilton Head Islai:d Chamber of Com- merce, PO Box 5647, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29938. Tel (803) 785-3673; fax (803) 785-7110. Lesser known, but with even better rates, is Sumter, S.C. The Ramada Inn there has golf packages that let duffers choose from 37 courses. Rates, including lodging, breakfast, dinner, greens fees, and cart are US$49.95 per day per person from Jan. 16 to Feb. 20, then US$59.95 until Mar. i0, For more information, call toll-free (800) 457-6884, Scandinavian Airlines has deals for winter travellers to Europe. Business-class passengers making a round trip on SAS to more than a dozen European destinations get a free rental car for three or seven days, depending on the class of vehicle. Unlimited mileage i is included, collision insurance is extra. Economy passengers paying standard fares can have a sub- compact with unlimited mileage’ free for three days — one per two passengers. ‘ A Vanccuver-Copenhagen - economy package (using Air. Canada or Horizon Air to connect- to the SAS flight in Seattle) costs $828 inid-week, $878 weekends, until March 31. You must book 21. days in advance. For more information, call SAS toll-free (800) 221-2350. Langkawi Island, largest of the 104 isles off the coast of Malaysia, was once a haven for pirates. To- day, it pleases tourists with its clean waters and abundant coral reefs... Vancouver's Skybridge Holidays herons stalking the streams, eagles swooping on their prey. or a cheetah racing across the plains. . Photo. opportunities abound both on the ground and. in the sky. , As the descent begins, a cham- pagne breakfast is swiftly set up at the. balloon: landing site in the midst of the Maasai Mara. Chasers and aerial’ adventurers “alike exchange’ accounts - of. their “voyage before they... all return by Each ‘presents ; a different, kind. as of challenge to the skilled driver, -- land to base camp. For more -information on ballooning or any of: the deluxe Micato Safari programs,. write or call’ Micato Safaris, 15° West 26th Street, New “York, NY 10010, Telephone 1-800-MICATO-1. or (212)545-7111. * with ‘Andy Fraser (in his \clt), - ‘present his personal tours to each of SCOTLAND, RY. ENGE Relaxed itineraries, smail groups, executive coaches, personal service, baggage handling, quality accommodation. ‘Join us en. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 26, 7:30 PM. INTERNATIONAL PLAZA please RSVP 1999 Marine Drive (at Capilano Rd.) ’ North Vancouver 926-4344 hotbed of theatre |: has a 12-day package to Langkawi that includes two days in Singapore, breakfasts, airport transfers, and airfare from Van- couver on Singapore Airlines. Cost is $1,735 to $1,825 — depen- ding on the hotel — to March 31. For more information: Skybridge Holidays Inc., 240 — 10991 Shelibridge Way, Rich- mond, B.C, V6X 3C6. Tel 279- ON. - Join The . ‘SANTA FE -7 JMUSIC TOUR August 7 10 I 4/94 The North Vancouver WESTCOAST AMATEUR MUSICIANS SOCIETY is planning a one week pack- age to Santa Fe for the peak of the opera season. Five operas to choose fram: TOSCA, BARBER OF SEVILLE, ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIC, INTERMEZZO AND BLONDE ECKBERG. Call Helen 926-4344 voin us on | Robbie Burns Night Featuring... Soft Adventures in Britain... Special Escorted departures... UK Canal Cruise Holidays... Small group tours of England & Scotland. THE FRASER CONNECTION . & PAVLIK TOURS January 25"7 nin West Vancouver Library 1950 Marine Dr., W.Van. Tickets '2.” January 27 - 30,1994 atthe BNE, it’s easy to win! | Mail or drop off your completed entry form to the North Shore News before January 19. Winners will be contacted by phone: Winners are also eligi ble to win a Kevin Longards “Flies of B.C.” video. Ce ee ee ee | Name _ Phone (days) (eves) . one entry per person please “1139 Lonsdale Ave.. . North Vancouver. B.C. V7M 2H4