Phste David Cooper THE cast of Jacques Grel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris currently pisying at the Vogue Theatre pack a powerful punch. Left to right are Michael Burgess Susan Henley, Louise Pitre and Jeff Hyslop. Martin Mitlerchip Curtain Cali martin@asnews.cont JACQUES Brel is back in town and still alive. If you are not of European origin, a child of the "60s or missed the Arts Club’s production(s) it’s possible the songs of Jacques Brel have passed you by — which would be a shame. Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Parisis just 27 of Brel’s songs strung together for four voices. Just 27 out of 250 songs penned in a 49-year life thar finished in Paris in 1978, Just 27 of the most powerful, haunting and surprising songs you will find in a single show. Surprising because songs that start in whispers end in shouts, songs that start in humour end in despair or anger or sadness Brel’s songs are entities unto themselves. They sing of love, of death, of regret, of war, of pain, of dreams. There is no uni- fying arc to the overall] show unless it is of life itself: all rooted in a European music hall tradition that Edith Piaf exemplitied. But Brel was Belgian (the wartime occupation of his coun- Resident artist sought for mura Sings of joy and pai try olours several of his songs), not French and his music became worid-famous only after producer Exic Blau pulled together the 1967 New York show based on the translations of Mort Schuman. One of the original performers, Elly Stone, directs the pro- duction that's in town for three more performances today and tomorrow before heading cast to Toronto. Other than an awkward beginning with one of the new songs preceding the overture, it’s a slick show with great Jight- ing and a new score by Steve Margoshes ( Fame) played by an onstage but, unseen orchestra. But slickness doesn’t help Brel; his songs speak for them- selves. So Stone's willingness to let local wunderkind Jeff Hyslop mug his way through numbers in search of the cheap laugh just threatens to overload the show with baggage. Fortunately only three songs are seriously compromised while many many more are so powerfully rendered the emo- tional punch can trigger tears. Louise Pitre packs the biggest wallop bur all four voices (Susan Henley and Michael Burgess are the other two), singly and together, are capable of transporting you to heaven ... or to kell. to produce the large canvas pancis. These NORTH Shore Neighbourhood House is Jaunching a communi- ty art project to commemorate its 60th year. The Lower Lonsdale community cen- tre has put the call out for an “artist in residency” to oversee the creation and production of four to six painted niurals, which, when completed, will be perma- nently displayed in the facility’s gyinnasi- um. The project is subject to municipal funding through the North Shore Arts Commission. Linda Feil, executive director of the North Vancouver Community Arts Council, a partner in the project, said the artist who will spearhead the project should be community minded, “some- one who understands that the most important part of the exercise is the process.” The artist will work together with staff and members of the community groups the neighbourhood house hosts groups include seniors, pregnant and par- enting teens, children, youth and users of the centre’s various fitness programs. “Jt’s about inviting people in the community to participate in the project. It’s the process that’s really important,” said Feil. “The end result is really a bonus.” Artists interested in the project are asked to call Feil at 988-6844 for more information. — Layne Christensen Commuting from France WEST Van’s Silk Purse Arts Centre is awash with the pastoral images of France. The tiny waterfront gallery at 1570 Argyle St. is the setting ‘for a show of works by students of Paul and Babette Deggan’s Summer School for the Arts in France. The show runs to April 4. For the past several years in July, the Deggans have run a Capilano College travel education program through the school, located in a Medieval hilltop village in the Auvergne region of Central France. The 18-day session includes instruction in French language, and drawing and painting with Kiff Holland. On Sunday, March 28 at 2 p.m. Paul Deggan will be at the Silk Purse to give a free portrait demonstration. West Van mayor Parricia Boname will sit for the portrait. The following Tuesday, March 39 at 7 p.m. and Thursday, April 1 at 7 p.m., the Deggans will present a slide show of images from the summer school and discuss their unique fami- ly lifestyle that has them split their time between two homes, in France and in West Vancouver. 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