Weekly Arts Listings - February 4-10

Stage

2 to go - Master contact improv artists Peter Bingham and Chris Aiken join forces to create a compelling duet accompanied by live musicians Coat Cooke and Clyde Reid. 7:30pm THURSDAY at Metro Studio, 1411 Quadra. $10.

Canadian Improv Games - Fifteen teams of young actors from across Vancouver Island converge in Victoria for this regional tournament. The teams perform sponataneous scenes which are judged by a panel of experienced improvisers. 7:30pm FRIDAY and SATURDAY and 2:30pm and 7:30pm SUNDAY at Victoria High School, 1260 Grant. $5-$10. 250-893-4690.

LESSER PEARLS - Robert Godfrey is a critically acclaimed novelist suffering from acute writer’s block. As an escape from the challenges of his work, he becomes engrossed in the pages of the diary of Juliet Thompson, a long- deceased occupant of the house. 8pm SATURDAY at the McPherson. $22.50. 250-386-6121.

The Government Inspector - Claremont presents Canadian Governor General Morris Panych’s hilarious adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s classic comedy. The play deals with corruption in a small Russian town. 7:30pm THURSDAY-SATURDAY and WEDNESDAY at 4980 Wesley. To Feb 13. $7.50.

where the blood mixes - Irreverently funny and brutally honest, Floyd and Mooch, raised in residential schools, must confront their personal demons when Floyd’s daughter Christine returns to Kumsheen after 20 years to discover her past and her family. 8pm THURSDAY-SATURDAY and TUESDAY, 4pm SATURDAY, 2pm SUNDAY and 1pm WEDNESDAY. To Feb 21 at the Belfry. $23-$38. 250-385-6815.

atomic vaudville - Cabaret # 47, Terrible Tales for Toddlers Featuring Hank and Lily. An extra special AV show starring our dear friends Hank Pine and Lily Fawn, featuring the story of their meeting and journey to New Orleans and other tales with your beloved AV regulars. 8pm THURSDAY and SATURDAY at Victoria Event Centre. $12-$18 at Rebel Rebel or the door.

KLONDIKE RAG -Down and out vaudeville performers in the Klondike must resurrect their failed vaudeville show at the Palace Grand Theatre in Dawson City. 2pm SUNDAY at the McPherson. $21.50-$23.50. 250-386-6121.

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY BOUNCE - TriPOD Collective’s Bounce cabaret celebrates a year of dance. 8pm SUNDAY at Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad. $9-$11.

the person - Wordplay of 2010 presented by Puente Theatre. An intriguing portrait of modern life’s absurdities. The reading will be followed by a workshop presentation conducted by visiting director Majdi Bou-Matar. 8pm SUNDAY at the Belfry Arts Centre, Studio A, 1291 Gladstone. By donation. 250-592 4367.

MOULIN ROUGE - In Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s new work, Matthew and Sandrine seek love and destiny in the infamous cabaret… the Moulin Rouge. 7:30pm TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY at the Royal. $46.25-$94.50. 250-386-6121.

audition for spilt milk - For the first two weeks of February, Spilt Milk Comedy Theatre Productions is holding auditions for the performing troupe, the Half Pints. Young actors aged, six to nine; 10 to 14 and 15 to 19 perform and develop with their peers and learn all aspects of the productions they put on throughout the year. Interested young actors are encouraged to book an auditition time. 250-479-3374.

WORDS

Climate Action - This course will offer you a guided tour of best practices for governments in the areas of transport, building, energy, farming, food, carbon pricing, and community engagement. Facilitator Guy Dauncey is author of 101 Solutions to Global Climate Change, and he is President of the BC Sustainable Energy Association. 1pm-4:30pm THURSDAY at Royal Roads University, 2005 Sooke. $55. earthfuture.com.

Classical Association of Vancouver Island - UVic’s Dr. Cedric A.J. Littlewood, Department of Greek and Roman Studies will present a lecture entitled “Persius and the Loss of Integrity.” 7:30pm THURSDAY in the University Centre, Room A180. Free.

the friday quiz - Benji and Paul guide you through an exciting, surreal and frequently rude quiz night. Doors at 7:30pm, quiz starts at 9pm, FRIDAY at Fort Cafe, 742 Fort. Pick up $6 tickets at the Cafe before the show.

Jung Society of Victoria - John Betts presents a Jungian interpretation of images, from the photography of Ansel Adams, Robert Frank and Loretta Lux. 7:30pm FRIDAY at UVic’s, David Strong Bldg, C116. $5-$15.

Palestine in Resistance - From Bil’in to Boycotts featuring Paestinian activst and global studies professor Dr. Nada Elia. 8pm FRIDAY at the BCGEU Hall, 2994 Douglas. By donation. 250-595-7519.

planet earth poetry - Renowned Vancouver poet Kate Braid reads from A Well-Mannered Storm: The Glenn Gould Poems. 7:30pm FRIDAY at The Black Stilt, 1633 Hillside. $3.

Storytime for kids - Fun interactive stories and songs for children and coffee for caregivers. 1pm-1:30pm SATURDAYS with Sandra Johnson, and 11am-11:30am WEDNESDAYS with Shoshana Litman at Tall Tales Books, 795 Fort . maggidah.com. Free.

Sunday Storytime - Bring a story to share or just come and listen to awesome tales. The audience is friendly, the coffee’s good and the price is right. 9:30am-10:30am SUNDAYS at the Cornerstone Cafe, 1301 Gladsone. 250-381-1884. Free.

Return to Antarctica - Adrian Raeside retraces his grandfather’s harrowing experiences with the Robert Falcon Scott expedition at the polar end of the world. Join Raeside as he recounts his own journey in the footsteps of Sir Charles (Silas) Wright. 2pm SUNDAY at Maritime Museum of BC, 28 Bastion Square. $12-$15. 50-385-4222, ext 103.

SHAKY ROCK SYNDROME EXPLORED AT UVIC - How much do we really know about earthquakes? Join UVic’s John Cassidy, of the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, for a fascinating talk covering earthquake history, hazards, and the cutting-edge research being conducted in our region now. 10:30am-12pm MONDAY at the Mary WInspear Centre, 2243 Beacon. $16. 250-472-4747.

The Marmots of North America - Victoria Natural History Society Presents this lecture by David Robichaud. In 2006, David Robichaud attempted to see all six species of North American Marmot within a single summer. He will share photos and stories of his journeys from the parking lots of the mid-west to the remote north slope of Alaska. Everyone is welcome. Bring a friend and a coffee mug. 7:30pm TUESDAY in Room 159 of the FraserBuilding at UVic. Free. vicnhs.bc.ca.

quiz whiz - Test your trivia skills at the Ocean Island Quiz Whiz Bonanza. Prizes, prizes, prizes! 9pm TUESDAY at Ocean Island Café, 791 Pandora.

susan piver - New York Times bestselling author talks about her latest book Wisdom of a Broken Heart. She will discuss the heartbreak and provide a practical, steadying, compassionate plan for emerging a stronger, braver person. 7pm-9pm TUESDAY at Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre, #1-2033 Belmont. $10. 250- 383-9108.

Scrabble Night - Play on the in-house boards or bring your own. 6:30pm TUESDAY at James Bay Coffee and Books, 143 Menzies. Free. 250-386-4700.

UASBC Diving Activities - Jacques Marc, Explorations Director of the Underwater Archaeological Society of B.C. will provide a slide show and talk on the expeditions, research and work that the UASBC has been involved in over the year to date. 7pm WEDNESDAY in the Maritime Museum of B.C. Free. 250-474-5797.

Island Writer Magazine - The Victoria Writers’ Society invites submissions of short fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry from writers on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Deadline February 15. victoriawriters.ca.

galleries opening

xchanges gallery - Recompose, Abe Murley’s exhibition of oil paintings tweaks the traditional genre of the group portrait. Interior spaces and the inhabitants are arranged with disregard, if not contempt, for the way things should be. Opening reception 7pm FRIDAY. To Feb 28 at 2333 Government.

view art gallery - Magnum Opus, Jimmy Wright presents an exhibition of paintings from his personal collection of work. Opening reception 6pm-9pm FRIDAY. To March 6 at 104-860 View.

goward house - Coming Home to the Land, art show and sale by Richard Iredale. Opens FRIDAY to March 3 with Artist’s reception 1:30pm-3:30pm SUNDAY at 2495 Arbutus. 250-477-4401. gowardhouse.com/artshow.

coummunity arts council of greater victoria - Naughty Bits, Now Showing, a sizzling show of erotic art created by 15 members of the Island Illustrators Society. See original paintings, prints, photography and other erotic imagery, as well as professional exhibitionists strutting their performance artist stuff! Opening reception 7pm-10pm FRIDAY. To Feb 10 at G-6, 1001 Douglas.

winchester galleries - In My Mind’s Eye, Deirdre Roberts presents new paintings inspired by time spent in London, Oxford and at home here in Victoria. Working in watercolour Deirdre strives for the quiet mystery in everyday scenes. Opening reception 2pm-4pm SATURDAY. To Feb 20 at 796 Humboldt.

galleries- Cont.

dales gallery - Stephanie Harding’s Stone Soup. To Feb 11 at 537 Fisgard.

deluge contemporary art - Jon Tracy’s Division of Labor. To Feb 13 at 636 Yates.

winchester galleries - Mini-retrospective, Paul Hutner’s work balances strong abstract structures with literal references to objects, narratives and landscapes. To Feb 14 at 1010 Broad.

Maritime Museum of B.C. - We Stand on Guard for Thee. To February 14 at 28 Bastion Square.

the slide room gallery - Caleb Speller’s Natural Disaster. To Feb 15 at the Vancouver Island School of Art, 2549 Quadra.

the fifty fifty - Islander’s Mind, Willie Seto explores different shapes of people’s experience through his own islander’s eye. Through his work, moments become islands in space and time: each both unique and familiar. To Feb 19 at 2516 Douglas. thefiftyfifty.net.

open space - Bamberton: Contested Landscape, artists Cedric and Nathan Bomford present an intensive installation that makes use of salvaged wood from both building demolitions and their previous work. To Feb 20 at 510 Fort.

legacy art gallery - Cross Connections: Five Decades of Contemporary Art in the Pacific Northwest. To Feb 21 at 630 Yates. 250-381-7670.

polychrome fine arts - Aurora, multi-artist exhibition. To Feb 25 at 1113 Fort.

collective works gallery - Vancouver Island: Sell It or Save It, Group show inspired by the Dogwood Initiative. To Feb 25 at 1311 Gladstone.

luz gallery - Silent Warriors, Eric Klemm traveled North America for a year making more then three hundred contemporary portraits of aboriginal people in Canada and the United States. To Feb 27 at 977A Fort.

eclectic gallery - In Full Bloom, a 10-artist exhibition. To Feb 27 at 2170 Oak Bay. 250-590-8095.

royal bc museum - S’abadeb: The Gifts, historic sculpture, basketry, weaving and contemporary artworks emphasize the vitality of today’s Coast Salish First Nations and their artistic traditions. To March 8 at the Royal BC Museum. Regular admission $9.50-$15. royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.

gallery at the mac - Imprint: Contemporary Printmaking in Victoria, with Ground Zero Printmakers. To March 15 in the McPherson Theatre lobby at #3 Centennial Square.

McPherson Library Gallery - 30th annual Teacher of Teachers, the work of art educators from the University of Victoria’s Faculty of Art Education will be on display. To March 17.

art gallery of greater victoria - Great New Wave, Contemporary art from Japan with work from six artists who explore issues of personal and cultural identity in today’s global world. Also, The Asian Collection Begins, Vision into Reality, one of the most important Asian collections in Canada, to March 14. Glimpses of Japan, to April 11. Emily Carr and her contemporaries, to June 2010. All shows at the AGGV, 1040 Moss. 250-384-4101, aggv.bc.ca. Five and under free, five to 17 year-olds $2, adults $12.