Movies, Music, and Irish Roots - theHumm March 2020

By John Pigeau

It’s March, so by the time you’re reading this it’s either spring or spring is just around the corner. That, I submit to you, is as great a cause for celebration as St. Patrick’s Day. This month, luckily, you can celebrate both! March is cool that way.

It seems to me that to most folks who aren’t Irish, St. Patrick’s Day has always been, well, just a really fun night to go to the pub and celebrate good cheer and maybe hoist a Guinness or two with friends. But it turns out there’s far more to St. Patrick’s Day than green milkshakes and dancing leprechauns and the luck of the Irish — in fact, St. Patrick’s Day has a storied and intriguing past.

Curious to learn more? Join Blair Kerr at the Smiths Fall Heritage House Museum on March 8 for a presentation called All in Good Craic? in which she traces the history of St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland and uncovers what it reveals (or doesn’t) about broader Irish beliefs, identity, and group power dynamics.

Kerr, who is originally from Smiths Falls and is a cultural specialist with a B.A. in Folklore and Religious Studies from Memorial University in Newfoundland and an M.A. in Popular Culture Studies from Brock University, will discuss St. Patrick’s Day’s from its origin as a religious feast day to its transformation into a celebration of Irish nationalism and ancestry. You may even learn a bit of Irish Gaelic along the way.

“Our area is rich in Irish ancestry,” explains Leisa Bell, Museum Administrator, “and we are truly excited to learn a little more about Irish culture and St. Patrick’s Day from someone as knowledgeable as Blair.” The talk begins at 1pm and the cost is $10, which includes a complimentary Guinness or an Irish Coffee.

Luck of the Irish or not, there will be a whole lot more cultural activity at the Heritage House Museum in March. As part of their March break activities, there will be a St. Patrick’s Day Children’s Program on Tuesday, March 17 with crafts and games, including a scavenger hunt for gold coins, leprechaun slime, some rainbow relay events and more. “We love hosting March Break events for the kids. This year we have a little adventure and a little luck planned for this St. Patrick’s Day themed program,” says Bell.

The day’s activities run from 9am to 3pm and are for children aged 6–12. The cost is $20 per child. Kids should dress for the fickle mid-March weather, as some of the activities may take place outside, and everyone is asked to bring a packed lunch, although an afternoon snack will be provided. You need to pre-register for this event by contacting the Museum at 283–6311 or heritagehouse@smithsfalls.ca . They also respond to messages sent via their Facebook page.

The Museum is gearing up for those of you with children, as they’ve planned “A Warm Victorian Winter Welcome” chock full of March break activities, to keep all those young hearts and minds happy and busy during the week off. Give them a call for more details.

Movies are best watched on the big screen, don’t you think? And if you haven’t seen the film Bombshell on the big screen, you’ll have the chance on March 20 and 21 at Movie Night at the Station Theatre. The Smiths Fall Community Theatre presents the film, starring Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie. Directed by Jay Roach, Bombshell is based on the accounts of women at Fox News who set out to expose CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment. By all (or most) accounts it’s a hard-hitting, timely, powerful film with brilliant performances from its deeply talented cast. Andrea Dorfman’s Flawed — a charming little film about very big ideas — will play before the feature film. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students, payable by cash at the door, and the box office opens at 6pm. Get there early and enjoy the show!

Another powerful film comes to Smiths Falls on March 26, as Film Night International presents By the Grace of God at the Station Theatre. Directed by François Ozon, By the Grace of God stars Melvil Poupaud, Denis Ménochet and Swann Arlaud as three survivors of a Catholic priest’s abuse who, as adults, set out to expose the sexual abuse hidden by the Catholic Church. The film is French with English subtitles. There is a 2pm matinée and an evening screening at 7pm. Single tickets, if available, will go on sale at the box office ten minutes before screening time. They are $12, with all profits being donated to the Smiths Falls Public Library. If you’re interested in season passes for Film Night International, please call the Smiths Falls Library at 283–2911.

There will be what sounds like a truly exceptional concert happening at the Station Theatre on March 28, when the Smiths Falls Community Theatre kicks off its 2020 music series with a show by the Sam Kirmayer Sextet. You can find more details on page 13 of this issue, but I can assure you that jazz lovers won’t want to miss it!

The Magical Imagination of Mária Moldován - theHumm March 2020

By Sally Hansen

Art… and Soul

The mere mention of Transylvania anywhere in the Anglosphere immediately conjures up the occult adventures of Dracula. Having never met anyone from Transylvania before, your intrepid arts reporter was both mesmerized and intimidated by my utter lack of knowledge of the background of this month’s featured artist from Arnprior.

Mária Moldován’s astonishing art is as unfamiliar as her background — and just as fascinating. This accomplished and multi-talented artist weaves he......

Movies, Music, and Irish Roots - theHumm March 2020