For the last couple of years a friend and I have been debating whether art must be aesthetically beautiful to be considered worthy. I’ve always believed that beauty is not a necessary quality of artistic expression, and the latest productions presented as part of the Harbourfront World Stage series underscores my position.

   Harbourfront Centre has travelled the world and chosen some of the globe’s best theatre, dance and performance for the World Stage 08:09 season. This season’s line-up is political, moving, controversial, enlightening and cutting-edge, but not necessarily pretty.

   The highlights for February included Tshepang, a play by South African writer/director Lara Foot Newton based on the true story of the rape of nine-month-old girl known only as Baby Tshepang, which occurred in a small South African settlement in October 2001. The investigation of the crime and the subsequent trial exposed an entire culture of infant sexual assault rooted in the nation's social and economic problems.

   When asked why deal with such a difficult subject Newton said, “Theatre contributes toward elevating a society in terms of transcending the mundane and the inevitable. I can't stop infant rape through theatre, but I can contribute to the development of a healthy society.”

   The second World Stage presentation of February was That Night Follows Day, a play by Tim Etchells of UK’s Forced Entertainment. The work features a cast of children and examines the systems of parenthood, upbringing, discipline, care and welfare that define the worlds of children and adolescents, and highlights how adults project their worlds onto the lives of the children around them. Although the cast is made up solely of children, ranging in age from eight to fourteen, this is a play for adults, especially those who are wrapped up in trying to raise children in what some call a nanny state, and produces hyper-allergenic nerf kids.

   If you’re thinking that the spring/summer World Stage season will be dominated by bleak or serious theatrical productions think again; for the schedule radically changes direction in April.

   The first of two headliners is Blind Date featuring Rebecca Northan, “the sexiest and most lovable Parisian woman to ever wear a clown nose,” according to The New West Magazine. This one woman/one audience member production opens in a Parisian café where Mimi awaits her blind date. When he doesn’t show Mimi looks to the audience for someone brave enough to answer Love’s call. If you think that person could, or should, be you Blind Date runs from March 3rd to the 7th. Good luck.

   If you are looking for beauty in performance art you will find it in the vibrant blend of modern dance and Balletic grace displayed by Grupo Corpo. The dance troupe, known for its sexy physicality and dramatic visual flair, will be performing to a dark score by multi-Grammy Award winner Lenine. The World Stage production will showcase some of the troupe’s most aggressive and confrontational choreography; take advantage of this chance to see why Grupo Corpo is considered one of the best dance troupes in the world. The performance runs from March 24th to the 28th.

   We know art doesn’t have to be pretty to be worthy art, but it certainly can be. For more information visit the Harbourfront World Stage website, or pop down to Harbourfront itself and chat someone up. If you see a pair of large birds circling overhead don’t be alarmed; they're just a couple of Angelina’s Wings’ culture vultures checking out the venues.  

 


Author: Alexandra Highcrest

Research: Angelina Pieros