"If Cows Could Fly"

Beth Jacob Synagogue on Aberdeen Avenue was the setting for a wonderful theatric production on August 28th. The production features a solo performance by Allan Merovitz who is also the author of "If Cows Could Fly". This is the humorous, though sometimes bittersweet, account related in story and song of growing up Jewish in the Ottawa Valley. It is based on the author's own family history and his life experience as a boy in Smith Falls, Ontario. (Learn more about this production at: www. if cowscouldfly.com )

This sounds like it was a one man show but that would not be an accurate way of describing it. Integral to the presentation of the story is the contribution of a wonderful klezmer trio. Ronald Weihs (fiddle), Henri Oppenheim (accordion) and Frank Rackow (clarinet) were the talented musicians who formed the versatile on-stage Klezmer band that knit the whole presentation together with great musical skill.

This was an Artword Theatre (www.artword.net) production directed by Ronald Weihs with design and stage management provided by Judith Sandiford.

The wonderful Hamilton connection in all of this is that the Artword Theatre, which has been in operation since 1993, has recently relocated to Hamilton from Toronto. Artword has joined forces with Barbara Milne and Gary Santucci of Hamilton's The Pearl Company (www.thepearlcompany.ca) and will be presenting their fall season's offerings in the newly reconfigured theatre on the second floor of The Pearl Company (16 Steven Street in downtown Hamilton).

Artword describes its objective as being to "create art that provides a critical view of contemporary life. makes use of a range of art forms (music, dance, visual art, multimedia), reflects the diversity of the modern world, and honours the human spirit." If this weeks production of "If Cows Could Fly" is characteristic of what is on their agenda for the future then we in Hamilton will be richly rewarded by their arrival in our community.

Of course, the whole concept of The Pearl Company and its growing contribution to the arts in Hamilton is another story to which I hope to return often. I am delighted to welcome Artword Theatre to Hamilton as it seems to represent another bright spot on our horizon.

Bob Bernhardt