August 2003 Fresh Baked Amanda Aikman Culture Editor Check out these latest releases while they're still warm! Movie: Gigli, Release date: August 1 Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are hitmen (hitpersons?) who are hired to kidnap the mentally challenged brother of a federal prosecutor in order to save Al Pacino from going to prison. I wonder if they will fall in love? I won- der if they will end up liking the mentally challenged kid after a series of comical follies and lame jokes at his expense? And the Academy Award goes to... Book: Diary: A Novel, by Chuck Palahniuk Release date: August 2003 From the bestselling author of Fight Club comes this dark and hilarious story. Told in the form of a “coma diary,” which is being kept by a frustrat- ed artist whose husband has attempted suicide, it is an alarming and pro- found look at the quest for fame and immortality. Alarming and profound. Now just try and convince me that’s not worth paying the inflated new release/hardcover prices. Album: Reconstruction Site, The Weakerthans Release date: August 26 The third album from the pride and joy of Winnipeg, The Weakerthans, is apparently their “most musically cohesive and lyrically ambitious effort to date.” At least that’s what their new label Epitaph says. All meaningless clichés aside, as anyone who has had the pleasure of enjoying The Weakerthans’ previous two albums already suspects—this one’s gonna be great too. Culture Kelly Parry OP Contributor A wall, a rock and a mid-life crisis. That’s the essence of Shirley Valentine. Inside Mrs. Joe Bradshaw, a 42-year- old mother of two grown children, is the former Shirley Valentine. Alone, with no one to talk to, Shirley is found in the kitchen of a semi-detached English home talking to her wall. It’s here that we eaves- drop on the details of her life half-lived. While pondering the offer of a free trip to Greece with her feminist man-hating friend Jane, Shirley reveals that she is an inspiration for her neighbours, a night- mare for her children, a challenge for her friends, and a mystery to herself. Somehow cooking chips and egg for her unappreciative husband just isn’t enough. Shirley takes a chance and leaves for Greece. Leaving her husband a note on the fridge. “Gone to Greece. Back in two weeks.” After a few days of lounging on golden Mediterranean beaches, and being abandoned by Jane, Shirley finds herself again. On the path of self-renew- al, Shirley meets Costas Caldes and engages in a brief love affair that changes her life forever. One question remains. Will she leave Greece to return to her old life? Well, you'll have to buy a ticket to find that out. It must be a brave performer who chooses to take on the challenge of a one- person show, but Nicola Cavendish pulls it off with ease. With a flawless perform- ance, Nicola returns to her career-defin- ing role of Shirley Valentine turning play- wright Willy Russell’s script about a repressed housewife longing for adven- ture and romance into a fairy tale story of chance, romance and _ discovery. Cavendish holds our attention right from the beginning as she pours out her soul, drinks her wine and talks to her kitchen wall. In the final act, she takes us into the scene. She shares her stories directly with the audience-and her friend the rock—elegantly showing how her life has expanded beyond her four walls. It is an articulate and animated performance that e the other press © { Shirley Valentine shows a full embracing of this character into Cavendish’s heart. Cavendish is already well known to Vancouver audiences. She has appeared in Les Belles Soeurs at Canadian Stage in Toronto, Two at the Belfry Theatre, Blithe Spirit on Broadway, and has toured Canada with Shirley Valentine. Nicola directed The Mousetrap at The Stanley Theatre and her writing credits include Snowing on Saltspring, Blowin’ On Bowen, and Hank and Doris for CBC Radio. Winner of the Montreal Critic's Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Nana in For The Pleasure of Seeing Her Again, Nicola has also recently played Abby Brewster in the Arts Club Theatre Company production of Arsenic and Old Lace before traveling to Winnipeg and Montreal to perform for six-to-ten-year olds in a play called Martha, which pre- miered at the Arts Club in March. Willy Russell is well known for his stage hits such as Educating Rita, Stags & Hens, and Blood Brothers. Russell’s wit, incisive humour, and telling observations are their best in Shirley Valentine. Russell won the 1989 Olivier Award for Best Comedy in addition to a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award. Shirley Valentine is the final production of the Arts Club Theatre's Company's 39th season and in their capable hands you will find the perfect entertainment for a summer’s evening. Tickets available through Ticketmaster at 604.280.3311 or the Arts Club Box Office at 604.687.1644 . Directed by Roy Surette. Starring Nicola Cavendish (with Ellie King on July 27, August 3, 10, 17, 19) Designed by Phillip Clarkson (Costumes), David Roberts (Set) & Marsha Sibthorp (Lighting). Stage Management is provided by Marion Anderson and Pamela Jakobs. Running until August 24. This Month In History... Amanda Aikman Culture Editor August 16, 1977 The King is dead. Long live the King. Elvis Presley is found dead in his Graceland bathroom by girl- friend Ginger Alden. August 21, 1995 R.E.M sues Hershey Foods, claiming the company exploited its name in a Kit Kat sweepstakes. Not wanting to be outdone, M.C. Hammer sues the makers of Smarties for making him feel inferior. http://www.otherpress.ca August 2-4, 2003 Wait a minute, Elvis is still alive! And hanging out in Surrey! The first annual Elvismania festival takes place at the Cloverdale fair- grounds. Okay, so there is a good chance that wasn’t actually the real Elvis, but after a few drinks they all look the same to me. Hmm, I hope that doesn’t make me an Elvisist. A Page 23