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Arts & Life

Issues of race, queerness integrated in heady adaptation of Isben classic

Alison Gillmor 3 minute read Preview

Issues of race, queerness integrated in heady adaptation of Isben classic

Alison Gillmor 3 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

Stepping into a role that’s been played onstage by some of the great leading women of the past century (Ingrid Bergman, Diana Rigg, Glenda Jackson, Isabelle Huppert, Claire Bloom, Maggie Smith, Judy Davis, Cate Blanchett), Tessa Thompson is magnetic.

As the centre of Henrik Ibsen’s scandalous 1891 play Hedda Gabler, Thompson (Creed) mesmerizes, veering from manipulative monster to misunderstood martyr with a complex emotional energy that practically vibrates onscreen.

American writer-director Nia DaCosta (Candyman) transfers Ibsen’s original text to a swanky version of 1950s Britain, working with freedom and flare but also rigorous intelligence. The issues of race and queerness raised in this updated adaptation aren’t just dropped in, they are thoroughly integrated into Ibsen’s examination of social conformity and existential authenticity.

The results are both gloriously theatrical, bursting with big juicy performances, and slyly cinematic, as DaCosta’s camera prowls restlessly through an opulent English mansion over the course of one fabulous, debauched, possibly deadly party.

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2:01 AM CDT

Courtesy Prime / TNS

As Hedda Gabler, Tessa Thompson is enigmatic to the very end.
Courtesy Prime / TNS As Hedda Gabler, Tessa Thompson is enigmatic to the very end.

Don’t let spooky spoilsport ruin the fun

Maureen Scurfield 4 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I love to see Halloween trick-or-treaters in their costumes. I also dress up every year to greet the kids who come to my door. I’m a 34-year-old woman with no kids of my own.

Our whole yard is lit up in orange lights and my husband and I had a great time hanging ghosts and goblins from the tree branches two weeks ago.

However, our neighbour hates it. Last year we bought a scary sound show to go with the yard decorations and he went nuts. He came running out last week when I tried out my spooky soundtrack. He yelled that it sounded like a “pagan circus” at our place.

Today he growled at me there would be “stupid kids” running across his yard again and said he was going to call the police on us this year.

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Today’s horoscope

Georgia Nicols 4 minute read Preview

Today’s horoscope

Georgia Nicols 4 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

MOON ALERT: After 1 a.m., avoid shopping (except food and gas) or important decisions until 7 a.m. After that, the moon moves from Aquarius into Pisces. Happy Halloween.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Fortunately, you’re able to benefit from the resources of others, which might be good news for those of you who have to scare up something for a Halloween costume. Be patient with siblings, relatives and neighbours to avoid squabbles. Easy does it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

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2:00 AM CDT

Evan Agostini / Invision Files

Former CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather turns 94 today.
Evan Agostini / Invision Files Former CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather turns 94 today.

A century later, Ukrainian church still helping new Ukrainians

John Longhurst 4 minute read Preview

A century later, Ukrainian church still helping new Ukrainians

John Longhurst 4 minute read Yesterday at 11:51 AM CDT

When it was founded in 1925, St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in the North End was a welcoming and helpful place for immigrants seeking new lives in Canada.

As the church celebrates its centennial, it is still welcoming and helping Ukrainians fleeing war in their homeland.

“Helping each other never stops,” Eugene Hyworon, co-chair of the cathedral’s centennial committee, said.

A centennial gala will be held Saturday.

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Yesterday at 11:51 AM CDT

SHELDON BIRNIE / COMMUNITY REVIEW

Eugene Hyworon, co-chair of St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral’s centennial celebration, says the church was surrounded by ‘wilderness’ when it was on the outskirts past city limits.
SHELDON BIRNIE / COMMUNITY REVIEW Eugene Hyworon, co-chair of St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral’s centennial celebration, says the church was surrounded by ‘wilderness’ when it was on the outskirts past city limits.

FortWhyte’s visitor centre recognized with award for sustainable construction

Conrad Sweatman 3 minute read Preview

FortWhyte’s visitor centre recognized with award for sustainable construction

Conrad Sweatman 3 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

FortWhyte Alive’s new Buffalo Crossing visitor centre has thundered past nearly 1,000 submissions to win the prestigious Holcim Foundation Awards.

Opened in April, the 18,000-square-foot facility strong on mass timber and reclaimed materials is one of 20 designs across the world recognized by the awards for sustainable construction.

Elegantly evoking a stampede of buffalo moving across FortWhyte’s 660 acres of tall-grass and bison prairie toward Muir Lake, the visitor centre means that FortWhyte now has two facilities to accommodate ever growing demand for its programming.

FortWhyte also has $40,000 coming its way, with another possible $40,000 if it’s selected by the Holcim Foundation as the grand prize winner for North America.

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Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Anthony Urso photo

The 18,000-square-foot Buffalo Crossing facility at FortWhyte Alive features mass timber and reclaimed materials and was recognized by the prestigious Holcim Foundation Awards for sustainable construction.
Anthony Urso photo The 18,000-square-foot Buffalo Crossing facility at FortWhyte Alive features mass timber and reclaimed materials and was recognized by the prestigious Holcim Foundation Awards for sustainable construction.

A few special touches can conjure connection

Maureen Scurfield 3 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: You may think I’m crazy, but I’m going to a Halloween party as a glamorous witch to run into this special guy and put my spell on him.

He’s co-hosting it with his housemate and it’s a big bash. You can’t get into this party unless you’re wearing a full-on costume. I don’t want to wear a complete Halloween mask, though, because I want him to recognize me and be attracted.

Can you give me any magical ideas?

— Need to Bewitch Him, West End

Counting on fans for countdown to 60th Festival du Voyageur

Eva Wasney 2 minute read Preview

Counting on fans for countdown to 60th Festival du Voyageur

Eva Wasney 2 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Festival du Voyageur is seeking memories and memorabilia to help celebrate an upcoming milestone anniversary.

Organizers are looking for donations of vintage photos, programs, merch and other items of interest to be displayed during the francophone winter festival’s 60th birthday in 2029.

It’s a project that started at this year’s festival with the debut of L’shed à Léo, a gallery of archival ephemera onsite at Voyageur Park.

“We went through our basement at the festival office and found a bunch of cool stuff,” says Colin Mackie, director of the festival’s heritage and education programs.

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Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

SUPPLIED

The 2025 display of Festival du Voyageur memorabilia was the start of L’shed à Léo.
SUPPLIED The 2025 display of Festival du Voyageur memorabilia was the start of L’shed à Léo.

Arts Editor's Picks

Eva Wasney:

Stepping up for the planet

Stepping up for the planet

Winnipeg Free Press:

Free Press reviewers' top-rated picks for the 2019 theatre festival

Fringe storyteller Jem Rolls puts up posters for his show, The Walk in the Snow, at the Tom Hendry Warehouse Theatre in the Exchange District in Winnipeg. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti:

Streaming services offer up seasonal episodes aplenty to get your holiday fix

Glad TV tidings

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti:

Christmas playlist has highs and Lows

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS JP Hoe poes for a portrait in his studio before his 10th annual JP Hoe Hoe Hoe holiday show, which has grown massively over the years, in Winnipeg on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. Winnipeg Free Press 2018.

The Canadian Press:

CBC’s ‘The Porter,’ Nathan Fielder’s ‘The Rehearsal’ nab Spirit Awards nominations

Actors Ronnie Rowe (left), Jr. as Zeke and Aml Ameen (second right) as Junior and other cast members are shown in a scene from

Winnipeg Free Press:

Homemade holidays: 12 days of vintage sweets

This marshmallowy fudge recipe from 1956 is nice to look at, but a mess to make. (Photo by Eva Wasney)

Diversions

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More Arts & Life

Find work-around for mom’s grandkid fixation

Maureen Scurfield 4 minute read Monday, Oct. 27, 2025

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My girlfriend and I — lesbians in our 30s — get along famously. But whenever I come home from my parents’ house, I’m depressed. My mom always manages to give me a shot about never being able to provide a grandchild for her and my dad (I’m an only child).

When my dad hugged me goodbye last time, he whispered, “I do try to make her stop this nonsense.” I just don’t feel like going there anymore. She hits me with the guilt grenades every time, like maybe it will be enough to make me adopt and get her the grandchild. Ha.

Seriously, what should I do? It doesn’t even help when I bring our puppy, who’s so small she looks and acts like a baby.

— Failing to Supply Grandchild, Fort Richmond

Today’s horoscope

Georgia Nicols 4 minute read Monday, Oct. 27, 2025

MOON ALERT: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Capricorn.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

This is a fantastic day to get things done. Make positive changes at home or with anything to do with real estate and your family. Likewise, you will make short work of issues related to inheritances, shared property, taxes and debt. You’re in the zone.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Today’s horoscope

Georgia Nicols 4 minute read Preview

Today’s horoscope

Georgia Nicols 4 minute read Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025

MOON ALERT: Avoid shopping (except food and gas) or important decisions from 11:30 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. After that, the moon moves from Sagittarius into Capricorn.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Your idealism is aroused along with your appreciation of beauty. Enjoy being in pristine nature, or visiting museums and art galleries and discussing elegant ideas. Later in the day you’re high-viz.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

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Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025

Richard Shotwell / Invision Files

Now and Then star Rita Wilson turns 69 on Sunday.
Richard Shotwell / Invision Files Now and Then star Rita Wilson turns 69 on Sunday.

Shoalts digs into British explorer’s life and disappearance in Canada’s breathtaking north

Reviewed by Chris Smith 4 minute read Preview

Shoalts digs into British explorer’s life and disappearance in Canada’s breathtaking north

Reviewed by Chris Smith 4 minute read Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025

Canadian explorer Adam Shoalts, author of a half-dozen books about his northern adventures, expands his range in this new volume by combining wilderness trips, biography and cold-case detective work in an intriguing tale of little-known but well-respected solo early 20th-century explorer Hubert Darrell.

It was while reading historical records in 2011 that Shoalts first encountered a reference to Darrell, who disappeared in the uncharted wilds of the Northwest Territories in 1910; he became enchanted by the life of the solo prospector, guide and explorer, and drawn to solving the mystery of how he died.

“I often felt as if I were chasing a ghost,” Shoalts writes. “He’d vanished not only literally, but from the pages of history.”

A cold case in a cold, cold land, if you will.

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Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025

Adam Shoalts / Penguin Random House Canada

Author and explorer Adam Shoalts captures the exceptional beauty and sheer danger of the northern wilderness as he traces lost explorer Hubert Darrell’s route in his latest book.

Adam Shoalts / Penguin Random House Canada Author and explorer Adam Shoalts captures the exceptional beauty and sheer danger of the northern wilderness as he traces lost explorer Hubert Darrell’s route in his latest book.

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