Monthly Archive for February, 2008

Update: Patricia Hamilton (and Anne prequel cast news)

Published
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Shelly
on February 22, 2008
in Anne Prequel, Patricia Hamilton and Special Coverage
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Patricia HamiltonAnne Prequel As expected, Patricia Hamilton is still doing theatre — something she’s been at for four and a half decades.

This time, she’s in Calgary, performing in Theatre Calgary’s production of Enchanted April, adapted into play-form by Matthew Barber, based on Elizabeth von Arnim’s novel about four post-World War I English women who embark on a trip to northern Italy to escape London’s dreary winter. Patricia plays Mrs. Graves, an old, crotchety Englishwoman who shares an Italian villa with Lotty (Tracey Ferencz) and her friends. The production has been running since February 12 and will continue until March 2.

However, that’s not all she’s been up to. Fans will get to see her again soon in Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning, reprising her role of Rachel Lynde. (In an interview with the Calgary Herald, she notes — in good humour — that this time, she’s “in a wheelchair, looking like I’m 110″.) Plus, the prequel is a small family affair. Her son, Ben Carlson, portrays Anne’s biological father, Walter. This will air on CTV sometime this year. It is still unknown whether or not it will air in the US.

Calgary Herald
Theatre Calgary: Enchanted April

Update: Michael Mahonen

Published
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Shelly
on February 20, 2008
in Michael Mahonen
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Michael Mahonen There’s not been much news about Michael Mahonen over the last few years.

In 2005, he appeared as Stephano in Nipissing Stage Company’s (North Bay, ON) production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, along with series alums David Fox and Robert Collins (Blair Stanley). After that, he appeared to speak at AvCon 2007; but fans were still left wondering what was going on with him, acting-wise.

In 2007, he appeared as Steve Allman in the feature film Our Hat, about a man (Luke Kirby) trying to get his life back together after getting out of prison. It was screened that year at the Toronto International Film Festival, and will be out commercially in Canada sometime this year, and will also see a DVD release in the US this year.

Also being released this year is Blindness, based on a novel by José Saramogo, adapted for the screen by Don McKellar (Slings and Arrows). In the film, a town is stricken with a blindness epidemic; only the wife (Julianne Moore) of the town’s doctor (Mark Ruffalo) has her sight in tact.

I play the role of “Sergeant” (none of the characters have actual names) who is in charge of soldiers who are keeping the first group of blind people under armed quarantine. Because everyone is trying to protect themselves from the epidemic, the soldiers are wearing gas masks, so I’m wearing one the whole time. (Michael Mahonen, writing in the guestbook on Kitty’s MM website)

Blindness will be released in the US on August 8.

Michael also mentions he is working on a writing project, but is unable to divulge any more information about it right now.

New Real Films: All Hat
Official website for All Hat
IMDb: Blindness
Kitty’s Michael Mahonen Site

And the Claude Jutra Award goes to…

Published
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Shelly
on February 20, 2008
in Away from Her, Genie Awards and Sarah Polley
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Genie AwardsSarah Polley …Sarah Polley!

The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, which is responsible for the Genie Awards, announced today that Sarah Polley would be this year’s recipient of the Claude Jutra Award, which is given out every year at the awards gala to a first-time feature film director, and is named for the late Quebec-based director Claude Jutra.

Away from Her is up for seven Genies, including two nominations for Sarah — Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. She is also up for an Academy Award for her screenplay.

The Genies will be handed out on March 3 in Toronto and will air on both the Canadian versions of E! and IFC.

28th Annual Genie Awards
E! (Canada)
IFC (Canada)

contest? you love contests, right?

Published
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Shelly
on February 10, 2008
in General Anne News
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General Anne News A letter-writing contest has been launched in Canada in honour of Anne of Green Gables‘ 100th anniversary.

All entrants have to do is write a letter — 500 words or less, please — to the fictional red-head describing what she has meant to them. 20 entries will be selected for four different age groups and will be judged by former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, newspaper columnist Roy MacGregor, TV book host Carolyn Weaver, and LMM’s granddaughter Kate MacDonald-Butler.

Winners in each age group will receive a $2500 travel voucher to PEI, where they will be able to see Anne of Green Gables: The Musical for free. They and the runners-up will receive three copies of the 100th anniversary edition of the novel itself.

Entry forms may be downloaded at the 100 Years of Anne website, the Canada Post website, or Amazon.ca. They may also be picked up in person at participating Shoppers Drug Marts and Indigo stores. The deadline is April 30.

CBC.ca Arts
100 Years of Anne