Here’s your rundown of Regina’s Halloweeniest event
by Gregory Beatty
Looking for stuff to do in the run up to Halloween to set your blood to chilling and spine to shivering? Here’s some ideas. Most are tied directly to Halloween, while a few are just plain spooky and thus a good fit for the season.
Carnival At The End Of The World
Sylvia Ziemann’s MFA exhibition at the MacKenzie Gallery falls into the latter camp. If you saw it, you doubtlessly remember her 2010 show Possible Worlds at the Dunlop’s Sherwood Village Gallery where she created these post-apocalyptic fortress dwellings inhabited by survivors of assorted disasters and pandemics.
The setting this time is an amusement park. But the “carnival” is being staged by humanoid mutants. In her artist statement, Ziemann says she regards the tableaux she’s constructed as positive because it represents a desire by survivors of a consumer-driven environmental catastrophe to live more simply and sustainably while still maintaining familiar rituals.
That may be, but with dramatic lighting, ramshackle dwellings and equipment make largely of junk, animal-headed people and a spooky audio-track, the exhibition (which runs until Oct. 27) offers plenty of chills.
Little Orange Man
This isn’t Halloween specific either. But this puppet performance by Victoria artist Ingrid Hansen has a suitably perverse twist that makes it perfect pre-holiday entertainment. Not too perverse, though, as the production, according to advance publicity, is rated “E for Everyone.”
Through the character of 12-year old Kitt the Kinder-Whisperer, Hansen reenacts grisly Danish folk tales told to the girl by her grandfather. The multi-media performance includes music, innovative LED shadow puppetry and food. Yeah, food. Some of the puppets are apparently edible. Which offers all sorts of dramatic possibilities in reenacting grisly folk tales, I suppose.
The Regina run of Little Orange Man is presented by Hectik Theatre. It goes at Artesian Oct. 16-17 and 22-24 at 8 p.m., and Oct. 18 and 25 at 2 and 8 p.m. Adults $25, Students $15. See hectik.ca.
Al Benesocky’s Shock House
This house of horrors is billed as “17,000 Sq. Ft. of Fear”. The “17,000 Sq. Ft.” is courtesy of the basement of the old south Albert Canadian Tire. The “Fear” part, meanwhile, is provided by ghouls, goblins, zombies, werewolves and other monsters.
The Shock House is open Oct. 17-18, Oct. 23-25 and Oct. 29-Nov. 1 from 7 p.m. to midnight. New this year is a Speed Pass that allows patrons priority access. It’s $25, while regular admission is $15. See shockhouse.com for more details.
And I believe there’s a Spirit of Halloween pop-up store on the main floor, if you feel like doing some shopping after you’ve had the crap scared out of you.
Fright Nights
On Dog Blog, Shane Hnetka is writing his annual 31 Days of Horror. His focus this year is B movies. Like Shane, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum thinks watching scary movies is a great way to prep for Halloween. For the next two Wednesdays it’s screening four flicks guaranteed to make your skin crawl or at least make you giggle. Oct. 22, it’s the hilarious Army of Darkness at 6:45 p.m., followed by the terrifying The Exorcist at 8:45 p.m. Oct. 29, it’s the goofy Beetlejuice (6:45 p.m.) and the very scary yet smartly satirical classic, Rosemary’s Baby (8:45 p.m.). There’s concessions on site, and admission is $10 with RSM members free.
Fright Night
Don’t have a ton of information on this Oct. 24 event at the Hotel Saskatchewan, other than that it’s a Halloween-themed fashion gala and proceeds support the Kidney Foundation of Canada (Saskatchewan branch). The event goes from 6-10 p.m., and tickets are $100. Phone 1-888-664-8588 for details.
Monsters, Masks And Mounties
In past years, the RCMP Heritage Centre has presented an exhibit of grisly crime artifacts like death masks, hangman’s ropes and deadly weapons for Halloween. I’m not sure if that’s on this year, but Oct. 25 from 1-4 p.m. there’s a family-friendly party.
Monster/Object/Place Exchange
On Oct. 26, the MacKenzie Art Gallery is hosting this family event. Visit the Learning Centre between 2-4 p.m., and use collage and other art materials to make and trade monsters.
The Rocky Horror Show
Further to Shane’s B movie-themed 31 Days of Horror, B- horror/sci-fi movies were a huge inspiration for Richard O’Brien when he was writing this musical. Since The Rocky Horror Show debuted in London in 1973, it’s become a staple of Halloween season everywhere. This production runs at the University of Regina Theatre Oct. 28-30 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30. See conexusartscentre.ca.
Bump In The Night
The title of this family-friendly Government House Halloween party is derived from an old Scottish prayer: “From goulies and ghosties//And long-leggedy beasties//And things that go bump in the night//Good Lord, deliver us!” Included is a costume contest, magic show, children’s activities and more. The party is Oct. 30 from 6-7:30 p.m., and admission is free.
Feast Of Film And Fear
This adult-focused program at the Saskatchewan Science Centre is designed to let everyone unleash their inner mad scientist. Included are screenings of Pet Semetary and The Blair Witch Project on the Imax screen, along with other Halloween activities. The “Feast” goes Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. $10.
Red Hot Riot
Halloween night, Jayden Pfeifer is hosting this comedy-variety show at the Artesian (8 p.m., $15). No word yet on who the special guest and band will be, but it should be suitably spooky (and fun).
Music
Halloween is on Friday, so unlike other years when it’s mid-week, most people probably don’t have to work the next day. Here’s some options if you’re looking to cut loose: Bushwakker is hosting a Celtic Halloween with the Tilted Kilts ($5). At the Artful Dodger, there’s Feast of Screams with Majetik, DGS and Port Noise ($10). Halloween Howl features a DJ set by Andrew WK, special guests Terry from FUBAR, Regina’s own Wolf Cop, and additional music by Leather Cobra and Mascara (Agribition Building, $34). And at O’Hanlon’s there’s the Weezer tribute act, Geezer.
On Saturday, the fun continues. At the Artful Dodger, the costumed Moose Jaw duo PandaCorn headline a show with Ghost of a Ghost and Mother Night. And at the Agribition Building, there’s a blast from the past with Can-punk legends The Headstones along with One Bad Son and The Lazys ($48).
And in the run-up to Halloween Saskatoon Goth rockers New Jacobin Club play a show at the German Club Oct. 25 with Suffersurge and Hell Hounds. ($15, and minors must be accompanied by an adult). Also, Oct. 29 there’s a Halloween-themed metal show with Of Temples, Obliterate, Lest We Fail and Between Now and Then (SCES Club, $12).