Rialto: 19th Annual Images de Femmes

Rialto: 19th Annual Images de Femmes

The 19th Images de Femmes held at the Rialto Theatre was the biggest ever. I arrived a few minutes late to find myself darting around to find a suitable perch to take pictures, but all the best places were taken. The downstairs appeared to be filled to capacity, so I headed up to the balcony. Unfortunately, it took a little time to find a decent vantage point and I had to rush around through Suzy Tremblay's performance, the opening act. She certainly had the crowd in her hands.

Leila Marshy, Marie Cornellier and Kathryn Harvey officially opened the show with Kathryn giving some particularly dire statistics about women and work, and women and power. Yes, it was a much needed reminder--women have always made up the 99%.

There were very two colourful dances by KOMACHI Montreal accompanied by Yuki Isami, who later gave a solo performance on the shinobue. It was followed by Linda Morrison, Robin Gorn, Alice Cantine and Louise Dessertine singing the haunting, I Give Thanks, an original composition by Louise Dessertine. Next, the incredibly photogenic Marie Cornellier paid tribute to local designer Katrin Leblond, as Marie had her clothes changed on stage.

There are many multi-talented women performers in the Mile End. In addition, to a hilarious and moving spoken word performance by Leila Marshy, the Mile End was treated to the beautiful sounds of the Choeur Maha, directed by Kathy Kennedy. Choeur Maha also accompanied some stunning performances by versatile performers Linda Morrison and Robin Gorn.

There were also some refreshing new performers: the beatbox and body percussion of IOA, and the beautiful sounds of Odaya, a native women's drumming group. As always, the fine acoustics of the Rialto offered the perfect venue. After I edited the following video, I had the pleasure of hearing Love Shakin the Fences (Robin Gorn) and Mile Marbhphaisg air a’Ghaol (Linda Morrison), all week in my head.

They were certainly more welcome than the AM radio hits that are usually rattling around in there. This was a highly entertaining evening, and I can only imagine what next year, the 20th Images de Femmes, has in store.

Special thanks to Marilyn Montblanch for all her hard work in putting this event together.






Other related links:
Images de Femmes 2010
Images de Femmes 2011
Images de Femmes at Rialto Theatre 2011
19th Images de Femmes 2012

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Hidden Beauty of the Rialto Theatre

Hidden Beauty of the Rialto Theatre

Original Jester Embellishment

Last Friday night my husband and I accepted an invitation to take a closer look at the hidden beauty of the Rialto Theatre. We met Co-owner Ezio Carosielli on the balcony, and he gave us a brief history of the movie palace and some of the details that few people know about.

The Rialto was built in 1923-1924 by Montreal architect Louis-Raoul Gariépy, but the interior design was the work of Emmanuel Briffa, who designed 60 other Canadian movie palaces in the Louis the XVI style. Montrealers may remember more of Briffa's artistry at the Snowden, the Seville Theatre, the York and Cinema 5.

Asbestos on the Original Curtain

The gold embellishment throughout the Canadian Heritage building is made of plaster rather than wood as a safeguard against fire. In the 1920s, the film used in cinemas was highly flammable, as were the projectors, which used powerful lamps and produced intense heat. Now if you consider that the theatre could accommodate 1,330 people at a time, with 630 seats on the balcony and 700 on the main floor, a fire could cause a major calamity. When I was taking pictures of the Images de Femmes, I noticed the word "Asbestos" on the curtain. Ezio explained that this was the original curtain and that asbestos was used for its flame-retardant qualities.

Stained Glass Ceiling and the Original Colours

Carosielli pointed out the various panels of angels on the sides of the balcony and said that, as they peeled back years of previous owners' renovations they expected to find many more cherubs. He also showed us a plaster wall in one of the box seats that they had uncovered after taking out another wall.

Angel Panels on Balcony

Carosielli and his partner Luisa Sassano have found themselves in a genuine treasure trove. They recently discovered  that the initial lighting system used to illuminate the stairs of the balcony had been filled in. When they dug out the light beds, they discovered that the original electrical wiring was still intact and were later able to find outer brass coverings. I asked how they managed to change lights behind the stained glass in the ceiling. Our tour guide said that there were upper passageways leading to every light fixture. He also told us that below the theatre, there was 10,000 square feet of unused space, where they had future plans to create a 125-seat venue for more intimate performances.

The mandate of Carosielli and Sassano is to restore the theatre to its original colours. There are apparently 16 different shades of green and beige to replicate, and unfortunately, there is no cheap and easy way to do this. The pair is busy taking reservations, while pursuing renovation plans, one stage at a time.

After witnessing the beauty and acoustics of the Rialto, we have no doubt that in the near future it will once again become the venue of choice for Montrealers.

For further reading on the Rialto's history and future plans click here.


Other Mile End related posts:
Images de femmes at Rialto Theatre
Guerrilla in the Midst
Bagel Conundrum
Mile End's Ring of Fame
What it is by Lynda Barry
The True Gender
Almost a Visit to Gender
St-Viateur: the Polish Bazaar
The Mile End Buzz Around Beekeeping
For the Love of Vinyl
Airing Our Dirty Laundry


.

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Rythmes de Femmes at Rialto Theatre

Rythmes de Femmes at Rialto Theatre

Last week, I received an invitation from Marilyn Berzan-Montblanch to take part in the closing festivities of the 2011 Images de femmes at the Rialto Theatre on March 20. Rythmes de femmes is the finale of the Images de femmes event, which pays tribute to Mile End women artists. This year Rialto owner Ezio Carosielli generously offered the Mile End landmark for the event, throwing  in a few extra surprises, such as a chocolate fountain fondue and homemade cannoli.

I arrived at the sumptuous theatre just as the best costume was being awarded. Participants had dressed in wearable art for the occasion. I recognized a lot of familiar faces in the crowd, including that of Mile End Councillor Richard Ryan. I also had a chance to snap a picture of Alice Cantine walking around in her ball gown made entirely from Loto 649 tickets.

My last visit to the Rialto was for a New Year's Eve Party in 1988. At the time, they still had the original theatre seats in place. In the 1920s, when the Rialto was built, it seated 1,000 (small) people and was known as a "movie palace." The seats on the bottom floor have since been removed and replaced with cabaret seating.

During the intermission, I had a chance to speak to Ezio Carosielli, who disclosed his renovation plans. A previous owner had redone the theatre, but had chosen red, blue and gold, which were not the original colours. Ezio and his partner were in the process of restoring the balcony to its original green and beige. Although that may sound dull in comparison, when I saw a part that had been restored, the muted colours definitely enhanced the beauty of the original features. Unfortunately, the balcony was closed, but catching a glimpse certainly piqued my curiosity.Carosielli also spoke of a beautiful a cappella performance that had taken place on the previous evening. As I quickly learned when the Images de Femmes musical performances started, the acoustics at the Rialto are indeed magnificent.

In short, Mile End women artists were honoured in the style they deserve, and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day and the 18th annual Images de Femmes than a party at the Rialto Theatre. Special thanks to Ezio, the wait staff at the Rialto, Robin Gorn for all her help and Linda Morrison who came in spite of feeling under the weather.




Related posts:
Navarino's and Images de Femmes
Guerrilla in the Midst
Bagel Conundrum
Mile End's Ring of Fame
What it is by Lynda Barry
The True Gender
Almost a Visit to Gender
St-Viateur: the Polish Bazaar
The Mile End Buzz Around Beekeeping
For the Love of Vinyl
Airing Our Dirty Laundry


.

Read more »