The Great War: The History of the Village of the Small Huts (1914-18 )By MichaelMICHAEL COOPER
ART & MUSEUMS
The Shape of Anxiety: Henry Moore in the 1930s
But wait, there's Moore: Many people are familiar with the mid-and-late-period work by the English sculptor - the curving shapes of the human form and the associations with nature and landscape. This important exhibition, however, gathers 53 works from a younger, radical artist affected by the carnage of the First World War, Depression-era political tension and new ideas about sexuality. To Feb. 6. $11 to $19.50. Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St. W., 416-979-6648.
Toronto International Art Fair
You can look at it. You can buy it. You can ignore it. You can hear critics, artists and curators talk about it. It is art - and there's a wealth of it at the 11th annual event. Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 (preview, Oct. 28, $200 to $300). $14 to $16. Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, 255 Front St. W., tiafair.com.
UpArt
The second annual event features the installation For What it's Worth: Curios, Collections and Counterfeits, which explores the concept of hoarding and the value placed on the object we covet. Speaking of which, a trading post serves as a playful place of swapping and amiable chatter. Oct. 29 to 31. $5. Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W., 416-531-4635.
CONCERTS
Great Canadian Song Quest
In the spirit of The Guess Who's Running Back to Saskatoon, 13 true-north songwriters add to the canon of Canadian road songs. A CBC Radio-commissioned contest includes performances of new songs from Jully Black, Jason Plumb, Hannah Georgas and the hurtin' Albertan, Corb Lund. Oct. 26, 8 p.m. $39.50. Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front St. W., 416-872-4255.
Black Crowes
The southern-fried soul-rockers embark on their Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys tour, a farewell (for a while) that involves marathon-length performances of acoustic and electric sets of well-chosen covers and classics such as Twice as Hard ("as it was the first time I said goodbye"). Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m. $54.50 to $64.50. Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St., 416-872-4255.
Experience Hendrix
Voodoo child, slight return: The sky-kissing guitarist Jimi Hendrix is remembered by a stellar lineup of players, including Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and former Hendrix bassist Billy Cox. Expect inspired interpretations, rather than foolhardy note-for-note recreations. Oct. 28, 8 p.m. $69.35 to $101.10. Sony Centre, 1 Front St. E., 416-872-2262.
Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience
It's been a long time since they rock and rolled: Against a backdrop of abstract images and historical footage, a lavish live performance of Led Zeppelin classics is presented, with the son of the late John Bonham beating the drums loudest. Oct. 29, 8 p.m. $59.60 to $86.60. Sony Centre, 1 Front St. E., 416-872-2262.
CLUBS
Die Antwoord
The viral sensations from South Africa jump stylistic boundaries, making energetic and in-your-face "zef-rap" music, presented colourfully by a troupe that counts MC Ninja and exotic siren Yo-Landi Vi$$er as key members. Sunday, 9 p.m. $28.50. Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St., 888-222-6608.
The Grascals
The Grammy-nominated bluegrassers, who swing delightfully and sing even sweeter, bring polished crossover-country from the Grand Old Opry to a tinier, but just as charming, venue. Oct. 27, 9 p.m. $20. Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., 416-850-4579.
THEATRE
The List
Making its Toronto premiere is the French-language, Governor General's Literary Award-winning drama from Jennifer Tremblay. The story, translated for this Nightwood Theatre/Canadian Stage production, concerns a woman who disastrously fails to check off everything on her to-do list. To Nov. 6. $22 to $49. Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs, 26 Berkeley St., 416-368-3110.
Billy Twinkle: Requiem For a Golden Boy
This is a play about a washed-up puppeteer from a Prairie town, created by a puppeteer from a Prairie town. But fear not, it isn't autobiographical - the career of writer/performer Ronnie Burkett and his macabre marionettes thrives. To Oct. 31. $25 to $48. Factory Studio Theatre, 125 Bathurst St., 416-504-9971.
The Great War
The play to end all plays? Hardly. VideoCabaret's Michael Hollingsworth brings back his epic satire, a 1993 Dora-winner which filled the Cameron House theatre just months ago. The production, presented distinctively with puppet-play-like staging, features seven actors portraying more than 40 characters whose stories take the audience from the golf courses of Canada's political elite to the trenches of Ypres. Oct. 29 to Nov. 14 (previews begin Oct. 26). $15 to $30. Cameron House, 408 Queen St. W., 416-703-1725.
DANCE
Dance Dance Revolution
For the X Avant New Music Festival, modern dancers take on three assignments: to interpret John Oswald's essay on Plunderphonics (involving the cutting and pasting of sound clips); to explore the meticulous music of Greek/French composer Georges Aperghis; and to premiere the video-game-inspired Halo Ballet. Sunday, 8 p.m . $10 to $20 . Music Gallery, 197 John St ., 416-204-1080.
LECTURES AND LITERARY
International Festival of Authors
For readings pertaining to literary accolades, the annual IFOA takes the prize. Events involving nominees for the Governor General's Literary Award for English Fiction, the Writers' Trust Fiction Prize, and the Giller Prize take place on the evenings of Oct. 25, 27 and 30, respectively. To Oct. 30. $15 to $18 . Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4000 . Full schedule: readings.org .
Trinity College Book Sale
Damn the e-book and head to Trinity College, where paper-based text still rules the day. Oct. 22 to Oct. 26. Free. Seeley Hall, 6 Hoskin Ave. , 416-978-6750.
Antiquarian Book Fair
A sale of commendable range and variety welcomes international vendors such as New York's Donald Heald Rare Books (who brings the seven-volume Birds of America by John James Audubon, published in 1844), Paul Foster Books (who carries from London a first edition of Anne Sewell's Black Beauty), and London dealer Adrian Harrington, an expert on James Bond titles. Oct. 29 to 31. $15. Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front St. W ., 416-322-0777 or torontoantiquarianbookfair.com.
EVENTS
Take a Walk on the Riverside
Area merchants band together in the spirit of communal bonding and cashbox ka-chinging. Historical walking tours, restaurant specials, tavern enticements, Nuit Blanche installations and performances by the Zero Gravity Circus vie for attention at the evolving intersection of Broadview Avenue and Queen Street East. Saturday, 1 to 6 p.m . Information at riversidedistrictbia.com .
Grindhouse Ghoulies
Things that go bump 'n' grind in the night include burlesque dancers and parlour tricksters. Oct. 26, 9 p.m . $15. Mitzi's Sister, 1554 Queen St. W , 416-532-2570 .
Casa Loma Ghost Tracking
Is there something unstable about the Casa Loma stables? Renowned ghost trackers Michelle Desrochers and Patrick Cross search for spooks and go for ghouls inside the estate's normally off-limits horse barns. Oct. 27 and 28, 7 p.m . $15 to $25 (pre-register at 416-923-1171 ext. 205 or 215). 1 Austin Terr., casaloma.org.
COMEDY
Stand Up for Kids
Steven Wright intends to live forever. So far, so good. The straight-faced existentialist is featured in a strong night of offbeat humour hosted by Mike Wilmot, with spots by with spots from James Cunningham, Debra DiGiovanni, Ron Josol, Ted Morris and Comedy Central's Demetri Martin. Proceeds go to various children's charities. Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m. $75. Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W., 416-408-0208.
Dane Cook
Frat-boy humour, with observational material often based on relationship foibles, plays to a younger, often fanatical crowd. Oct. 28, 8 p.m. $46.25 to $75. Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay St., 416-870-8000.
FREE
Four Seasons Performing Arts Centre
The recommended free concert series continues on two fronts this week: The Zodiac Trio from Europe presents a program of chamber music based on folk music (Oct. 26, noon to 1 p.m.), while COC Ensemble Studio graduate Lawrence Wiliford sings works for tenor and harp (Oct. 28, noon to 1 p.m.). 145 Queen St. W., 416-363-8231.
CINEMA
John Waters on Salò
The shock-film director, the so-called Pope of Trash, is the highly appropriate authority to discuss and present Pier Paolo Pasolini's Salò, a 1975 an adaptation of Marquis de Sade's 120 Days of Sodom that was described by film critic Philip French as "one of the most truly disgusting movies I have ever seen" for its scenes involving excrement and sexual torture. Saturday, October 23 at 8:30 p.m. $15 to $18.75. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., 416-968-3456.
Winnebago Man
A fascinatingly angry man is filthy-mouthed and exasperated as he fails miserably to make a sales video about mobile homes in 1988. That man, the unlikely folk hero and YouTube star Jack Rebney, is a subject of a captivating award-winning documentary. Opening Oct. 28. $8.50 to $12. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., 416-968-3456.
FAMILY
Phantoms of the Orchestra
Ghosts conduct themselves in strange manners, necessitating that a maestro and his terrified assistant use the power of the baton to control a ghoulish orchestra and lead it in a concert. A scary proposition, tuba sure. Saturday, 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. $20 to $31.25. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., 416-598-3375.
Black Creek Pioneer Village
They put the hoot in hootenanny this weekend and next, with daytime programs that include a giant crab-apple-flinging slingshot. The Howling Hootenanny happens today, tomorrow, Oct. 30 and 31 (11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Nighttime activities (tonight and Oct. 30) fall under the heading of All Hallows' Eve, and centre on urban legends and fermented pumpkin libations at the Black Creek Brewery Restaurant. $11 to $25. 1000 Murray Ross Parkway, blackcreekbrewery.ca or 416-736-1733.
BOOKING AHEAD
Just For Laughs Comedy Tour Oct. 30. Massey Hall, 416-872-4255.
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain Nov. 6. Convocation Hall, 416-870-8000.
Margaret Trudeau: Mental Wellness - Finding Balance Nov. 10 University of Toronto Scarborough, register at utsc.utoronto.ca
Usher Nov. 29. Air Canada Centre, 416-870-8000.
André-Philippe Gagnon Dec 1 to 5. Canon Theatre, 416-872-1212.
An Evening With Stephen Sondheim Dec. 6. Princess of Wales Theatre, 416-872-1212.
Disney On Ice, Disney Live! Mickey's Rockin' Road Show Jan. 14 to 16. Rogers Centre, 416-870-8000.
Billy Elliot The Musical Beginning Jan. 29. Canon Theatre, 416-872-1212.
Royal Winnipeg Ballet: Moulin Rouge Feb. 10 to 12. Sony Centre, 416-872-2262.
The Man in Black Feb. 15 to 27. Panasonic Theatre, 416-872-1212.
Sandra Shamas's Wits End III: Love Life Feb. 16 to 27. Winter Garden Theatre, 416-872-5555.
bwheeler@globeandmail.com