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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Get behind this good cause

Comics host cancer awareness fundraiser

By: Maureen Scurfield

Posted: 10/26/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

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Gags Unlimited owner Kerry Hogan dons an Avengers costume.

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Kurt Berger and Nelson Mayer are bending over to combat prostate cancer.

SHUT UP AND BEND OVER: That's the cheeky name of a 10-comic prostate cancer awareness show/fundraiser created by a new gang of comics in Winnipeg. The Shut Up and Laugh gang operates out of Pulse Nightclub & Lounge at Confusion Corner with twice-monthly open mics for rank beginners and promising up-and-comers. Participating comics in the Bend Over show will be sporting moustaches grown in the month of "Movember" to get people talking about the cause. Though the show is happening Nov. 30, they will start their moustaches Nov. 1.

Bend Over event organizers Kurt Berger and Nelson Mayer are serious about making good money for CancerCare Manitoba, so they're mixing well-known Winnipeg comics with newbies. The lineup? Ryan Ash, Paul Rabliauskas, Tim Lowing, Scott Porteous, Chad Anderson, Dan Glasswick, Cory Falvo -- plus Berger and Mayer.

FIFTY SHADES MASQUERADE BALL: On Saturday night, a formal ball with Winnipeggers in gowns, suits and masquerade masks is taking place at Ambrosia Mansion on a riverside acreage at 1918 St. Mary's Rd. Open to the public, the $50 ticket includes dinner and a ball, with old-fashioned game tournaments, silent auctions with art work and jewelry in the 4,000-square-foot home of Carrie Forsythe. Entertainment for the Halloween-season gig is by the Stiff Bishops, Victor Street Jazz Ensemble, plus the band LOAD, with mistress of ceremonies Fiona Odlum of CJOB chopper fame.

The mansion doors squeak open at 7 p.m., with masked people in formal wear sweeping up the walk. The event is in aid of the Joyful Noise school of music, where Charles Lage and assistants restore donated pianos from around the city to give away to challenged children and adults to help with their therapy. Tickets at 204- 925-3460 and at the door.

PSSST! Gags Unlimited, which sells Halloween costumes, can't keep the Avengers costumes on the shelves. Winnipeg men are going crazy for them this year, according to owner Kerry Hogan. The longtime owner said all the superheroes are popular this year. For women, Catwoman and Wonder Woman are the top sellers at this shop. On the political front, Barack Obama is beating Mitt Romney in mask rentals.

BURSTING INTO SONG: Two inspired guests at the Winnipeg Art Gallery's Centennial Ball last weekend did some impromptu opera singing in Gallery 8, overtaken by the Winnipeg Now exhibition (with 13 Winnipeg artists). The heartfelt singing came from the voices of a man and a woman and emanated from an area near an untitled piece that looks like an explosion, created by artist Sarah Anne Johnson. "I heard it from the skylight gallery," says my spy. "It lasted five minutes and it was good!"

The WAG event raised over $330,000. Close to 500 guests dined in the galleries, which were transformed by dramatic floral displays created by Winnipeg floral designers

Spotted: Mayor Sam Katz and wife Leah Pasuta; Stephen Borys, WAG executive director; Hazel Borys, chairwoman of the Centennial Ball committee and president of PlaceMakers, LLC; Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra conductor Alexander Mickelthwate; and André Lewis, artistic director at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Artist Wanda Koop made the scene, as did filmmaker Guy Maddin and Carol Phillips, executive director of the Winnipeg Arts Council; David Barnard, president, University of Manitoba; and Kevin Donnelly, senior vice-president and general manager, the MTS Centre. Philanthropist Gail Asper attended, as did Scott Thompson, president and CEO of Manitoba Hydro; Sandy Riley, president and CEO of Richardson Financial Group Ltd.; Arnie Thorsteinson, president, Shelter Canadian Properties Ltd.; and Sen. Douglas Everett.

Got tips, events, sightings, unusual things going on? Call Maureen's tip line at 204-474-1116, email to Maureen.Scurfield@Winnipegfreepress.com, or send letters to Maureen Scurfield, c/o The Insider, 1355 Mountain Ave., R2X 3B6

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 26, 2012 B3

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