Poetry Slam provincial finals hits the stage Friday night

POETRY SLAMMIN': The Cyrk's Poetry Slam provincial finals take place Friday night in one of the coolest venues in Winnipeg -- a private house with a stage at 254 Young St. (discreet entrance in the back.) So what is a poetry slam? Performers get three minutes to do whatever they wish -- usually poetry or soapbox rants -- and they can accompany it with mouth sounds or body movement.

Says organizer Drek Daa: "You can read lyrics, do hip-hop or scream for three minutes, but there's no props allowed."

And you Bring-Your-Own-Beverage to this unusual Winnipeg house party for poets, friends and curiosity seekers. Doors open at 8 p.m. and you must sign up in person -- no calling in by phone, and backing out later. The winner later competes with slam champs in Vancouver.

Suggested admission is $5. House owner Daa provides munchies, but you can, too. Ah, the quirky charms of Winnipeg.

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LESS THAN KIND WRESTLING: HBO TV series Less Than Kind, about chubby North End Winnipeg kid Sheldon Blecher (played by Jesse Camacho) and his dysfunctional driver-training family, is busy shooting Sheldon getting into a tough, cool guy sport. Recently, local wrestling brothers Caleb Rutner, 16, and Seth Rutner, 20, have been on set with Winnipeg Wrestling Club pals doing everything from wrestling to chugging beer

"Now we're doing the party scene at the sound stage as the wrestling team, the jocks, the cool kids, who just won their first tournament," says Seth.

"We had to chug beers -- iced tea in cups. We did FIVE takes! I felt like I was going to erupt, and I was like, oh-my-God, I had to pee so bad."

It's a tough life. As extras, they make $11 an hour, and when they get into the action as special-skills extras, they make $35.

Younger brother Caleb has been wrestling internationally and is involved in the wrestling moves -- but there are long waits.

"I try to study. Well, that's what I tell Dad. We have decks of cards and we play blackjack or poker," says Caleb.

But, some days you just wait around 12 hours. "It's kind of an underwhelming experience -- like waiting for a plane for four hours," says Caleb.

"But it's pretty fun when you're on set on camera and interacting with the other actors."

Less Than Kind received the 2010 Gemini award for best comedy program or series.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS: Jennifer Jones, the famous curler/lawyer, is in the finals for a Manitoba movers-and-shakers award Thursday night.

The swanky gala event is called Exceptional Young People: Living, Working and Thriving. Nominees must be 25 to 39 and Jones, as a July 17,1974 baby, just squeaked in under the wire. Nominations for the awards can come from peers, bosses, colleagues and (get this), proud parents. Then everybody gets thoroughly checked out -- in-depth interviews, judges, the whole bit.

Arts finalists include Celeste Brunel, Jillian Ramsay, and Sarah Michaelson. Community service contenders are Kevin Freedman, Michelle Frost, and Danielle Weidman, and business/professional finalists are Dalbir Bains, Dr. Chau Pham, and Jones.

Winners receive an award presented by Lesley Hamilton and honorary chair Gerry Price of E.H. Price. Hamilton, 29, is the brainchild of the three-year-old awards bash at the Hotel Fort Garry, done in conjunction with the Business Council of Manitoba.

"I graduated from university and all my friends left the province for greener pastures. I thought, instead of complaining about Manitoba cold and mosquitoes, why not be positive and reward those who are staying and giving back?" Hamilton says.

Got tips, events, sightings, unusual things going on? Email maureen.scurfield@ winnipegfreepress.com or send mail to The Insider c/o The Winnipeg Free Press at 1355 Mountain Ave. Winnipeg R2X 3B6

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 26, 2011 B2