evalyn parry brings her award-winning play "Spin," to the Osprey Arts Centre Saturday, May 4 at 8:00pm
Featuring Brad Hart playing the live soundtrack on a 1972 CCM Galaxie Bicycle, pump and vocals, Spin has delighted audiences wherever it has played.
Innovative, Toronto artist parry takes her audience on an uncommon theatrical and musical journey in SPIN, her tour-de-force performance celebrating the Bicycle as muse, or "musical instrument and agent of social change."
Inspired in part by the incredible true tale of Annie Londonderry – the first woman to ride around the world on a bicycle in 1894 – parry spins a web of stories which travel from 19th century women’s emancipation to 21st century consumer culture, peeling back layers of history to ultimately reveal a profoundly contemporary and personal heart to her theme of liberation.
parry’s co-star is a vintage bicycle: suspended in a mechanic’s stand on stage, and outfitted with electronic pick-ups, the bike is played by percussionist Brad Hart, who conjures an astonishing array of sounds on his ”iron horse”, creating a richly textured and utterly unique sonic accompaniment to Parry’s songs and monologues.
SPIN is staged by award-winning director Ruth Madoc-Jones with video and production design by acclaimed designer Beth Kates, and sound design concepts by Anna Friz.
Critics have lavished praise on parry and Spin:
“…a welcome breath of fresh air….SPIN makes something beautiful out of taking your life into your own hands“ Globe & Mail
“…this magnetic artist and her winning production team invest the work with such intelligence and playfulness, it’s hard not to be charmed. NOW Magazine
“the depth Parry gives to the concept of the bicycle through her script is quite staggering…an ingenious mixture of songs, monologues, video projection, and modern technology ” Torontoist
“Part spoken word performance, part rock concert, part political manifesto… completely awesome.” Mooney on Theatre
Tickets ($20 adults / $5 students) are available in advance at the Whirligig Book Shop from Wednesday to Saturday by calling 8751117 or dropping by the store.
