November is Moustache Month
and much more
Like the leaves of fall November is quite a mix of entertainment
By Byron Toben
Movember, a men’s health project, is now in its 18th year. It was started in 2003 in Australia by two mates, Travis Garone and Luke Slattery while having a beer in Melbourne. Inspired by a friend’s mother who had raised funds to counter breast cancer, they decided to do something for men. They rounded up 28 others to form the first Movember to grow moustaches during November to raise funds to counter prostate cancer.
That humble start has now expanded to 18 countries and six and a half million participants. The rules are simple enough – start with a clean-shaven face on November 1 and do not shave it off, if at all, until December 1. Beards and goatees do not count, and light grooming is allowed. Use the growing mustache to generate conversation about men’s and women’s health.
Men sporting their Movember moustaches – Image: Kris Walton, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Movember has been listed, since 2012, as one of the top 100 in the 500 best NGOs in the world. Their activities and partnerships now include diagnostic urine tests, genomic research and depression research. The 18 countries with incorporated non-profit entities are Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Hong Kong, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.
Movember has been listed, since 2012, as one of the top 100 in the 500 best NGOs in the world. Their activities and partnerships now include diagnostic urine tests, genomic research and depression research.
Mo Bros and Mo Sistas have been encouraged with slogans like “Give Prostate Cancer a Kick in the Arse” and “No Mo is an Island.” The longest recorded mustache in Guinness records is 14 feet long (took 38 years to grow). The six styles most favoured in 2021 are: Chevron, English, Handle Bar, Horse Shoe, Pencil and Walrus (the Toothbrush went out of style with Hitler.)
Four anglos surviving the COVID apocalypse promo illustration by Aislyn
Theatre
FOUR ANGLOS SURVIVING THE COVID APOCALYPSE
This four-person concoction previews out at Theatre Lac-Brome in Knowlton on October 29 at 7:30 pm, October 30 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm) and October 31 at 2 pm.
Directed by Ellen David, it features witty Gazette columnist Josh Freed and ever-popular timely songsters Bowser and Blue (George Bowser and Rick Blue), aided and abetted by top Gazette cartoonist Terry Mosher (aka Aislin).
It then decamps to the JAX church, 1439 Ste-Catherine W in Montreal, from November 3 to 17. Hopefully, copies of Josh Freed’s new book, Letters From The Pandemic, will also be available there.
OMI MOUNA
Montreal’s Infinitheatre returns to live theatre with the English premiere of Omi Mouna. This show, featuring writer, performer, co-director Mohsen El Gharbi, was a hit throughout Quebec and New Brunswick. This is its English language premiere, translated by playwright Leanna Brodie.Described as “A fantastical encounter with my great grandmother”, it is co-directed by Zack Fraser.
‘Montreal’s Infinitheatre returns to live theatre with the English premiere of Omi Mouna. This show, featuring writer, performer, co-director Mohsen El Gharbi, was a hit throughout Quebec and New Brunswick.’
Mr. El Gharbi has performed five other solo shows and is described as a charismatic actor. Tickets, including tax, are $30 ($25 for students, seniors and QDF). Further discounts for groups of ten or more.
Mohsen El Gharbi in Omi Mouna – Image: courtesy of Mohsen El Gharbi
Film
CINEMANIA
Cinemania, the popular French films with English subtitles festival, opens its 17th season from November 2 to 14 in theatres and November 2 to 21 online. Passports are available for theatre only or hybrid. Individual tickets are also possible. The theatres are Cinema Imperial, Cinema de Musée, Cinema de Parc, Cinema Outremont and Cinema Beaubien. The 88 films include features, shorts and documentaries.
Mixed
FESTIVAL SEFARAD
The annual Festival Sefarad runs from November 6 to 21. This celebration of Jewish culture from Arabic lands hosts a mix of lectures, music and films. Sephardic Jews from those lands spoke Ladino rather than the northern and Eastern European Ashkenazi lands who spoke Yiddish.
‘Many of the topics deal with Jewish treatment in North African lands during and after the Holocaust. Lighter topics include a culinary evening on Hanukah Fritters with Sima Misrahi.’
This year’s festival appears to feature 14 items. Those that are virtual are free. Those that are in person (conferences, panels, performances) charge varying amounts such as $8 or so. The most expensive, a dramatic play at the spacious Theatre National at 1290 Ste-Catherine East, is $46.63.
Many of the topics deal with Jewish treatment in North African lands during and after the Holocaust. Lighter topics include a culinary evening on Hanukah Fritters with Sima Misrahi.
POETRY READING
The Nation Magazine, founded in 1865 as an abolitionist magazine, has continued to this day as a publisher of progressive thought. In addition to its social, political or economic articles, it has published a variety of poetry. On November 5, it has a free online poetry reading featuring Ada Limón, Jos Charles and Threa Almontaser.
Feature image: scene from Marcher sur l’eau, courtesy of Cinemania
More articles from Byron Toben
Byron Toben, a past president of The Montreal Press Club, has been WestmountMag.ca’s theatre reviewer since July 2015. Previously, he wrote for since terminated web sites Rover Arts and Charlebois Post, print weekly The Downtowner and print monthly The Senior Times. He also is an expert consultant on U.S. work permits for Canadians.
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