Wow! What is this?? A November Dandelion Diaries coming in more than a week late? I guess that tells you how busy the Dandelion team has been! And we could not be happier! Our first in-person show; After Icarus, was an amazing success! It was so wonderful to see so many of your supportive beautiful faces in person! We want to send a hearty thank you out to everyone who supported us with this show and in the past, we are eternally grateful! If you missed the show, you will find some fun rehearsal photos at the bottom of this post! A special thank you to Emily Rocha for taking all the rehearsal photos - no one could have captured these moments better! After Icarus really put us in the perfect mood, not just for a fun and spooky Halloween, but also for our next project in the coming months! Dandelion has lots in the works for the winter season and now that we have done our first in-person show, there is no stopping us!
Dandelion Theatre also has some exciting new changes happening internally as we mentioned in last month’s Dandelion Diaries, lots of our lovely dandelion members were in the midst of change! One of those changes is a new Associate Artistic Director, our lovely Tymika Tafari has a lot of very exciting things in the works and has had to step away from Dandelion, but we wish her nothing but the best! And our very own Joshua Sidlofsky will be taking over the position now! As the leaves change so do we!
Community Work:
*if you have original work (poetry, short stories, short dialogues, jokes, visual art, etc.), please submit to dandeliontheatreto@gmail.com and your work will surely be featured in our next edition!
This month we have a special treat of some poetry from one of our beloved Dandelion Community members: Jenette Meehan (give her a follow @jenette_meehan on Instagram).
Detours – Jenette Meehan
I cut myself the other day. I knew it was going to happen. I was cutting onions and I just missed my finger - and my brain said ‘I’m going to cut my finger’. And half an hour later, when I was cutting olives, I did. Nearly sliced off the tip, complete with a crunching sound when it sliced through the nail. I thought I was going to pass out. I think it was the first of my intrusive thoughts to come true. I keep asking myself, did I make it happen? Not on purpose, consciously, but some deep- seated part of my brain that willed it to. The place that nightmares come from. ‘I’m going to cut my finger’ What would happen if.... what would happen if I walked over to that person and licked their elbow or drove my car into the lake? Would they laugh and happen to be my soul mate? Would my car fill with water and launch me into an undiscovered underwater world? No. I know the outcomes. The real ones. The ones I don’t have to will to be true. I’d probably be escorted off the premises and fined for not following nhs guidelines. I’d total my car, injure myself and whoever was in it with me, sparking a lawsuit that would take years to settle. I know I didn’t do it on purpose. I don’t want to hurt myself. but sometimes my brain takes me on journeys of the potential paths of my life. From massive u-turn detours to a nip down a back road to avoid traffic. What if I leaned over right now and kissed him? What if? What if? What if? I am tired of waiting for things to happen - as bloody as they may be. But somethings can’t be undone. The scar will never disappear, that friendship will never be the same. Do I? Should I? Did I will this to happen? What would happen If? I’ve done it. I’ll tell you. Your finger will bleed and he won’t kiss you back.
Recommendations:
Here you can find recommendations from Dandelion’s team members! Each diary will include a new list of our updated favourites! Have you watched or read something that you think we should know about? Shoot us a message on our Facebook, Instagram, or twitter with your recommendations!
The French Dispatch
“The new Wes Anderson movie came out last week! And let me tell you it did not disappoint! It’s got those gorgeous visuals and colors that any Wes Anderson movie guarantees. Along with his usual squad of amazing talent: Owen Wilson (a personal fav if ya know ya know), Benicio Del Toro, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, and Tilda Swinton with newcomers Saoirse Ronan and Timothee Chalamet amongst a bunch of others, like if I were to list all the stars this review would be endless. It’s written as a sort of anthology so you really get to see the ensemble cast shine. And I don’t know about you but any Wes Anderson movies just make my heart so happy, something about them just feels so wholesome. So, 10/10 would recommend some popcorn, a fuzzy blanket, and letting this lovely little movie warm your heart this fall.” – Reid Martin (Outreach Coordinator)
Money Heist
“I can’t remember the last time I was this invested in a show before. Money Heist is a massive cultural phenomenon and I hadn’t understood the hype until now. The story follows about ten low-level criminals as they try and rob the Royal Mint of Spain. Eventually (without giving any spoilers), they become Robin Hood figures and heroes of the people. The character development for the show is truly unique. Each robber has their own unique motivations for being in the bank, and how they break down over the show is sometimes hard to watch. By the end of the third episode you’ll be hooked, I promise. The best part about the show is they somehow always find a way to raise the stakes. I’ve never gasped or spoken to the tv as much as I do with this show. I’m afraid to finish the fourth season because I don’t want anything bad to happen to certain characters. That’s how much I love the show. Also, make sure you’re watching it in Spanish. The English Dub never does a show justice.” – Joshua Sidlofsky (Associate Artistic Director)
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
“The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay remains to this day one of my favourite novels I have had the pleasure of reading. Set against the backdrop of wartime America in the middle of the 20th century, this story follows two young comic book writers trying to reckon with their own identities in a country in flux. This book deals with themes of jewish cultural identity, sexuality, and harsh social climates in brilliantly unique and nuanced ways. It is an epic so be prepared to have a story that will stick with you if you are willing to stick with it. Highly recommend for anyone with an interest in historical fiction, comic books, Jewish literature, and a very dry humour.” - Max Ackerman (Artistic Director)
Recipes:
A Dandelion tested and approved recipe sure to bring joy to your afternoon picnics or midnight snacks!
Homestyle Mushroom Soup: Submitted by Patricia Pham (Marketing and Events Coordinator)
Just a nice little soup to warm your bellies during these harsh autumn winds!
Ingredients:
2 tbsp (30ml) butter
1lb (454g) sliced button mushrooms
1lb (454g) sliced shiitake/oyster mushrooms
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2tsp (10 ml) chopped fresh thyme/1tsp (5ml) dried
4 cups (1L) broth
1cup (250ml) 35% whipping creme
1tsp (5ml) salt
Directions
1) Heat butter over med/high & cook mushrooms, onion, garlic, and thyme - stir often for 20mins/till golden and liquid evaporates
2) Add broth, cream, and salt & bring to boil & simmer gently for 10 mins
3) Blend until smooth
Photo Fun!
