Intouchables: A must see at Théâtre du Rideau Vert

(Courtesy of Théâtre du Rideau Vert)  

Intouchables: A must see at Théâtre du Rideau Vert

By Wendy Singer and Joëlle Grundman

The film Intouchables is one of the most touching French movies that I have seen. I was excited to hear that Théâtre du Rideau Vert was adapting this film for the stage, and would be playing in Montreal from March 24 to April 26, and again in May at two other venues.

Starring Antoine Bertrand and Luc Guérin, and directed by René Richard Cyr,

Intouchables tells the true story of Philippe Pozzo di Borgo, a widowed billionaire who became a quadripligic after a paragliding accident, who hires the most unlikely of caregivers.

 

Antoine Bertrand and Luc Guérin (Courtesy of Théâtre du Rideau Vert)  

The play was masterfully adapted from the film by Emmanuel Reichenbach, who integrates Quebec culture at every turn, including changing his ex-con caregiver’s name from Driss to Louis, and inserting references understood only in our province, from popular locations to explicit curse words. These references endear the audience from the beginning and has them rolling with laughter throughout the play.

Moving from funny to touching, this French-language play shares the budding friendship of Philippe and Louis. This duo, who come from complete ends of the social scale, learn from one another, and in the end, find happiness in a place once inhabited by darkness and dead ends.

 

(Courtesy of Théâtre du Rideau Vert)  

(Courtesy of Théâtre du Rideau Vert)  

Philippe is endeared to Louis because of his humour, his ability to poke fun of his paralysis, and to cut to the chase, seeing far beyond the wheelchair, looking right at the person he is. Time and again, Louis’ clumsiness with words, lack of filter, and undeniable charm, bring Philippe out of his shell and back into life, giving him vision to see that he can still live, and attain his dreams. The feeling is mutual, as we see Louis transform from ex-con to a caring man with a purpose.

Luc Guérin plays an outstanding Philippe from a motorized wheelchair, while Antoine Bertrand’s delightful Louis does not break from his antics, gags, and affection, making for a beautiful piece of theatre.

Après avoir vu le film français, je m'attendais à rire. Je n 'avais aucune idée que je rirais autant ! Les acteurs sont phénoménaux et la qualité de leur performance est impressionnante. Les références québécoises sont nombreuses et nous touchent directement.

La pièce nous amène à réfléchir au sujet des différences de classes sociales et des personnes handicapées. Je recommande fortement de voir cette adaptation québécoise inspirée d'une histoire vraie.

Intouchables is playing at Théâtre du Rideau Vert until April 26, Salle Pierre-Mercure from May 6 to 10, and L’étoile Banque Nationale from May 20 to 24. For information visit http://www.rideauvert.qc.ca.

Rick Hansen: Difference Maker in Motion visits Montreal

Linda Mahler and Wendy Singer with Rick Hansen at the Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers convention

Rick Hansen: A Difference Maker in Motion

"You never know when the penny will drop"

By Wendy Singer

It is not every day that we get to meet a true Canadian hero. And when we do, it is a true privilege. After a day of meeting and greeting teachers at the Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers convention on November 27, Linda Mahler and I joined hundreds of Quebec teachers to listen to Rick Hanson deliver the key note address of the convention.

After being greeted with a standing ovation, Mr. Hanson got right down to the meat of his story, which is laced with optimism, love, support, and dreams for the future. Hansen was injured in a truck accident when he was 15 years old. The diagnosis: a spinal cord injury (SCI) that paralyzed his physical functions below his waist. 

"My whole life felt like it was shattered along with my spine," shared Hansen to a captivated audience. "It hit me like a brick. I was ready to give up on the most important thing in life - hope."

After spending months in a Stryker bed that turned him every three hours, Hansen came to a realization that would change the course of his life: "I knew that if I  could start working my arms things would happen."

And so they did. Hansen tells his story with such passion that his energy is contagious. I'm certain I am not alone in saying that I had goosebumps throughout his entire presentation. It was energizing, inspiring, real.

Hansen's change of focus from stagnation to recuperation led him to his greatest obstacle: overcoming his own view of his challenges. The moment that he realized that he was still the same person, he still wanted to teach physical education to kids, and that "it's not about your legs, it's about your heart" was a pivotal one. 

As Hansen wheeled himself across the stage with varying degrees of strength that matched the tempo of his thoughts, he rolled his audience right along with him, providing inspirational nugget after inspirational nugget.

"This chair is not a symbol of disability, it's my chariot."

"It's not what happens to you, it's what you do with it."

Hansen's family and teachers never let him off the hook. They continuously inspired him to remove the handicap he was putting on himself. In turn, he encourage every teacher in the room to continue encouraging their students to follow their dreams.

Best known for his Man in Motion World Tour - a 26-month trek that logged more than 40,000 km through 34 countries and raised $26 million for SCI research and quality of life initiatives, Hansen was one of the final torchbearers in the 2010 Winter Olympics, and was profiled and spoke during the opening ceremony for the 2010 Winter Paralympics.

Like Terry Fox, who was a close friend of his, Hansen is an international hero. His Tour taught him that no matter what, you never give up. It taught him how to shift attitudinal barriers that don't need to be there, and that shifting views is possible. As he learnt as he was carried up the Great Wall of China (which now has a wheelchair access ramp), "there are no barriers, no walls that can't be climbed."

Married with three daughters, Hansen is busy with the Rick Hansen Foundation (www.rickhansen.com) which focuses on improving the quality of life for people living with SCI and other disabilities; addressing conservation and preservation of the world’s resources; creating a fully inclusive society, where every person can contribute in meaningful ways to their community. 

The Rick Hansen School Program is a comprehensive set of resources for administrators, teachers and students designed to increase disability awareness, accessibility and inclusion, and empower young people to make a difference in their school, community and the world.

Teachers and administrators say that the Program decreases bullying, improves student attitudes and perceptions of people with disabilities, and results in student initiatives to improve classrooms, schools and communities. To learn more, visit http://www.rickhansen.com/What-We-Do/School-Program.

Hansen's presentation is full of genuine emotion and humour. From anecdotes of his acceptance as the first person in a wheelchair into the Phys Ed program at the University of British Columbia to bungee jumping with Rick Mercer, he made us feel like we were sitting in his living room on a casual afternoon.

Hansen continues to grow and inspire. He has moved from supporting SCI to finding a cure. "The World Health Organizations states that there are 1.3 billion people living with disabilities. We need to live while we dream for cures. We need role models and leaders to lead the way." This Man in Motion is all that, in every sense of the word, and more. He is a Difference Maker.

Visit www.rickhansen.com/DM for more information.

Hannibal The Musical: I Can Dream Theatre Group

Hannibal is magical with the I Can Dream Theatre Group 

By Wendy Singer

I am a theatre buff, and look forward to theatre nights with great excitement. But nothing compares to the anticipation of the yearly production of the I Can Dream Theatre Group's musical comedy.

Now with it's third production under its belt, it is safe to say that the I Can Dream troupe has  developed a loyal following. A following of community members that can't wait to be entertained by this group, that cheers from their seats during performances, and that starts the countdown of days until the next production the moment the curtain falls on the current show!

As Inspirations's Coordinator of Educational Outreach Linda Mahler exclaimed after bringing two friends to this year's musical comedy Hannibal the Musical: "It only takes one show to become a fan of I Can Dream."

This year's production included 20 cast members, five of which were new to the troupe. All have different abilities, be they singing, dancing and acting, and have various special needs from autism to Down syndrome. And once again, the triple threat of Ada Masciarelli (Writer and Director), Michele Matthews (Musical Director and Choreographer), and Tricia Bartley (Production Manager) provided outstanding direction to all cast members, ensuring that all actors had the opportunity to shine on stage.

The cast of I Can Dream's Hannibal The Musical. (Photo credit, Katherine Meyendorff)

In a mere six months, the trio of Masciarelli, Matthews and Bartley brought the cast together to spoof the disreputable Hannibal Lecter, who was masterfully and comically played by the talented Andrew Raymond Perez.

The scripts of I Can Dream Theatre are known for their comical twists and turns that reunite us with pop culture, from characters from the Brady Bunch to Gilligan's Island. Their plots unwind while intertwined with musical numbers that get the crowd moving and cheering in their seats.

All numbers were fantastic. We were particularly excited to see Maxwell Po (playing Adam Cartwright) leading the number I Saw Her Standing There with a beautiful voice and great dance moves. Max had joined us at Inspirations just two days earlier to help us distribute our Fall / Winter edition. He was relaxed and excited about the show, but didn't let the cat out of the bag and tell us what a talented performer he is!

Maxwell Po and cast.

Steven Atme, long time friend of ours at Inspirations, played Father de Bricissart and Fred Lecter, father of brothers Hannibal and Harry Lecter (wonderfully played by Gabriel Fadda). In the role of Fred Lecter, Atme presented a captivating monologue that explored his character's feelings after his wife left him and his sons. It was intense, moving, and had more than one audience member in tears. But what followed blew the roof off of the show! Atme and Paul Baloukas (nailing the role of cowboy Ben Cartwright - hillbilly accent and all), performed a resounding rendition of The Prayer. This performance is not to be missed as they mingled English with Italian in their perfectly pitched operatic tones. The audience ate the performance up, breaking into applause half way through the number. Treat yourself to a watch of this video at https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=840235902705299&set=vb.487345161327710&type=2&theater. It has already gone viral with 130 shares and counting on Facebook alone! Is a visit to the Ellen Show the next step for these two prodigies?

Paul Baloukas and Steven Atme singing The Prayer.

Backstage with some cast members. (Photo credit, Katherine Meyendorff)

Congratulations to the entire cast, crew, directorial team and The Dreamers Band for an exceptional production. Hannibal the Musical not only gave people with special needs a platform to develop their abilities and entertain, it subtly addressed the issues of difference.

Ainslie MacDonald (playing Jan Brady) and Kelsey-Love Armstrong (playing Marsha Brady)
(Photo credit, Katherine Meyendorff)

Steven Atme, Paul Baloukas, Jamal Thomas, and Maxwell Po.

Auditions for next year's production will take place in December. Contact I Can Dream at icandreamtheatre@gmail.com. Connect with them at I Can Dream Theatre Group-Montreal on Facebook, @icandreamMTL on Twitter, and their website: www.icandreamtheatregroup.com.

Check out I Can Dream's Happy video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8IQt6nwo4o.

ps. Rumour has it that Michele Matthews has already begun choreography for next year's show. Stay tuned for details!

The C.A.R.E. Centre hypnotizes for funds

The C.A.R.E. Centre hypnotizes for funds

C.A.R.E. Program Director Olivia Quesnel, with C.A.R.E. client Donna, and hypnotist Ariel Sherker.

By Wendy Singer

On Sunday, November 2, we attended a stage hypnosis show and fundraiser for The C.A.R.E. Centre at the Harold Greenspon Auditorium in Cote Saint-Luc.

A grassroots group founded by parents, the C.A.R.E. Centre is a day-centre for adults with physical disabilities. Located at Marymount Adult Education Centre, English Montreal School Board (EMSB) in Cote Saint-Luc, they offer recreational and educational activities to adults over 21 with physical disabilities. Services are provided in English.

C.A.R.E. has been in existence as a non-profit organization for the past 16 years with the help of the EMSB, SACA and the SOC. Clients are offered a wide range of recreational and educational actives from arts and crafts to music, current events, baking, yoga and meditation, outings, and more. Their high client-to-staff ratio allows them to offer individual help with activities, which enables clients to participate to the fullest of their abilities.


C.A.R.E. also helps clients contact the necessary resources to help them live full and enriching lives, from adapted equipment, wheelchair repair, to housing information. The nature of the centre enables staff and clients to really get to know each other and form  special bonds and long lasting friendships. It is a place to learn, to socialize, to communicate and have fun.

Many of the C.A.R.E. clients were out on November 2 to support the organization. The crowd was warmed up with a hilarious opening comedy act by local comic Dan Laxer.

Comedian Dan Laxer performs at the Harold Greenspon Auditorium in Cote Saint-Luc

And then..the talented Montreal hypnotist Ariel Sherker took to the stage with a group of volunteers who were eager to be hypnotized, and subsequently become the highlights of this afternoon show.

Volunteers with Ariel Sherker at the Harold Greenspon Auditorium 

Through an intricate and gentle hypnotic procedure, Ariel gradually focused on four of her volunteers who were deeply hypnotized. Under hypnosis, these volunteers had fun freely expressing themselves. From dancing various styles of dance to Elvis impersonation, to fly swatting, these four people were ready to accept any suggestion that Ariel put forward. This, of course, provided excellent entertainment for the spectators! Deeper than the laughs, it was quite fascinating to see how hypnosis can reach parts of the brain that we so rarely access.

The four volunteers who went the deepest into hypnosis are captured dancing, with hypnotist Ariel Sherker

Congratulations to the organizers for a wonderful event, raising funds for an important Centre. For information about the C.A.R.E. Centre, visit www.carecentre.org or call 514-383-7200 #6205. For information about hypnosis visit www.arielhypnosis.ca.

The All Abilities Expo brought 70 exhibitors together 

to share their services and expertise

On October 19th, 70 exhibitors gathered at Stade Uniprix for the largest annual gathering of individuals, families, advocates, organizations, and agencies that cater to individuals with special needs and disabilities.

We were proud to be a part of the Quebec Special Needs Association event, which showcased  exhibitor services that included Assante Capital Mangement Ltd, ABR Canada, iLoc Technologies,  Michele Perry, Physipro, Island Hyperbarics Centre, The Big Blue Hug, Lakeshore Soccer, Yaldei, Centre Neuropsychologie et de Psychologie de Laval, Rekinéxion, Giant Steps, Étoile de Pacho, and Proset Autism.

The organizers chose a perfect venue,  with ample space for expo attendees to leisurely visit exhibitors. The Stade Uniprix was well located, fully accessible, and well attended by families and individuals with special needs. Kudos to Marla Vineberg, Event and Exhibition Manager, Quebec Special Needs Association, for seeking out so many reputable and varied services, who shared their expertise with the hundreds of guests that came in search of new services, ideas, and support.

Master of Ceremony Barry Morgan, host of CJAD's The Barry Morgan Show was on board to facilitate the event programming, which included entertainment by Steven Abadi, who sang at the opening ceremony, The I Can Dream Theatre Group, which serenaded guests upon arrival, Luca "Lazylegz" Patuelli and his dance troupe who offered hip hop demonstrations, and Andre Langevin, who shared a karate demonstration and lesson.

Karate classes for children with autism and their parents have been developed, adapted and based on the personal experience of teachers karate André Langevin and his wife Nathalie Paré.

Children were treated to a babysitting service, which looked like tons of fun, and they probably enjoyed perusing many of the 'kid friendly' exhibitors, who sets up a wonderful spread of toys that children are welcome to try out.

The Expo gave us the opportunity to catch up with old friends, and meet new ones! We were particularly pleased to end the day with a visit from three delightful visitors from The Action Centre. We enjoy every opportunity we get to connect, exchange stories, and share a laugh or two with the community we strive to support. Thanks you to the Quebec Special Needs Association for providing us this invaluable opportunity. We encourage everyone we met to keep in touch and share your stories. They are all, well, inspirational!

Erika Tencer and Ann Crabtree

                                                              The Big Blue Hug

                                                               Jennifer and Robin

For more photos, check out our Facebook page : www.facebook.com/inspirationsnews.

Tips from Dr. Raby Bouras, Ph.D. Pediatric Neuropsychologist

Tips to assist higher functioning students with 

autism spectrum disorders achieve their potential

Guest Blogger:

Dr. Raby Bouras, Ph.D. Pediatric Neuropsychologist

When trying to support their special needs child or student, the first and most important issue one

needs to address is to try to understand what their “special needs” are. Two children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be very different. Needs, services, accommodations or any other interventions should be tailored to that child’s specific profile. To complicate matters further, a child’s profile varies throughout the years, and can vary by leaps and bounds after years of plateauing. Having a child assessed every few years by a paediatric neuropsychologist allows one to understand where the student’s strengths and weaknesses lie at each stage.  

Knowing reliable and pertinent measures such as their intellectual profile, true reading, writing and math skills, attention and executive functioning, and general level of social and adaptive functioning, are critical.  This knowledge helps us to understand the student’s needs at each stage of their general academic development.

With the basic knowledge that a neuropsychological follow-up provides, you can determine what resources to put in place. Although all  students on the spectrum can be supported, the following thoughts are specifically aimed at those that are “higher functioning”, meaning those who struggle through grade school, persevere through an adapted curriculum and are able to begin high school with at least a 3^rd cycle reading and writing level. Whether they need six or seven years to achieve that level should not matter. What matters is that you can support their efforts, and are able to gage YOUR expectations and personal time table.

Special tools, therapies and minor accommodations to their learning environment can have major positive impacts. Knowing your student’s true academic level allows you to adapt their curriculum appropriately. For instance, typical cognitive profiles of students on the spectrum closely resemble those of students with learning disabilities (LDs). Although we cannot speak of LDs proper (i.e. dysorthographia, or ADD, etc.), accommodations used for students with LDs can have the same positive results on those with ASD.

Electronic dictionaries, computers with specialised software that help with reading comprehension and speed, additional time to finalize assignments and exams, and even separate testing environments can be game changers.

A pharmaceutical intervention is at times recommended. By addressing their inattentiveness and impulsivity, some prescriptions gives students the opportunity to make use of their intelligence, reach their potential, succeed, and follow their peers.

Social skills vary greatly from one student on the spectrum to the next.  Direct contact with an experienced practitioner can offer an objective measure of their social knowhow. Options available include social skills training, distant shadowing, or even joining a theatre company. All present new horizons and further inspire academic integration. Sometimes, simply allowing a student to repeat a year, to give them time to grow and mature, spontaneously solves some of the problems. Always remember that a child’s education is not a 100 meter dash, but rather a marathon. It is not necessarily the first one out of the gate that wins.

Dr. Raby Bouras, is a neuropsychologist specialised in paediatric care. He holds a doctoral degree from the only neuropsychology program in Quebec fully accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association. Having completed post-doctoral level training at such prestigious institutes as Havard Medical School and the Montreal Children’s Hospital, Dr. Bouras has extensive knowledge of childhood development. He is currently the director of the Laval Centre for Psychology and Neuropsychology. For information, visit www.NeuropsychologyLaval.com or call the Centre at 514-312-7046.

*Ideas shared in this blog are those of the guest blogger.

The Amazing Adventure of Relationships: a musical ethnodrama by The Centre for the Arts in Human Development at Concordia University

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The Centre for the Arts in Human Development at Concordia University presents:
The Amazing Adventure of Relationships:
a musical ethnodrama

June 12, 13 & 14, 2014

The Centre for the Arts in Human Development at Concordia University (CAHD), established in 1996, is an educational, clinical and research centre serving adults with developmental disabilities and other special needs populations. Located at the university's Loyola Campus in Montreal, Quebec, the Centre is under the auspices of the Department of Creative Arts Therapies in the Faculty of Fine Arts.

Under the direction of Dr. Stephen Snow, every second year CAHD presents a musical ethnodrama. As Dr. Snow describes, "an ethnodrama is a research play because it asks questions. The audience becomes co-researchers as they watch the show. The play is the research report." Actor Amanda explained how the six month process of creating the ethnodrama worked: "We dealt with the issues with perseverance. We didn't give up. We were taught to give 100 percent. And that's what we did."

I had the honour of attending the preview of this show this morning. Produced by Lenore Vosberg, The Amazing Adventures of Relationships is played by 17 actors, who, with enormous courage, share their innermost thoughts and experiences about relationships. It is honest, endearing, and thoughtful. It is not often that we are given the gift of exploration. And this group was fortunate enough to work together to ask, and answer their questions about relationships, intimacy and love.

The show is broken down into three parts.

In the first part, the actors explore issues that include the importance of family, friends, pets, conflict, love, being hurt. All the nitty gritty ins and outs of relationships. Intertwined with catchy and moving musical numbers, the honesty was touching, and I'm certain, due to their reaction, that everyone in the audience (myself included) could relate the material to their own life experiences. 

The second part brings us right into a sex education class where lessons about sexuality, that are often kept hidden, are openly discussed, cleverly including the audience in the 'class'. This bold experiment worked extremely well, opening up an important discussion, particularly about safe sexual health. In addition, by using a baseball analogy, they cleverly demonstrate the participants varying views on intimacy, sexuality, love and relationships.

The third part was most touching to me, where each actor shared their dreams for the future. I won't share those with you, I think you will see what I mean when you see the show. It will make you think hard about your own future dreams.

The ethnodrama concludes with a talk back with the actors. Audience members loved the show, and had a lot to share. 

This ethnodrama is bold, provocative, powerful, emotional, serous and seriously funny. Be prepared to laugh and cry, and share the lessons you will learn! Congratulations to all involved. And thank you.

The show runs from June 12 to 14 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Ignatius of Loyola Church, 4455 West Broadway. 

Unique in Canada, CAHD uses four types of creative arts therapies – art, drama, music and dance/movement – to promote autonomy, improve self-confidence and social skills, and enhance overall quality of life for its participants.

The Centre's mandate is fourfold: providing a setting for therapeutic programs in the creative arts therapies, facilitating student education and training, fostering research, and educating the public, by creating awareness of the abilities of persons with special needs.