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Country Supper Storytelling Concerts

Country Supper Storytelling Concerts

A Country Supper Storytelling Concert is just what the name suggests: an excellent traditional evening meal followed by first-rate professional entertainment, all in a rural setting. William Wordsworth said that poetry "takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility." Storytelling finds its destination in the same place.

The woodlands and open spaces of Northern Bruce Peninsula , their alvars, meadows, bosks and bogs with their rich communities of flora and fauna, offer that fundamental tranquillity. The stories themselves swell with emotion. The tellers and you the audience are the means of recollection.

Storytelling is a joint artistic venture of the teller and the audience. We create the work of art together. Like the proverbial tree falling in the forest, the story makes no sound if you cannot hear it.

For you to play and enjoy your part to the utmost, you need a full stomach. Emotion, tranquillity, and food! These are the essential elements of the art of storytelling. We have them all.

And such stories, such food! The best tales and ballads from the classical and folk traditions, Canadian, world-wide, and Voyageur's own. The proud yield of the farms and waters of Bruce and Grey, flavoured and garnished by the exotic gardens of the world.

Each concert celebrates a particular theme with a shaped selection of stories, songs and recitations.

In the tradition of country meals we do not offer much choice in the menu, but if you are a vegetarian or have special dietary needs, you need only give us a few hours notice (days are better) and we will do our best to look after you.

We are not licensed to serve wine, beer or liquor. On your arrival we will serve you a glass of our Amazing Punch, and during dinner chilled water from our deep, pristine well. Before the concert and during intermission we offer fair trade organic coffee (regular or decaf) and a wide selection of black, greeen and herbal teas.

Our 2009 Concerts

Friday Evenings: Sabbath Celebration, to begin of the Jewish Sabbath with the warm fires of tradition, fine Jewish food and good company. We sit around the table, we light candles, we ask blessings, we eat, we sing, we tell stories, we reflect, we get up from time to time to stretch our legs, we enjoy each other's company. This evening is a domestic celebration of timeless grace and beauty.

Other Evenings (altnerating): Food for Thought: we think therefore we are (at least according to Descartes), and we are what we eat (everybody knows that). Recent research has revealed the plasticity of the brain, in which the imagination plays a particular part. We know that our Country Supper Storytelling Concerts stimulate the imagination, and that our food is important to the process. Can we establish a direct link between our food and the plasticity of your brain? (Sorry, that is the term used by brain scientists. We know of course that your brain isn't made of plastic, but of diverse precious mettle.)

Other Evenings (alternating): Full Fathom Forty-Five, put your girdle round the earth half-way between Equator and Pole. T.S. Eliot tells us that "Between the idea and the reality lies the shadow." The idea of half-way from Equator to Pole is the Forty-Fifth Parallel, which crosses the Bruce Peninsula just north of a line from Stokes Bay to Lion's Head. The reality of half-way is 45º, 8 minutes, 45.7 seconds, which crosses just north of Voyageur Storytelling. We therefore live in Eliotian Shadowland, at least latitudinally, and perhaps in other ways too. Our research has revealed that this Shadlowland is a very interesting piece of country indeed, if you follow it around the world. This we will do, and show you just how fascinating it is.

Reservations are required for all performances. For regularly scheduled performances we can take same-day reservations, if we have space. It is always wise to reserve at least a day ahead, more so during the summer season. Please see our section on Reservations for further details.

Meals: Country Suppers

A typical Voyageur Storytelling supper looks like this:

When you arrive we serve you a glass of our special Fruit Punch. The voyageurs themselves, of course, preferred more hardy beverages, but we are not licensed to serve them. People seem to find our punch a worthy substitute.

The meal itself usually begins with gefilte fish an apetizer and buns or bread hot from the oven. After that comes the soup. This year, in honour of our Food for Thought concert, we are serving chowder. The main course usually consists of lamb or beef stew, or chicken pieces, or roast turkey, served with rice or potatoes and vegetables, and accompanied by our own Inevitable Salad. We serve dessert during intermission, and it's always the same: apple pie straight from the oven and Chapman's locally made ice cream. After the main course, and during intermission, we offer you a choice of fair trade organic coffee or decaffeinated coffee, and a selection of black, green and herbal teas.

On Friday evenings we serve a traditional Jewish Sabbath meal: gefilte fish, challah, chicken soup with matzo balls, roast chicken with potato kugel, vegetables, and salad, with the usual dessert. The Sabbath meal is always a special occasion at Voyageur Storytelling.

In the tradition of country meals, we do not offer much choice. If you are a vegetarian, or have allergies or special dietary needs, please let us know ahead of time. We are then able and happy to adapt.