For those whose passion lies in theatre, it is a known fact that pursuing acting can be exhilarating and stressful at times. The final result that the audience sees played out on stage involves immense amounts of work and time, talent and most of all tenacity. Yet, all this starts with an audition.
Graphic by Jennifer Kwan
A second year theatre performance major at Concordia, Meagan Schroeder, shared some helpful and insightful tips when auditioning for a play.
The most important thing, Schroeder says, is to “walk in with confidence and a straight posture. First impressions are everything.” Another measure to take is allowing yourself time to do a warm up before the tryouts. Exercising the mouth and warming up muscles before you go in to an audition prepares the person auditioning to be able to give a great performance and put them in the right mindset.
It can be daunting and extremely intimidating to walk into a room with a panel of directors and managers and audition to be a part of something huge. The fear of failure and messing up creates anxiety, which can hinder not only a person’s confidence, but their performance as well.
A person auditioning for a play can spend weeks preparing material to perform in the audition, and sometimes all of this preparation can be ruined if nerves get in the way.
Most importantly, Schroeder advises, is not to overthink. People auditioning need to “trust their gut, because if they hesitate, it will make them seem unsure of themselves, or that they are going to be difficult to work with, and need more direction than others normally would,” She added.
When entering into the world of acting, the competition can be cut-throat. However, not getting a part in a production doesn’t mean failure. The most successful actors and actresses are not the ones that easily get every part they audition for, but those who don’t succeed at first. People who can take criticism and use it to fuel their passion and drive are successful.
It is always important when auditioning for plays to have a thick skin. Asking the director for feedback on an audition and practicing with peers is a great way to improve as an actor. In fact, the more feedback one receives, the more room there is for improvement and success.
So, aspiring thespians of Concordia, go forth, audition and take advantage of what Concordia and Montreal’s performing arts landscape has to offer. Let these tips and your muses be your guide.
On May 25, in Toronto, a new Miss Universe Canada will be crowned and could possibly be Concordia student, Lara Mackenzie. In a recent interview with Mackenzie, we were able to get a little insight into the life of a Miss Universe Canada contestant. This is her first pageant ever. She applied last year when she returned to Montreal after completing an internship in New York.
She is one of eight contestants in the competition from Quebec and is being sponsored by Ideal Body, IDM Landscapes, and Tres Chic Styling.
When asked how it felt to be one of the 60 total contestants in the competition she said it is “a little nerve-wracking and overwhelming, but exciting.” Competitors have to compete with each other in four categories: swimsuit, evening gown, personal interview and fundraising.
Mackenzie has a lot on her plate; along with her course load, Mackenzie also has to find sponsors to support her during the competition, which she says is “like applying for a job all the time.”
Another aspect of the competition is creating a fundraiser for one of two organizations: SOS Children Village Canada and Operation Smile. SOS is a non-profit organization that raises money for neglected and abandoned children and orphans, as well as disadvantaged families. Operation Smile is a volunteer-based medical charity that provides free cleft surgeries for children all over the world. Mackenzie chose to create a fundraiser for Operation Smile and is organizing it at her old elementary school. Her previous charity work has been with the SPCA and the Women’s Optimus Club.
When it comes to why Mackenzie wanted to be a part of Miss Universe Canada, there were several reasons. She wanted to try something new that involved stepping out of her comfort zone. If she wins the title she wants to put it to good use. She would like to promote the prevention of cruelty to animals, something she is very passionate about.
The Miss Universe Canada competition will be broadcasted on May 25 from Toronto. Be sure to watch and vote for Lara as she competes.
Cocoa Locale, a cozy cake shop on Park Ave., is everything that a bakery should be. It is whimsical, homey, and has smells so tantalizing that it’s hard not to buy at least one of everything.
Reema Singh opened the shop five years ago, and has been churning out cakes and baked goods with her own two hands every day ever since. She’s a one-woman show, and she likes it that way. The shop is her baby.
Cocoa Locale is one room consisting of a counter with a display case, behind which Singh has her baking atelier. (Sara Baron-Goodman)
“I would never hire anybody else, I like that everything is up to me,” she said, elbow deep in vanilla cake batter.
Cocoa Locale is just one room consisting of a counter with a display case, behind which Singh has her baking atelier. She mixes and pours her confections as she serves and greets customers.
Artfully decorated, the place is brimming with personality. Corkboards the length of the walls are adorned with picture frames, 1950s ads and postcards, kitschy quotes, and retro baking paraphernalia.
The only seating is a wooden bench under the window, and a wooden swing beside it. This is a take-out shop, and customers can pre-order cakes and other goodies or else pick them up on the spot.
A box of six cupcakes is $15, a small cake ranges from $10 to $12, and a large one from $18 to $20. (Sara Baron-Goodman)
“I do cupcakes but my specialty are cakes,” she said. For Singh, cupcakes are really just a miniature version of her larger cakes. You won’t find thousands of flavours to box up by the dozen, but the select recipes she has leave no conceivable room for improvement.
“I’m a vanilla person,” Singh said of her favorite recipe. “I’ve spent a lot of time perfecting that.”
And perfect it is as this vanilla is anything but boring. With hints of rose, the cupcake is fresh, sweet and melts in your mouth.
It was, however, the chocolate chai cupcake that sent me reeling into what I can only describe as the elusive taste-bud orgasm. The cake is rich and decadent, with complex spices and a hint of ginger against the bittersweet chocolate.
The third cupcake I sampled was lemon coconut and was a nice contrast against
the richness of the chocolate. This one was sweet and buttery, with zings of lemon that hit you with each bite.
Cakes are baked fresh every day and while she retains customer favourites, she occasionally alters the menu at her own whim. Her three classic recipes are chocolate valrhona chai, vanilla rose, and lemon coconut. Each cake or cupcake is decorated as deliciously as it tastes, with a feminine sprinkle of flower petals or coconut shavings.
A box of six cupcakes is sold for $15, a small cake ranges from $10 to $12, and a large one from $18 to $20. I guarantee it’ll be worth every penny.
Cocoa Locale is located on 4807 Park Ave.
Cacao 70 brings you a taste of home
When away at university, the comforts of home seem to be far and few, especially when it comes to food. One thing I definitely miss are my mom’s home baked goodies, her brownies in particular. So when I stepped into Cacao 70, I felt that I had found a home away from home for all my chocolate-treat needs.
If you ever find yourself walking down Ste-Catherine St. and in need of a quick chocolate pick me up, pop into Cacao 70, a unique resto, dessert, and chocolate bar. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, a much needed relief from the below zero temperatures outside, with a sweet aroma of chocolate in the air.
There is a sit down menu or you can get your goodies to go, either way you cannot go wrong with a treat from them. My personal favourite is their brownies. I find it difficult to find a really good brownie as they’re always too soft, too hard or too rich. What seems to be such a simple dessert is actually really difficult to get just right.
However, at Cacao 70 the brownie is simply to die for. It is light, not too rich, and each bite leaves you wanting just a little bit more. This delicious dessert is comforting and warm, like it was baked in your mom’s kitchen.
You can have the brownie plain or add whipped cream, ice cream or chocolate sauce. Along with the dessert, you can also enjoy a homemade hot chocolate that comes in a variety of flavours such as dark, milk chocolate, and spiced. You can also choose from several decadent chocolate pizza options that include chocolate peanut butter and Nutella with ricotta cheese. Another sweet surprise on the menu would be the 10 different flavours of chocolate soda that Cacao 70 offers, including banana and passion fruit.
No matter what chocolate needs you have, Cacao 70 has something to offer. It is just a quick walk from the downtown Concordia University campus, so make a pit stop after class to satisfy your chocolate cravings and be comforted with a one-of-a-kind dessert experience.
Dispatch Coffee Truck - Photo Courtesy of Dispatch Coffee
Dispatch Coffee Truck – Photo Courtesy of Dispatch Coffee
Like most university students I have come to thrive on coffee. Whether I’m trying to survive a painstakingly long class, pulling an all-nighter or battling the odd hangover, I am always on the lookout for a great cup of coffee that will keep me going through all of my endeavors. So when I heard about the latest addition to the Montreal coffee scene, I knew I had to check it out.
Starting December 1, Dispatch Coffee is giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “grabbing a quick cup of coffee.” The company is taking a new spin on the food truck idea with a unique mobile espresso bar concept. The truck will be serving high quality, delicious coffee, baked goods and catering services. There will be an array of coffee beans from around North America, including Phil and Sebastian Coffee Roasters from Calgary, and Montreal-based Kittel Compagnie de café. Different roasters will be featured during different seasons to ensure the best beans are available year-round.
Dispatch Coffee is a refreshing new company, in more ways than one. From their original idea of making the comforting ambiance of a cafe mobile to their sensational and interactive website, Dispatch Coffee is creating quite a buzz in Montreal. But what makes Dispatch Coffee so special? The company focuses heavily on the quality of their products. They only source beans that have been roasted and farmed with intense care to maintain quality control. Along with quality, the experience itself is reason enough to try Dispatch Coffee because there is a particular novelty to a mobile espresso bar.
The idea for the mobile espresso bar came bloomed from Chrissy Durcak, owner of Dispatch Coffee. She had worked at cafes for a few years and this summer while she was delivering coffee she had the neat idea for a mobile espresso bar.
Not only can you get a delicious cup of coffee on the go, Dispatch Coffee also offers a selection of pastries from talented local pastry chefs. The pairing of coffee and baked goods is a classic idea, but Dispatch Coffee tries to keep their products creative, local, and exciting. While the entire menu is mouth watering, Durcak recommends the speculoos cookie coupled with an espresso.
This winter, Dispatch Coffee will have a pop-up shop cafe, keeping their employees and customers warm during the harsh Montreal winter. The truck will be parked indoors at the Nomad Nation and there will be signs pointing to its location. Dispatch Coffee is also looking to expand their locations this Spring so stay tuned and watch out for their truck!
Whether you love coffee or need coffee, be sure to check out this new and one of a kind addition to the Montreal coffee scene.
As of December 1, Dispatch Coffee will be located on 129 Van Horne Ave. until further notice.
I’ve recently noticed a new trend rising in the food industry: gluten-free products. From cereal to pasta, there is an ever-increasing supply of gluten-free food appearing on grocery shelves and in restaurants. I didn’t show an interest in eating gluten-free until this past summer when I read the book Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis, a cardiologist in Wisconsin.
The book explains the harmful effects gluten can have on your body, and can even lead to celiac disease, a condition that damages the
Photo courtesy of Louise Pearl
lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food that are important for staying healthy.
After reading the book, I decided to try the gluten-free diet myself. While it was, and continues to be, difficult to find gluten-free foods, I feel healthier and more energetic, which according to Wheat Belly, are positive side effects from not eating gluten. While I chose to adopt new eating habits, there are those who are forced to lead a gluten-free lifestyle due to celiac disease and gluten-intolerance.
I had the chance to speak with Louise Pearl who was diagnosed with celiac disease nine years ago, and is the founder and owner of Louise’s Gluten Free Table in Dorval. She decided to open her own gluten-free grocery store and bakery because she was frustrated at the lack of gluten-free products in her local grocery stores.
“While there is a loss of freedom in the choices of food I can eat, I feel much better,” said Pearl.
Whether you decide to take on a gluten-free diet by choice or not, it is difficult to find good food to accommodate this diet. As for people diagnosed with celiac disease, it isn’t as simple as eating products that are sans gluten. They need to be aware of cross-contamination, which can make it all the more difficult to eat out. Restaurants are sometimes ignorant of the sensitivity level and simply include gluten-free dishes to the menu because of the current trend. So we decided to take on the challenge and help you discover some of Montreal’s best gluten-free, celiac-friendly restaurants.
1. For fresh and delicious food try La Carreta. An authentic Salvadorian restaurant located at 350 St-Zotique St. It is a family-owned restaurant in the neighbourhood of Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie. All the enchiladas are gluten-free, and anything else you desire, aside from the chimichangas, can be prepared without gluten ingredients. The best part of this restaurant is that the food is naturally gluten-free from El Salvador!
2. Another great Montreal place is Zero8, a hypoallergenic restaurant. It’s name says it all because it means that their dishes are free of gluten and do not contain eight common allergens such as fish, shellfish, soy, dairy, egg, and nuts. It offers a wide arrange of dishes and $5 glasses of rosé wine. Zero8 also makes their own ketchup and has gluten-free soap in their dispensers! They are extremely accommodating and attentive; a sanctuary for celiacs.
3. Ottavio will satisfy your craving for great Italian food, sans gluten! This restaurant is in a great location and you can even bring your own wine! There is a specific gluten-free menu that includes pizza, pasta, and dessert, and there are even dairy-free options as well. On the menu, they inform their customers that they are aware of cross-contamination, serving the gluten-free meals on red plates to ensure there is no confusion.
The more I have looked into Montreal’s gluten-free scene, I have come to realize that there are more options than I thought. More and more restaurants are becoming gluten-free friendly, offering amazing and diverse options on their menus.
Louise’s Gluten Free Table is located on 475 Dumont, suite 109
