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22 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday July 2, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Stage West's Canadian Explosion packed with hits By Rod Jerred OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Years ago, a friend of mine returned from an extended stay at New York City. When asked what he missed the most during his stay south of the border he replied, "Canadian music stations." Specifically, he missed hearing Canadian music on the airwaves. "We have the best of both worlds. Our stations play the top American music and Canadian music. Down there, all you hear is the American music over and over." I couldn't help but think of my friend while watching Mississauga Stage West's production of Canadian Explosion. The latest in Stage West's successful musical revues such as The British Explosion and California Dreamin', Canadian Explosion is a celebration of Canadian rock 'n' roll music from the 1950s -- Standing on the Corner by the Four Lads to modern day Canadian and international stars such as Barenaked Ladies, Shania Twain and Avril Lavigne. Canadian Explosion represented a bit of a gamble for Timothy French (director), Howard Pechet (co-author), Nevin Grant (co-author) and Bob Foster (vocal arranger) because the popularity in past shows was partly due to a trip down memory lane. But how familiar would the audience be with a Canadian only musical revue? Fear not. Turns out part of the fun of Canadian Explosion is discovering one of your favourite tunes from the past was from Canada. While Canadian Explosion features a talented cast of young singers, the real star of this show is the catalogue of Canadian music spanning more than five decades. The lineup includes music by Crowbar, Paul Anka, The Poppy Family, the Stampeders, Gordon Lighfoot, Anne Murray, Dan Hill, Ronnie Hawkins, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, The Band, BTO, the Guess Who, Lighthouse, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Sara McLachlan Jann Arden, Parachute Club, Glass Tiger, Trooper, Alannah Myles, Barenaked Ladies, Shania Twain, Celine Dion and more. Besides the Canadian music, the creators of Canadian Explosion tossed in some homegrown Canadian humour into the show. For instance, how do you sing Paul Anka's all-time schmaltzy song Having My Baby? The answer is to have the singer perform with not to just one woman, but four. Canadian Explosion also includes a live street hockey game during Stoppin' Tom Conners' the Hockey Song and a medley of Barenaked Ladies' songs, utilizing that band's unique brand of humour. About the only familiar name in the cast of Canadian Explosion is Aaron Walpole, a former Canadian Idol top 10 contestant. Walpole shows his top 10 finish was no fluke with powerful performances of The Guess Who's Oh What a Feeling and These Eyes, Ronnie Hawkins' Who Do You Love, and Trooper's Raise a Little Hell. However, Walpole might not have made the top ten of Canadian Idol if some of his cast members had auditioned alongside him. Michael Lomenda turns in fine renditions of Andy Kim's Rock Me Gently, Lighthouse's One Fine Morning and Gino Vanelli's I Just Want to Stop. Adam Stevenson stands out in the Band's The Weight, Lighthouse's Hats Off to the Stranger, and Little Caesar's You Really Got a Hold On Me. Tony LePage at first spoofs and aging Neil Young in Heart of Gold, but then turns in a powerful version of Young's rock anthem Keep on Rockin' in the Free World. Among the female cast members, Josee Boudraeu and Sheena Turcotte first gain notice in a hidden gem of a song One Tin Soldier from the original Billy Jack movie. Boudreau then turns chameleon-like and impersonates Natalie Furtado on I'm Like a Bird and a Celine Dion in Because You Loved Me and Power of Love. Turcotte also takes her turn at impersonating female Canadian music icons Jann Arden -- Insensitive -- Avril Lavigne -- Complicated and Joni Mitchell -- Big Yellow Taxi. Andrea Loren is powerful as Alannah Myles in Black Velvet and stunning as Shania Twain in Any Man of Mine and Man I Feel Like a Woman. Paul MacNeill also appears as Shania in That Don't Impress Me Much, k.d. Laing in Constant Craving and Hallelujah. Diana Planche rounds out the women with a memorable version of Amanda Marshall's Dark Horse. In the end, what's surprising is how much good music by Canadian artists was left out, such as Blue Rodeo, Loverboy, Rush, Chilliwack, Bruce Cockburn, Oakville's own Tom Cochrane, Triumph, Kim Mitchell, Jeff Healey, Great Big Sea, and Nickleback. Oh well, maybe there is a Canadian Explosion 2 in the works. Performances run nightly Tuesday through Sunday, with matinee performances on Wednesdays and Sundays until July 6. Tickets may be booked and printed online at www.stagewest.com or by calling the Stage West Box office at 905-238-0042. THANK YOU! to everyone who helped to make the 2008 Oakville Waterfront Festival another huge success CIBC, Garnier, Ian Martin Limited, Mattamy Homes, Overdrive Design Ltd., Pepsi-QTG Canada, Pizza Pizza, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation About Signs, Blue Dot Media, Boat Smart Canada, Bunzl Canada Inc., Flexcourt Canada, GSS Security Ltd., Gordon Food Services, Hartrell & Kirkham, Higgins Event Rentals, Holiday Inn Select, Inkling Music Studios, Masterlift, Schneiders, showsmart.com, Sirius Satellite Radio, Tandet NationaLease And to all our dedicated committee members and community volunteers. www.oakvillefestival.com