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Meet a Comedy Troupe: The Templeton Philharmonic

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The Templeton Philharmonic might initially sound like a hoity-toity musical collective, but it’s actually a comedic duo composed of Gwynne Phillips and Briana Templeton. The actors-writers have taken their critically acclaimed comedy shows from Montreal to New York to Italy. Now they’ve just been nominated for the Tim Sims Encouragement award, which is tonight. We chatted with the ladies about eating Sarah Silverman’s pizza, making The Senior Times and Ron Jeremy.

How did The Templeton Philharmonic form?
We studied theatre together at U of T, and had performed in a few plays together. Last year, we created a show together for the Fringe festival in Montreal. Originally, we were going to make a very serious, avant-garde piece about dreams. We developed the piece with Second City Tour Company member Kevin Matviw and he advised us that what we were creating was comedic. So, we scrapped our original vision and created a sketch comedy show instead. It received a great response and we had so much fun that we’ve been writing and performing comedy ever since.

How did you come up with such a fancy-sounding name?
Our last names are Templeton and Phillips and we wanted to combine them in an interesting way. We thought “Templeton Phillips” sounded like a snooty law firm, so we ran with snooty and decided to go with “The Templeton Philharmonic.”

How would you describe your style of comedy?
Dark and silly. We like to throw in over-the-top characters and surrealism whenever possible. Also, we usually incorporate interpretive dance in our transitions from sketch to sketch.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
Everywhere! Improvisation, historical periods, news articles, people we hear on the street, etc. Also, living together inspires a lot of our strangest concepts.

What’s the most outrageous thing that’s happened onstage?
Once when we were performing at the Montreal Fringe Festival, we walked off stage into our dressing room and as soon as we started changing, this old man with a long, white beard barged in and started yelling, “Loved it, loved it, loved it!” while opening and closing the door over and over. We were featured in The Senior Times.

You’ve just been nominated for the Tim Sims. How does that feel?
We’re pleased as punch! It’s a huge honour to be part of such a wonderful competition and to share the stage with such talented people.

You’re on a bit of a roll. You’ve also just won Best Comedy Duo award at the LA Comedy Festival. Does all of this recognition validate things for you?
Definitely. We were among some amazing performers in L.A., along with quite a few Toronto comedians whom we really admire (Falcon Powder, Ladystache, Matt O’Brien). This has been quite a whirlwind year for us – we’re so lucky to have had all these opportunities!

Any crazy road trip stories?
In Montreal, we stayed in an abandoned paper mill beside a railroad track for two weeks. In L.A., our motel was almost entirely populated by male models…and Ron Jeremy. In New York, we ate leftover pizza from Sarah Silverman’s dressing room, thanks to Eugene Mirman. In short, we travel well together!

Who is your dream guest performer?
Dick Van Dyke, Margaret Atwood, Loreena McKennitt (all at once).

In one word, how would you describe one another?
If I were to describe Briana in one word it would be: Peppery.
If I were to describe Gwynne one word it would be: Topiary.

It’s five years in the future. Where are you? What are you doing?
Ideally, it would be great to have our own TV show where we could feature all of our friends!

The details:

Year established: 2011
Influences: Catherine O’Hara, Andrea Martin, Kristen Wiig, Lucille Ball, Mr. Bean, VideoCabaret, B&W cinema, the Victorian Era.
Next gig: Cream of Comedy 2012, The Tim Sims nominees, The Second City, 51 Mercer St., 416-343-0011. Oct. 29.

The Fashion Week Diaries: Travis Taddeo, Unttld, Vawk

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As the fifth and final day of Fashion Week dawned, many greeted it with a sigh of relief, having reached their fashion fix of the season. Travis Taddeo saw folks piling into the studio space, and after incensed photographers yelled at someone obscuring their shots – in neon runners, but of course – the show began. The young Montreal-based designer put forth a edgy collection, which was influenced by Japonisme, along with a pinch of kink.

Black, grey and white dominated the colour scheme, with pops of royal blue and a silvery blue print appearing at the end (although this component seemed a bit tacked-on). We loved the gunmetal grey leather pieces for women: a tank cut high in the back, and an asymmetrical wrap-around skirt worn with a matching harness over loose jersey pieces. Twisted jersey dresses would be summertime staples were it not for the overly low cut at the hip, and we could have done without the rag-rug dresses. For men, we liked a black sleeveless coat done in a linen cotton and leather. Taddeo is one to watch.

Last time we caught Unttld, they were partaking in the Mercedes–Benz Fashion Week StartUp show; this season, designers José Manuel St-Jacques and Simon Bélanger were all on their own. Also located in Montreal, the team explored Japanese influences, citing haikus as the base for the collection. Beginning with a series of voluminous black looks done in a crepe – which, unfortunately, didn’t lend itself to such proportions, warping in odd places – the show progressed into more fitted silhouettes, where details were key. We liked the floor-length skirts featuring sheer horizontal panels along with a kimono-like jacket cut high in the back and edged with cotton straps. A series of pleated silk pieces done in a copper were breathtaking. As the show drew to an end, we agreed with their vision; the poeticism could indeed be felt in this darker and more introspective collection, and we look forward to seeing more from them.


Unttld

Sunny Fong’s double collection of Vawk and sister line Vawkkin were the big to-do of the night. We spotted Miss World Canada encased in her sash, as well as Suzanne Rogers, Nicholas Mellamphy and Stacey McKenzie taking up front-row seats. As a real-sized model trounced out, we knew it was the lower-priced line up first. Much like last season, the cuts were uninteresting and fabrics were subpar. We applaud Fong for trying to reach a greater audience, but much needs to be tweaked.

Vawk fared much better. The opening look (worn as Madonna’s  “Justify My Love” was playing overhead) was an alluring black frock that crisscrossed the body, fluttering and flowing in all the right places. This woman was confident and knew her sexual power, as evidenced in many a plunging neckline and a golden update on the conical bra. The crowd ate it all up, and Fong skipped down the runway to cheers.  


Vawk

Although the actual final show of the week was the American retailer Express, we eschewed it, opting to do something far more Canadian: ride the TTC. (Whatever happened to a Rad Hourani-like coup like we saw in spring? Our fingers are crossed for next time.)

Morning Throwback: whether it’s now or back in the day, hurricanes just blow

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We sympathize with our neighbours to the south. We had a run-in with Hurricane Hazel once, and, man, was she ever a piece of work. Godspeed, American friends.

Friday Restaurant Recap: Cafe+Bar+Pasta, El Almacen, Reds Wine Bistro, Hot Oven Bakery, Mideastro

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Friday Restaurant Recap rounds up the week’s Toronto restaurant news. In this edition: a new Italian joint for Dundas West, a mobile pizzeria, a makeover for Reds Bistro and more.

Opening soon

  • Cafe+Bar+Pasta is set to open in December, bringing — wait for it — coffee, wine and pasta to 1588 Dundas West. [Twitter]
  • El Almacen is bringing its yerba mate and empanadas to the Junction with a second location at 1642 Dupont Street. It’s slated to open some time before Christmas.
  • The longstanding Hot Oven Bakery is planning to open a new location at 177 Roncesvalles this November. [Facebook]
  • The long-awaited Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Yonge and Dundas is set to open this weekend. [The Grid]

Newly opened

  • Pizza Settecento is taking pizza to a whole new level with a portable wood-burning pizza oven.
  • Reds Wine Tavern, formerly Reds Bistro and Wine Bar, has reopened after getting a facelift and new chef: Ryan Gallagher (of Top Chef Canada fame). [BlogTO]
  • Japas brings seafood-focused Asian tapas to Koreatown, reaffirming that there’s more to Japanese cuisine then just sushi.

Closing

Change-ups

  • The Ritz Carlton welcomes chef Gihen Zitouni to head up a new menu for the upcoming relaunch of TOCA.
  • Popular Middle Eastern restaurant Mideastro has moved one of its two locations to a bigger, better venue in Thornhill. The Yorkville location has stayed put, but the former 80-seat restaurant at 1200 Highway 7 is now open at 8020 Bathurst Street in a 130-seat space.

The Smashing Pumpkins were far from smashing at their ACC show

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A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a piece lauding Ben Harper’s Massey Hall show as a perfect marriage of performer and venue. Last night’s Smashing Pumpkins show at The Air Canada Centre represented the complete opposite of that. The sight of 6,200 mildly-engaged spectators amidst a wide array of empty seats (the 300 level was completely barren) highlighted a pretty major misstep for the band.

It’s impossible to know whether the choice of venue was an overreach on the part of their tour promoter or an ambitious attempt by the band to celebrate their second Toronto appearance in a decade (they did two Massey Hall shows in 2008). The broad layout of the ACC left many fans stuck deep at the back of the house. A large, illuminating digital globe looming above the band offered a cool visual, but it hardly made up for the lack of video screens that should have provided fans with a closer look at the guitar skills of Jeff Schroeder and the fervent-but-controlled drumming of Mike Byrne (Nicole Fiorentino’s underwhelming bass, however, makes me yearn for the days of Melissa Auf der Maur).

An engaged crowd may have helped to infuse some energy into the atmosphere of the show, but Billy Corgan and co. didn’t give them the opportunity to do so until well into the second half of the two-and-a-half hour set.

The band first played their mixed-reviewed Oceania from the start to finish, resulting in many trips to the beer line among the increasingly listless crowd. Then, there was Corgan’s rapport with the crowd, which could best be described as limited and, at worst, baiting. He acknowledged the crowd’s disinterest with a sneering sarcasm, calling out, “Having a good time so far? It’s a very party-like atmosphere in here.” In his only extended dialogue with the crowd, he trolled them about the Maple Leafs (he was greeted with boos) and then bizarrely spoke at length about his Chicago-based pro-wrestling reality television show (he was greeted with silence).

To the Pumpkins’ credit, business did pick up when they jumped into a slate of second-half oldies that included “Disarm”, “Tonight, Tonight”, “Zero”, “X.Y.U.” and a surprisingly good cover of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” But it was too little, too late, as much of the goodwill generated by the band had already evaporated into the vast empty air that was the ACC.

The Fashion Week Diaries: Rachel Sin, Soïa & Kyo and Arthur Mendonça

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Rachel Sin was the first show we took in on the fourth day. For spring, the young designer sent out a series of looks inspired by architect Mies van der Rohe, aiming to translate his architectural lines into her garments.

Unfortunately, Sin played it far too safe; the simplicity underwhelmed, and we saw little of the strict lines we expected to see. To add insult to injury, the sheen of undergarments peeking out from beneath lace tops served to distract from the clothes (and what does lace have to do with van der Rohe?). The best of the bunch was a bubblegum pink dress that draped well and would make for a pretty party frock. Next time we hope Sin pushes herself further.

At Soïa & Kyo we caught makeup artist Myles Sexton in a fantastical hairdo — complete with antlers — in addition to designer Adrian Wu, Plaid Magazine’s Odessa Paloma Parker and Ainsley Kerr taking in the show. Out marched a collection of sporty and sweet separates in Creamsicle-worthy shades (evidently all of Toronto will be outfitted like My Little Pony come spring, based on what we’ve seen this week).

Layering was big: heads were wrapped in loose turbans; feet were clad in ankle socks and wedges; bodies were ensconced in button-downs, lightweight knits, flirty skirts or pants, a jacket or two, and often cinched with a loose interpretation of an obi. Men got the layering treatment too. For the ladies, we liked a black and white striped skirt paired with a chartreuse-edged button-down, a sparkly sweater complete with circular motif and a cropped trench. Meanwhile, we loved a pair of shorts in a dusky blue and cream stripe for men. In the end, the collection was very wearable and saleable.


Soïa & Kyo

The day’s big draw was clearly Arthur Mendonça. Stacey McKenzie was seen strutting around in more hot-off-the-presses Evan Biddell, while Fashion File’s Adrian Mainella, Tony Pham, Suzanne Boyd and Glenna Weddle sought out their respective seats. Beginning with a series of white looks, Mendonça’s woman was strong and sleek. Japonisme was present with the inclusion of obis — some in silk, others in leather — and sculptural heels, tied at the ankle with lengths of ribbon.

The materials were undoubtedly sumptuous, with silks and cotton silks gleaming under the runway lights, and Mendonça’s technical skills were evident. We fell for a strapless jumpsuit done in a tonal blue print —reminiscent of a manipulated ikat — matched with a blazer for an alluring look. A dusky rose silk top paired with a draped coral skirt was another favourite. Although we would have liked to see more unique silhouettes from the designer, Mendonça clearly knows his customer and sent out a beautiful collection that would easily be incorporated into any woman’s wardrobe.


Arthur Mendonça

Up next: Unttld and Vawk

Must-see Movie: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

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“Let’s do the time warp again!” Yes, it’s that time of year when people dress up and get funky, and we’re not just talking about Halloween. Bloor Hot Docs Cinema is presenting the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show this weekend, which will be shown alongside the city’s own shadow cast, for what is sure to be a raunchy, raucous night.

For those who haven’t seen the 1975 musical (which, shamefully, includes us), the movie’s about a newly engaged couple (a very young Susan Sarandon and a dashing Barry Bostwick), whose car breaks down in a desolate area, necessitating a call to the bizarre residence of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry at his most deliciously devilish). Mayhem and music ensue (as well as Meat Loaf popping up as an ex-delivery boy).

The shadow cast will be performing its own satirical version of the film for audiences as the show is playing, so “dammit, Janet,” pull out your fave Riff Raff costume and “don’t dream it, be it.”

The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W., 416-637-3123. Oct. 26, 27, 31

A Bridle Path home — and much of its contents — is going up for auction this weekend

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If Sex and the City’s Samantha Jones can’t do it, what shopaholic can? That is, skip the two-year queue for an Hermès Birkin bag, the ultimate status symbol? Well, Toronto fashionistas will have their chance this weekend.

Ritchies, Canada’s premier auction house, will be selling a Bridle Path home to the highest bidder. The homeowners have apparently taken the motto “out with the old, in with the new” to heart, because they’re also putting a selection of art, furniture, jewellery and handbags on the auction block. But the Birkins won’t come cheap.

The cobalt blue Birkin was purchased for $12,000 and the black Birkin (Togo leather, palladium hardware) $10,000. Both are in pristine condition. At auctions, Birkins tend to sell for more than retail, fetching up to $17,000 apiece, according to the managing director of Ritchies, Kashif Khan.

If you’re outbid on the Birkins, there’s always the Swarovski crystal-encrusted Armani bag — valued at more than $10,000 — or the never-before used (tags on) Louis Vuitton bags.

Other finds include a long strand of South Sea pearls — once valued at $1-million — and a near-flawless, nine karat yellow diamond, which Khan estimated would cost $400,000 to $500,000 on Bloor Street.

For that one other Habs fan in Toronto, there are autographed and framed Jean Béliveau and Maurice “Rocket” Richard jerseys up for grabs.

The main event (the five-bedroom home) is expected to sell for more than $6-million, which is the estimated land value. The flat, 2.35-acre property offers an opportunity to build a brand new home on the kind of large lot that rarely becomes available in Toronto.

While home auctions are widespread in the U.S., Ritchies believes this may be the first time a home in this city has been sold at auction.

Minimum bids are required for certain items, but these numbers are kept confidential. Bidders will be informed whether they’ve met the threshold.

The auction is scheduled for Oct. 28 at 6 Park Lane Circle. It’s open to the public, but seating is first come, first served, so attendees are encouraged to arrive early to register. Viewing begins at 11 a.m. and the auction is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. As with any auction, attendees are required to show government-issued photo identification to register.

Tony Aspler’s Weekly Wine Pick: a versatile, affordable white wine from Burgundy

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This is a copybook introductory white Burgundy at an affordable price. It’s straw in colour, with a bouquet of fennel, peanut and apple notes; on the palate, expect a crisp yellow apple flavour. The wine is medium-bodied with good length. A versatile food wine.

Food match: grilled fish; runny cheeses

Bouchard Père & Fils Mâcon-Lugny Saint-Pierre 2010 Burgundy, $15.60, LCBO #51573

Post City Magazines’ wine columnist, Tony Aspler, has written 14 books on wine and food. Tony also created the Ontario Wine Awards. He can be heard on 680News.

Gentleman’s Choice: a badass military-style sweater

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It can be hard to tap into fall’s military vibe without toeing the line between on-trend and soldier poseur. Enter loden green: a greyish shade of olive drab that won’t get you mistaken for a cadet.

If it’s your first foray into the field, this Fred Perry ribbed knit crewneck sweater — offered exclusively online for $245 over at Harry Rosen —  is the perfect anchor for your urban military look. Made from 100 per cent lambswool and ribbed for a perfect fit, it will keep you warm in any weather so you can focus on whatever mission’s at hand.

Additional details such as the iconic Fred Perry logo emblem on the chest and contrasting felt elbow patches will also ensure you don’t get lost in the rank and file. Pull it on with a pair of fitted khakis and some rugged boots made for marching.

$245. Available only at HarryRosen.com

Morning Throwback: before fist bumps, piggybacks were the key to male camaraderie

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As Toronto kids are learning to be more polite, we really hope that they remember that giving piggyback rides is the ultimate sign of kindness.

Weekend Warrior: 50 years of James Bond, Hellbound?, Cask Days, Ira Glass, Dia De Los Muertos

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Bond, James Bond.

Let’s face it, everyone knows James Bond. Not only is he the man who’s been saving the world for five decades, but also he’s pretty much the most stylish man in history. Making its North American debut this weekend at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style takes you on a tour of gadgets, gizmos and infamous James Bond style.

Ring of Fire

For those seeking a more substantial scare this weekend, Hellbound? is a full-length documentary about well, hell. Through interviews with pastors, musicians, exorcists, authors, scholars and bloggers alike, writer-director Kevin Miller explores the concept of hell and what it means. See the movie at the Cineplex Odeon at Yonge and Dundas on Friday, then join Miller for a Q&A afterwards.

Cask Party

Torontonian beer lovers unite this weekend for the 8th annual Cask Days. Thirty five bucks gets you admission to one of the three sessions happening at Evergreen Brick Works, along with a souvenir pint glass and four beer sample tokens for lots of cask beer deliciousness. Try beverages from over 75 breweries from across Canada, and enjoy live music along with food curated by chef Guy Rawlings.

Radio Ga Ga

Join Ira Glass, award-winning creator of the popular radio show This American Life, on Saturday at Massey Hall. He’ll talk about the show, focusing on how to find compelling stories and how his team continues to push the boundaries of broadcast journalism. Bonus: he’s even going to create a show on stage, mixing live narrations with taped quotes and music.

Dia De Los Muertos

Embrace Mexican culture by celebrating the Day of the Dead on Sunday at Wynchwood Barns. Enjoy the continuation of life with traditional Mexican fare, an Aztec dance ceremony, workshops, music and arts and crafts. Oh — and it’s free, too.

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