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I remember when the SARS epidemic hit my Mom mailed me a mask to wear on the flight back home for the holidays. When I arrived at the airport I was ‘tool cool’ for my mask so I wrapped a colourful scarf around my neck – this surely would be the more fashionable option. No one was wearing masks so why did I need to? Then I arrived at my gate to a crowd of over 80 Japanese tourists visiting Ontario who were all in masks and boarding my plane. How would my Mom react if I got off the plane with all of these passengers and I wasn’t wearing my mask?
I won’t tell you how the scenario all worked out but let’s just say the only thing I regret from the SARS epidemic is missing the Molson Canadian Rocks Tour in Toronto that summer. Now I can’t help but laugh because everywhere I go I am seeing masks:

And clearly the masks of the swine flu are far more stylish. Look at everything on sale online.

I personally prefer to masquerade Venetian styles or masks with large feathers.

Which is why I will be at Green Fools/CJSW/Uptown’s Masqueradio this Saturday in a fabulous new mask from Don’s Hobby Shop.  The Green Fools know how to throw one hell of a party; over the last 5 years I have seen operas, people scaling walls, mind boggling acrobatics as well as a fowl mouthed goblin hosting hilarious costume contests.

The other popular masks this season are being used on stage.

Calgary is lucky to have Alberta Theatre Projects presenting I,Claudia by Kristen Thomson until November 8. This hilarious and touching one woman show is performed by actress Liisa Repo-Martell.  What is incredibly fascinating and unique about this show is that she wears a different extremely expressive mask for each of the 4 characters. The play portrays the thoughts of an adolescent, her Dad’s new girlfriend, the school janitor and her grandfather. To sneak a peek at these clips of 3 of the characters in the 2004 film adaptation of the play view here: http://www.crowstheatre.com/season_01vid.htm

So whether you are using a mask to prevent the flu, dress up for halloween or to tell a compelling story on the stage, I highly recommend that you pick one up this winter since they are a must-have accessory.

Cheers,

Allison Moore