STAGE
I ASTRID HADAD

ARTS CLUE THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION OF

Esthetic, diuretic
and unashamed
Provocative Mexican artist makes
a mockery of machismo
BY KEVIN GRIFFIN
VANCOUVER SUN

ne
reviewer
described Astrid
Hadad's costumes as
so unusual they make Salvador Dali look like Norman Rockwell. The New
York Times said her political cabaret was "one of the
most provocative stage acts
since the Weimar Republic
was in bloom." She's also
been called a Frida Kahlo
painting come to life.
A legend throughout
Mexico but especially in Astrid Hadad takes a shot
her hometown of Mexico at the 'l-don't-give-a-damn'
City, Hadad is bringing her attitude.
performance art to Van- it visits you!"
couver for the first time for
In performances, her freone show only at the Chan quent costume changes
Centre for the Performing may include an Aztec
Arts at the University of Pyramid with carved
B.C. on Saturday evening. snakes, a psychedelic plant
"My show has its roots in with all-seeing eyes, and
cabaret," she said in an the eternal whore with
online article in Latinas on huge breasts that spill out
Stage. "My style is syncret- of her chest and down to
ic, esthetic, pathetic, and her knees.
Although the lyrics of
diuretic, and demonstrates,
without shame, the atti- her songs are in Spanish,
t u d e s of m a c h i s m o , and those not fluent in the
masochism, nihilism, and language may miss the
occasional joke or political
'I-could-give-a-damn'
insight, Hadad said she
inherent in all cultures."
Hadad's performances will add explanations and
w i t h h e r b a n d Los asides in Spanglish.
"I will speak in very bad
Tarzanes (The Tarzans)
combine everything from English," she said in a
ranchero and bolero music phone interview from
to rock and jazz into a Mexico, "but everyone will
unique genre she calls understand."
"This is what I do in my
Heavy Nopal, named after
the Mexican cactus used to show — mix these culmake tequila. She takes tures and images that are
what she describes as the so deep in the mind of the
essence of Mexican culture people in Mexico," said
and its mix of Aztec and Hadad, the middle child
colonial Spanish symbols of 11 whose grandparents
and values to attack macho on her father's side emimale culture, submissive grated from Lebanon.
female stereotypes, the "Some people think I am
Mexican ruling elites and dangerous because I make
American imperialism, the people think — and this is
latter which she skewers prohibited on TV. You
with lyrics such as "Visit must sing and say noththe United States... before ing."

O

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HI
NOV 17
JAN 15

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WHERE TO GET TICKETS

Astrid Hadad's show is part of the fourth LIVE Biennial of
Performance Art, which continues to Nov. 25th with
more than 35 events featuring local, national and
international artists.
Tickets for Astrid Hadad y Los Tarzanes range from $28 to
$45 plus service charges from ticketmaster.ca, or by
calling 604-280-3311.

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