A masked festival stumps for mental health

PREVIEW Venetian Carnival Visionary Centre for the Performing Arts Saturday, Dec. 9 Shaw Conference Centre 9797 Jasper Ave. Tickets: $125 per person at #VeniceInYeg

Every late winter haute couture converges with Halloween mystery at the Carnival of Venice, a popular festival that draws up to 3 million visitors annually. Carnevale is an opportunity for revellers to dress up wearing outlandish feathered headdresses, flowing capes, extravagant gowns and most importantly, bejeweled masks. It's a giant, festive masquerade party that spills into the streets and canals with Piazza San Marco as the epicentre. Visionary Centre for the Performing Arts is borrowing the masked concept of pomp and pageantry to host an inaugural Venetian Carnival on Saturday, Dec. 9 at Shaw Conference Centre. While the carnival is cast from age-old beauty and high drama, it is also a fundraiser for the Canadian Mental Health Association. "So many people we touch everyday are affected that we don't know about, and sometimes a little support can help," said Visionary founder Martha Livingstone. Mental illness affected Livingstone's family deeply when Caelin Porter, 19, a friend of her daughter, committed suicide. A charming young man who worked at Paradise Pets and played the bass guitar, he could never shake the perpetual sadness associated with depression. "I've been teaching for 24 years and I see a lot of anxiety in youth. I think there is more pressure on people. We live in a very fast-paced world and there's a lot of disconnect. People are more open, but mental health is not going away. If we can provide early intervention or letting people know they have a place to get help is important." Carolina Del Rio, event manager for Visionary, first brought the concept of a Venetian Carnival to the table after she attended a carnevale-themed fashion show in Mexico. The avant-garde high society event sported the traditional black half-masks that oozed elegance, luxury and a hint of Venice's age-old decadence. "We want to turn heads. Instead of creating a sit-down event, we want to produce a carnival where people walk around and enjoy themselves," said Del Rio. To create the right mood, guests are encouraged to dress up in lavish costumes and wear masks. Visitors arriving without a face-covering will be offered a half-mask.

History of wearing masks

The Venetian love of wearing masks is legendary. It stems from a rigid caste system coupled with many opportunities for satisfying vices that made anonymity very attractive. For instance, at one time Venetian gentlemen were permitted to wear masks while visiting a house of ill repute. In the 13th century, a law banned masks while gambling, and later it was illegal to make masked visits to convents or during religious festivals. In the end, donning masks was relegated to the frantic merrymaking from Boxing Day until Shrove Tuesday – the period known as Carnevale (a reference to the ban on eating meat during Lent.) When the French took command of Venice in 1797 they stamped out the self-gratifying festivities. Nearly 200 years later, local authorities hit on the idea of revamping the masked Carnevale to boost tourism. Today the festival lasts two weeks in the run-up to Lent. Although there's still a touch of hedonism at fancy dress parties, concerts and fashion parades, it's a much more family friendly event.

Carnival gala and activities

Visionary's event producer Trevor Cousineau, a self-described cross between a handyman, mad scientist and MacGyver, is building Roman columns and arches that will transform the Shaw's cavernous rooms into a Renaissance museum of sorts. He's even constructed a black and gold motorized gondola with red velvet plush seats. "The frame is propelled at a walking speed and people will be able to ride in it," said Cousineau whose television credits include producing the 2002-2003 CFL Player Awards, two seasons as regional producer of Canadian Idol and 2002 producer of Waiter, There's a Puck in My Soup. Entertainment includes a dozen Die-Nasty and Rapid Fire Theatre improvisers dressed in costume, mixing and mingling while street performers busk for florins, an Italian coin. "When people arrive they'll be given a velvet pouch with five florins to spend on entertainment. When they run out, they can buy additional florins. One florin is $1. We thought this would be more fun as a substitute for a silent auction." Ancient Venetians were incorrigible gamblers. Playing on history, organizers are building excitement with a wheel of fortune, games of chance and a fortune teller. The aim is to have fun with variety that spans an archery range to watching visual artist Louis Lavoie paint an original, on-the-spot. The entertainment also features a photo booth for taking images as souvenirs. "You can post it directly to Facebook or email them yourself," said Del Rio. A three-course dinner is a main feature of the gala carnival. The Shaw's executive chef Serge Blair is whipping up a cream of pumpkin soup and a turkey or vegetarian option while pastry chef Jason Wang is putting his creative talents into baking a specialized dessert. "It's going to be very pretty and will be an original creation," Cousineau noted. He also added the dinner is a hands-on affair with a whole turkey served at the table. One guest from each table will have the honour of carving the bird. To close the evening Belle Aggio, Livingstone's six-piece, will keep the party swinging with hits from the sixties to current chart toppers  – assortments from Motown and disco  to Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. Organizers have set a target of $15,000 to donate to Canadian Mental Health Association. All proceeds will support local operations. "This is probably the most fun you'll have outside of spending time with your family. This type of engaged role playing hasn't been done before. For those who want to rub elbows with some of the funniest people in Edmonton while supporting a good cause, this is the place to be."