The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 21

The Ottawa Citizen, Monday, December 14, 1992 011 ArtsEntertainment Grogmakers plan monstrously fun Christmas for YTV viewers JANICE KENNEDY Citizen Staff pi KIDSCENE J. 4 cS the Grogs set out to discover not only the mystery of the jolly fellow in red who gives away presents but the mystery of the season itself. And they do discover it in a rain-. bow of sight gags, scenic shots, comic dialogue, music and general merriment. But The Grogs' First Santa Clans Parade is not the only place you'll find Hopley-Shannon fantasy characters this week.

If you have young children around the house, keep your channel clicker tuned to YTV for an installment of the youth network's annual feature, Santa Calls which, this year, introduces three new elves that are the work of the Grogmakers. Looking like small humans with un- usual proportions, Nigel, Sarah and Rooney (which the duo describe as their best puppets yet) appear with Santa starting at 6 p.m. Thursday. The program continues in that time slot weekdays, until Wednesday, Dec. 23.

Youngsters who write to The Great One care of YTV will have their let- -ters read out and responded to on the show (letters are chosen by random selection). But all kids can enjoy the festivities. Among other things, they'll get a glimpse of North Pole life in the busy season leading up to Christmas. It's part of the fantasy world YTV is getting so good at delivering to its young viewers, thanks to a pair of original new talents. Thanks to the Grogmakers, YTV is beginning to comer the market on a quirky new world of television fantasy.

The Grogmakers, two creative young Torontonians with wild imaginations and a flair for the puppetmaster's art, are Jason Hopley and Jamie Shannon. Both 21, Hopley and Shannon are the creators of the Grogs, one of the more innovative casts of puppet characters to hit television screens in a while. Now Warren, Filth, Sorbet, Ifler and the rest of the Grog gang are making their first appearance on a full-fledged TV special their own. Thursday at 7 p.m., YTV will air The Grogs' First Santa Claus Parade, a half-hour of color, fun, seasonal spirit and (it goes without saying) slightly off-the-wall humor. Born after Shannon returned a cou- pie of years ago from Europe, where he had been inspired by street puppetry he had seen, the Grogs resulted from a partnership Shannon formed with Hopley, his buddy since the age of 11 and fellow graduate of the Claude Watson School for the Arts in North York.

Subsequently students at York University one in theatre, one in film the pair dropped out of school to begin making puppet magic full-time. With an introduction from Rob Stefaniuk, a friend who worked as a Denise Grant photo Grogs on parade: Gang discovers the mysteries of the season program jockey at YTV, the pair launched their motley crew of weird and wonderful puppets, the Grogs, on Canada's cable youth network last spring The engaging puppet characters became regulars on the daytime patter between programs. Why Why not? "It's a generic monster name," says Hopley, who refers to their strange-looking creations as a monster troupe. Somehow it's a name that fits nicely. "Grogs" seems to suit a lovable bunch of mostly furry critters who call to mind the artistic and comic quirki-ness of the late Jim Henson.

Shannon and Hopley seem to have been born for the puppeteer's life. "We were both weird children," recalls Hopley with a grin in his voice. "Introverted, theatre students, artists who loved to make Halloween costumes. When I was about 11, I had my own E.T. that I made myself.

"Now our hobby has become a career and I wouldn't trade it for the world." But the two point out that the Grogs are more than artistic fun. With a new series called Grogville (or Grogland the name isnt settled) in development, Shannon and Hopley are expanding their thematic concepts. Says Shannon, "The Grogs live in a really neat land where everyone's different but everyone gets along. People can make mistakes and learn from them. In this kind of way, we'd like to start dealing with social issues for kids." Not from a patronizing adult viewpoint, though, adds Hopley.

"We dont want to candy-floss things. We want to present real childhood not an adult's view of it." At the same time, Hopley admits that they've developed a following among rather older kids, too. "I think we have fans from two to 40, judging by our mail." In the special, the Grog gang hears about a Santa Claus parade about to take place in Cambridge, Ont Hopping into the YTV van with PJ Fresh Phil, who is to participate in the parade, Kansas hopes live album will pave way for comeback mnminii 1 1 ii if mF By Mary Campbell The Associated Press dragging a dead name around," said founding member and drummer Phil Ehart. "We're re-establishing the grass-roots Kansas fan base out there." Once a megaseller of albums like other groups of its era, such as Journey and REO Speedwagon, Kansas is doing 220 shows this year, mostly at small venues, where "people are right in your face," Ehart said. with something new, people will go buy it.

In 1993, we want to start pursuing new material." Old Kansas music still "gets a ton of radio play," Ehart said. "Carry On, Wayward Son and Dust in the Wind are played many times a day in every city that has a rock radio station." Gold albums included Song for America (1975), Masque (1975), Monolith (1979), and Audio-Visions (1980), according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Kansas, Live at the Whiskey, the band's first record in six years, was released in June. Ehart acknowledged it's "difficult at times to know you played a big hall and now you're coming back and playing a small theatre." He said the group hopes to re-establish itself with what he calls a "best of tour. "We're asked more than anything when is something new coming out," he said.

"We're trying to build up so when we do come out NEW YORK Mention Kansas in the 1970s, and the rock band came to lots of people's minds before the state. No more. But the group is back, hoping to make geographic thoughts secondary again. "It is important that people see that this is a vibrant, creative, exciting band, not a bunch of guys Citizen tile photo Megaseller: Kansas was a hit through the 1970s FAMOUS PLAYERS Pooh Sticks among bands to watch for next year BdyguardI Malcolm A Kevin Whitney Costner Houston DENZEL WASHINGTON Scholar Convict Leader Disciple UNI MO 1 AUV Call us Never fall in love. By Greg Kot The Chicago Tribune 230-7471 Drop In If 35 GEORGE ST.

IN THE BYWARD MARKET EDDIE MURPHY The v' An adventure MAKE MORE FRIENDS mm HJcf inmn'chPf? beyond your imagination. In wtN Dki Campa uenueman a mm. llt.LillhVil'l.ll'ir.imt'k.l Ll! 230Quwn SlrMI And go over big, you don't have to be good at small talk to be a good dancer, let your feet do the talking. Let yourself go! Relax! Get into the centre of all the fun for the danco season. Come in and join our happy "fun" family.

Call now for your introductory lesson. Party night is every night. By yourself or as a couple. Grand Opening of our New Location. IHOOBoul.

Malonev 0. THE BODYGUARD 6:45 9:15 MAT SS 1:30 4:00 HOME ALONE II (FRENCH) 6:50 9:10 MAT 4:05 UNDER SIEGE .7:00 9:20 MAT SS 1:45 4-10 Who are the bands to watch in 1993? Here's the buzz from the Col-, lege Music Journal convention in New York CELL: New York quartet with ties to Sonic Youth plays ragged, rousing guitar pop. COME: Boston band transmutes the blues into something called "bummer rock." Singer Thalia Zedek, formerly of guitar noise pioneers Live Skull, turns every song into a blood-letting. LOTION: Voluptuous, British- style guitar band from the East Coast, with MTV-perfect hair. MOONSHAKE: In-your-face British noisemongers with punk attitude and booming bass.

Loudest band at the College Music Journal convention. POOH STICKS: Bubblegum from Wales as envisioned by the Ramones, and lots of charisma to burn. STEREOLAB: Velvet Under- DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN (AA) 6:40 9:15 MAT SS 1:30 4:00 THE LOVER 9:20 MAT SS 1:45 4:15 GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS (AA) 7:00 9:25 MAT SS 2:00 4:30 NO 7:00 PM SHOW MON. ENDSTUE FOREVER YOUNG STARTS WEDNESDAY ''i rTTFTHI l216ElalnStrwl 1980Ogllvle Road ALADDIN (F) 7:15 9:10 MAT SS 1 :30 3:30 5:20 THE BODYGUARD (AA) 6:45 9:20 MAT SS 1:40 4:10 DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN (AA) 6:50 9:25 MAT SS 1:45 4:10 MALCOLM (PG) 7:45 MAT SS 2:00 FOREVER YOUNG STARTS WEDNESDAY OF MICE MEN (AA) 7:00 9:10 MAT SS hrs. only 1:054:35 MALCOLM MAT SS 1:00 4:30 Limited to first 35 callers! New Students Only l300Spar1i Street jfo ROT JDISTUBB PASSENGER 57 (AA) 7:00 9:35 MAT SS 1:40 4:10 NO 7:00 SHOW SAT THE BODYGUARD (AA) 6:45 9:30 MAT SS 1:30 4:00 FOREVER YOUNG SNEAK PREVIEW SAT.

AT 7:30 1 3090 Carting Ave. ALADDIN 1 (F) 7:00 9:00 MAT SS 1:00 3:00 5:00 ALADDIN (F) 7:30 9:30 MAT SS 1 :30 3:30 5:30 ENDS TUES MALCOLM MAT SS 1 :00 4:30 THE BODYGUARD (AA) 6:45 9:30 MAT 4:10 DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN (AA) 7:00 9:30 MAT SS 2:00 MUPPETS CHRISTMAS CAROL (F) 7:159:15 MAT SS 1:153:15 5:15 FOREVER YOUNG STARTS WEDNESDAY SM5M l50Rldeau Street ALADDIN' (F) 7:05 9:20 MAT SS 1:15 3:15 5:00 ground-derived guitar strum occa-' sionally evolves into a swooning, ambient purr, thanks to two female voices. VELOCITY GIRL Washington, D.C., band blends white-noise guitars with dreamy melodies. DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN (AA) 6:45 9:15 MAT SS 1:30 4:00 MUPPETS CHRISTMAS CAROL (F) 7:00 3:00 5:00 3m IsIhE 00 (AA) (AA) Blast 'Em liquid Dreams Fascinatuig non-fiction A tale of tost innocence in look at the lives of a surreal norld of sin and paparazzi photographers. exploitation.

Tuei: Blast Em (7 00). The Fourth Mao (915) 325 RIDEAU St RVTniJini! 230-FILM near Kino Edward fmrnmrnyit mLm 230-1CKM OS 1 III 771 'L fZ9t" '111 MOT-- -X E.a 1 ill A FEW The Sign of a. Oireait New Year's Eve Party III rrr i ia. FREE PARKING AFTER 6 P.M. WITH A FEW GOOD MEN (PG) Eves 7:00 7:00 CD 9 io THE LAST Pr.

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238-1500 Based on double occupancy Cerk ttKtmas for owttme LzzzZaC.