Fesruary I, 2005 4 Skit’s Sake Fundraiser at The Wave, Feb. 3 Kimberley Johnston Reporter Well, put on your thinking caps and get your obscure references ready for the 4 Skit’s Sake Fundraiser at the Wave February 3. With a4 Skit’s show the audience controls much of the outcome with suggestions for the troupe and participation in some of the games. Expect surprise guests from the PEI theatre/improv community to participate in some games as well. The troupe will be making their second appearance at The Wave in the WA Murphy Student Centre, Thursday, February 3 in a show of support for the UPEI Specialization in International Education students. These thirteen students will be parting ways in March to teach for 6 weeks. Four will be travelling to Kenya, four to Australia, three to New Zealand and one student each to Spain and Germany. All proceeds from the show will go towards covering the students’ very expensive costs. The improv troupe, made up of Colin MacDonald, Derek Bondt, Fraser MacCallum, Adam Gauthier, and very special guest Steve Forbes is excited to be able to put on this show in support of international education. The evening begins at 8 p.m. with 4 Skit’s Sake hitting the stage with their uproarious comedy. Tickets are $5 each and will be available at the doors which open at 7 p.m. For more information about the show or the troupe itself, e-mail apgauthier@upei.ca. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Dig Out Your Mucking Pants, the ECMAs are Back Alec O’Hanley A&E Editor It’s that time of year again. That special time when every time you turn on Cable 10 you can watch three balding men rehash twelve-bar blues. That time when you can watch none other than the Pride of Pictou, Nashville Star runner-up George Canyon bumble his way through three hours of mind- numbing award show hosting drivel. Yes people, the ECMAs (East Coast Music Awards) are back in Sydney on February 19" and according to the festival website, it’s time to get “All Fired Up!” Oh, it’s not all bad. The best band in the Maritimes, The Joel Plaskett Emergency, are playing the gala and are nominated, the same goes for Nathan Wiley, while Jill Barber, Julie Doiron, and MIR are also in the running for awards. But here’s where the suck knob gets turned up. In a strange only-in-Cape- Breton showdown, the much-loved (ECMA website) Rita MacNeil is pitted against Jill Barber in the best Female artist category. What’s stranger is that Rita will probably take home the award. Once home, she’II do to it what she has done to every other trophy she has won; namely, eat it. Let’s see, who else is nominated? Hey Gary Beals, what’s up? You’re a dork, that’s what’s up. Ah, and of course, Crush is up for more awards after cleaning house last year in their hometown of St. John’s. If I had the chance to talk with those two meatheads, it would hopefully go something like this: Me: Hey Crush, congratulations on winning the 2004 ECMA single award for a song that Gordie Sampson wrote THE CADRE ¢ 10 for you! I think you’re marginally better than Ashlee Simpson. Cory Tetford: Haha, yeah, we are righ some good, eh. Me: I heard there’s a clause in your recording deal that makes you contractually obligated to go to the gym several times a week. How does it feel to be manipulated like that? Paul Lamb: (Pulls up his shirt) Feel these abs! Fucking FEEL them! Me: I see. How do you justify calling one of your new tracks Justified when Justin Timberlake’s platinum-selling solo record had, quite literally, the exact same name? Paul: Is Justin nominated as the ECMA Cape Breton Post Entertainer of the Year? Didn’t think so! Cory: (shouts) Maybe Justin doesn’t know how to bring the ROCK the way Crush does! (Cory and Paul exchange high fives, pound chests, bump uglies, etc. I feel awkward and walk away as they gaze wistfully into each other 5 eyes.) So, in conclusion, tune in for Joel Plaskett and Nathan Wiley, and tune out for the all-star tribute to Rita MacNeil. Like the majority of that weekend, it will surely suck. But you probably knew that anyway.