Margus Tabor’s Mamma Lood is a fun, partly-improvised recollection of stories about Margus’ grandmother (“Mamma”), Elfriede, on the island of Hiiumaa.
Tabor had an opportunity to perform in Toronto, at the VEMU Annual Fundraising Dinner, and offered to perform on the West Coast as well. VEMU reached out to the Vancouver Estonian Society (VES) to see if we would be able to welcome him and host an event. We were delighted by the proposal. Plans were made, the date was set, and we were excitedly awaiting the day of his performance.
The hours flew by as the crowd laughed wholeheartedly over the recollections of events and colourful characters from Tabor’s childhood.
On a sunny Friday afternoon, the Meie Kodu hall was set up, buzzing with anticipation. As Margus Tabor took the stage, his presence filled the hall, and every person’s attention was captured. For about two hours, he shared his comical stories of life with his grandmother. Many of us who grew up in Estonia could relate so much, feeling as if he were telling stories from our own childhoods. However, the tales he shared were also relatable to those who grew up in other parts of the world. The hours flew by as the crowd laughed wholeheartedly over the recollections of events and colourful characters from Tabor’s childhood. He recounted the memories as they came up, making each one feel vivid and alive. When it was time to conclude the performance, Margus realized he had even more stories to share and would have happily kept going for hours.
Fotogalerii
After the performance, a snack and coffee table were set up for people to have a space to mingle and meet Margus personally. Margus’ charm and good nature allowed him to meet his audience and make lasting connections.
The turnout was great, considering the event date and the fact that the performance was only in Estonian. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, as this event offered something fresh and different from what the community typically experiences.
Margus had a fantastic time on the West Coast. Hosted by a community member, his accommodation was in a wonderful central location, from which it was easy to explore what the Lower Mainland has to offer.
We are grateful to Margus Tabor for sharing his stories, laughter, and warmth with our community. His visit was a memorable highlight of the spring season and we hope to welcome him back to the West Coast again in the future.
We would also like to extend a big thank you to the Estonian Foundation of Canada for their generous support. Their continued commitment to supporting Estonian culture and community events across Canada helps make gatherings like this possible.
