Dance, clowning, and music make for cool cabaret at A Midwinter Romance—an offbeat alternative to the usual Christmas treacle. In Xua Xua Productions’ variety show on Friday night (December 18) at St. James Community Centre, theatrical music group Maria in the Shower joins Les Petites Taquines, clowner Dennis Brydon Innes, and singer Nadia von Hahn in a one-night show with nary an elf or angel in sight. See amidwinterromance.wordpress.com/ for tickets.