Beau 'beautiful' again; Fundraiser moved to Showplace

30 January 2008

Beau Dixon told the 650 people in front of him last night that he was "beautiful" again, because of them.

"It's because of you guys. I know this now... the strength of a community, you cannot replace it," he said.

"The force of love that came into my home was greater than the force that knocked down my door."

The local musician, playwright and actor stood on the stage and recounted a recent home invasion, at a benefit concert in his honour at Showplace Performance Centre last night.

Shortly after midnight on Jan. 14, Dixon was kicked in the head and robbed in his Lake Street home.

Beau Dixon performs at his own fundraiser Sunday evening

One person has since been arrested.

"I was terrified," Dixon told the crowd.

"For just a second, I could read their minds. It was slow motion, it was like 'Oh no. We're in the wrong place. We're robbing the wrong person'."

Things could have been worse, Dixon said, making a few jokes about the situation.

"Thank God the community is here for me. I know this and for those that were there when I came home from the hospital, I was banged up. "I'm beautiful again," he said, drawing big cheers from the crowd.

"Thank you to everyone."

People had to be turned away from last night's concert that featured more than 18 mostly local artists.

People talking on their cellphones in the lobby raved about the show.

Benefit concert organizer Rob Phillips said he knew people would come to the show, because Beau is "so well-loved in the community." "When I saw Beau, it just made me so sad to see this happen," Phillips said about why he organized the event.

The event location was changed from the 350-seat Market Hall to Showplace only six hours before because they sensed more people would be coming, Phillips said.

"It's such a beautiful thing to see the community come together," he said.

"It's overwhelming."

Nancy Crover heard about the show from a friend and came from Oshawa.

She had never heard of Dixon before yesterday.

It was a good cause, Crover said.

"I wanted to be supportive because he is a really nice guy and it was a horrible thing that happened to him," she said.

"He seems to be handling it really well."

Local businesses donated food and items for a silent auction as well.

Phillips did not have a fundraising total as of last night.

Dixon is known for his bands Slips n' the High Fives, Dub Trinity and others.

As an actor he has starred in several television commercials, including one for Pepsi, and several 4th Line Theatre productions, including "Beautiful Lady," "Tell Me," "Attrition" and "Cavan Blazers."

He has also starred and written in several Heritage Pavillion productions.

Two of his plays, "Once a Flame" and "From Here to Africville" will be presented together at Toronto's Factory Studio Theatre from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2.

Dixon was talking on the phone just after midnight on Jan. 14 when he heard a loud bang at the front door.

Three men forced their way through the front door and attacked him, police said, throwing him to the ground and punching him.

One of the intruders held him down while the other two went through the house, police said.

When officers found Dixon, he was bleeding from his mouth and head. Computer and music equipment, plus money and identification were among the things stolen.

City police arrested one man in relation to the crime on Saturday.

Brandon Matthew Lafleur, 18, of Juliet Road, is charged with break and enter, robbery, assault causing bodily harm and forcible confinement.

He was held in custody pending a court appearance.

fisaacson@peterboroughexaminer.com

Some of the local singers included:

Justin and Marc Hiscox

Chris Collins

Buzz Thompson

Kim Doolittle

Shai Peer

Drea

Chet Singh

Dub Trinity Band

Beau Dixon

Phil Marshall

Bridget Foley

Cheslea Bennett

Rick Fines

Aboriginal singers and drummers

Serena Ryder

Terry Guiel

Robin Hawkins