This evening I went to what I thought was an interview about doing props for a children’s theatre group. Interestingly enough it was more along the lines of “Yes, you’re in, we need you, what can you make with this said prop?”
Random. Guess I’m making something fun over Christmas.
Last night was a crazy night. The city of Toronto was a buzz of activity, even more than usual. And when the city is like that you can’t just sit idle.
So I didn’t.
The evening started off with going to see a play called Tiny Dinamite by Abi Morgan with my friends Blake and Galen. It’s being put on by a new theatre group called Theatre Smash that some Queen’s Alum and others have put together. Very cool. I happen to know the director and producer, and my good friend Kate was the assistant director. It’s a really well done show, and it’s still playing this week. If you get a chance, go see it. The next stop with B and Galen was a good-bye party for a girl at our church who is moving away, leaving the country. It was a fairly chill night, and there was lots of great food to sample.
Next stop: Nuit Blanche. This was an all night exhibition of contemporary a
rt sponsored by Scotiabank. There were things to see all over the city. I started out with my pals Blake and Jam on Queen St W. Then we started meeting up with Kate, Joan and Isaac. Then it was Anton, Lisa and her brother. Then it was Elaine and Jeremy and…As you can tell, the first part of our adventuring turned out to be more about trying not to lose each other instead of really getting going. So, we decided to split up and meet back on Queen W at the Camera Bar at 3am. Good plan. Jam, Blake and I then hopped in a cab and decided to head over to check out the fun at OCAD, where we met up with Mark and Jam’s cousin.
Wow, ok, so OCAD and Grange Park was covered in different activities. A giant game of Twister, games of chess, marbles and jacks. Our first stop was to see the pool of floating penguins. A very “steamy” walk through a locker room/pool area following the story of the gay penguin couple at the San Fransisco zoo. Weird. We didn’t really feel there was much to the showing, so we ploughed through, and were dissapointed to see a few measley balloon penguins floating in the pool. Here the disillusionment started.
Inside the OCAD building there were several movies playing on the wall. As we were already at a point of feeling irreverent towards the art, this is where the real fun got going! We paused at this one movie – a movie with people in a building doing weird things. One shot was of someone’s mouth approaching an eye, out of nowhere Blake said quite audibly “LICK IT!”. Ha!And guess what? The person did! Ahaha. Next we went upstairs to another movie. This one was of a picture on a wall, where the camera kept moving closer and closer. B decided to put up his umbrella and walk across the screen. Oh my gosh! Too funny. A few moments later, Jam who was sitting with me, nudge his umbrella towards me. I had my own, but I got the message. We opened them up and walked in front of the screen also. Hilarious. Blake and Mark were killing themselves behind the scenes, the funniest part being that most people thought it was part of the show!
The hilarity continued in the “Ball room”, a room filled with about 10, 000 dodge balls. It was great. We launched balls for a good 45 minutes at anyone and everyone. Such a great stress reliever and it was so fun. Especially because us crew would gang up and then try and intice someone to fight us. So good. We totally scared some people off the floor. After that B left us, and the rest of us crew headed to Camera Bar. About 20 minutes later, after fighting tooth and nail for a cab (we apparently weren’t a good enough fare!) we took the street car and got to the bar just before last call. (Thanks Jam, best beer ever!) We met up with Lisa, Kim, Enoch and Anton and chilled a little. Then at almost 5:30 am we decided to head back to OCAD to see if we could get free breakfast. But not without taking another trip to the Ball Room with Colin. So much fun!
After the venture, breakfast was attempted, but it turned out to be more sad than good, and so we all respectively drifted off home, and I hit the pillow at 7am! What a night!
The clown has great importance… as part of the search for what is laughable
and ridiculous in man. We should put the emphasis on the rediscovery of our own
individual clown, the one that has grown-up within us and which society does not
allow us to express
- Jacques Lecoq
One of the greatest things ever has just happened to a friend of mine! He got into to Stratford! For an actor in Canada, that’s huge! Wow. Congrats again!
I’m so proud of you!
Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to announce that the show was a success. We managed to have a great run, we even sold out the whole auditorium on Saturday evening. (I had to watch the show sitting on the stairs). Everyone seem to have a great time! The best part: we raised more money on Saturday than the entire run that Fallen Rock did last year, and all of that money is going to help kids with cancer! Wow! That’s not even counting the money raised by the silent auction they had going as well. Wow again!
It feels good to be a part of that!
In the end, all the stress paid off, and we danced the night away in celebration at a club in Yorkville. I went to bed at 5am! Now life should go back to normal, and I’m done running around for silly items…well, until the next show comes along…
Last night I had a chance to spend a little bit of time with a major theatre producer – it was kind of neat, but it does make me stop and think a little about what I want to do with the rest of my life. Am I so in love with theatre that I am willing to step into the “theatre biz”?
So, last night I spend yet another evening working on my props! They are looking pretty good. I’m actually quite proud of my hand painted cigarette boxes – Lucky Strikes, Vogues and Hit Parade. You’ll have to come see the show to see them in their glory!
Funny how you can spend hours doing this kinda thing. I remember the first time I did props – I went in thinking I was never going to do it again. Here I am, three shows and a movie later. Sigh.
Guess it pays to have a little bit of talent when it comes to finding random things.
I’ve been sick lately, followers, so I apologize if I have left you dangling and awaiting more information about my life. Really, there isn’t much to say. I’ve been sick. There really isn’t anything like head cold to butt into your life and knock you flat.
The rest of my life has been about working on the props for Fallen Rock’s Production of Grease that I’m working on. Props-Master-a-go-go! It goes up next week, and you can get your tickets here. Please, come see it, all the money is going to charity. Sweet. After that I will have my life back, I promise!
Every now and then in my life I’ll go through a period of time where I feel disconnect from my one true passion (besides my faith): Theatre. Yeat, it never fails, there is always something that brings me back to it. Right now I’m feeling that sense.
At first, I begin to feel this little inkling to go see some theatre. I just want to be in the audience again. I want to engage in live action. I go to engage in “the spark” – the live moment where action on stage just becomes fluid, and there is a sense that it just lives on it’s own. And then I feel it – the pull from deep inside. The part of me that just screams to be a part of this! I find myself listening to musicals again, I find myself picturing blocking for these musicals in my head. I find myself thinking of other potential ideas for plays and for performance pieces. My mind wanders to what it would be like to pursue directing for real and I find myself wanting to be a part of a production again, and I find myself wanting to be a part of everything that is theatrical!
I wonder about finding money, and think, wow, if I could find a really cheap place to rehearse and a cheap place to use as an area, I could put up a show in just a few weeks! I mean, I just need to cover the cost of the rights, the theatre, I can beg borrow and steal the rest (figuratively).
I mean, Tuffy, you’d be in, right? Remember LOC Productions? Matt? Kate? Maddy? Chris? Shari? I mean, we could do this! Really do this! Here, now! Let’s go! I’m game! If only I had my way now!
So, it’s back. The passion is here. I’ve gotta get me a fix. Really, who’s in?
WOW!
So, I literally have just stepped into the house after what one could call a VERY interesting night of performance. I was just lucky enough to experience The Blue Man Group (see link) in Toronto, and it was sooooo good!
My friend Kris is working for The Men these days, and he managed to get me a couple of tickets to tonight’s performance, and I couldn’t have been luckier. It was amazing. It’s so hard to describe the whole thing. The show is something that just has to be experience first hand, and I suggest if you get the chance to see the group here, or at any other location, jump on the opportunity. It is a plethora of sights, sounds, and events that makes up a very original and innovative show. It’s hard to say whether this is performance art, or a theatre piece, or something that is a mix of the two (with tongue-in-cheek intentions), but all in all it’s very tight, and very well done. The calibre of the timing of the performers, band, and even the crew is so incredible, that it’s just a pleasure to watch. Plus, there is major audience participation and amusement, so I feel pretty good about saying that no one will be bored at this show. Wow.
Tonight was also fun because I ended up taking my collegue from work, Kaleena. She’s just great, and sure we see each other at work all the time, but you don’t always get a chance to hang out with someone in the “real world”. It was a real pleasure to go with her because she was so able to get into the whole show, and we both have an appreciation for music, so we could also share in that. I was so glad that in the end I was able to go with someone who could enjoy the experience as much as I did. Very cool.
All in all, a very fun night, which is nice because this long weekend is a weekend of hard work, and not too much excitement, so I’m glad it’s had a good highlight. Yay! And I reiterate: “Wow!”
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