It started as a joke. One of the crew guys was chatting with the Technical Director about purchasing a games table (air hockey, Foosball etc) to keep us entertained during this slow show. The Technical Director then said that he would pitch in half of what ever we raised. So the large crew (including myself) pitched some money. We started researching the tables and some how is morphed into a Wii.
So for Opening the boys went out and bought a Wii, 4 controllers, Band Hero, Mario Kart and a couple of other games.
During intermission we gathered all of the couches from the green room and the boys office and gathered them in the backstage area. Following the show we set up the office projector onto the large cyc at the back of the stage. For those of you that haven't been onstage before, a cyc is a large piece of white fabric that is usually used for lights. It is at the back of the stage in all dance shows and changes colours. More recently, with the increased use of projectors, show project onto them.
We had a very large screen, couches, booze and a large group of people.
I stuck around at the reception to talk to all the people that I only see at openings. When I went backstage there were over 20 people playing and singing and enjoying themselves. The group slowly thinned out.
There were five die-hards that stuck around until the very end. 4am.
Great fun!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Today is opening. Another opening. On days like today I wake up with a couple of songs in my head.
Think The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show. See Daffy and Bugs in tails doing a time step across the stage. They know the feeling.
This Is It
Overture, curtains, lights,
This is it, the night of nights
No more rehearsing and nursing a part
We know every part by heart
Overture, curtains, lights
This is it, you'll hit the heights
And oh what heights we'll hit
On with the show this is it
Tonight what heights we'll hit
On with the show this is it
From "Annie Get Your Gun". A great little ditty.
There's No Business Like Show Business
The costumes, the scenery, the makeup, the props
The audience that lifts you when you're down
The headaches, the heartaches, the backaches, the flops
The sheriff who escorts you out of town
The opening when you heart beats like a drum
The closing when the customers won't come
There's no business like show business
Like no business I know
Everything about it is appealing
Everything that traffic will allow
No where could you have that happy feeling
When you are stealing that extra bow
There's no people like show people
They smile when they are low
Yesterday they told you you would not go far
That night you opened and there you are
Next day on your dressing room they've hung a star
Let's go on with the show
By Musical Theatre composer Cole Porter from "Kiss Me Kate"
This one might capture the feeling the best.
Another Opening
Another openin', another show
In Philly, Boston, or Baltimo'
A chance for stage folks to say hello!
Another openin' of another show.
Another job that you hope will last
Will make your future forget your past
Another pain where the ulcers grow
Another openin' of another show
Four weeks, you rehearse and rehearse
Three weeks, and it couldn't be worse
One week, will it ever be right?
Then out of the hat it's that big first night
The overture is about to start
You cross your fingers and hold your heart
It's curtain time and away we go-
Another openin'
Just another openin' of another show!
Think The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show. See Daffy and Bugs in tails doing a time step across the stage. They know the feeling.
This Is It
Overture, curtains, lights,
This is it, the night of nights
No more rehearsing and nursing a part
We know every part by heart
Overture, curtains, lights
This is it, you'll hit the heights
And oh what heights we'll hit
On with the show this is it
Tonight what heights we'll hit
On with the show this is it
From "Annie Get Your Gun". A great little ditty.
There's No Business Like Show Business
The costumes, the scenery, the makeup, the props
The audience that lifts you when you're down
The headaches, the heartaches, the backaches, the flops
The sheriff who escorts you out of town
The opening when you heart beats like a drum
The closing when the customers won't come
There's no business like show business
Like no business I know
Everything about it is appealing
Everything that traffic will allow
No where could you have that happy feeling
When you are stealing that extra bow
There's no people like show people
They smile when they are low
Yesterday they told you you would not go far
That night you opened and there you are
Next day on your dressing room they've hung a star
Let's go on with the show
By Musical Theatre composer Cole Porter from "Kiss Me Kate"
This one might capture the feeling the best.
Another Opening
Another openin', another show
In Philly, Boston, or Baltimo'
A chance for stage folks to say hello!
Another openin' of another show.
Another job that you hope will last
Will make your future forget your past
Another pain where the ulcers grow
Another openin' of another show
Four weeks, you rehearse and rehearse
Three weeks, and it couldn't be worse
One week, will it ever be right?
Then out of the hat it's that big first night
The overture is about to start
You cross your fingers and hold your heart
It's curtain time and away we go-
Another openin'
Just another openin' of another show!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Spelling Bee
I am a terrible speller. I have always known that. My mother has always told me that.
This recently has been spot lighted. The show I am working on right now is called "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". Every show we call up 4 audience volunteers to be apart of the spelling bee. In recent days we have volunteers from the office etc. But in the beginning he would just call some of us from the production table to hop up and spell. I am out every time! Every time!
To add to the spelling embarrassment the choreographer decided that it would be a good idea to have an actual spelling bee (not scripted). So yesterday afternoon we did. I was the first speller and I failed, again. Not that I was the only one. Of the 13 of us in the bee all but three got their first words wrong. But mine was pretty easy. I don't even want to admit what the word was. Oh well. If there is anything I have learned working in this business - I have no shame. Oh well. Got the word wrong. Moving on.
This show has been a delight. The rehearsal days is filled with laughter and very little stress. We are nearly finished week 3. We move onto the stage next week. I am sure the usual stresses will follow us there, but I am really not worried. I have been "Beyond Eden", everything seems like a picnic now.
This recently has been spot lighted. The show I am working on right now is called "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". Every show we call up 4 audience volunteers to be apart of the spelling bee. In recent days we have volunteers from the office etc. But in the beginning he would just call some of us from the production table to hop up and spell. I am out every time! Every time!
To add to the spelling embarrassment the choreographer decided that it would be a good idea to have an actual spelling bee (not scripted). So yesterday afternoon we did. I was the first speller and I failed, again. Not that I was the only one. Of the 13 of us in the bee all but three got their first words wrong. But mine was pretty easy. I don't even want to admit what the word was. Oh well. If there is anything I have learned working in this business - I have no shame. Oh well. Got the word wrong. Moving on.
This show has been a delight. The rehearsal days is filled with laughter and very little stress. We are nearly finished week 3. We move onto the stage next week. I am sure the usual stresses will follow us there, but I am really not worried. I have been "Beyond Eden", everything seems like a picnic now.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Went on a "sit-along"
My new friend Andrea is a dispatcher for the police. Tonight she allowed me to come on a "sit-along" with her (it is like a "ride-along" but I was just sitting beside her at the computer).
It was really interesting. Logan and many of the other cops I know where working.
Andrea and I spent the first three hours as dispatcher for Districts 3 & 7 (Logan works in 7).
It was a fairly slow night. There were some interesting things that happened - but nothing terribly exciting or over the top. It was crazy to see how much one person is in charge of watching. The level of multi-tasking certainly impressed me. And I feel like I am a good multi-tasker.
I think that I would have been really lost if I wasn't the wife of a cop. I spent the time learning 10 codes while Logan was memorizing, I understand some of the lingo, I have heard the stories, I understand the intentions and "plan" and have heard radio chatter before. Much of it went speeding past me. There were three screens of information and a number of open windows on each screen. Some things didn't need to be explained - but much of it did, mostly because I missed it the first time.
But as the time passed I could keep up a little more. We kept tabs on calls and cars. It was fun to see it happen. Especially since I don't plan on going on a ride along. This was the closest I will get to watching him work. We followed a call that Logan's car and another car we on for a long time. We followed their progress tried to help.
It was also interesting to get messages from Logan and some of the other fellows I know, including Andrea's fiance.
For the last three hours we moved over to 911 call taking. It was very different. It was a slow night and there really wasn't an interesting call. But it was interesting to see. I was especially interested in how much extra work the call takers are expected to do - besides answering the call. They do (should do) extra digging to find additional details for the responding unit. Mostly officer safety things. It makes me feel safer knowing that there are people that try to discover things before Logan has to - on the spot.
I don't know if I am prepared to make a career change to this particular career. But we shall see.
It was really interesting. Logan and many of the other cops I know where working.
Andrea and I spent the first three hours as dispatcher for Districts 3 & 7 (Logan works in 7).
It was a fairly slow night. There were some interesting things that happened - but nothing terribly exciting or over the top. It was crazy to see how much one person is in charge of watching. The level of multi-tasking certainly impressed me. And I feel like I am a good multi-tasker.
I think that I would have been really lost if I wasn't the wife of a cop. I spent the time learning 10 codes while Logan was memorizing, I understand some of the lingo, I have heard the stories, I understand the intentions and "plan" and have heard radio chatter before. Much of it went speeding past me. There were three screens of information and a number of open windows on each screen. Some things didn't need to be explained - but much of it did, mostly because I missed it the first time.
But as the time passed I could keep up a little more. We kept tabs on calls and cars. It was fun to see it happen. Especially since I don't plan on going on a ride along. This was the closest I will get to watching him work. We followed a call that Logan's car and another car we on for a long time. We followed their progress tried to help.
It was also interesting to get messages from Logan and some of the other fellows I know, including Andrea's fiance.
For the last three hours we moved over to 911 call taking. It was very different. It was a slow night and there really wasn't an interesting call. But it was interesting to see. I was especially interested in how much extra work the call takers are expected to do - besides answering the call. They do (should do) extra digging to find additional details for the responding unit. Mostly officer safety things. It makes me feel safer knowing that there are people that try to discover things before Logan has to - on the spot.
I don't know if I am prepared to make a career change to this particular career. But we shall see.
Monday, March 08, 2010
It's over
What a journey this show has been. The roller coaster of emotions on this one has been great. From the absurd and terrible lows to incredible highs. It has taken so much for all of us. And now it's done.
I have been doing this for a while now, but this one is unique. A group of people that would never get together outside of this experience spent three long months joined at the hip. We had our troubles, right up to the last minute. But when you go through hard times it makes the good times even better.
This show may be different for me because I usually distance myself from everything. Go to work and still have a home life. That is my usual complaint about what I do for a living, it doesn't allow me to have a life. But because this one took me out of town and had me in Calgary alone I let it become my life. These people became my family for over two months.
It is always weird when you make such hard and fast friends and then just walk away from it. But this one was especially emotional.
I feel like I say this all the time. Maybe I do. But yesterdays close was special.
At the top of yesterdays show we were standing by. Suddenly Dennis (Director of the show and Artistic Director of the theatre) walked to the stage from the audience. This surprised all of us and we didn't know what was about to happen. He spoke with a shake in his voice, first explaining that a bus full of wheelchairs just pulled up and we would wait for them to be seated, but he went on to talk about the show and just how emotional this specific show may end up being because it is closing. He was close to tears and we hadn't even begun. I was standing by with John Mann, who reached out for my hand. In those following moments I stook silently with John, hand in hand, as a number of others walked by us, silently giving a quick squeeze to our arms. Magic.
The show went on, like it does. As the curtain came down and the company proceeded to the stage for their curtain call the audience was very generous with their applause. But I don't think the cast cared. This last bow was for them and you could see it. They all came off stage with tears in their eyes. A very sad round of hugs ensued.
I felt a little weird becuase I wasn't crying perhaps because I wasn't finished working yet. John was especially struggling. He has spent 5 years on this show and sat with a towel over his head in his private moment of tears for nearly 20 minutes.
Many of the others that don't do this for a living couldn't quite get themselves together. Many were leaving right away. Another special moment came from Meegwun. He gathered everyone that was available in the door way of the green room. He was almost difficult to understand through his tears. But he said some great things and then pulled out his drum and offered us a song with a very complex and powerful translation. Then he drummed and gave a full on Native chant. It was very moving.
I have photos that I will put up soon, but for now I leave you with John Mann singing his hit for us in Chris' living room. The added bonus of many instruments filling out the sound.
I have been doing this for a while now, but this one is unique. A group of people that would never get together outside of this experience spent three long months joined at the hip. We had our troubles, right up to the last minute. But when you go through hard times it makes the good times even better.
This show may be different for me because I usually distance myself from everything. Go to work and still have a home life. That is my usual complaint about what I do for a living, it doesn't allow me to have a life. But because this one took me out of town and had me in Calgary alone I let it become my life. These people became my family for over two months.
It is always weird when you make such hard and fast friends and then just walk away from it. But this one was especially emotional.
I feel like I say this all the time. Maybe I do. But yesterdays close was special.
At the top of yesterdays show we were standing by. Suddenly Dennis (Director of the show and Artistic Director of the theatre) walked to the stage from the audience. This surprised all of us and we didn't know what was about to happen. He spoke with a shake in his voice, first explaining that a bus full of wheelchairs just pulled up and we would wait for them to be seated, but he went on to talk about the show and just how emotional this specific show may end up being because it is closing. He was close to tears and we hadn't even begun. I was standing by with John Mann, who reached out for my hand. In those following moments I stook silently with John, hand in hand, as a number of others walked by us, silently giving a quick squeeze to our arms. Magic.
The show went on, like it does. As the curtain came down and the company proceeded to the stage for their curtain call the audience was very generous with their applause. But I don't think the cast cared. This last bow was for them and you could see it. They all came off stage with tears in their eyes. A very sad round of hugs ensued.
I felt a little weird becuase I wasn't crying perhaps because I wasn't finished working yet. John was especially struggling. He has spent 5 years on this show and sat with a towel over his head in his private moment of tears for nearly 20 minutes.
Many of the others that don't do this for a living couldn't quite get themselves together. Many were leaving right away. Another special moment came from Meegwun. He gathered everyone that was available in the door way of the green room. He was almost difficult to understand through his tears. But he said some great things and then pulled out his drum and offered us a song with a very complex and powerful translation. Then he drummed and gave a full on Native chant. It was very moving.
I have photos that I will put up soon, but for now I leave you with John Mann singing his hit for us in Chris' living room. The added bonus of many instruments filling out the sound.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Eden
This show has certainly left a scar on me. Damage done that will be evident for years to come. Mostly I mean emotionally. Emotional scars. But I do have a scar that will be physically visible for a long time. If you take a look at this Interview you will see the Canoe Poles. I hate the Canoe Poles. On our third or fourth day in Vancouver while moving these stupid poles around a metal corner gouged my thumb. It was a very deep cut, but we were in the middle of a run so I swore and kept moving. A little later I felt the blood running down my arm. That was almost two months ago. Look at it. Still very visible.
Here are some pictures for you as well. It is the visual of the show that people are talking about the most. These don't really capture it, but I figured you might like to see.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
My Olympic Experience
It feels like a million years ago that we were in Vancouver.
To be in that city in the days leading up to the Olympics was pretty cool. Especially in the last two weeks. To watch the number of people on the streets increase exponentially every day.
The number of police walking the streets, all in different uniforms. The street closures and chaos of a changing downtown.
Those last few days I was living right in the thick of it. It was electric.
The room mate I was staying with was a volunteer performer in the Opening Ceremonies. He gave me two tickets to the dress rehearsal. We met at my hotel at about 4:30 and set out the two blocks to the gates of BC Place. The line was incredibly long to get to security. One block up Nelson St, around the corner and down the street, around the next corner and we joined the line in the middle of the next block. The line was a longer walk than from the hotel.
Going through security was crazy. It was a lot like being at the airport. Only worse.
All of us were funneled into a number of tents. All of your stuff was put into bins, as is at the airport. But there is no imaging machine, a person goes through your stuff. They pulled everything out of my purse. Then a walk through the metal detectors.
Finally inside we got to watch the Pre-show. Ben Mulroney teaching us how to use the props that we would not be given. But the $8 beer kept us entertained.
They explained to us that we were all in attendance because we know someone who has spent months working on this event. That these people have been sworn to secrecy about the show and they ask that we honour them and keep the secrets.
They also explained that they would be keeping some of their secrets.
It was pretty cool to see the event live. I tried not to watch the screens so that I could see all of the live stuff live.
They had stand ins for most people. They didn't announce the talent if they were stand ins. Nelly Furtado and Bryan Adams were stand ins, so were KD Lang and nearly all of the others. But Sarah Mclachlan, the French guy and O Canada were all as they were in the show.
The snow boarded made the jump, the pyro went and the polar bear roamed the stage.
It was all very cool. After watching it on TV though it is clear that it was designed for the billions of people watching on TV, not for the 60,000 watching it live. From where we were sitting the projections were not a clear as they were on TV. The projections on the floor were not connected to the action. For example at the very beginning when the people are walking on the ice and it all breaks up, you needed an over head view to understand it.
But I could watch all of the dancing. My favorite part was the "Sacred Grove" with the huge tree and all of the dancers. I wish that I could have seen KD Lang do her thing because it was certainly the best song of the night (when watching it on TV)
One of the secrets they kept was the torch stuff. Seeing as it went wrong on the actual night, perhaps they should have practiced it. Especially when it wasn't all that secret because they had the other one set up on the water already. Oh well. That is exactly why we have dress rehearsals, to make sure everything is going to work.
Those last days in Vancouver were wild. It felt really fun to be there. Glad that I wasn't going to have to be there when it was really crazy. But glad to have seen it, to have felt it.
When we returned to Calgary and the next day were watching the Opening Ceremonies at Dennis' house it was surreal to not be still in Vancouver. To be apart of the build up and then to be in someones living room like everyone else. It was weird.
This week while we have been back rehearsing and at the theatre for way to many hours on end. The TV has been tuned to the Olympics at all times. We are cheering as a team. And yesterday we held Act II by a couple of minutes to watch the short track speed skating metal final with the two Canadian brothers. Our watching didn't help but it was fun to take that extra minute to be Canadian before we went back to work. The audience will never know what we were waiting for.
To be in that city in the days leading up to the Olympics was pretty cool. Especially in the last two weeks. To watch the number of people on the streets increase exponentially every day.
The number of police walking the streets, all in different uniforms. The street closures and chaos of a changing downtown.
Those last few days I was living right in the thick of it. It was electric.
The room mate I was staying with was a volunteer performer in the Opening Ceremonies. He gave me two tickets to the dress rehearsal. We met at my hotel at about 4:30 and set out the two blocks to the gates of BC Place. The line was incredibly long to get to security. One block up Nelson St, around the corner and down the street, around the next corner and we joined the line in the middle of the next block. The line was a longer walk than from the hotel.
Going through security was crazy. It was a lot like being at the airport. Only worse.
All of us were funneled into a number of tents. All of your stuff was put into bins, as is at the airport. But there is no imaging machine, a person goes through your stuff. They pulled everything out of my purse. Then a walk through the metal detectors.
Finally inside we got to watch the Pre-show. Ben Mulroney teaching us how to use the props that we would not be given. But the $8 beer kept us entertained.
They explained to us that we were all in attendance because we know someone who has spent months working on this event. That these people have been sworn to secrecy about the show and they ask that we honour them and keep the secrets.
They also explained that they would be keeping some of their secrets.
It was pretty cool to see the event live. I tried not to watch the screens so that I could see all of the live stuff live.
They had stand ins for most people. They didn't announce the talent if they were stand ins. Nelly Furtado and Bryan Adams were stand ins, so were KD Lang and nearly all of the others. But Sarah Mclachlan, the French guy and O Canada were all as they were in the show.
The snow boarded made the jump, the pyro went and the polar bear roamed the stage.
It was all very cool. After watching it on TV though it is clear that it was designed for the billions of people watching on TV, not for the 60,000 watching it live. From where we were sitting the projections were not a clear as they were on TV. The projections on the floor were not connected to the action. For example at the very beginning when the people are walking on the ice and it all breaks up, you needed an over head view to understand it.
But I could watch all of the dancing. My favorite part was the "Sacred Grove" with the huge tree and all of the dancers. I wish that I could have seen KD Lang do her thing because it was certainly the best song of the night (when watching it on TV)
One of the secrets they kept was the torch stuff. Seeing as it went wrong on the actual night, perhaps they should have practiced it. Especially when it wasn't all that secret because they had the other one set up on the water already. Oh well. That is exactly why we have dress rehearsals, to make sure everything is going to work.
Those last days in Vancouver were wild. It felt really fun to be there. Glad that I wasn't going to have to be there when it was really crazy. But glad to have seen it, to have felt it.
When we returned to Calgary and the next day were watching the Opening Ceremonies at Dennis' house it was surreal to not be still in Vancouver. To be apart of the build up and then to be in someones living room like everyone else. It was weird.
This week while we have been back rehearsing and at the theatre for way to many hours on end. The TV has been tuned to the Olympics at all times. We are cheering as a team. And yesterday we held Act II by a couple of minutes to watch the short track speed skating metal final with the two Canadian brothers. Our watching didn't help but it was fun to take that extra minute to be Canadian before we went back to work. The audience will never know what we were waiting for.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Last day in Vancouver
On my last Day Off before we closed the show in Vancouver I went on a big walk. I walked down the Sea Wall to see the sights.
Here I am across the water from Granville Island.
Here I am across the water from Granville Island.
Further down the Sea Wall is English Bay.
I pulled up a seat one of these big logs and watched the water and the big container ships.
Further down the water is the Inukshuk at English Bay. The plague says that it was given to the City of Vancouver by the Government of the Northwest Territories for their pavilion at Expo '86.
It was a beautiful day for a walk.
The last night that I was in Vancouver I was able to hang out with Logan and Matt. Matt took us on our driving tour of the city, the North Shore.
The last night that I was in Vancouver I was able to hang out with Logan and Matt. Matt took us on our driving tour of the city, the North Shore.
First stop, back at English Bay for the Art Installation "Vectoral Elevation". 20 huge search lights that light the sky. There is a website where you can design your own light show.
Here Matt and Logan watching the lights.
Then we drove into Stanley Park to take a peak at some of the sights. Here are the totem poles of Stanley Park.
The Haida Pole.
Still in Stanley Park we pulled over to take a look at the Olympic Rings on the water.
The Rings with Five Sails in the background.
Lions Gate Bridge.
A shot of the three cruise ships lined up that are housing the 7000 law enforcement. Logan's is the ship with the red tail.
Lions Gate Bridge.
A shot of the three cruise ships lined up that are housing the 7000 law enforcement. Logan's is the ship with the red tail.
Our last stop was at Lonsdale Quay, looking back onto downtown.
Driving over the Lions Gate Bridge back into downtown.
In the end I had a good time in Vancouver. It may not seem like it. But now that the pain is behind us I can appreciate the show. Usually the subject matter of the show matters very little to me. But after my afternoon at the Museum of Anthropology I feel the strength of our show. And I have spent some time with the company and have really enjoyed hanging out with them. If I forget the first two weeks, it was great.
But I am very glad to be home.
An incredible night
I have pictures of my last days in Vancouver that I need to post.
I have updates now that I have been home for a week.
But I need to tell you about Monday night.
Tom Jackson invited us all to his house for a party.
We car pooled to his house outside of Calgary at 5. Nearly every person in the company came. We shared some appetizers and drinks.
For supper he served, with his wonderful wife, Montreal Smoked Meat Brisket. Delicious.
We had a wonderful meal.
Then the magic started. The instruments were pulled out and sound system hooked up. I knew that it was going to be a great "Jam Session" but I didn't really know what to expect. I thought a couple acoustic guitars and a piano. Wrong.
He had 3 microphones, a keyboard, electric guitar all ready to go. But it didn't end there. Many people brought out their own instruments. Chris, a great Calgary actor, brought a Mandolin, Cam, Frank Sinatra from previous shows, brought his banjo, and our band brought their instruments.
I can't even describe to you the feel of this room. Tom had a couple of friends over as well, three ladies that have a band and their piano player. They kicked the whole things off, and it rocked. But it got better. They start a song and the others sitting with their instruments just join in. Suddenly you have a full band supporting this song that came out of no where. And between every verse they would feature one player - "fiddle player take it". Adrian our band viola player would solo.
Curt and I (another Calgary actor I have worked with in Regina) just sat there with permanent grins on our faces. But we would really share a moment of disbelief when they would switch instruments. Cam sitting on Banjo stops playing when a new song starts and sees a Harmonica. So he picks it up and the song changes and grows. I think all of them switched instruments. And every time it would make me shake my head.
I was so lucky to have been there! There are moments that you know you will never forget. This was it.
John Mann sang three songs. A capella tune he wrote to a Robbie Burns poem. A cute song about how we were all safer when we could play with knives. And his last a funny "ballad" about his funeral.
Tom Jackson took the stage a couple times to sing and play the guitar. It was great. Especially when he pulls out that deep, deep voice he has. He would be singing away and then bust it out for a line and the whole room would go crazy.
Bill Henderson of Chillawack had out his electric guitar and rocked the room all night. He sang a few songs but mostly just went crazy on the guitar. It was incredible.
At any given moment there were not fewer than 8 musicians playing. One keyboard and 3 players, our rehearsal pianist, our show pianist and the pianist for the girls band. They would just tag the other out and take turns, sometimes each would play in the same song, or at the same time!
We heard many original songs people have written in their spare time (and again the others would pick it up and fill out the song). Many, many classic songs.
I didn't want the evening to end.
I have updates now that I have been home for a week.
But I need to tell you about Monday night.
Tom Jackson invited us all to his house for a party.
We car pooled to his house outside of Calgary at 5. Nearly every person in the company came. We shared some appetizers and drinks.
For supper he served, with his wonderful wife, Montreal Smoked Meat Brisket. Delicious.
We had a wonderful meal.
Then the magic started. The instruments were pulled out and sound system hooked up. I knew that it was going to be a great "Jam Session" but I didn't really know what to expect. I thought a couple acoustic guitars and a piano. Wrong.
He had 3 microphones, a keyboard, electric guitar all ready to go. But it didn't end there. Many people brought out their own instruments. Chris, a great Calgary actor, brought a Mandolin, Cam, Frank Sinatra from previous shows, brought his banjo, and our band brought their instruments.
I can't even describe to you the feel of this room. Tom had a couple of friends over as well, three ladies that have a band and their piano player. They kicked the whole things off, and it rocked. But it got better. They start a song and the others sitting with their instruments just join in. Suddenly you have a full band supporting this song that came out of no where. And between every verse they would feature one player - "fiddle player take it". Adrian our band viola player would solo.
Curt and I (another Calgary actor I have worked with in Regina) just sat there with permanent grins on our faces. But we would really share a moment of disbelief when they would switch instruments. Cam sitting on Banjo stops playing when a new song starts and sees a Harmonica. So he picks it up and the song changes and grows. I think all of them switched instruments. And every time it would make me shake my head.
I was so lucky to have been there! There are moments that you know you will never forget. This was it.
John Mann sang three songs. A capella tune he wrote to a Robbie Burns poem. A cute song about how we were all safer when we could play with knives. And his last a funny "ballad" about his funeral.
Tom Jackson took the stage a couple times to sing and play the guitar. It was great. Especially when he pulls out that deep, deep voice he has. He would be singing away and then bust it out for a line and the whole room would go crazy.
Bill Henderson of Chillawack had out his electric guitar and rocked the room all night. He sang a few songs but mostly just went crazy on the guitar. It was incredible.
At any given moment there were not fewer than 8 musicians playing. One keyboard and 3 players, our rehearsal pianist, our show pianist and the pianist for the girls band. They would just tag the other out and take turns, sometimes each would play in the same song, or at the same time!
We heard many original songs people have written in their spare time (and again the others would pick it up and fill out the song). Many, many classic songs.
I didn't want the evening to end.
Monday, February 01, 2010
New Location
I am in a new place today. A new place, emotionally, physically and literally.
-Most importantly, Logan arrived (on Saturday) and was able to stay with me from 6pm yesterday to moments ago.
-I am finally having fun on the show.
-And lastly, I moved. I am now in the Rosedale Suites & Hotel. It is great. (It is almost costing me as much per night as I was paying per week. Good thing I am only here for 10 days.)
Let's compare:
Nicole & Munish's Place to the Theatre
8 minute walk to the bus
up to 10 minute wait for the bus
15-20 minute bus ride
5 minute walk to the theatre
+ $10 cab ride home
View Larger Map
Rosedale Hotel to the Theatre
6 minute walk.
View Larger Map
Nicole & Munish's Apartment
(turn the dial in the top left corner so that N is at the very bottom & hit the blue X on the dialogue box)
View Larger Map
Rosedale Suite & Hotel
Living room
Bedroom
Kitchenette
View Directly out the window at the cute shops across the street
View down Hamilton St toward Robson St.
I think this last 10 days is going to be great. The show is going along tickity-boo. The entire company has become great friends. Logan is in town. We may not get to see each other a lot, but we will get to see each other. And I am in a place that is my own, clean and great.
-Most importantly, Logan arrived (on Saturday) and was able to stay with me from 6pm yesterday to moments ago.
-I am finally having fun on the show.
-And lastly, I moved. I am now in the Rosedale Suites & Hotel. It is great. (It is almost costing me as much per night as I was paying per week. Good thing I am only here for 10 days.)
Let's compare:
Nicole & Munish's Place to the Theatre
8 minute walk to the bus
up to 10 minute wait for the bus
15-20 minute bus ride
5 minute walk to the theatre
+ $10 cab ride home
View Larger Map
Rosedale Hotel to the Theatre
6 minute walk.
View Larger Map
Nicole & Munish's Apartment
(turn the dial in the top left corner so that N is at the very bottom & hit the blue X on the dialogue box)
View Larger Map
Rosedale Suite & Hotel
Living room
Bedroom
Kitchenette
View Directly out the window at the cute shops across the street
View down Hamilton St toward Robson St.
I think this last 10 days is going to be great. The show is going along tickity-boo. The entire company has become great friends. Logan is in town. We may not get to see each other a lot, but we will get to see each other. And I am in a place that is my own, clean and great.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Today Auntie Linda picked me up to go site seeing. We started on Granville Island. We saw some great galleries/gift shops and then spent some time in the Market.
It was great. There is just about everything there. Plenty of fruits and vegetables, fish and other meats, chocolate and pastries. I bought some great tarts and then some fish and chips on the water.
Then we headed downtown to check out some of the sights I haven't explored alone. Robson Square's skating rink, the performance areas, the shops. Here are a couple of buildings that have HUGE billboards.
The other side of the flag wraps around the building.
It was great. There is just about everything there. Plenty of fruits and vegetables, fish and other meats, chocolate and pastries. I bought some great tarts and then some fish and chips on the water.
Then we headed downtown to check out some of the sights I haven't explored alone. Robson Square's skating rink, the performance areas, the shops. Here are a couple of buildings that have HUGE billboards.
The other side of the flag wraps around the building.While walking down Robson St we discovered Auntie Linda's Eagle. Richmond Holdings donated to have their name on an eagle among many eagles that are placed around the city. Here she is with her eagle at Robson and Burrard. Great location. And great Eagle. Haida art. (many of the other eagles we have seen have not be so great.)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday off
Yesterday we were given a bonus day off. The show had been held for a "bought house". No one bought it. No show.
I decided to go to the Museum of Anthropology. This museum was created to house the Totem Poles "rescued" from the beaches of Ninstints. The entire plot of our play.
Quick overview: The real life Anthropologist Wilson Duff (Lewis Wilson played by John Mann in our show) and his friend Bill Reid (Max Thomson played by Cam MacDuffee) go to Ninstints to remove select totem poles so that they can be preserved in a museum to be studied etc. The argument was and still is to this day, that they shouldn't have taken them. That the cycle is not supposed to be broken, a tree grows, it is chopped down, carved, it decays and nourishes new trees that will be chopped down and carved. The argument on the other side is that the families were killed by small pox and the village abandoned for 60 at the time of the expedition. The cycle was broken.
The experience was so much for these two guys - and all of the people on this expedition - that it affected them for the rest of their lives. The Anthropologist ended up committing suicide and Bill Reid found inspiration to learn to carve, to re-discover his own past. He is one of the most famous First Nations artists (turn over a $20 bill and you can see his work!)
In the "backyard" of the museum they recreated a piece of Ninstints - Bill Reid carving 2/3 scale replicas of the totems they rescued - and turning it into a long house and a small house as it was/might have been in the village.
It was beautiful. The real village was built with all buildings facing the ocean. So was this one. It was quite the sight.
Inside the museum you can see the poles that they chopped down. It was pretty powerful. To see the actual poles that I watch fall every night onstage. Usually I just do theatre, but to see that this is actually someones history, heritage, turmoil. It was pretty cool.
There is always a lot of research that goes into doing a play. Even if it is a work of fiction you still have to learn about the time and place that you are working in. This one was intense as Bruce Riddell, our playwright, has been working on this for 20 years. He worked with Duff, with Bill Reid and many other elders and chiefs in the creation of this story. The bits and pieces that we have learned about this expedition is incredible. We have even seen pieces of footage from the actual expedition. Of them chopping down the poles, cutting them into pieces, putting them in crates and floating them down the water in a train-all tied together behind a boat. To see those actual pieces...
Also in this picture: The painted board on the wall was the original entry way into the building that stored the poles when they first returned. The canoe was carved by Bill Reid in the traditional way - we talk about canoes a lot in the play. And the two boxes in front are bentwood boxes. They are a thin sheet of cedar that is steamed and then bent into a box. That is how our story starts - with a bentwood box and a mask.
The four pieces seen here are all one pole. The left is the base, the right is the top - the watchman, just like Tom Jackson is in our play.
There was tons of other things to see. Most of them I had no patients to take a long time to read about. There was so much other stuff to look at. Like other work by Bill Reid. He started out as a metal smith. He worked mostly in Gold and Silver. Here are some things I thought were cool.
The museum was originally a building to protect Vancouver during the war. One of the key architectural features is the gun turrets. They weren't sure what to do with it when they were
"remodeling". So they commissioned Bill Reid to create a piece out of a huge, solid piece of yellow cedar. He created a carving of the creation story. I think it is interesting that in the gun turret there is a carving of creation. (The Raven is a huge player in the story telling of the Haida. The Raven was walking along the beach after the great flood and he noticed something shiny. It was a clam shell. Within the clam shell there were little creatures, some curious, some unsure, some not interested in what was going on outside of the shell. The Raven convinced them to explore the new world. And thus the first people stepped onto the beach.)
I am glad I went. I enjoyed the sunset on the water before the houses of Ninstints before I left.
After my trip I met up with Matt for dinner. He took me out for sushi. He is so grown up and cultured.
I decided to go to the Museum of Anthropology. This museum was created to house the Totem Poles "rescued" from the beaches of Ninstints. The entire plot of our play.
Quick overview: The real life Anthropologist Wilson Duff (Lewis Wilson played by John Mann in our show) and his friend Bill Reid (Max Thomson played by Cam MacDuffee) go to Ninstints to remove select totem poles so that they can be preserved in a museum to be studied etc. The argument was and still is to this day, that they shouldn't have taken them. That the cycle is not supposed to be broken, a tree grows, it is chopped down, carved, it decays and nourishes new trees that will be chopped down and carved. The argument on the other side is that the families were killed by small pox and the village abandoned for 60 at the time of the expedition. The cycle was broken.The experience was so much for these two guys - and all of the people on this expedition - that it affected them for the rest of their lives. The Anthropologist ended up committing suicide and Bill Reid found inspiration to learn to carve, to re-discover his own past. He is one of the most famous First Nations artists (turn over a $20 bill and you can see his work!)
In the "backyard" of the museum they recreated a piece of Ninstints - Bill Reid carving 2/3 scale replicas of the totems they rescued - and turning it into a long house and a small house as it was/might have been in the village.
It was beautiful. The real village was built with all buildings facing the ocean. So was this one. It was quite the sight.Inside the museum you can see the poles that they chopped down. It was pretty powerful. To see the actual poles that I watch fall every night onstage. Usually I just do theatre, but to see that this is actually someones history, heritage, turmoil. It was pretty cool.There is always a lot of research that goes into doing a play. Even if it is a work of fiction you still have to learn about the time and place that you are working in. This one was intense as Bruce Riddell, our playwright, has been working on this for 20 years. He worked with Duff, with Bill Reid and many other elders and chiefs in the creation of this story. The bits and pieces that we have learned about this expedition is incredible. We have even seen pieces of footage from the actual expedition. Of them chopping down the poles, cutting them into pieces, putting them in crates and floating them down the water in a train-all tied together behind a boat. To see those actual pieces...
Also in this picture: The painted board on the wall was the original entry way into the building that stored the poles when they first returned. The canoe was carved by Bill Reid in the traditional way - we talk about canoes a lot in the play. And the two boxes in front are bentwood boxes. They are a thin sheet of cedar that is steamed and then bent into a box. That is how our story starts - with a bentwood box and a mask.The four pieces seen here are all one pole. The left is the base, the right is the top - the watchman, just like Tom Jackson is in our play.There was tons of other things to see. Most of them I had no patients to take a long time to read about. There was so much other stuff to look at. Like other work by Bill Reid. He started out as a metal smith. He worked mostly in Gold and Silver. Here are some things I thought were cool.
The museum was originally a building to protect Vancouver during the war. One of the key architectural features is the gun turrets. They weren't sure what to do with it when they were"remodeling". So they commissioned Bill Reid to create a piece out of a huge, solid piece of yellow cedar. He created a carving of the creation story. I think it is interesting that in the gun turret there is a carving of creation. (The Raven is a huge player in the story telling of the Haida. The Raven was walking along the beach after the great flood and he noticed something shiny. It was a clam shell. Within the clam shell there were little creatures, some curious, some unsure, some not interested in what was going on outside of the shell. The Raven convinced them to explore the new world. And thus the first people stepped onto the beach.)
I am glad I went. I enjoyed the sunset on the water before the houses of Ninstints before I left.After my trip I met up with Matt for dinner. He took me out for sushi. He is so grown up and cultured.After Sushi I got to see his apartment. He had part of my Christmas Present waiting there for me. It was the new Monopoly City game (that I was sad no one got me for Christmas). We opened up some beer and played for three and a half hours. It was great fun. Matt whooped my ass. Final net worth: Matt $75 Million, Stacey $35 Million.
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