Last year, the Undercurrents festival launched at the GCTC and was one of the theatrical highlights of the year. The festival’s aim is to promote independent boundary pushing theatre or “theatre below the main stream.” Last year’s line up was terrific and I saw every show. Undercurrents 2012, opened yesterday and I’m once again looking forward to seeing more independent theatre!

In fact, I’m on record, and have been quoted in marketing material, saying this about last year’s festival: 
“I hope this festival becomes a regular feature of the Ottawa theatre scene and that the GCTC will sponsor even more independent theatre productions in the future.”

As a strong supporter of this festival, I thought I would take some time to tell you about two of the shows I am particularly looking forward to this year. I think I would be remiss if I also didn’t tell you about the one show I feel should not have been included this year and why, but I will save that for another blog post.

Here are two recommendations: 

At the 2011 Ottawa Fringe Festival, Luna Allison premiered Falling Open in a very original venue(her bedroom.) Unfortunately, I didn’t have a chance to catch this one at Fringe. Her home was a little off the beaten path and, to be completely honest, the play’s subject matter (one family’s experience of sexual abuse) scared me off a little too. That being said, those who saw it raved about this show. I’m told Allison treats the subject matter with appropriate sensitivity and puts in a powerful performance. While I’m sure this one will be challenging, 

Falling Open is top of my list to see at Undercurrents 2012.

Highway 63: the Fort Mac Show, looks like an interesting piece of verbatim/documentary theatre, bringing to life the stories of the people who live in Fort Mac, Alberta. I love when communities use theatre to tell their stories. I’m also a fan of the verbatim movement so I’ll definitely be checking this one out.

So if you don’t know what to see, those are the two shows in the festival that I am most excited about.

Get your tickets soon!

Last Thursday, I set off to see Sleeping Dog Theatre’s (in association with the National Arts Centre English Theatre) Blood on the Moon  at the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre (GCTC).  Written by Pierre Brault, this show was selected as a last-minute replacement for You Fancy Yourself by Maja Ardal cancelled due to Ardal’s severe illness.  Blood on the Moon features Brault as the ghost of James Patrick Whelan, an Irish  immigrant who was found guilty of assassinating D’arcy McGee, retelling the story of his trial. Those who are familiar with Brault’s work will not be surprised that this is a one man show with Brault playing all the characters.  Brault has built his reputation with these kinds of performances and once again does an admirable job juggling all the roles.

Pierre Brault as Whelan, Photo by Lydia Pawelak

I am always pleased when local writers make an effort to tell Ottawa’s stories and Brault has done a nice job of telling Whelan’s story in Blood on the Moon. I particularly enjoyed the way he weaves in modern local references that Ottawa residents will relate to along with the historical facts of the trial.

Martin Conboy’s lighting design is also quite effective. The various scenes in the play from jail cell, to courthouse, and finally the gallows are all depicted through the use of clever lighting techniques.

Blood on the Moon is a local story skilfully told. It’s a show definitely worth seeing.

It’s important to remember that this show started 13 years ago as an Ottawa Fringe Festival show before touring Canada and Ireland extensively.                                                                      

This is not surprising, in fact, with so few opportunities to catch independent theatre on main stages, the theatre festivals have become the breeding grounds for the best of independent theatre in the country.

On that note, I’m very pleased that the GCTC is once again offering the Undercurrents festival in February. It’s a perfect opportunity to check out more independent Canadian theatre. Perhaps, some of the shows featured here will move on to main stages or, like Blood on the Moon, tour internationally.

In memory of Mike Jenkins and in support of his daughters Lucy and Violet.  

All proceeds will be donated to their trust fund.

Friday, February 24th, 9:30pm

Elmdale House Tavern (1084 Wellington St. W., Ottawa)

Tickets: $10 (suggested donation at door)

Hippie Campfire: http://hippiecampfire.com/fr_home.cfm

Jimmy George: http://jimmygeorge.bandcamp.com/

Photo courtesy - Andrew Alexander

HM: AL Connors. First of all, I would like to thank you for joining me in the house that we both live in.

AL: It is a pleasure to be here, as always, Heather Marie.

HM: I wanted to ask you a few questions about “A Midwinter’s Dream Tale”, opening this week at the GCTC, very big deal…

AL: Yup.

HM: Can you give me your basic 140-character summary of what the show is?

AL: #GCTCmwdt is about two clowns on a quest for ice cream who get wrapped up in a Shakespearean mash-up of the characters from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and some of the storylines from “The Winter’s Tale”.

HM: And the two protagonists in this story are…

AL: Two clowns, named Pomme Frites and ‘Restes, played by Scott Florence and Margo MacDonald.

HM: Right. And this isn’t the first time that audiences have seen Pomme and ‘Restes – I wonder if you could talk a bit about the genesis of those two characters.

Photo courtesy - Andrew Alexander

AL: Pomme and ‘Restes were first seen on stage at the 2001 Ottawa Fringe Festival in a show called “The Danish Play” (later re-made as “Shakespeare’s Danish Play”)…but rehearsing Danish Play in 2001, I don’t remember Scott or Margo ever ‘workshopping’ either Pomme or ‘Restes.. I just remember them being Pomme and ‘Restes, and, me trying to keep up as the clown named Landis in that play. So, yeah, Pomme and ‘Restes, to my knowledge, poofed into existence in 2001.

HM: That’s amazing. Midwinter’s Dream Tale takes place in what we’re told is a winter wonderland, but it’s sort of a magical winter wonderland – can you tell me about the world of the play?

AL: Yeah, it’s a land inhabited by fairies. Presumably if you’re familiar with Shakespeare, you’ll start to place the setting in reference to a “Midsummer Night’s Dream” because we’re talking about Oberon and Titania, the King and Queen of the fairies. Oberon suspects Titania of being unfaithful, which is one of the stories from “Winter’s Tale”, and he suspects that she’s been with a mortal, which is presumably Bottom from “Midsummer Night’s Dream”. And it’s been about nine months since that play, so, I guess we’re outside the Athenian woods in a crazy snowy Canadian winter? Kind of?  Really, it’s fairyland.

HM: Um, do we want to address the fact that our cat is meowing incessantly?

AL: That depends on what you intend to use this recording for…I was told you were going to transcribe this. But if it’s going to be released, the cat clearly has opinions.

HM: I think she wants to be included.

AL: Yes. There is no reason why she shouldn’t be.

HM: This is the first ever co-production between a Company of Fools and the GCTC – how did that happen?

AL: I don’t really know, honestly. When we produced the show in 2009, Lise Ann and a whole bunch of folks came to see the play. I know that immediately following, Scott or Margo or both had conversations with the Great Canadian Theatre Company that were ‘hey wouldn’t it be great if we could do this big silly show at your house’. And then…14 months of nothing…and then I found out through Scott Florence, who was doing all of the actual wheeling and dealing on behalf of the show, that it was happening. Then we had to hold our tongues (that was in November/December) and not tell anyone about it until April, when the GCTC announced their season. So, that was hard. I told all kinds of people. I was pretty excited.

HM: Well, you are the director of this show…

AL: Yup.

HM: …and you directed it in 2009, and for that work you were nominated for a Rideau Award…

AL: I suppose I was.

HM: …what’s it like to be working as a director  at the GCTC?

AL: I’ve had nothing but very positive experiences working at the GCTC – first as sound designer for the Lawyer Play, for Mr. Pat Gauthier’s “The Crucible” – and I feel very fortunate for the opportunity to work on that show; to get to know everyone in the theatre and get to know how that building works, before having to come in as a director. So that experience was great for all sorts of reasons. This time around, yeah… I could totally work there, just, forever. Or at least, I don’t hate it yet. It’s still all fun and exciting and new, and a novelty for me. Everybody’s been very supportive and, I’m sure it helps that the show we’re working on is a big, inclusive, ridiculous affair that is easy for people to get excited about. You know, all the stuff gets moved into the building, and you know that there’s clowns on site, all the time.

HM: So…let’s talk about the fact there are clowns on site all the time. What is it like to direct clowns?

AL: You have to resign yourself to the fact that…um, they’re gonna want to do what they want to do, and so…sometimes you have to ask Pomme and ‘Restes what they want in a scene. It’s great. It’s truly…look, let me put it this way: working with clowns, in real life, as a professional, you’re basically just in a somewhat state of make-believe, all the time. There’s always some play happening when Pomme and ‘Restes are in the room. Period. And you can try to overthink it, which is what I just did – but the bottom line is: when clowns are in the room, at some level, no matter how hard you’re working or how frustrated you are, there’s still some play happening.

HM: Right. So, Midwinter’s Dream Tale is a comedy…

AL: Yeah, I hope so.

HM: …you work a lot in comedy…

AL: I enjoy working in comedy, yes.

HM: Tell me about directing comedy. Who are your influences when it comes to your own brand of comedy?

AL: I have never been asked who my influences are…in any situation…before…

HM: Inquiring minds want to know, AL Connors.

AL: Yeah, well, they’re about to find out. And you know who most of these influences are: I’m a fan of Judd Apatow movies, big fan of Will Ferrell…growing up my folks showed me Monty Python, so, British comedy stuff…um, lately, Stephen Colbert is probably my favourite comedian…that type of political satire is fun…I don’t have it in me to do that kind of comedy, but I enjoy it.

HM: So what kind of comedy are you thinking about when you’re directing Midwinter’s?

AL: I guess if I had to put a label on it, the kind of comedy I’m thinking about is Company of Fools.

HM: Nice.

AL: ‘Cause I’ve worked with them for over 10 years now, and over that time I’ve really come to respect and understand that flavour of comedy – it is pretty unique to that company. And I’ve watched other people try to do it, and have it be a struggle, ’cause it’s a really difficult style of comedy to pull off. Partly because… it’s in the bones of that style of comedy to be accessible. It has to be accessible to the whole rainbow of ages, and, basically we’re forcing ourselves to work within that box – to come up with ways to get the most out of not breaking all the rules. (to the cat) Isn’t that right, kitty?

HM: (to the cat) Kitty, we are doing a very serious interview right now, and you need to respect that. Now be quiet.
So, back to the topic of inspiration…

AL: You really told our cat off. And she listened…is the most impressive thing…I just had to comment on that.

HM: You just have to reason with her.

AL: I guess I didn’t give the cat enough credit.

HM:<ahem> Inspirations.

AL: Yes.

HM: How much have I inspired you, during this creative process?

AL: Um…well…okay…the writing process for the play started in August of 2009, and throughout that Fall, the Fools would have these writing meetings, where we’d get on our feet for some bits and we’d pitch story ideas…we’d get homework where everyone would have to come up with a scene and bring it back. And so I’d come home from some of these meetings, and like, toss ideas around with you, in a similar manner. And, in memory, because I love you, some of those ideas get mishmashed together, and I can’t remember whose idea some things were…

HM: That’s okay. I am just surprised you came up with an answer to that question, cause I was just kidding.
And finally, AL Connors, opening night is this Thursday night…what will you be wearing?

AL: <Sigh> I don’t know. Probably this pinky, pinstripey shirt I have that matches, or at least ties in with, some of the costumes in the show, and then with that, maybe a white tie.

HM: Thank you for this.

AL: Hey, it was my pleasure. I am happy to talk about myself.

A Midwinter’s Dream Tale, a Company of Fools production, opens December 1st at the GCTC and runs until December 18th. Family pricing is available, please see gctc.ca for all the details. 

Linden House Theatre Company is performing “The Circle”, a comedy of manners by Somerset Maugham, on October 20, 21-23, and 26-29. The intimate theatre at the Elmwood School is a perfect location for this period piece, which takes place in the 1930s at an English country house.

Elizabeth Champion-Cheney (Sara Duplancic) has arranged a party to reunite her husband Arnold (Corey Reay) with his estranged mother, Lady Kitty (Janet Uren), who ran off with her husband’s best friend when Arnold was only 5 years old. Complications ensue when Arnold’s father (Robin Carter) arrives unexpectedly.

Unhappy in her marriage to the distant and stuffy Arnold, Elizabeth romanticizes Lady Kitty and Lord Porteous’s (Robin Bowditch) great love, for which they sacrificed family, social status and his political career. But reality is far from romantic bliss and the flamboyant Lady Kitty and dissolute Lord Porteous are not what she expects.

This play explores the rules of society in England in the 1930s, especially for women who are dependent on husbands for their status in society. Is acting outside those rules, and choosing passion over practicality worth the consequences?

Corey Reay, Linda Marchand, Sara Duplancic, Alex da Silva, Robin Carter, Robin Bowditch, and especially Janet Uren as Lady Kitty, do a wonderful job portraying the complexities of the characters in this play. The performance is enhanced by a beautiful set and exquisite costumes.

Linden House Theatre Company

Elmwood School Theatre, 261 Buena Vista Road

October 20, 21-23, and 26-29 (7:30pm)

October 23 (matinee performance)

FOR TICKETS CALL: 613-842-4913 

I came across the Ottawa band, The New Records, earlier this year (right around Record Store Day oddly enough)…they’re young, passionate, love music and they’re really talented.

Record Label: Unsigned (Members of Shine Studios)

Members: Cameron Wyatt (Lead guitar/vocals), Keith Hoddinott (Rhythm guitar/vocals), Zach Hofley (Bass) & Chris Labelle (Drums)

Genre: Pop/Rock

Last week, I had a chance to chat music with Cameron Wyatt, lead singer for the band and Twitter master in training…

Was there a moment – a concert you attended, a song you heard, a movie you saw that was your ‘A-HA!’ moment that made you realize that making music was something that you all wanted to pursue?

I would say that the first time was when I joined my first band. I was in the band program at HUmmingbird Music where they ask you your musical interests, what istrument you play and then place you in a band. At that time I played bass and I remember how amazing I felt to be a part of the cool music I was hearing. And ever since then I have been playing in a band.

Roller

The Lanark County Live Poets Society, or LiPS, is sending a team of local spoken word performance poets to the five day long Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, where they will compete against nineteen other teams from across Canada. To help raise funds to send the team to Toronto this October, LiPS is hosting an event in Perth on Saturday October 8th.

Several team members will be at the Farmers Market as the day’s charity group, from 8 am to 1:30 pm, with basket draw and silent auction items, and collecting donations. Tickets for the basket draws may be purchased and allocated to any basket(s) you wish, as many times as you wish. Bidding for silent auction items is done by writing down your bid, keeping in mind later bids can top yours so you have to check back in.

Everything will be moved over to the Factory Grind at 1 Sherbrooke St. after the Market, where an open-stage style evening of entertainment will be held, welcoming poets, musicians and storytellers to participate, and everyone to enjoy features by a number of guest performers.

The silent auction will conclude at the end of the evening, and basket items drawn as well, so some people will be going home with treasures and goodies.
Matt Dickson, a local musician with the acoustic duet band Rockin’ Horse, lead singer for The Respectables, and drummer for both Beatlejuice and the Commuters, will be the evening’s MC as well as performing, and two guests from Ottawa will also feature: spoken word artist Rusty Priske, the Capital Poetry Collective’s Slam Master and repeat member of their Capital Slam national team, and storyteller “aka professional liar” Ruthanne Edwards, founder and Slam Master of Once Upon A Slam and member of the Kymeras storyteller troupe.

The members of the Lanark County Slam team, Poettiquette, Inez Dekker, Andy Kerr-Wilson and b!WILDer, will also be performing spoken word poetry. For those who have not yet experienced spoken word and slam poetry, you will be in for a pleasant surprise with this performance art, which has been rapidly gaining in popularity around the world. It is not likely to resemble what you may be thinking of as “poetry reading”.

Doors open at 6:30 and the stage opens at 7.

Admission is $5 and includes a free basket draw ticket.
For more information please e-mail lanarklips@hotmail.com or look for LiPS on Facebook.

 O-Town Hoedown organizers announced today that twenty-six bands will perform over ten nights during the fifth annual O-Town Hoedown which will run from September 23rd to October 2nd 2011 in Ottawa.

The O-Town Hoedown is a concert series, which will take place in five different venues in Ottawa  (The Rainbow Bistro, Irene’s Pub, The Manx, Elmdale House Tavern, and Zaphod Beeblebrox), and will showcase the diversity of the Canadian alt-country scene. Musical genres on offer will range from rockabilly to cowpunk to folk-rock to bluegrass and everything in between. This year’s musical acts will include: Brothers Through The Hill, Silver Creek, Joey Only Outlaw Band, Ginger Saint James, The Woody Allens, Lynne Hanson, Brock Zeman, The Dusty Drifters, Morgan Friend, The Sick Sick Sicks, Marie-Josée Houle, The Kingmakers, and many more.

The O-Town Hoedown is organised by local country music impresario, Lefty McRighty, in association with CHUO 89.1FM, CKCU 93.1FM, Compact Music and Steamwhistle.

Spokesperson Lefty McRighty said:

“The party’s not over yet – the REAL Hoedown doesn’t start until September 23rd! It’s O-Town Hoedown 2011!!! If you’d like a sampling of the music featured at the Hoedown, or if you’re on the radio and are looking for some tunes to play, check out
otownhoedown.com/music  for free mp3 downloads from a selection of this year’s Hoedown roster. And don’t forget to check out www.otownhoedown.com for complete listings, and here for our great promotional video!”

One night, two shows, and a cast and a half.

Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps is now playing at the Gladstone Theatre, and as a special treat, Friday night is a double bill!

At 11pm at the Gladstone, following the play, Crush Improv featuring The 39 Steps‘ Richard Hannay (played by AL Connors) will be performing an encore performance of their hit 2011 Ottawa Fringe Festival show Spotlight On…

Spotlight On… is an improv show where the performers improvise scenes inspired by the true-life anecdotes of a guest monologist, and Friday night’s stories will be coming from none-other than the Director of The 39 Steps: Mr. John P. Kelly!

If that wasn’t reason enough to visit the theatre at 11pm Friday, the cast of Crush (2001 ‘Best Ensemble‘ winners: AL Connors, Brad MacNeil and Cari Leslie) will be joined by Uncalled For improv’s Dan Jeannotte and Sex T-Rex‘s Robin Toller and MORE!

If you’re planning on watching The 39 Steps this Friday or have already done so, bring your show program or ticket along and receive HALF OFF the already low price of TEN DOLLARS!

The Gladstone
Friday September 9th, 11pm (ending around midnight)
$10 at the door (cash please) or $8 in advance
http://crushimprov.com for tickets

Here’s a clip from Monday’s Crush show at the Elmdale Tavern to whet your whistle.
http://youtu.be/9Rxl5f9X02g 

The cast and crew of Balance gathered to talk about the process of making this chilling short:

In this second clip, we hear about the shooting of the film:

And in this third clip, we learn about the process of putting the film together … oh, and Derek remembers a very important thank you …

You can see this short film and others at the Mayfair Theatre in Old Ottawa South on September 22, 2011.

The box office opens at 6:30pm. The show starts at 7:00pm. Tickets are $5.

Note:The Mayfair is a cash only outfit so save up your Lauriers.

Video and article courtesy of Kevin Burton