- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Theatre
- Hits: 1666
And this, the second in the HPR series. "Experimental". I applaud experimental, it's the foundation of science and all new things...
This was not even remotely successful, redeemed only by the fact it weighed in at a scant hour...
They tried. They failed, I suffered through it. And I'd drop more names but I've seen other of their work that I liked, and so like all theatre and experiments you chalk it up to experience and the chance you take...
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Theatre
- Hits: 2227
Part of One Yellow Rabbits High Performance Rodeo, the Martha Cohen Theatre, Theatre Calgary, a last minute decision ...
The wingman, she's not available, this perplexes me, other peoples lives (the fact that they have them), I'm covering tickets and drinks and you're still not available? Bloody hell, I need a bigger pool of wingmen ... or a better deodorant ...
Theatre Calgary, I hate it. No, I do, conservative and predictable retelling of the boring classics, ever since N*** slept with B****, but I'm hoping that the OYR HPR part of the equation redeems it, sitting in the lobby, waiting for the show, watching the audience trickle in and I'm beginning to have some misgivings...
It's the Theatre Calgary crowd, average age somewhere between 65 and a thousand years, the classical arts mullet, grey hair swept into that 70's icon of bad taste, business in front, party in the back, what have I got myself in for? And the bar, a dispiriting spirit list, no scotches for sale, only wine, house rye, gin, spiced rum, every decision a compromise, how can they not have Scotch, given their demographic? Make it a double whatever...the combined age of this audience exceeds the written history of mankind...my own contribution is not unsubstantial, but I'm not thinking I'm on the edge of theatre or thought here, the audience is betraying the show...one man, arts-mullet #8, is telling another, bad-combover #3, that he knows nothing about it other than it's about feminism and bicycles...
I'm thinking now of leaving, fleeing, get out while you still can, if the audience in any way foreshadows the show this is going to be bleak...there was an alternative dance number I could have chosen at the university, only I can never figure out their parking, and yesterday spent at the registry making an honest woman of my Jeep coughed up an unexpected number of tickets on file waiting to be paid...
Drink my drink, order another, swagger in and find my seat. I want nothing more than for this to be over. The audience, badly and brightly dyed helmets of hair bobbing and waving at one another, it's an "in" crowd for sure, the Calgary arts crowd, if they ever needed a fundraiser they would only need to sell bingo tickets before the show and call the numbers afterwards, would boost subscriptions by a million percent at least...
The show begins. A Laurie Anderson styled fusion of music, spoken word, mixed media, performance art, a narrative loosely hung on the frame and history of the bicycle, how small things can have such unintended impacts and consequences. It's good, I have to reluctantly concede, a job well done, the narrative informs me of things I knew nothing, the music is ... well, musical, the drummer on the bike, well, that's the gimmick. It's good.
If you like the clip below, you'll love the show...
A clip below:
{embed:youtube:6gBV85GmFsU}
PS: Need a more committed and available wingman. If you're bright, articulate and presentable and don't hold a membership to Theatre Calgary, contact me...
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Theatre
- Hits: 1749
At his absolute best, irreverent improvisation, with 30 years of marionettes, song and bawdy innuendo to draw upon. I've seen almost every show he's done, there's few that compare, if you get a chance you should check him out...
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Theatre
- Hits: 1789
We'd intended to go on Sunday, but the combination of "Fool for Love" & "Rampart" proved too depressing.
So we're trying again. The boy's informed me that the crew of this play overlaps the crew of one he's involved with at school, and so there are some political points to be gained. We're early, outside the theatre, it's a contrast in neighborhoods - across the street are luxury condos, on this side of the street a mostly vacant lot with the wreck of a church passing for the theatre.
A few trees, neon pink condoms scattered around the trunk, "Look for rocks of crack cocaine" I tell the boy, it's that sort of area, shingles from the roof of the church litter the ground, props - an old guillotine? stand outside it, cigarette butts, a broken fence, this is why I like theatre folk, they subscribe to similar ideals of housekeeping.
We're early, the only ones there, the front door is locked and I'm beginning to doubt if there's even a play, maybe I got my dates wrong?
We wait, eventually the door is opened at 7:45, other theatre goers show up.
Inside, the theatre resembles nothing so much as a charity bazaar, piles of clothing and props poorly concealed with blankets and drapes, a few - perhaps 50 - folding chairs, small stage. It's good in it's way, but it must be hell to keep warm in the winter, the boy tells me that apparently they're being moved...
The Play, combination of mixed media, live actors and puppetry, centering in an abstract way upon a young girl in the 40's (50's?) whose life is torn apart by an Atom Bomb and the death of her mother. Projected imagery culled from pop-culture classics, "duck and cover" videos, it's all in all a worthwhile trip to the theatre. Short, running at about 70 minutes, and "pay what you can" pricing, which seemed to be a big lure with much of the audience. Local theatre worth supporting.
Link: Greenfools Theatre
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Theatre
- Hits: 1657
Sam Shepard's classic play, at the Pumphouse Theatre in Calgary.
Well done, well acted, worthwhile.