Adrian Mitchell

Adrian Mitchell, celebrated British poet and playwright, passed away Saturday at the age of 76 due to heart failure. In his lifetime, he produced a body of work to rival the very best, from the Greeks to the modern day, while seeking to make poetry more accessible to everyone. He left journalism to write more and quickly became a part of the growing British movement for performed poetry in the early 1960s. He went on to work in the theatre, adapting classics and writing new works with such theatre artists as Peter Brook. The last of his 15 volumes of poems will be published next year.


"Across the spectrum of his prolific output, through wars, oppressions and deceptive victories, he remained a beacon of hope in darkening times." Michael Kustow, The Guardian

Photo www.bbc.co.uk

Why Won't "Reality" Television Die?

MTV has just announced that they have 16 new reality shows in the works. 16?! Apparently ratings have slipped (or tumbled) causing them to rethink their programming choices to hold on to that coveted youth demographic.


But, here's the thing, I am not an effing demographic. And I, frankly, cannot deal with anymore mindless MTV drivel being paraded around like content. Nor do we need anymore Speidis or Hiltons, people with no real talents who are famous for nothing. We're not talking about the competition shows, either, like American Idol or So You Think You Can Dance? or Top Chef or whatever else where the contestants actually have to do something (not that those are all good shows, but at least they have to do something other than shop and party). We're talking about The Hills or Real Housewives or any other show that follows random people around with cameras and attempts to sell it as "reality" after editing it down to 22 episodes that resemble poorly scripted melodramas. And it isn't a documentary even if it has the production values of one; very little of it, if any, nowadays is at all enlightening or insightful. Newsflash: this kind of programming is no more "reality" than scripted television, this just means they don't have to pay writers. Which is why it continues to exist: "Reality" television is cheaper to produce. Plain and simple. Rebel, I say!

And, meanwhile, it is contributing to the dumbing down of my generation. Plus, it takes away jobs from our creative classes--writers. directors, actors, etc. Is mindlessness really what we need in the world right now? Or couldn't we argue that this is the kind of thing that helped get us to where we are now (big, messy, undeclared war, global recession, tanking economy, bickering politicians, etc)? We need some intelligence on our screens and some responsibility from those giant corporate networks. Or we need to turn the TVs off, which is still not the right route to go because there is some interesting work being done there. Maybe we all need to take a step back and reassess our values.

And this is my rant for today.

Wouldn't this kind of turn-around be nice?

The former star of the recently canceled, critically acclaimed Pushing Daisies, the lovely Kristen Chenoweth, has already signed on to another project! That took all of about 2.5 seconds. Chenoweth is set to star in Legally Mad, David E. Kelley's new legal drama. It is being produced by Warner Bros. Set in a Chicago law firm, it follows Skippy (Chenoweth) "a cheerful and brilliant attorney who nonetheless exhibits flashes of psychosis -- and enjoys being mistaken for a teenager." While it sounds like the perfect part for her, a) do we really need another primetime legal drama? and b) isn't this a little Ally McBeal-ish? I'm sure KC will be brilliant, though...hopefully she'll sing too...do we suppose they could work that in??

Weekend Update.

I successfully survived Snowmageddon. And Snowmageddon 2.0, a.k.a Saturday night. Although I did spend several somewhat frustrating hours waiting for my siblings to arrive at Union Station in the interim. I met a family from North Bay and a cat named Mozart.

It was a weekend of work-related events. I was going to say office parties, but since I worked at a children's summer camp that wouldn't be an entirely accurate assessment of the situation. But it was back-to-back Saturday and Sunday night. I suppose, really, I should just be grateful to have had work Christmas parties: one very sad friend of mine informed me that his place of employment "cancelled Christmas." My office's version of recession economics was a limit on champagne. And really, there's nothing like making drunken small talk with your colleagues.


This whole working in a real office thing has been very interesting for me, sort of like a window into a parallel universe. It's not something I ever really thought I would do and, I have to say, it hasn't been terrible. Granted, it's a little exhausting, somewhat creatively stifling, and quite frequently boring, but on a good day, it's also kind of fun. It's organized, structured, constant...something that theatre generally is not. And I can appreciate that. On a short term, basis, anyway. I still maintain that in the long run I would probably have to poke my eyes out with the letter opener...

And I like to think I have brought some of my actress's energy to the workplace--actually, I'm sure I have. While work ethic translates through all professions, the politics of each profession and place of employment are different. Now, this office is fairly laid back, but it still doesn't have quite the same feel as a rehearsal room. But there are similarities and sometimes I think they are almost the same if you can only draw those things out--you can still have a serious place of business and a laugh at the same time. I think I have encouraged everyone here not to take things too seriously. Have a little fun, too, as long as you still get your work done. We're not machines, after all.

And now that I feel I've brightened the experience and accomplished something here, it's just about time to get out. I need to do something creative again (even better if I could get paid for it) for my own survival and sanity, whatever that might mean.

A very successful producer on a panel discussion I attended said that he admires actors because they have one of the hardest jobs. He told us, if you can imagine yourself doing anything else, do that instead. But the problem is I really can't. And that is what is so terrifying, the fact that I have to do this.

I am in it now, for better or worse.

Snowmageddon.

Snowmageddon in the GTA: I had a picture I waited five minutes to take of the passing streetcar and the swirling snow. But someone stole my camera cord. Someone is dead. Anyway, further blogging will be suspended today in light of insane snow storm currently raging outside.

The very kind bosses even bought everyone sushi lunch so we wouldn't have to go outside. Except I had to go outside with said boss to pick it up. I even had to ride in the backseat as a result of giant box o' sushi. But it was delicious. I now feel like a large piece of raw fish. We are what we eat, after all.

Anyway, closing shop early in order to go home and bond with mug of coco and couch. Stay warm and safe!

Celebrate the Gift of Culture Campaign

Judging by their site, this is clearly a campaign that hasn't garnered much attention so far, but it's a neat idea. I read about it on the TAPA blog. Perhaps it is something that should continue beyond the holiday season?

The idea is for everyone who attends a live performance in the month of December to film the audience applauding the performers, beginning with the stage and panning out to include everyone. These videos should be about 15 seconds or so long--easily done on a phone or digital camera. They can then be uploaded to the campaign's group on YouTube. The idea is that "ordinary Canadians" are out celebrating and appreciating the gift of culture.

I know there are more videos on YouTube on the subject--so that is my holiday challenge. How many more can we add? Either in the format described by this campaign or in our own? Let's get creative. After all, "to be creative is, in fact, Canadian."

Something Worth Investing In...

Today The Guardian is reporting a new initiative to offer free seats at various theatres to people 26 and under. This is simply another affirmation that I would be better off in London.

I would love to go to the theatre, the opera, the ballet, everything, more. Or at all. But the unfortunate reality is that I cannot afford any of these things. True, some of them offer better and better discount programs, but the reality is that, for someone working at minimum wage or even just above, a $20 ticket is still expensive. It means I manage to make it out maybe once a month instead of once a week...or more! I think this is probably the reality for many artists in a position similar to mine--just starting out, etc.

Also, I appreciate the fact that the Arts Council in Britain really feels that this program they've started is an investment in culture. It's an investment undervalued in most other places, which is unfortunate. After all, what will we be remembered or known for if not our culture? And what will that mean if we have none? How can we have any when we do not see it as a worthwhile investment?

I don't propose to have all the answers...but at least I am thinking about the questions.

The Blogging Bug.

A few things have happened since I started this blog not so long ago, and I think they are positive changes in my personal development. I am exploring the vast reaches of the internet to a greater degree and with more serious intent (which, on the downside, has significantly contributed to the number of hours I spend on the internet). It is teaching me a lot about a variety of subjects, not the least of which is what I care about--in reality, in a clicks-per-day kind of way, not just in my head. I am definitely experiencing a quarter-life crisis of sorts, which is apparently the signature of my generation, not that I find that terribly comforting, but blogging is helping me, I think, to figure out what I am doing and how I am going to do it. It's all still in the nascent stages, but it's coming along. As am I. And I'm hoping it is something I will carry through and not give up on--I think it has to be.

Right now Brazen Careerist is featuring a whole series of posts about blogging--why it is great, how it can help you, etc. And if you need more encouragement, Penelope Trunk can point you in the right direction. It has been a great help and source of direction for me. And if you don't know where to start, surf the web and see what others are blogging about--everything from technology to art to design to families to travel to food to politics to well, everything.

Keeping it real, community-style.

This morning’s encounter combined with my daily internet reading list has me thinking about community. Community being a fairly constant theme in my musings, it’s something I have a lot of ideas about—unfortunately more than I currently have time to express. But, suffice to say for now, I think we all have a longing to belong somewhere and I think that part of the key to both surviving and thriving as a starving artist is to feel that you do belong somewhere. The creative community is a powerful place…and the best way to belong is by participating, however you see fit. Here are some suggestions on how to participate from today’s web surf:

Mike Sheerin, a documentary filmmaker in Toronto, set out to make a film about what kids say to Santa Claus. What Mike Sheerin got was a film about the lives of three local Mall Santas. These three men don the red and white suit for the last month and a half of each year and engage the imagination of every wee one to sit on their knee. For them, this is a calling; it is the highlight of their year. And the end comes abruptly each December 25th, bringing a bittersweet break until next year. Chronicling this, Mall Santa, airs tomorrow night, Thursday, December 18, at 8:00 EST on Global. You can also bring joy to your own local Mall Santa by visiting between now and Christmas Eve!

Check out your local independent bookstore! I know, I have a huge love of Indigo, but I am always on the prowl for a good independent specialty bookstore—on which note, does anyone know of a good drama bookstore in Toronto? Chances are that the staff at a local bookstore are doing it because they love it and because they know their stuff, while Indigo can be great, the case may not be the same. And it turns out that the service they can offer is part of what is keeping them in the game—their connection to the community. So if you have a local bookstore, go see what they have to offer!

And finally (for now), there is a great profile on a Toronto singer/songwriter, Simone Fornow. In addition to her accomplishments thus far just being very neat, I appreciate the locality of her songwriting. It’s immediateness to a specific community, as well as her commitment to community. I won’t write more about her here, you have to go to BlogTO to check out their profile/interview. It’s definitely worth it.

Good night, Grand Aspirations. (Good morning, Reality.)

As if the epic amounts of snow that seeped into my ballet flats on my way to work this morning (I, genius that I am, forgot my winter boots at the office last night...and, by winter boots, I mean Uggs, which anyone who has ever stepped in a cold slush puddle whilst wearing them knows aren't really winter boots), I was reminded of the harsh reality of my life this morning when the first courier into our office was wearing an ACTRA Toronto toque. We had a chit chat that basically amounted to how I don't have a reel, an agent, or, it would seem, a hope.

I am consoling myself with the fact that his toque said ACTRA and not AEA because I don't really want to do film, commercials, or television that badly anyway. He did, though, take care to remind me that it's almost impossible to make a living in the theatre. He was a nice enough guy, it's the facts themselves that are distressing...

A very wise and experienced man, one of my favourite theatre critics/professors, once told me that, while it is very difficult to make a living in the theatre, it is quite possible to make a life in the theatre. So which would you rather have? A life or a living?

How to audition for theatre school.

I was recently asked to give some advice to a friend of The Photographer’s little sister (we’ll call her The Camper—the sister, not the friend—because, though we are all campers in his family and in mine, she has been on the longest, craziest canoe trip and therefore is most deserving of the title…) who is auditioning this winter for my obscenely expensive prestigious alma mater. I have sent said friend a rambling email or two at this point, which she claims has been helpful much to my relief, and I thought I should share some of my insights here. I don’t really claim to be an expert (yet), but I did audition for, attend, and graduate from (with honors, thank you very much—and minus the u as it is an American school) one of the top drama schools in the U.S., if not the world. So I would think my advice does carry some weight…plus, she is not the first person to ask for my thoughts and there are some common questions. So here I go in five simple steps…

1) Auditioning for drama school is not the same as auditioning for your high school play. Or any other play for that matter. Generally, when you audition for a play whoever is casting that play is watching you to see if you make sense as a specific character. They’re looking at you for “type” (which is one of the worst words in theatre, but we will talk about that some other time) and to see how you would fit into a production on the whole. When you audition for theatre school none of those things apply—no one is looking for you to be a certain “type” or character or to fit you into a preconceived production aesthetic. They aren’t even necessarily looking at whether or not you’re a good actor. They are looking at whether or not you are mouldable. It’s all about whether or not they can turn you into a great actor, which has very little to do with already being one. Think about it, if you are already perfect, why would you need to go to theatre school in the first place? They want to see how you take direction, how you think about and process things, how you are capable of changing—this is very much a rehearsal and not a performance. That is generally how I feel about auditions anyway, but especially in this case, focus on working with the person conducting the audition and don’t worry about being perfect. They’re looking for potential, not perfection.

2) Don’t try to be anything you’re not. I realize that seems really simple, but so many people overlook it. This applies to basically everything about the audition, but mostly to the audition monologues. Now, I hate audition monologues on principle and I think that “contrasting, contemporary monologues” are the three most evil words in the English language, but the fact of the matter is they are important. Now, “contrasting” can mean just about anything, so feel free to branch out from “dramatic” and “funny.” Especially “funny.” “Funny” for females in less than two minutes is hard to find, plain and simple. The difference can be subtler, like “anxious” and “in love.” The point is not to do two monologues with the same feeling—but don’t stress too much, no one is going to cross you off the list based on the degree to which your monologues contrast (or don’t). It is far more important to pick something you connect with, that resonates with you, than it is to pick something because it’s different from the first thing you picked.

Also, “classical” does not necessarily mean Shakespeare. Although for my intents and purposes, it usually does. Shakespeare is great for theatre school auditions because, frankly, there’s a lot for an eighteen year old to choose from (but don’t do it if you don’t understand it or if you can’t do it well, there is other classical material out there). This brings me to the second part of this section: in high school or community theatre productions, we often play more of what we aren’t—think high school students playing Jean Valjean in Les Mis or someone under the age of 105 starring in King Lear—and there is definitely a place to push those boundaries. This is not it. Stick close to what you know; this will make it easier to connect to the material and to focus when you are shaking and terrified in your audition, which will make you less shaky and terrified.

3) Drama schools admit people. So be a person. The real upside to drama school auditions is that they’re interested in who you are as a person. No one may ever be again in the entertainment world, or at least not for a while, so take advantage of that. And think about it beforehand. Most of these auditions also involve an interview of sorts. It’s important to be honest and not just to say what you think people want to hear or expect to hear—I will never forget the reaction of the man I auditioned for when he asked how my parents felt about my proposed career and I said “Good” as if it were nothing. This is an opportunity for you to make your case and to express yourself in your own words—so do it well! Granted, this may be more difficult if you aren’t adept at speaking off the cuff, but there are some questions you can probably expect to hear: Why do you want to go to school here? Why do you want to be an actor? On the former, do your research, on the latter, “because I want to be famous” is not an acceptable answer, even if it is true. Remember, drama schools are interested in turning out quality actors, and most quality actors are people first.

4) Make yourself memorable by dressing the part. Technically, you should already be memorable because of your dazzling conversational skills and brilliant monologue choices. But in case that isn’t enough, there is something really simple you can do to stand out and to stick in their minds after the fact. For some reason actors really love to wear black. Don’t. Or not all black, at least. Guaranteed at least half the people you audition with will be clad all in darkness but, please, embrace color. Black is classic and wonderful but will not distinguish you in this situation. And what you wear is another opportunity to show your personality. Ideally, you should look like yourself but a little more put together, not necessarily dressed up. If you wear jeans and a t-shirt every day of your life, don’t change that. Just make sure it’s clean, not wrinkled, and maybe consider throwing a button down shirt over that. Keep in mind, too, that you may need the freedom to move for your audition, so be comfortable. It sounds so simple, I know, but look around at your audition and see how many people don’t do it.

5) Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. And then stop worrying about it. Preparation means a lot of things. First, do your research before you apply and know exactly what the school has to offer. This will help you to formulate ideas for the interview part of your audition and to have a clearer understanding of what, exactly, you’re getting yourself into. Next, don’t leave your monologues until the last minute because it will just stress you out: I am the Queen of Procrastination. I actually hold that title. I memorized one of my monologues on the plane to my audition and pretty much wanted to vomit the whole time. I really don’t recommend it. Granted, last minute panic works for me, but it isn’t terribly pleasant. Now, you’re bound to come up with some questions while you’re doing all this—see if you can find someone to ask. If you can find an alumnus to talk to, that is definitely the best bet, especially if they’re a recent grad or current student because the experience will still be fresh for them. Plus, they’ll have the most up to date info. Failing that, call the school to see what they can tell you or who the can put you in touch with. If it’s a general question, there are forums all over the web. There’s me! And ask anything and everything. Even if it seems silly or trivial. The more info you have the more comfortable you will feel about the whole thing. And finally, forget about it. When everything is said and done, after you’ve auditioned there is nothing more you can do. So don’t worry about it. It is out of your hands. And, provided you did everything you should have before the audition, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about after.

Shoot Photos, Not Guns.

The Toronto Star reported today that Toronto Police exchanged 1,900 guns for digital cameras in a recent gun amnesty program. I realize this is not the perfect solution to Toronto's issues with gun violence, but you have to credit them for doing something, and something creative at that. I imagine that those individuals who so frequently shoot up our city, particularly the Jane & Finch neighbourhood, held on to their firearms, but if the Toronto Police had an impact on even one wayward individual through this, it's been worthwhile.

Just think of the difference you can make in someone by giving them the tools and the power to create instead of destroy. And by making it their choice. We might be able to force guns off the street through legislation, but I think the root of our problems is deeper than that. People need an outlet for their anger, for their poverty, for their disappointment...for whatever turns them toward violence. Everyone needs a way to express themselves. And perhaps it's our fault as a culture that we give more attention to those who act out in destructive ways than to those who channel their feelings, problems, and experiences through creative means.

Encouraging culture and creation might decrease violence and hatred. Now there's a thought.

Spreading Holiday Cheer On A Budget.

Apologies for the lack of activity today, I'm not feeling all that well. It's the cold that just won't go away (note to self: more than six-ish hours of sleep per night would probably make an enormous difference). Oh, and the day job. And the holidays, for which I am sadly unprepared...which leads me to what I do have to say today.

Having now lost my mind completely, I decided it would be a good idea to cross some items off my Christmas shopping list this past weekend. At the Eaton Centre. What was I thinking? Excellent question. Well, it appears I was very concerned with spreading the holiday cheer at bargain prices. Either that or there is no other time in my life between now and December 25 in which to get it all done. Regardless, I, along with approximately 8.73 million other people, ended up shopping the Eaton Centre this weekend. And, I have to say, despite the insane hordes of holiday shoppers, there were some beautiful things to be seen.

First, the Swarovski Christmas tree is up in the middle of the mall and impossible to miss. I should have taken a picture to post here (a task at which I failed all weekend), but you really have to see it in person to appreciate its glowing goodness. I am actually a big proponent of the more Charlie Brown-esque features of Christmas trees and, while beautiful, it isn't really my holiday tree ideal. But it is worth seeing and appreciating. And it does benefit charity, I believe. Although I'm not totally clear on how. My head is a little fuzzy.



Moving on, I elbowed my way through the masses at Indigo for the book lovers on my list (including me) only to discover that The Canadian Tenors were singing and signing. Now, I didn't go in for the signing, largely due to time constraints, but they sounded just as beautiful as they looked. They did a really lovely version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. They also have a new CD out and are performing tonight and tomorrow in Toronto.

As a side note, I found a really great book at Indigo that I've been meaning to read for a while: A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews. If you are female and at all interested in finding alternate sources for monologues, this is one you should definitely check out. This is giving away trade secrets because I certainly intend to use it at my next audition. If you're not interested in these things, I still recommend it as a good read.

Finally, Christmas shopping on a budget is difficult (duh). Especially when you really do want to find nice things for people with more $$$ than you. But, unfortunately, part of being a "starving artist" is that you generally are not rolling in the dough. So, may I propose a few Christmas gift ideas that are particularly good under these scenarios, and especially for the kind of people who basically already have everything--like, say, The Photographer's parents. If anyone on your list enjoys cooking, check out Williams-Sonoma. They have neat kitchen gadgets that are fairly inexpensive as well as lots of really delicious sauces, drinks, etc. I highly recommend drink mixes that can be given with mugs--such as hot chocolate or mulling spices or anything of that nature. It is, after all, the spirit and intent that are most important...but you still want to give something nice that will be appreciated.


Another option is a nice framed picture, if you have a particularly good picture of the recipient or a place that is special to them...this is probably easier when your boyfriend is The Photographer. If all else fails, the picture frame itself will do. Pottery Barn has an excellent selection.

Finally, As a personal touch, I also include with all my gifts a Christmas ornament that in some way relates to the recipients' interests...Pottery Barn can also be good for those, amongst other places.


Happy holiday shopping! I hope you all manage to find some beauty in the insanity of it all, too. And I promise to be more put together tomorrow...

Uxbridge Updated: "What is going on in Canada?"

This is the second update on a post from last week about Uxbridge Secondary School's production of The Laramie Project, which the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas was planning to protest. Well, a mom of one of the boys in the cast found my post and was kind enough to give us an update on the situation. And now the weekend is over, the play went up, the WBC was nowhere to be found, and we, up here in Canada, are one step closer to acceptance for everyone. Here is what she came back to say:

Well, it’s all over now. The three night run of The Laramie Project is complete and thanks to Fred Phelps and his band of crazies from Kansas, the 16 performers and their teacher have had their 15 minutes of fame. And the WBC never even showed up. I'd love to send them a thank you letter for all of the free publicity and noteriety, but why poke the bear? The kids got letters from Rick Mercer and Michael Ignatieff among others. They got a page 5 spot in the Globe, right below Ted Rogers' funeral. Most importantly, the town turned out in big numbers to see and support the play. It was a great experience for all of the kids and has hooked many of them on the performing arts. Thanks for taking an interest.

What I really love about this is that, in an attempt to preach hate, intolerance, cruelty, and injustice, all the Westboro Baptist Church succeeded in was uniting one small community against all of those things. It's exciting to hear about things like this and, in light of a world that seems every day to be crumbling around us with war, death, poverty, hunger, and hatred, progress of this sort offers a tiny glimmer of hope for humanity. At least, that's what I think.


Thank you, mom from Uxbridge, for sharing! I wish the students in Uxbridge all the best in their future theatrical endeavours and hope they will share them with me, too!

Peace Out...til Monday.

This is about how I'm feeling at the moment, which can only mean it must be the weekend.


We'll call this picture "Portrait of a Sleepy Wolf," taken at Dublin Zoo circa 2006. And it will be the inspiration for the Plurius Pictureus Initiative, officially launching this weekend. Hopefully I will have the fruits of those labours to share next week. My weekend internet access is somewhat limited, thus the lack of S-day blogage.

There will be no work this weekend, only relaxation. I wish the same for all of you.

And I wish the best to The Laramie Project in Uxbridge. I eagerly await news of your weekend and will be happy to publish anything anyone in or attending their production has to say! I will do my best to get it online before Monday if anyone sends anything!

"What do you do when you're not sure?"

Doubt, John Patrick Shanley's film adaptation of his play by the same name, opens in theatres today.
The play originally opened Off Broadway on November 23, 2004 at the Manhattan Theatre Club before transferring to Broadway in March 2005 at the Walter Kerr Theatre. It closed on July 2, 2006 following 525 performances with 25 previews. It then toured and has since been performed all over the world, including at London's Tricycle Theatre, well known for its agitprop and documentary style theatre (I once sat through an epically long production there that shall remain unnamed...because I can't remember the name). And, of course, what could follow all this but a movie? It is, after all, one of the most successful new plays in recent memory. In addition to its many productions internationally, it is the winner of a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play, a Tony for Best Play, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. To say nothing of the countless awards and nominations by those who have designed, directed, and performed it (including several Golden Globe noms for this film).

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams

Set in a Catholic school in the Bronx in the autumn of 1964, a pivotal time in American history following the assassination of JFK and the "modernization" of the Catholic Church, Doubt centers on, well, doubt. A kindly, well-liked priest, Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who embraces the winds of change, is suspected of molesting the school's only African-American student. Sister Aloysius (the Meryl Streep), the school's principal, passes judgment swiftly but is powerless to do anything about the priest's behaviour in a world dominated by men. And Sister James (Amy Adams), the newcomer, like us, isn't quite sure what to believe. And the ensuing drama can be summed up in the words of Flynn, "What do you do when you're not sure?"

Meryl Streep

The Meryl and Mr. Hoffman are apparently brilliant (duh.) and I will be interested to see how Amy Adams fares. I think it's an interesting casting choice and not necessarily one I would've expected next to two powerhouses of the screen and stage. I hope she holds her own; the reviews don't really have a whole lot to say about it. And since I don't generally trust just to reviews, I have included links to three: The Star, The Globe and Mail, and The New York Times. One thing they all agree on is that the show-stealer in this one is Viola Davis in her cameo as Mrs. Miller, the mother of the student who Flynn may or may not have molested. They also seem to agree that it's worth seeing.

Viola Davis

The original play was performed as a one act; the cast felt that the second act was what happened beyond the theatre, what the audience took away and discussed. Good theatre requires participation. I have a feeling that good film does as well. I'll let you know when I've seen it and, please, share your thoughts on it here. But in case you lose something in the translation, or would just prefer the stage experience, don't worry: Doubt is coming to Toronto in play form in May. The Canadian Stage Company will be putting up their production May 4-30.

Pictures ©Miramax Pictures Inc.®All Rights Reserved.

Sundancing.

My illustrious alma mater just sent me an 8 page single-spaced list with the names of all my fellow alumni who are in any way involved in the Sundance Film Festival. 8 pages!?!


What am I doing with my life?!?

Savouring a Jamaican beef patty and a ginger beer. Eating my feelings, that is what I am doing.

But I'm really not a negative person and I'm over feeling sorry for myself. So congrats to my fellow alumni on your accomplishments. I really am proud of all of you. Now win some awards and get some slope time in while you're there!

P.S. The No Name Saloon, pictured above, has the best buffalo burgers in Park City. Go with it, trust me.

"What is going on in Canada?" Update!

So, I posted this in my blog on Wednesday about the production of The Laramie Project in Uxbridge, Ontario and the threat of protests from Westboro Baptist Church. Since then it has generated some interest--you can even find me if you google "Uxbridge Laramie Project." Which means someone is reading my blog! Other than me!! I know, not really the place for self indulgence, but it put a smile on my face and I appreciate it/all of you who might be reading this.

To the point, though...This comment was then posted by the mother of one of the cast members giving us an update:

Update from Uxbridge.

My son is in the play. They opened officially last night to about 200 people and no protesters. The unofficial opening was a performance reserved for students of the school. They actually had to turn away 250 of the 800 students who wanted to purchase tickets because the auditorium maxes out at 550. That was yesterday afternoon. Both went off without a hitch. The kids should be, and are, extremely proud of themselves. Bring on the unenlightened. We look forward to hosting their backward ideas in our progressive little town.

And that puts an even bigger smile on my face. See how exciting "controversial" theatre can be? This is why I love theatre: the discussion it creates, the energy, the community. I am so impressed by and so proud of the community of Uxbridge. This mom really says it all, and I will continue to wish them the best and to think of them, though I have prior commitments preventing me from attending.

Hopefully we will continue to get updates, with or without the presence of protesters. Because the protesters are secondary, the real story is Uxbridge.

Bettie Page

Bettie Page, pin up girl and icon of the sexual revolution, passed away yesterday of a heart attack. Ms. Page suffered a heart attack earlier this week and never regained consciousness. She was 85. She led a turbulent and often troubled life, the story of which is better recounted here in the Globe and Mail and here in the New York Times. She was quite the controversial figure of the 50's, even sparking a Senate inquiry.

For my part, I think she's beautiful. I especially like the picture I've posted. And note how much our culture has changed: here is a picture of a healthy looking beautiful woman who, in today's tabloids, would probably be considered fat. Progress, is it?

More importantly, how would this fit under the tree?

Richard Ouzounian, theatre critic for the Toronto Star, wrote today about his five theatre Christmas wishes that the big man in red can't grant. I would like to request any and all of the same because, basically, what they all amount to is more theatre in Toronto, more Canadian theatre, and more potential work for those of us who are "emerging actors," whatever exactly that means. So if Santa can't do it, could those of you with the power to make these things happen please work on it?

Is this a prop knife I see before me?

The Guardian theatre blogs have been all over this story today...

By the way, I know I expressed my wonder at the amount of theatre-related content they generate yesterday (so much that I don't even have time to tackle any of the other arts talked about in that particular publication) but I decided today that what I really love is that they don't have an "Entertainment" section and they don't divide the arts up so you have to hunt them down in different sections. Rather, they have a Culture section. Ponder that, Stephen Harper, while you enjoy your time off...

Anyway, back to the story (I am linking to this blog post because I liked it the best and it's my blog so I can do that. Also, the Phyllida Lloyd production of Mary Stuart referenced in the above link is one of the most exquisite things I have ever seen on stage. But I digress). Apparently an actor accidentally slit his own throat in an Austrian production of Schiller's Mary Stuart after someone left a real knife in place of the fake one he was supposed to use. Fortunately, he missed his carotid artery and, like a trooper, was back on stage the following night. The lesson here? Check your props. And not necessarily because someone might be harboring a grudge, but because people misplace things and accidents happen. And you don't want to wind up dead as a result. Therefore, you should especially check any prop that is a weapon.

More even than that, respect your props. I can't tell you how many stories I've heard from stage combat experts about actors who have accidentally died by messing around with prop weapons. The classic example being prop guns: actors have accidentally killed themselves or others even using blanks if they are shooting at point blank because firing the gun still results in an explosion and a forceful column of hot air and gas. This can kill you just as dead as a bullet. You should treat any fake weapon as if it were real. In turn, this will also help you as an actor...one of the biggest problems actors have in stage combat, and in general, is believability, if you will. You want people to believe it's real. So how can anyone believe your prop gun is real if you don't treat it like a real gun?

These are just my thoughts after reading the post. And this comes from someone who didn't really get all this until she fired a real gun (with The Photographer and his family in Utah, by the way, quite the family outing). I used to walk around the RADA in a skirt with my prop knife sheathed in my Ugg boot. Killer.

Finally, Toronto Plays Itself

Toronto Stories, a film by Aaron Woodley, Sook Yin Lee, Sudz Sutherland, and David Weaver, has finally cast our fair city as itself. There are many films that have shot here in the GTA but rarely, if ever, are they actually set here--Toronto has an impressive resume when it comes to being cast as foreign locales. As a result, very rarely do we see the city we know and love on the big screen. And Toronto Stories is changing that: the film, which is actually a story told through four shorts, is set in some of our most familiar 'hoods. It follows a young boy, new to the city and just arrived at Pearson, through Cabbagetown, into Kensington, onto our streets, and down into our tunnels before finally culminating at Union Station.

The film premiered at TIFF this year, features four of our countries future filmmakers who are just on the cusp, and is a grand debut for our city as we know it. It plays for a week, beginning tomorrow, at the Royal Cinema, 608 College St. West. For more, check out this excellent post on BlogTO. Go see it!

On my own personal note, I think it's great that these directors decided to show Toronto off for itself. Or at least, that they had that aim...I can't speak better to it as I have yet to see the film. But if you adhere to the philosophy that everyone has a story, which I do, Toronto is full of them. What is your Toronto story? And how would you tell it?

Morning Report.

Well, I'm one cappuccino in and still nowhere near awake. This is the kind of day it's going to be...I will have our little espresso machine working overtime. Actually, I spent these hours yesterday morning researching new espresso machines because our current model is so overworked. We need one with a higher capacity.


Anyway, I babysat far too late last night--although it was lucrative, $$$ plus a can of Pringles. Bonus. And have now dragged myself into work via TTC. The morning has not, however, been a total waste. I finally discovered the RSS feed for Department of Culture. I enjoy visiting actual websites, but sometimes I forget. So I add them on Google Reader, which is my latest obsession, clearly. Although it's kind of boring today.

In other blogosphere news, and another without a feed, which is incredibly disappointing...Elyse Sewell's journal is featured this month on LiveJournal (yes, I used to have one of those, which is how I know, but I no longer play that game so let's drop it). She placed third in the first season of America's Next Top Model. I didn't watch. Now she is based out of Hong Kong and girlfriend is pretty hilarious. And she has some fairly excellent adventures. Plus, she posts lots of crazy pictures. I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Enough to check it independent of my Google Reader. I know, big step.

It has also inspired me to take more wacky pictures of my everyday life, although Toronto may be less exciting than Hong Kong in that, well, it's Toronto. And not at all foreign to me. Most of the time. But we shall see. So that's the new life initiative. The Plurius Pictureus Initiative.

And now off to the Prague as it is lunchtime. Delicious, by the way. And big portions for small dollars. Plus, excellent/quick service.

Learning from the downward spirals of others...

Have I mentioned recently that I think Penelope Trunk is brilliant? Not this week? Okay, well, she is. Her most recent post is entitled "Make better decisions for yourself by watching decisions celebrities make." Thank you, Penelope, for helping me rationalize my addiction to Perez Hilton. And she actually makes some very valid points.

I mean, as long as my life is in better shape than Amy Winehouse, I'm probably doing okay (such a shame, though, so talented)...

If I Were A Painter...

I just came across this local artist, not telling how but it may have to do with my day job. Anyway, his name is Brock Irwin and he's a painter. Check out his landscapes, some look almost photographic. I don't really know anything about painting, I'll be honest. At least, not outside of fingerpainting. But I know what I like, and I think some of his landscapes are lovely.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Branagh.

It's Kenneth Branagh's birthday today. I'm a big fan. Like, I might have a big crush on him. Don't worry, it's a talent one. I just think he's lovely. And he might even entice me to go see Valkyrie. Although Tom Cruise provokes my gag reflex, so maybe not. But I do wish him a happy birthday, and all future success. I highly recommend checking out his work if you're unfamiliar. I quite enjoy his Much Ado About Nothing, although Imelda Staunton is not as big a fan (random story, another day). But I really recommend his Henry V. Sigh...

Celebrate Your Rights!

I have to begin this by saying that I literally cannot keep up with the theatre feed from The Guardian. They are by far the most prolific feed on my Google Reader. Perhaps this is because the UK has more theatre than anywhere else that my Google Reader feeds cover...Hmm, chew on that. Anyway...



British playwright Julian Armitstead's After the Accident will receive three staged readings today in the UK. The play, which is about a mother and father confronting a teenage joyrider responsible for the death of their daughter, is this year's winner of the Protect the Human prize awarded by Amnesty International and iceandfire theatre company. The readings are just part of nationwide events marking the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. According to Amnesty, Armitstead's play embraces "dignity and worth of the person" and "duty to the community," both components of the Declaration.

The Protect The Human award began last year in an effort to create "imaginative and excellent theatre that illustrates human rights issues." This is what Natasha Tripney had to say about it all in her blog at The Guardian:

Amnesty is involved in projects across the arts, but theatre has always proved to be particularly adept at exploring human rights issues. Theatre awakens and connects in a way that simply reading a slew of harrowing statistics often doesn't...A good play can make the issues real, make them breathe, give them human heart and narrative. Theatre can get people fired up, can drive the desire to act in its audience, to change things both in their immediate world and more generally.

I couldn't have put it better myself...

"What is going on in Canada?"

This weekend, 16 students at Uxbridge Secondary School will take the stage in their production of The Laramie Project. For any unfamiliar, though I am not sure how you could be if you're reading this, The Laramie Project is a play derived from interviews conducted with real people in Laramie, Wyoming in the aftermath of the kidnapping, beating, and eventual death of Matthew Shepard, a 21 year old student and gay man. It reveals the wounds caused in one community by homophobia and hatred. This is heavy stuff for teenagers, but maybe a high school, especially one in a town of less than 20,000, is the perfect place to stage this play. Maybe if someone in Laramie had done something similar, the whole affair could have been avoided. At any rate, these student and their teacher, Amy Blizzard, should be commended for having the courage to tackle The Laramie Project.

Now enter the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas. These "Christian" followers of Pastor Fred Phelps, the man who protested Matthew Shepard's funeral, which is depicted in The Laramie Project, have plans to head north to protest this production and to teach these teenagers the "truth." There have been rumors that the group would protest in Canada in the past and they have always been a no-show, but this time, Phelps's daughter confirms that a group of six is prepared to drive up here with their hate-mongering signs. I will not reprint their slogans here. She also implies that they shouldn't have to drive all that way, that we in Canada should be doing this ourselves to educate these children. "What is going on in Canada?" she asks.

I'll tell you. In Canada, for all our differences and our grievances with one another, we believe that all people, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, etc., have a right to live their lives. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and we are capable of peacefully co-existing without always agreeing. What is going on in Canada is that we do not believe in hate. We do not preach hate, we do not condone hate, and we certainly will not tolerate hate. But you are entitled to your opinion. So come on up, Phelpsies, give us your best. And we will give you ours. When Phelps protested Matthew Shepard's funeral, one of Matt's friends organized a counter protest. These counter protesters wore giant white angel wings and stood silently with their backs to Phelps and his group. Silently blocking out hate. I feel this is an excellent response, and the only thing they deserve. We will not engage your hatred, we are above that.

I would encourage everyone with a means of transportation to go support these students. It's a great thing that they're doing, regardless of Phelps. But take your angel wings, just in case he shows up....

The Laramie Project at Uxbridge Secondary School
127 Planks Lane, Uxbridge
December 11, 12, and 13 8:00
$10 at the door

Battle of the Titans??

Apparently, Fox has picked up the film rights to How To Talk to Girls, the self-help book written by a 9 year old. Cute, but really? Is there a movie there? Actually, it could be really good if it falls into the right hands...And that kid has definitely paid for his future university education. Lucky little bugger.

But more importantly, it was Ellen who helped to launch this kid to super-stardom. Could her powers now be rivaling those of the big Queen O??? Ponder that over your lunch break.

How interesting...

I mentioned War Child Canada yesterday in this post and, lo and behold, the first thing I saw in the Globe and Mail this morning was this. The founder of War Child Canada, Dr. Samantha Nutt, has been nominated as a Nation Builder for 2008. Follow the link to see what people have said about her. I just thought this was an interesting coincidence...

Talk is cheap. Apparently, so is reading.

Well, it's good to know that someone out there is still making money. And that it isn't even necessarily an evil empire. It might actually be artists. Authors, specifically. Apparently, the publishing industry has proven to be fairly recessive-proof thus far, at least in Canada (and knock on wood). Basically, due to many factors that I don't claim to fully understand, buying books in Canada at the moment is a bargain. If you would like all the technical details as to why that is, you can click here for the article in the Star. My only disclaimer is that I don't particularly recommend their featured author, Wally Lamb. I thought She's Come Undone was pretentious and condescending. Although I Know This Much Is True wasn't a bad read. Basically, his latest, The Hour I First Believed, could go either way, but I won't be picking it up anytime soon.



I'm not sure I will ever understand how it is that some people don't like to read (and celebrity magazines really don't count as reading). And I am certain I will never understand artists who don't like to read--books can provide a whole other world of ideas, characters, inspiration...not to mention how wonderful it is to jump on the bandwagon and pursue something before it becomes a movie. Plus, on occasion, you can find good audition monologue material in books. Frequently it requires tweaking, but it is still technically a published work. I think, as an artist, reading is part of your job. Fortunately, right now, the economy is making that part of your job easier. And if you still can't afford the investment, there is an even more inexpensive option--get a library card. Read books, newspapers, plays, and even, okay, the occasional celebrity mag. It's all character building, artist building material.

And the non-fiction is just as important. I recently finished reading Canadians by Roy MacGregor and thoroughly enjoyed it. He has some great insights into our national character and into what makes us tick. And I was surprised at how much of it I see in myself, given that I spent the latter half of my childhood in the U.S. Apparently the stamp of Canada on my self is indelible. And that is just fine with me. I also enjoyed, as much as one can, I think, General Dallaire's account of his time with UNAMIR during the Rwandan genocide in Shake Hands With the Devil (which has since become a motion picture and even spawned a documentary and movement called Not On Our Watch). This constitutes the general education requirement of being an artist, I think.

As for fiction, I just finished Brave New World by Alduous Huxley, a classic that I, for some reason, was not actually forced to read in high school. But it's definitely relevant to our times and certainly asks questions of the imagination. I also recently read Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald, a great Canadian author and playwright (Goodnight Desdemona, (Good Morning Juliet)), which I highly recommend to anyone, but especially to the women of the artistic world. I find her writing of women to be extremely interesting. And, if you do like Roy MacGregor, who is a journalist for the Globe and Mail, by the way, his fiction is worth checking out, too--Canoe Lake is his tale of events leading up to Tom Thomson's death in our own Algonquin Park.

Those are just my recent reads. If you would like more suggestions, check out your local bookstore. Or, if you're interested in exploring the landscape of Canadian authors, check out Noah Richler's tome This Is My Country, What's Yours? A Literary Atlas of Canada. It is a bit of a slow read, but entirely worthwhile. Failing that, his website gets right to the goods on the who's who and where they locate, geographically speaking.

Happy recession reading!

Politics Before Noon.

It's getting to be a theme, I know. But the fact of the matter is that the world is very politically-charged at the moment. "Beautiful systems dying, old fixed orders spiraling apart..." And change is in the air. And art is, or should be, on the cutting edge of it all...

I had complaints on Friday, when three of our soldiers in Afghanistan were killed, about the lack of that war's presence on our stages. And, perhaps, its absence there is one reason why it is absent (or at least not as present as it should be) in our politics. All that aside, though, this makes me so proud to be a Canadian. Even if our government and our artists haven't said or done as much as they should, 'ordinary' Canadians are doing what they can. Hundreds lined the road home for our fallen heroes yesterday; one of the greatest grassroots traditions we have come up with in recent history, I think.

Then I saw this on BlogTO this morning. It is a video from quite a clever campaign by War Child Canada to raise awareness and "support" for child soldiers in Darfur, the Congo, and Sierra Leone. Apparently there are going to be more videos in the future. I, for one, think it's a really intelligent way of making their point and getting the message across. For some reason, things like this tend to have a greater impact than the hundreds of words generated in the press. Both are important, without a doubt, but there is just something about the "viral video" that catches...which is great for artists with opinions and ideas out there.

A couple of guys I had some classes with in university started their own series of web videos, which I will link to as soon as I can remember what both their names were--one was Joey. The one who dated a girl on my floor in first year. I really didn't know them well--a friends of friends kind of thing. Anyway, my point is, their videos did really well on the web. They were self-written, self-produced, and garnered some pretty big attention. So it's a really great way of getting yourself out there as an emerging artist...more on this later, perhaps.

Last but not least, some of my favourite political art: The Daily Show. Jon Stewart is a genius. Essentially. And, for all its ridiculous antics, the show is quite intelligent (but do I really need to defend it to a country that has embraced Rick Mercer? I think not). Mr. Stewart did quite the send up of Canadian politics last night...Clips available here. It was also talked about in the Star and the Globe and Mail. As well as on cable morning shows. Politics is serious business. It kills people. But sometimes you have to laugh at it, too.

The End of An Era.

Last night marked the final "episode" of the cult/going mainstream hit Trailer Park Boys on Showcase. I happen to think these guys are brilliant, if a bit off colour. There is an interview with them in the Star and, judging by the comments, clearly people either love them or hate them. Whatever your personal feelings, you have to admire the fact that these guys and Mike Clattenburg had a crazy idea, went with it, and wound up with a hit series, a few specials, a movie, and a sequel due out in February, I believe. And, as a bonus, they have had the chance to work with some incredible artists in different mediums throughout their careers as the Boys, including touring with Guns 'n Roses and an ongoing relationship with The Tragically Hip. Gordon Downie was in last night's final episode. And I think I spotted Rob Baker buying weed from Julian. Bonus, if you've never seen it, here is The Tragically Hip video for The Darkest One. Check it out! And so long, Trailer Park Boys, it's been a good ride. Can't wait to see what the future brings from you...

"Et tu, Ignatieff?"

This came up in my Google Reader this morning and I happen to think it has potential...although, certainly, time sensitive. Act quickly, producers...it may become irrelevant and obsolete at any moment.

Click the link above and you will find the plan of another theatre blogger for a production of Julius Caesar set in our modern Canadian political climate. He presents an interesting cast of characters...feasible, certainly.

I, for one, am not tired of Shakespeare re-imagined...so long as productions don't force the play to fit the modern parallel. Rather, the play should be as it is, adjustments as minor as possible, and if it really works, the parallel scenario should be manipulated subtly to illustrate the point of the production.

The reason we still read, produce, perform Shakespeare is because his works are still relevant. And sometimes it takes losing the Elizabethan garb to make it more widely accessible.

I, for one, would not only buy a ticket, I would play a part.

Weekend Happenings in the TDot.

It's been a busy day at the office so far--my Outlook decided to crash and the beginning of the month means lots of invoices and paperwork. So while the arts/politics scene seems far more interesting at the beginning of this week than it did at the end of last, it seems I won't be blogging much today. But there are a few things not to be passed up:


I liked the above picture from BlogTO, which accompanied this article about the pro-Coalition rally in Toronto this weekend. It was pretty big, estimated to be between 2-3,000 people. Which is actually kind of pathetic when you consider the actual population of Toronto...but the Conservative rally at Queen's Park only drew about 500, so I suppose by comparison...There are more pictures on BlogTO, check it out.

The rallies were also covered by much of the mainstream press and the whole issue seems to be fairly divisive. Apparently the Conservative rallies outside the GTA were huge. Harper is getting far more support everywhere else, or so it would seem. And I am still too new to the current Canadian political scene, having spent the better part of the last fourteen years or so in the US, to claim to be anything close to an expert--which perhaps makes me like any other 'ordinary' Canadian...except I care about the arts...it really is all very confusing. Whatever the case may be, I cannot see how proroguing Parliament, which means the Government is at a standstill on resolving the issue of our ever-tanking economy, possibly solves anything. Perhaps it just postpones the inevitable, whatever that may be. But this is more politics than arts...or is there a difference? Should there be one?

I'll go ponder that while I deal with some invoices.

Welcome Home.

Crowds of Canadians are expected to line the "Highway of Heroes" this snowy afternoon to welcome home our fallen soldiers. The bodies of Warrant Officer Robert John Wilson, Pte. Demetrios Diplaros and Cpl. Mark Robert McLaren will travel today from CFB Trenton, where they are expected to land at 2:00, to the coroner's morgue in downtown Toronto. Along the way, the crowds will stand out in the cold to pay their respects.

There is a difference between supporting the troops and supporting the war. There are soldiers fighting overseas who do not believe anymore in the mission than many of us here at home. But they go because it is what their country asks of them. And they trust that we will fight in the right way at home to bring them back safely. And whatever your feelings about the war, the soldiers who perform honourably and make great sacrifices deserve our thanks and respect.

Yummy.

I am (sort of) patiently waiting for 5:00 when we celebrate my co-worker's birthday so I can devour this chocolate truffle cake from Dufflet. If you live in Toronto and have a sweet tooth you absolutely have to check them out. The cakes are a bit expensive, but the tarts are a pretty good size and reasonably priced. Everything is delicious; you really can't go wrong.

Out of the Mouths of Babes...and Onto the Bestseller List

Alec Greven, 9, wrote a book entitled How To Talk to Girls. It started out as a school essay, which he then sold at the school book fair for $3 a copy. This somehow caught the attention of Ellen Degeneres and the kid managed to snag a book deal with Harper Collins. Now it is selling on Amazon. And there's an article in the Star. You have to admire the fact that he took a suggestion from a teacher--that he be an observer--and ran with it.

My favourite quote is:

"Girls win most of the arguments and have most of the power. If you know that now, things might be easier."

A child wise beyond his years...

"Take up our quarrel with the foe..."

The Canadian Forces in Afghanistan lost three more soldiers this morning. The soldiers were killed by a bomb while traveling in a vehicle west of the city of Kandahar. Their deaths marked the end of the longest hiatus in the body count, which lasted a grand total of 88 days, since Canadian troops hit the ground in 2006. Perhaps more significantly, this morning's fallen soldiers pushed Canada to 100 military deaths in Afghanistan. 100 soldiers, many of whom were not much older than your average high school senior. This is to say nothing of the Afghani people killed, which various sources estimate at anywhere from 540 to 1,445 civilians in the last year alone. Civilians and teenagers dying in droves halfway around the world and what do we have to say about it?

Theatrically, next to nothing. Politically, not enough. There was a brief flury of anti-Iraq war agitprop theatre. But since, nothing much that I have heard of. If I'm wrong, please point me in the right direction. But where is this on our stages? Shouldn't it be there?

Photo credit: AP/David Guttenfelder