Torchlight Shakespeare at Ottawa’s Strathcona Park

Photo Credit: Company of Fools

Melodie Cardin (Twitter) has lived in the National Capital Region since 2000. A 2007 graduate of Carleton University’s school of journalism, she’s now the manager of communications for a small project assisting Canadian researchers to collaborate internationally. 

I cannot believe that after 10 years in the National Capital Region, I had never been to A Company of Fools’ Torchlight Shakespeare. Monday night I found friends and lawn chairs, and headed to Strathcona Park in Sandy Hill to enjoy this summer’s play, Antony and Cleopatra.

Strathcona Park in itself is an Ottawa gem. It borders the Rideau River, and so has that great smell of weeds and wildlife. From the small stone wall that runs along the riverbank is a lovely view of the bridge which connects Sandy Hill to Vanier. The North border of the park has a steep hill with a gorgeous fountain at the top of it, directly across Laurier street from Le Cordon Bleu.

The park is pleasantly full of people walking their dogs or basking under the shade of a giant tree with a book. It’s a nice size, has a bike path running through one side of it, and last night, was almost mosquito-free, despite the proximity to the river.

Strathcona Park

Normally, Antony and Cleopatra is a tragedy, but A Company of Fools played it as a comedy to great effect. There were lots of modern touches thrown in, metatheatrical winks to the audience that were greatly enjoyed. Many of the actors took on several roles apiece, and they did a nice job of differentiating them not only through costumes but through exaggerated comedic body language.

Making a comedy out of the play was a good idea – a tragedy in the park might not have been a great idea. The barking of dogs, people calling out to each other, bikes riding by would likely have spoiled the tone of a tragedy, whereas the comedy allowed the actors to improvise and interact with their surroundings.

It may not be New York City, and Shakespeare in the Park with Al Pacino, but Ottawa’s actors are great – plus you don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn to get a ticket. Of particular note, I thought, were Richard Gélinas in the role of Antony, and Katie Bunting and Cari Leslie playing several roles each. The banter between Antony and Enobarbus was the best part of the play, largely because of the excellent comic timing and chemistry between Gélinas and Leslie.

All in all, it was an evening I would highly recommend – the play was hilarious, the surroundings were gorgeous, and it’s a pretty cheap way to be entertained (pay what you can into the hat – 10$ donation suggested.) It’s kid and pet-friendly as well.

A Company of Fools has one more performance in Strathcona Park, next Monday. As well, Antony and Cleopatra plays until Aug. 20 in various parks around the city – see their website, www.fools.ca, to find out where.

Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam: A night of music, magic and super human feats of agility

Photo credit: cirquedusoleil.com

 

Originally from Scotland, Helen Morris arrived in Ottawa almost six years ago. She loves being able to bike to work in the summer and skate along the Rideau Canal to the office in the winter. Other interests include dark chocolate and Wensleydale Cheese.

The one and only time I have ever been to the circus before tonight I was three, maybe four years old.

I remember a tent, sand on the ground and fold-out wooden chairs, oh yes and being a bit worried that the animals didn’t look too impressed about being there. For the rest of my childhood I was happy doing acrobatics in the playground myself rather than watching someone else do them at the circus — and that all went pretty well apart from that one unfortunate incident which ended with rather a lot of blood and a trip to the sick kids hospital in Edinburgh and those fairly unpleasant stitches in my head.

No such mishaps befell the genius and artistry that is Cirque du Soleil.

Oh yes and the only animals at this circus are the human variety. The show blends music and acrobatics throwing in a bit of slapstick comedy for good measure. The Quidam show does have a basic storyline which you can follow through the show but it’s equally satisfying just to sit back and watch the spectacle.

Photo credit: cirquedusoleil.com

The acrobats were brilliant, from the guy spinning around in a cross between a ladder and a hamster wheel, to the woman elegantly contorting her way up and down a red curtain hung from the ceiling, to the god and goddess who displayed super-human strength and control. The skipping sequences were beautifully choreographed.

This was my first Cirque du Soleil but for my significant other, a veteran of five shows, this was the only one he had seen which was not staged in a tent. He said watching in the arena provides a different atmosphere and you do not always feel as close to the action, but equally there are no poles in the way to obscure your view.

This particular show has a fair bit of thunder and lightning. During Tuesday’s show a real live thunder storm was raging outside prompting the young man seated behind us to check with his mother that there was no real rain in the show and that we were not going to actually get wet. The show did not seem overly long but the kids behind us did get a little restless in the slower sections and towards the end of the night.

If you are of a nervous disposition I would recommend staying away from the floor seating. On the other hand if you enjoy the spotlight the front row may be just the place for you.

Photo credit: cirquedusoleil.com

My significant other had something else on right before the Cirque so I took the trusty OC Transpo special event bus service out to Scotiabank Place. It’s a bit of a trek but sitting in an air conditioned bus, plugged into your iPod, whizzing along the transit way is a pretty decent way to get out to the venue if you do not have access to a car. The same bus will take you back downtown 15 minutes after the end of the show.

Back to the circus, remind me again, why didn’t the school careers advisor suggest running away to the circus as a job option?

There was a reasonable crowd at Scotiabank Place for the show but it was far from packed.

If you are looking for a night of music, magic and super human feats of agility then the Cirque de Soleil Quidam show is in town until June 30th.

Q&A with local theatre buff and ‘Big Fool’ Scott Florence

Scott Florence (Photo Credit: Company of Fools)

Scott Florence is a “Big Fool” — that is the artistic director of the local theatre group Company of Fools, which is Ottawa’s only independent professional Shakespeare company.  Established in 1990, the Fools have become a mainstay on Ottawa’s arts scene with their annual productions at the NAC and around the city’s many parks each year by providing “innovative, entertaining and accessible shows.”

The bread and butter of your company seems to be fun takes on Shakespeare’s plays or Shakespeare-inspired original works. Why did you decide to bring whimsical, not-so-serious elements together with this now-immortal playwright?

We began working as a street theatre company, and our style evolved from the challenges of keeping people’s attention on the street. We needed to be fast, furious, a little loopy, a little improvisational, colourful and over the top to grab people’s attention and keep them from walking away.

While Shakespeare was no slouch when it came to writing, you guys are 20 years deep with the company, which means you’ve probably had to recycle some of his material. How do you keep things fresh?

Baking soda. Liberal sprinklings of baking soda. And Lime. You need a lot of lime to keep Shakespeare’s rotting body from stinking out the place.

What’s the biggest challenge to being Shakespeare-inspired? How about the best thing about it?

The biggest challenge is juggling Shakespeare’s language with the world of today, sidestepping the references and allusions that no longer have any cultural resonance, and ensuring that the vibrancy of the original work doesn’t get dimmed by the differences between his world and time, and ours.

The greatest reward is when people thank us for “translating the work into REAL English” — because of course, we haven’t altered Shakespeare’s text, we’ve just performed it in a way that transcends the barrier of words.

An Ottawa Citizen article I read about the company a little over a year ago described you as actors that “thrive on … insurgency.” Is that a fair description?

We burned down the Citizen office after they wrote that, and then continued our riot at Ikea. We were stealing all the allen keys thus rendering it impossible for anyone to put the furniture together, when the fiesty staff got us in a cross fire of those Swedish meatballs and we had to retreat and lick our wounds. Literally. We licked off the meatsauce. Best meal ever.

Each summer, the Fools perform the annual Shakespeare-in-the-park series, which has become quite popular. What’s been the most memorable audience from those events?

We’ve had over 300 different audiences of the Torchlight Shakespeare Series, and I think the most memorable audience was the 17th. Some of the more memorable moments from shows are always when the unexpected happens — like the time the squirrel fell out of the tree on top of an audience member and then ran like stink through the rest of the audience to get back to the tree. That was a show stopper.

 

Photo Credit: Company of Fools

You guys are strictly a professional group, meaning you all have theatre background. How do you bring new fools on board? How can the broader Ottawa community get involved if they harbour a Shakespeare passion?

We hold auditions every year for the Torchlight Shakespeare series, and all are welcome to audition. We also hold workshops in different styles — Shakespeare, Clown, Mask, Bouffon — that are open to all who want to fork over the money. People who want to make sure they know about these opportunities should either join the artist newsletter list on our webpage, or join our Facebook group.

How would you describe Ottawa’s arts scene overall? Any favourite people, groups, places or events our readers should keep the eyes peeled for?

The theatre scene in Ottawa is continuing to blossom. There’s so many exciting new companies on the scene, the number of available venues has increased, it’s a great time to be an actor in Ottawa. As for favourites, Margo MacDonald (co-founder of the Fools) has her piece “Shadows” at the GCTC Undercurrents Festival and if you haven’t seen it yet, you must! Also, MiCasa Theatre are rocking my world these days.

What would you say has been the best show you’ve put on to date? Has it also been your most popular?

I think the show we are most proud of recently is A Midwinter’s Dream Tale, which we performed at the Gladstone Theatre in 2009, and that we hope to remount and tour in the future. It was a lot of fun to perform and people really liked it.

 

Photo Credit: Company of Fools

You guys also offer elementary and high-school workshops. How do kids react to Shakespeare? (Flashbacks of awkward readings in English class come to mind …)

Shakespeare isn’t often a students favourite thing — the language is awkward, and the work is meant to be performed, not read, so it can be a real slog to read it. Plus the Shakespeare’s you tend to read in school are often chosen so that you can also talk about things besides the story — Merchant of Venice and Othello, so that you can deal with issues of race and religion. So not only do you have something that is hard to read, it’s also being used to have discussions that are hard to have.

Our approach is very fun, physical and kicks Shakespeare off his pedestal and down into the muck. We generally get a pretty good reaction to both our shows and workshops in schools.

My understanding is that the fools also hold down what I’m sure is less-fun day jobs. How much time goes into each season? Where and when do you practice?

All of the core members of the Fools are full-time artists, but we aren’t full-time Fools. We all do work with other companies, or work in other disciplines, or teach. We are almost all artist-managers as well, so when we aren’t working artistically either with the Fools or with another group, we’re doing the paperwork. Long hours, but the joy of performing is the reward.

As for where and when we practice, that always depends on the project we are working for. New creations we work on for longer, often in short bursts over a long period of time. We don’t have a fixed rehearsal hall or a fixed rehearsal model – we figure out what will work best for each show, and move forward in that way.

What’s coming up in 2011 for the Company of Fools?

We will be delivering sonnets on Valentine’s Day, hosting the Ottawa Theatre Challenge on March 26 at the NAC’s Fourth Stage, touring schools with Shakespeare’s Interactive Circus in April, animating at the Ottawa Children’s Festival in May. Our Torchlight Shakespeare production this summer is Antony and Cleopatra, directed by David Whitely. We are currently trying to put together tours of some of our other work for the fall of 2011 – and as soon as we have anything concrete to say, we’ll be telling the world!

The Year of Magical Thinking – Seana Mckenna performs at the NAC

Jessey is a writer, digital communications strategist, and the founder of Local Tourist Ottawa.

“I love you more than one more day.”

When I first heard that Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking had been adapted into a play and was showing at the National Art Centre’s English Theatre, I was thrilled.

A few years ago I picked up Didion’s book, and I literally didn’t put it down until I finished. I know a lot of people say this when they are describing a book that they love…but I actually couldn’t put it down. I ate a box of crackers for lunch that day, because it was the only ‘meal’ I could think of that required no preparation.

The story is this:  just a few days after her daughter Quintana was admitted to hospital with a life-threatening illness, Didion’s husband suddenly died from a heart attack. I’m not a book reviewer, but I will say that this memoir is overwhelmingly sad – it is the author’s true story of grief and loss, told with meticulous detail and unabated analysis.

In short: it is the kind of book that makes you look very closely at your life.

But as it turns out, I was actually hesitant to see this play because the story stirred such a strong reaction in me. I didn’t want a live performance to ruin the impression that the book had left, but I also wasn’t sure if seeing something so sad portrayed on stage would at all be enjoyable.

I’m also not a theatre critic, but I will say that if you haven’t yet seen Seana McKenna’s very honest, very skilled performance of Didion’s story, you really should get tickets. Beyond the sheer commitment it must have taken for her to memorize 90-minutes (without break) of such difficult script, her performance was absolutely perfect.

Here’s a short excerpt from a Toronto review:

“She gives a tightly controlled portrait of Didion the intellectual, who hides behind a shield of carefully crafted words to keep her emotions at bay…But the narrator is distancing herself as well as the audience, and McKenna’s restrained performance only makes the eventual appearance of cracks in her veneer more wrenching.”

Of the purpose of the play, Didion once said: “What we wanted to do with this is somehow make a strong, strong moment in somebody’s evening…I will be really happy if that happens once.”

Well, mission accomplished.

Have a look:

Interested in seeing the show? There are only two performances left. Get your tickets, fast.

Missing Christmas? Check out this fundraiser …

The locally based theatre group Company of Fools is launching their 2011 season on Jan. 5 with the Shakespearean laugh-fest Twelfth Night, an annual tradition that also serves as  fundraiser. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. on the NAC’s Fourth Stage and tickets are just $20 each.

 

 

 

 

The famed Bill Shakespeare

 

The Twelfth Night was a comedy written by Shakespeare in the early 1600s to serve as a close to the Christmas Season. While the 12 days of Christmas aren’t much more than a song for many of us today, there are still loads of places around the world that celebrate the longer holiday tradition, known as Christmastide, which is followed by the (Feast of the) Epiphany on Jan. 6. 

A bit of history about the annual performance is provided on the Company of Fool website:

“The Twelfth Night Celebrations began in the late 90’s in the basement of the Royal Oak Pub on Laurier. When the NAC opened the Fourth Stage in 2000, we were the opening act! The event was such a success the NAC has had us back every year since!”

So here’s to Company of Fools bringing a bit of late Christmas cheer to Ottawa!

Anyone planning on checking the show out on Wednesday? Tell us about it …

NYE in the 613; Ways to ring in 2011

New Year’s Eve and all its glitz, glam and hype is upon us.

(If you thought jostling the pre-Christmas crowds was tough, the combination of fighting boxing-week shoppers while seeking party favours and the perfect pair of pumps should be terrifying!)

But no matter what 2010 has brought to you and yours, NYE is a chance to celebrate the past and toast the future. Take a chance to do something special as the clock strikes midnight this Friday.

Here are some of LTOttawa‘s favourite ideas:

The traditional night out

Any of Ottawa’s many bars and pubs are sure to able to help you ring in 2011 along with hundreds of your closest friends. From a Mardi-Gras theme at Fat Tuesday’s to a Masquerade at Mercury Lounge in the Market, to pints with friends in the cozy booths of the Manx or Lieutenant’s Pump on Elgin, the city will be teeming with fun.

Meanwhile, our friends at STARFISH events have planned a Carnival-themed party at the Crowne Plaza — complete with “express” makeovers from 6-9 pm to be followed by two DJs, food, prizes and “surprises.”

Live Theatre

If you’d rather watch the (oh-so-ditzy) drama from a distance, the National Arts Centre is hosting a NYE showing of Legally Blonde, The Musical. You can add pre-performance gourmet dinner and/or a post-party to make for a complete night out. Ring in 2011 with the bubbly lawyer-in-training Elle as she takes school by storm — in pink — under the bright NAC lights while sitting in plush seats.

Meanwhile, over in Gatineau, the Casino du Lac Leamy is offering the Esquire Show Bar, advertised as “recreating the unique atmosphere of Montreal’s legendary R’nB mecca of the 50s, 60s, and 70s.”

A Comedy Club

Both of Ottawa’s comedy venues — YukYuk’s and Absolute Comedy are offering evening performances to allow you to laugh in 2011. Absolute has a 7:45 p.m. showing with buffet dinner and a 10:15 p.m. showing with midnight champagne toast. Comics are Nile Seguin and Joey Elias. Meanwhile, New Yuk’s Eve over on Elgin has a 9:00 p.m. showing followed by pizza buffet, party favours and six comedians, including headliner Simon Cotter, along with Jen Grant, John Hastings and others.

Special dinner OUT

Lots of restaurants will be offering special menus for you to sit, sip and savour your best memories from 2010. Some of my reliably amazing faves are Play Food & Wine, Murray Street, Town and Fraser Cafe. (Reservations STRONGLY required; I may be a little late on the suggestions!)

Special dinner IN

You don’t need to slave all day in the kitchen to still have a memorable meal at home with some good friends, food and conversation. Potlucks are always an interesting and easy option, as is a finger-food-only meal. Other options are picking up gourmet catering from such places as Red Apron, Epicuria or Thyme and Again.

Two years back, our friends (and guest bloggers!) Josh and Margaux hosted a dinner where everyone was asked to bring a fruit. Dessert was a “grassroots” fruit salad to which everyone had contributed! A fun way to do something a little different. I’ve also had friends organize a four-course meal by designating each course — salad, soup, main and dessert — along with a wine pairing, to a group of two for an easy way to break down an elaborate meal.

And then there’s the house parties, romantic B&Bs with a special someone and family-themed fun, like sparklers on the lawn of Parliament Hill.

As long as you surround yourself with good people and good memories, 2011 will be here — and you’ll be missing 2010 — before you know it!

Theatre-lover Peter James on The Gladstone

 

Patrons leave The Gladstone after It's a Wonderful Life, Saturday Dec. 18. (Photo credit: Carolynne Burkholder)

Peter James is Twitter-obsessed sports fanatic, theatre-lover and journalist living in Ottawa.

Ottawa is a great city to be a live theatre enthusiast.

From the first-rate professional productions at the National Arts Centre and the Great Canadian Theatre Company, to the outstanding community troupe at Ottawa Little Theatre to the formidable student group at Carleton’s Sock ‘n’ Buskin Theatre Company, there is no shortage of places to watch a play and plenty of opportunity for thespians to perform.

One theatre that’s sadly been overlooked in recent years is The Gladstone. Converted from a truck repair garage into GCTC’s first home in 1982, the theatre has been operated in its current incarnation the past three years by Steve Martin. It’s a become a place for local professional actors to show off their talents.

Crowds have not met owner Martin’s expectations and he put the building on Gladstone Avenue near Preston Street on the market this fall. This year’s mini-season is still going ahead and their production of It’s a Wonderful Life wrapped up Saturday. Oscar Wilde’s classic The Importance of Being Earnest is set for February.

An admirer of live theatre ever since my mother bought season’s tickets to the Manitoba Theatre for Young People when I was a child growing up in Winnipeg, I’ve seen shows at most of Ottawa’s venues over the years. But like too many other theatre-lovers I’d ignored The Gladstone until this weekend when I attended It’s a Wonderful Life.

Walking up to the theatre, the Gladstone’s classic marquee brings patrons back to a time when live theatre was the thing to do for a night on the town. Once inside the small, yet charming lobby, it’s easy to see the work Martin had done to restore the building. It’s a comfortable space to rub elbows with other theatre goers, enjoy a pre-show drink at the bar or simply take advantage of the free volunteer-run coat check.

The theatre itself gives patrons an intimate atmosphere — even sitting in the back row feels like you’re right on top of the stage.

The production of It’s a Wonderful Life itself was superb. It was conceived as a show with a show. The audience was transported to the studios of a radio station and watched the cast perform the radio play. Aside from reading the script, director Teri Loretto-Valentik made sure there was enough action going behind the scenes — playful personality conflicts between the actors, microphones weren’t the proper height and funny signals to the production team — to keep the eyes entertained while the ears heard the heart-warming Christmas story.

Tony Palermo’s stage adaptation of Frank Capra’s iconic 1946 movie worked wonderfully with the simple set used for the show. Keeping true to the 1940s era, the sound effects were done manually and watching sound artist Karen Benoit do her work was entertaining unto itself.

The 236 seats were packed for Saturday’s matinee and the crowd got involved in the show “ooohing” and “ahhhing” on cue and joining the cast in singing Auld Lang Syne at the end of the show.

Located in the heart of Little Italy, The Gladstone is situated perfectly to give patrons a chance to enjoy a fine dinner and a show in one stop. (My favourite restaurant in the neighbourhood is Da Sergio on Preston).

There is no parking lot associated with the theatre and parking on Preston is often at a premium, so remember leave early enough so you’ll have time to find a spot.

Martin told the Ottawa Citizen when he put the building up for sale this fall that Ottawa “probably is a hockey city more than a theatre city.”

With The Importance of Being Earnest coming up soon, theatre fans have a chance to prove him wrong.

Thanks for the post Peter!

Nadine Thornhill on Ottawa’s best post-theatre hangouts

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Nadine Thornhill is an award-winning playwright, actor and spoken word poet.  She honed her theatre  skills amongst the freaks and geeks at the University of Waterloo.  Upon graduating, she moved to Canada’s capital where she has been living, loving and working ever since.   By day, she is the program coordinator for Planned Parenthood’s Insight Theatre. In her spare time, Nadine enjoys running, an occasional triathlon, and the antics of her husband and son.

There’s a time honoured tradition in Ottawa’s theatre community:  post-show drinks.  Like any one else in this work-a-day world, we dramatic types enjoy the racous relaxation of happy hour (although in our world, happy hour typically starts at 11 p.m.)

After an evening of theatre, I love to wind down with a drink, good food and conversation with my friends.  As such, I enjoy quieter places with a great menu.  I’m also lazy and poor.  So I also enjoy places that are cheap and close to the theatre.

These are some of my favourite after-theatre hang outs:

Chez Lucien

If there’s one thing theatre-folk appreciate, it is ambiance.  Chez Lucien’s stone walls and dark bar inspire thoughts of 19th century France, revolutionary plots and liberal intellectualism.  But  “Chez”, also has everything you need for a 21st century good time.  Great staff, the drink selection is vast and the burgers are some of the best in the city. Split over three levels, each section of the bar feels cozy and intimate.  Located in the ever popular ByWard Market, this places fills up fast especially on the weekends, so show up early if you want a table.

The Carleton Tavern

The Carleton Tavern is divey in the best possible way. No stilettos or club wear required — this is a laid-back, unpretentious place to kick back a chill, chat and people watch.  It is staffed by some of the friendliest people I’ve met and the pizza selection is to drool for.  It is also a vast space, which means there’s always a table available no matter what size your party. Best of all, it’s a quick five minute walk from the Great Canadian Theatre Company!

The Wellington Oak

Also within spitting distance of The Great Canadian Theatre Company is the Wellington Street Royal Oak.  The Royal Oak is ubiquitous in Ottawa, yet I find each one has its own personality.  The Wellington Oak has a community feel to it, with lots of regular patrons from the surrounding neighbourhood.  The food is simple and delicious. The many booths make it a super-comfy place to settle in for hours of post- theatre drinking and chatting

The Fringe Tent

For ten days every June, the vacant patch of grass beside Arts Court is transformed into the social hub of The Ottawa Fringe Festival.  Also known as the “Beer Tent”, this center for all things Fringe isn’t just for theatre types — anyone is welcome to stop by.  Ottawa Fringe not only attracts local artists, but performers and producers from around the world, so drama nerds unite!  It is the place to geek out on theatre… and due to the high percentage of struggling artists, the drinks are pretty cheap!

Thank you Nadine!! Have a favourite spot in Ottawa we should all know about? Share your thoughts with us!

Q&A with Nadine Thornhill, award-winning playwright, actor and spoken word poet

Nadine Thornhill

Nadine Thornhill is an award-winning playwright, actor and spoken word poet.  She honed her theatre  skills amongst the freaks and geeks at the University of Waterloo.  Upon graduating, she moved to Canada’s capital where she has been living, loving and working ever since.   By day, she is the program coordinator for Planned Parenthood’s Insight Theatre. In her spare time, Nadine enjoys running, an occasional triathlon, and the antics of her husband and son.

Where did your passion for theatre begin?

When I was four or five, living in Toronto, a local designer asked my mom if I could model part of her upcoming collection for a fashion show.   I was a pathologically timid child, so I’m not sure why she thought I could handle the runway.  But my mom said yes and not long after, I was strutting my little stuff in front of a crowd.  And even though I could barely say two words to most people, as a model, my relationship to other people was different.  On the runway, I knew exactly what I was supposed to do.   And I knew exactly how the audience was going to respond.  The social interactions were all prescribed, which put me very much at ease.  I quickly developed a strong association between being on stage and feeling secure.

I sought out experience to perform and be on stage throughout my childhood, but it didn’t develop into a driving passion until I was twelve.  My parents took me to see Les Miserables. The first notes of music sounded through the theatre and within five minutes, I was head-over-heels with the conviction that I wanted to be on that stage.  Now that I’m an adult, my interests have expanded, but I can’t imagine that I’ll ever stop loving the theatre.

As a playwright and actor, how would you describe Ottawa’s performing arts scene?

I think Ottawa’s theatre scene is coming-of-age, so to speak.  The talent, intelligence, desire and resources required to be a strong presence in Ottawa’s art community all exist, but we’re still in the process of discovering and developing a unique, authentic identity.  In the eleven years I’ve lived in this city, I’ve seen incredible growth in Ottawa’s theatre scene.  It has grown, matured, and I have every confidence that it will continue to do so.

Meanwhile, I think Ottawa’s spoken word community has really come in to its own. This past October, Ottawa’s spoken word team won the national title for the second consecutive year, and  the world slam champion is an Ottawa poet.  Every spoken word event I attend is packed.  Every open mic seems to reveal a brilliant new artist.   Spoken word in this city was strong when I first got involved five years ago, but the work Ottawa poets are producing today is incomparable.

As an actor, how would you describe the Ottawa audiences you perform in front of?

I find Ottawa audience very generous.  Literally.  This past February I was the spoken word feature at Voices of Venus. It is a monthly event that takes place at Umi Cafe, and during my set, I mentioned how much I love Umi’s Nanaimo bars.  When I finished performing, three different people offered to buy me a bar.  It is possible I accepted all three…

But that experience is typical of the audience members I meet.  They’re very friendly.  And I think they appreciate that a lot of Ottawa performers are local people who live in their communities.  What better way to get to know your neighbour than over a rich, chocolately sweet, post-performance dessert?

Where do you find inspiration for your writing?

I’m self-centered, I’m opinionated and I’ve been through a LOT of therapy.  My poetry and plays are either thinly veiled autobiography; pontificating on various social issues; pseudo-psychoanalysis of an emotional problem I’m having; or some combination of the three.

Nadine Thornhill performing in “Oreo”

Why do you think it is important for Ottawa to have a vibrant arts community?

I think it’s important for Ottawa for exactly the same reasons I think it’s important for any place.  The arts are a mode of communcation and interpretation.   We rely on artistic products to make sense of our world every day.  Even something as routine as a daily commute on the bus, involves an encounter with artistry.  Every ad on a bus was conceived and executed by a creative team.   A graphic designer determined the look and layout of the tickets we use.  Even the maple-leaf motif that identifies the vehicle as being part of the OC Transpo fleet is art.  What we read, what see, the way we speak, even the way we move through our community, is influenced by art and creativity.

It’s a necessary part of life.

You answer sex and relationship questions for our friends at Apartment 613, can you tell us a bit about that?

I LOVE writing Dirty Laundry, my column for Apartment 613.  As I said, I’m opinionated.  I also love talking about sex.  Once a month I get to combine all my loves into one awesome writing assignment.  I’ve had some very interesting, intelligent questions.  I enjoy the challenge of an unexpected letter that really forces me to consider an issue I may not have thought about much before.

You also have your own blog, and you are a pretty active participant in Ottawa’s social networking community – what are your favourite local blogs to read?

Ottawa is bursting with must-read blogs.  Apartment 613 is all excellence all the time.  I also love Spacing Ottawa.  Hello Ottawa is a newer blog that features everyday Ottawans and what they love about this city.  The O-Dot is a hilarious, satirical Onion-esque blog, but with a local focus.  A couple of my friends have launched a new blog, Ottawa Sneezers, a place where people can spread the word about must-see arts events around the city.

I gather from Twitter that you’re an avid jogger – what is your favourite route to run in our city?

There are a lot of great places to run in this city.  The recreation paths along the canal and by the river are beautiful, especially in summer and fall.  But there’s something about running in the city that I absolutely love. I like to start out from my home in Westboro and run out the University of Ottawa – that route takes me through Wellington West, Hintonburg, Little Italy, Chinatown, Centretown, Sandy Hill…some of my favourite neighbourhoods.

You recently performed at Our Unspoken Words, a book launch and fundraiser for the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Ottawa, as well as the Ottawa Storytelling Festival. Can you tell us a bit about those events?

Our Unspoken Words was powerful, but challenging.  The evening began with women reading stories from the book, Our Unspoken Words.  Those performance were challenging – affecting, but brutal and heartbreaking.  I was part of quintet that also included Danielle K.L. Gregoire, Jessica Ruano, Michelle Blackburn and Faye Estrella.   We were all very emotional charged.  After hearing stories of women whose children had been killed, I had a great deal of difficulty performing a piece a wrote about my own son.  At the same time, I knew I had the support of my fellow poets, and the audience was one of the most attentive I’ve experienced.   In the end, I was honoured to have been part of it.

The Ottawa Storytelling Festival was a blast.   I didn’t really perform, but I had the privilege of introducing Ben Haggarty, a world-reknowned professional storyteller.  My favourite part of the evening was sitting backstage before the show.  Mr. Haggarty and a couple other storytellers were chatting – small talk between storytellers is conversation on a level that I have never experienced.  There were metaphors, characterization, and witty rejoinders flying around the room.  I was so riveted, I forgot to be discreet about the fact that I was eavesdropping.

What’s next for you?

I definitely want to do more spoken word in the new year.  I  would love to create a collection of my poems, either as a book or a CD.  I have a really exciting project in the works with Apartment 613.  We’re not quite ready to announce it yet, so I can’t say more, but I think it’s going to be a big hit!  I’m writing a new script which I plan to produce for next summer’s Fringe Festival.  And I’m going to try my hand…erm…feet at a half-marathon in the spring, so I’m learning to embrace the chilly joys of winter running.

What is one thing about Ottawa you think people don’t know that they should?

Did you know that it’s illegal to eat ice cream on Bank Street on a Sunday?  Apparently it’s an old obscure law, that’s never been taken off the books.

Do you want to share more about Ottawa’s theatre scene? Send us a note!

Movies at the majestic Mayfair

There’s nothing better to end a long work week than an easy night at the movies. Here in Ottawa, we’re lucky to have the always charming, highly characteristic, somewhat sticky-floored Mayfair Theatre.

I headed to this independent theatre in Old Ottawa South last Friday night to catch a double-bill with a friend. Our selection that night? Best Worst Movie (a documentary) and Troll 2 (cheesy 1990 “horror” flick).

The Mayfair has been in operation since 1932, making it one of Ottawa's old independent movie houses!

This is why I love the Mayfair.  While these two films go hand-in-hand — Troll 2 had been voted as the “worst movie ever made,” spawning a cult following and the subsequent documentary — the Mayfair doesn’t focus on the latest hits or biggest moneymakers , but rather seeks to offer a unique and memorable movie-going experience.

Friday’s event was a bit special because they had brought in one of the stars from the movie to do a meet-and-greet and a Q&A. Just like the Mayfair, George Hardy was genuine, likable and didn’t take himself too seriously. (Best Worst Movie will confirm that for you!) The dentist-turned-one-time-actor from Alabama had a southern drawl, larger than life smile and earnest charm that can’t be taught.

Me and dentist/one-time actor George Hardy, a star from Troll 2, one of the worst movies ever made.

But it gets better! Hosted by Lee Demarbre, Mayfair co-owner and local director who saved the cinema from near-certain closure in late 2008 ,  the event  served as a fundraiser for community radio station CKCU.

Some other great things the Mayfair has to offer:

• Best movie popcorn in Ottawa
• Licensed events
• Mere $6 standard ticket price for members
• Kid-friendly matinees on weekends
• Host to a variety of film fests / filmmaking competitions, workshops and the Ottawa International Writers Fest

By the way, Best Worst Movie comes out on DVD today … Check it out for some genuine belly laughs.

And want your own chance to experience your own BEST bad cinema? The Mayfair’s hosting Tommy Wiseau, director, writer and star of The Room, for three showings in January. Drop us a line, if you’re going to check it out!