Playwright's Notes

Here are the playwright's note I wrote up for Summer of my Amazing Luck, my welfare Moms play.

When I read the novel on which this play was based, I was gripped by a familiar feeling, and then a new one. A familiar mixture of emotional exhaustion and exhilaration, (which I often have after reading a work that has moved me deeply) but also something new; a feeling of potential. Not Miriam’s potential, which is much greater than mine, but a potential for me and this book to do something together, and being as young as I was, potential was almost all I had.

I have always had a soft spot for single mothers. My own mother was a single one for some time during my childhood, and my life was a mixture of rollicking amusement, crying I couldn’t understand, landlords we were afraid of for reasons unclear, the occasional boyfriend, moving a lot, strange babysitters with large children of their own, generally all the things that float through the life of a child whose parent is single and poor. I related to Miriam’s novel on a personal and political level. I wanted very much to make it into a play.

During the five years it took to bring this work to stage I grew five years older, wrote several other plays and got a bit better at it, rewrote this one many times, stopped eating meat, started again, grew and shaved various styles of facial hair, broke up with a few women who were all far too good for me, and consumed many meals in restaurants. In all that time, my affection for Miriam’s book never waned, and my affection for Miriam herself only grew.

How well or poorly to treat our poor is a political issue in our country. It is generally the feeling of the left that the poor should be given a chance to live indoors and raise their children, while people on the far right feel somewhat differently. Critics make much of abuses and fraud of the system, which surely occurs. But, I was once told by a lawyer (one who worked for Canada’s welfare system) that it was his firm opinion that we spend much more money seeking out and punishing welfare fraud then we would lose if all such efforts were halted completely. It’s an interesting thought, especially if money is the important thing. I am for the raising of funding for social programs, and the allowing of part time work to keep welfare recipients in the working world, without knocking their earned wages off their benefits. With our current federal government, I might as well be in favour of tuxedos for dragons and the assignment of pixies to CSIS, ( or something equally unrealistic, like avoiding the complete dismantling of Canadian arts funding).

Lots of teenagers get themselves into trouble. Sometimes they can get themselves out and some can not. This is the story of those who couldn’t, but who made a life or themselves anyway. It’s about community, family and taking care of each other. In these times more than ever, we need to do just that.

I thank Miriam, Brad, Beth and Caroline, Scott and Betty, Dave, Tanya, David and Kevin, and all the folks at Theatre Network, and anyone here tonight who is moved to email, write or phone their MP, and support Canada’s Cultural workers with their voice. Lately, culture’s all that makes us different from the United States.

la la la

This week i feel like a baby howard stern. i am the king of all (small time) media.

I did this thing on CBC radio called the "In Crowd" where we get to plug stuff we think is keen around the City. I came armed with all kinds of dope stuff, so far as I think. I also plugged Bash'd and the RFT prime time shows because I am a sneaky fucker. I brought more than I could use, sadly, and did not get to plugs all the pal's stuff i wanted to. Luckily it's all so great it'll do fine on it's own.

I did this thing on CTV news. It was an in-depth report (which for CTV means a whole 3.5 minutes! that is 56.5 less than 60, which is what 60 minutes does) about the financial boom in Alberta. I was reporting on the arts. I stuck up for Edmonton, not only as a place to start out, but as a place to keep living. I gave as many plugs as I could to Mayor Mandel and dissed the provincial government as best I could. (it was easy)

Next I am doing this thing called a "Total Write-Off" which is like some kind of improv literature game show thing or something. I have no idea. They told me one of my co-guests would be the filmaker guy from American Movie, but I don't know if that panned out. Hopefully super fun.

I am told that soon my 7 minute comedy series for CBC radio will be listened to and decided upon by the higher ups. Only 9.65 months after it was made! Me and Peter Brown worked hard on it, and so did Andrea House and Mark Meer as voices extroidinaire. Fingers crossed. It would be fun to make a bunch more.

And Bash'd marches on. I like the reviews for the most part, and I hope it won't sound like too much of sour grapes or over senitivity to declare Luke Foster from Vue Magazine rather a dumb fellow. First he exclaims that bisexuality doesn't exist (I disagree) , and now he says rap isn't a worthy genre for the discussion of serious topics like gay bashing. I disagree without the use of brackets. (Sorry Fugees! No more rapping about poverty for you!) Check his latest hard hitting column to hear what TV shows he finds "nifty".

I am blogging more often now, aren't i?

so we opened Bash'd

And it went quite well, thanks for asking. Some folks left crying, and we got a standing ovation and such. Interestingly, for such a gay project, my girlfriend was there, loving it and me. Kevin Gillese, who I respect so much as a rapper was there. I blushingly reprint his review.

"the flow was tight throughout, with long stretches of awesome"

So I was releived. We hoped to be successful as actors and as rappers. All I know is, I am losing weight trying to do this show. It's a sweaty enterprize and no foolin'.

It's hard to imagine anyone is reading this anymore. My own fault, posting so seldom as I do. But whatever. Perhaps it will be just a little diary for me, and you all are my parents, sneaking into my room, trying to find out if I am on drugs. (which I am)

I know

I don't post too often. I am too busy and lazy to do so I guess, so I supose no one is really reading this at this point. Fair enough.

This is then, a message in a bottle.

It is a strange time for Chris, a time of change, of letting go of things I wanted which have proved impossible, were impossible all along, though I clung to hopes in a strange way, out of habit, I guess. Certainly not out of joy.

And a time of picking up new things, changing the focus of my life to something more positive.

I will never again try to break in where I am not wanted. I will stay and cultivate the places where I am. I will live in my new apartment with my wonderful girlfriend.

I feel strangely lost, and oddly free.

fringe drunk fun work, work, work

So the fringe opened up the other night and our RFT venue (Iron Horse BYOV J) opened the very next day. Last night the crumbs rocked a fine show and theatresports right after was no slouch either. fun times and happiness abounds. the play i directed, which opened in my absense as i toiled at the Iron Horse. I met an estatic A.H. in the beer tent and she extolled the virtues of our little comedy's acceptance by the masses, which in this case was actually a fairly respectable mass. Looks like the fringe is off and running. let the hangovers commence. let the beer tent schmoozing and review fretting begin. it already has anyway.

but listen, this is the main thing. i saw the pajamamen at their 11;45 show last night and I just could not fucking beleive how good it is. fuck. it makes a comedy artist feel inspired and small all at the same time. SO GOOD. No wonder Second City is producing these guys. They are special and how. See it, twice. I will.

Soon it will be time to build the venue agan at the iron horse. one of the things about having a byov is that in many cases you have to strike it completely and turn it back into a church, bar, sex dungeon or whatever it was before you got there. heavy lifting. it ain't all air conditioning and licenced venue. we only have to do it on weekends, but that is plenty, lemme tell you. so if you're bored at 4 or at 8;30 come on down. saturday is one of those fun days where we have set up AND strike. yay.

"life just goes on and on, gtting harder and harder" Rolling Stones

And I can see why. All that touring when you're 60? And now Keith has a brain injury and he's SO miffed that no one has noticed. Ah the the Stones. This is the truest thing they;ve said since "I'm so hot for her, I'm so hot for her. I'm so hot for her, and she's so cold.

Last night I got an idea for a play that happens entirely in a bed.

also

I pimped out my myspace profile, GIRLY STYLE! I am a huge homo except for the sex with women stuff (I mean woman. singular.) So check it out. the_crad_pad I think I called.

Summer Loving It

So I am pretty excited about that. It's my big chance to see ani defranco, and fiest and kris kristopherson, who I am familar with mostly from his work in the BLADE trilogy. I am going with my girlfriend, (rating=awesome) and staying at the condo her Dad stays in when he is too whatever to get to his house in Canmore (rating=sweet). So I am hugely set up.

I got tremendously busy again. I am now looking the footage I got to make my Rig show out of. Watching footage for shots is boring (see: Turnbuckle, our movie we made, rating=6.5/10) but at least I know how, and this is only 22 minutes long instead of 90, and I am being paid, unlike Turnbuckle, where I was paid only in exhaustion.

I am kind of into the creative challenge of it all. Creating crisis where they was little and injecting humour. These guys will talk so much shit about their boss it's hilarious. And I'll use it if they let me. I have no qualms. These cameras ain't hidden.

Also, we're heating up to the fringe. I got a venue to get going for RFT, a schedule to make, a play to direct, and not much in the way of time or budget to do it all in. Ah, the Edmonton Fringe. As fun as Edinburough was last year, this is fun too. The City wide craziness, the beer tents, he shows, the fun, the collapsing afterward, only to get up, fly to Atlanta and do it all again.

So, with a variety of thinga, I find myself super busy once again. I am liking it. Resting is for the unemployed. My life. (rating=awesome.)

How long has it been now?

A long time. Bad blogger! Bad! No treat!

So let's see. What have happened to me in the last month or so...

We closed the Ganza. All our friends went home and it was sad. Sentimental hugs and vows of palship abounded. Final trysts were conducted with extra intimacy and mumbled promises which for all I know, are still being kept. Bleary eyed artists got unto this plane and that, dealt with customs or had the yummy hug of a direct flight.

But did I wallow at home in post partum depression? Oh no.

I got on a plane and went to Toronto. Such a quick trip it was, so tight to the Ganza indeed, that I met Kurt and Becky in the airport and we shared a cab around.

Once there, me and Jania checked into the Castle Westin, which we paid for with airmiles instead of our flights. (ever do that? it's a great deal, cause airmiles always wants to put you on the worst flights and hotels costs just as much sometimes more. travel hints from crad!)

The next day, after some shopping (I bought a fancy new shirt) we went to the Doras. A rather glittery event, where my efforts were honored with three awards, and I was happy and proud. At teh party I smoked a giant cigar I had been saving and we watched the CN tower play hide and seek in the smog on our oh-so-miami-vice roof top patio. I got to hang out with Matt Barum (late of Edmonton, early of Second City Toronto). Good times.

Matt was kind enough to invite us to his home for brunch the next day and we were all over that. The next day I went and saw him in his second city show and me and becky did an improv set with them after. It was awesome.

On the street after we ran into Sheldon Elter, who is a pal, in town doing the Canadian Idol thing. What a star. We ran up to him screaming "SHELDON! SHELDON!" and for a minute he was sure we were the real thing. At the time he was voted off, he had the third largest internet fan club in the game. Watch out for him, famewise. He's gonna do awesome.

Then what. I came home. Chilled out a while.

Then I got this wierd gig. I am a writer on a show for OLN called "The Rig" which is like a doc series about this oil rig tht drills for oil. It pays TV, which is good, even in Canada, but very odd, as it is a reality show. So the writing done pre shooting is very hypothetical. To make matters crazier, they were without a director for a shoot, and they were so desparate, they asked me. So of I went (about two hours after my friends wedding) on a plane to grande prairie, which deserves its ironic E.

(what married you say?) Yes, my pals Brad and Caroline totally got completely married at the Rutherford house. I was not a best man, but I had jobs. I took wine places. And cheese. I can be counted on.

The rough and tumble camera crew and I drank with aplomb at the grand prairie college bar, where people were actually quite young and attractive. Our PA Krishna got so drunk we were almost asked to leave. We were asked to "corral our buddy" which was easier said than done.

We went to the actual oil rig and shot the guys goofing off. "Rig watch" they called it. These guys are funny and nice, but crass and all get out. They spoke openly about the "fat girls' they had bedded the night before, how much they had drank, experiences on mushrooms when they thought they had wet their pants. What would you do at 22 with 100K a year as your income? Bang (and I quote) "fat girl pussy" in Fox Creek Alberta? Me neither. But oddly, there are no oil rigs in Manhatten, so they can not be blamed for their location.

All in all, the trip left me tired and a bit more materialistic. TV people and rig guys drink about the same amount and make similar money. Good thing money doesn't matter. Right?

Right?

Ganza rages on

If there were some sort of drying rack one could use on one's liver, I could use one now. But I must hitch up my manhood and enter drunkenly into the fray, for the Ganza is only half over.

Wave two begins today with a doubling of the Ganza ensemble. We now have Slovenia, Vancouver, more Australians, some Regina, and a little extra Seattle. The love never stops.

Also:

The Stanley Cup has come and gone, and sadly we did not win. I was there, front and centre at the old Strathcona Hotel, drinking pitchers so cheap, I thought I was in University again. The Oilers hit the ice calmly, we were all expecting a win, especially after the game 6 blowout, but it was not so. Where are we left, am I left, after such a confusing relationship with this hockey contest, to at the end be left with nothing but disappointment. We gave this contest thousands of beers, horn honks, arrests and police hours. It gave us hope. Are we the less, that we hoped and lost? Only in terms of taxes. For we are richer in spirit.

It was a tale told time and time again in Edmonton, a small place with a big heart, stepping to best in the world and holding our own. I am nothing but proud.

And the wonderful Patti Stiles late of RFT, but now of Impro Melbourne, brought us this fun game, called guru. Mark is being the guru. 

And City Councilman Michael Phair was there to cut the ribbon and open the festival! He is awesome. 

Quicksilver Theatre is damn funny. 

Ganza Opening!

So the day was wet and the population hockey-ified but fans of RFT showed up in strong numbers anywayto help us crown the glistening head of Ganza 2006. Thanks so much to the fans that braved riot central to support us and our international guests. You guys rock.

The show was funny as all get out, if I do say so myself. And well I might, for the contributions of RFT were just the tip of the comedy iceburgh last night. Tonto's Nephews, our Catch 23 friends, Quicksilver from Belgium, and our BBF's Dad's Garage Theatre from Atlanta made us so proud with their high class japery.

The party raged late and loud in the Varscona lobby and backstage. Much longer backstage, as it turns out. I left near 4, charging the valient Kevin Gillese with lockup duty. It was much later again when he stumbled home. What a trouper.

The fest rages on, and this is just the first hang over of many. Come on out and see us! Infact, here is a schedule!

IMPROVAGANZA 2006 Rapid Fire Theatre’s International Improv Festival, June 14 – 24, 2005

MAY 29	MAY 30	MAY 31 Email all RFT – voluntter work	May 31 Email to fans: Ganza! Workshops!	June 1	June 2	June 3
June 4	JUNE 5 eMAIL TO FANS:	JUNE 6	JUNE 7	JUNE 8 EMAIL TO FANS	JUNE 9	JUNE 10
JUNE 11	JUNE 12 into the space projector hung lighting tweaked opening cue created floor painted curtains hung	JUNE 13 EMAIL TO FANS	JUNE 14 WED Call: 7 p.m. 8 p.m. Showcase: INTERNATIONAL JAM - all hands on deck! Bill, Mark, Kevin, Condor Second Act – a) RFT vs Dad’s MARK, CRAD, BEL,BILL b) ALLStars vs Tonto’s LATE NIGHT – Reception a go-go in the Varscona Lobby	JUNE 15 THURS GANZA GUEST JAM – lead by BECKY JONHSTON CALL: 7 P.M. 8 p.m. Showcase – RFT - The BelindaMeer Second Act – a) Seattle vs All Stars b) Iron Cobra vs RFT Kevin,Joey,Arlen, Jules - CRAD Hosts	JUNE 16 FRI CALL: 7 P.M. 8 p.m. Showcase: Iron Cobra Second Act – a) RFT vs Melbourne b) Tonto’s vs Seattle Belinda,Condor,Mark,Jules - Crad Hosts LATE SHOW 11 pm First Act – a) Melbourne vs Dad’s b) ALLStars vs RFT Crad,Mark,Arlen, Kevin - Joey Hosts Second Act - Jam show!	JUNE 17 SAT MATINEE - 2 pm KIDPROV! With puppets – Tim from Atlanta hosts Second Act – CALL: 7 P.M. Showcase - Tonto’s Nephews TO a) quicksilver vs Dad’s b) AllStars vs Iron Cobra LATE SHOW 11pm Act one –Showcase: UP – Seattle Second Act – Showcase – Dad’s Garage – Atlanta
SUN, JUNE 18 Morning – Women in Improv – workshop lead by Patti Stiles 11 – 2pm BBQ AT KAREN’S COUNTRY ESTATE (rides provided) 1-7 p.m. Movie Night at the Varscona – for Ganza guests, RFT Playas and good friends only	MONDAY, JUNE 19 EMAIL TO FANS DARK masterclass workshop 11am – 3 pm PUBLIC WORKSHOP 7 - 10	JUNE 20, TUES CALL: 7 P.M. 8 p.m. a) Instant vs Narabov b) Quicksilver vs Fools Second Act – Jam Show!	JUNE 21, WED LUNCH AT CHIANTI’S 1 PM CALL: 7 P.M. 8 p.m. Showcase: : RFT – Young Guns Second Act – a) Iron Cobra vs Melbourne b) Narabo vs Seattle	JUNE 22, THURS EMAIL TO FANS Edmonton Queen ride 2-4 p.m. CALL: 7 P.M. 8 p.m. Showcase: Teatre Narabov (Slovenia) Second Act – a) Dad’s vs Instant b) Melbourne vs Tonto’s	JUNE 23, FRI Gateway Rec Centre 2 – 5 p.m. CALL: 7 P.M. 8 p.m. Showcase: Quicksilver Theatre Second Act – General Fools (Regina) LATE SHOW 11 pm – Act One – Melbourne Showcase Second Act a) Quicksilver vs Iron Cobra b) UP Seattle vs Fools ACT THREE - CRAZY LATE JAM SHOW	JUNE 24, SAT MATINEE 2 pm KIDPROV – with puppets! Tim from Atlanta hosts CALL: 7 P.M. –JAN Instant Theatre (Vancouver) Second Act: FINALS Fourth place team vs second place team – WINNER goes to FINAL LATE SHOW – 11 pm 3rd Place vs 1st Place WINNER goes to FINAL Second Act: FINALS FINALISTS vs FINALISTS = WINNERS!!!!!!!

and the link

www.nowtoronto.com/dora

click it and vote.

And if you don't like BoyGroove, you can click on Wrecked. I wrote that one too.

Thank you so much, unless you did not click, in which case I ask:

Why you gotta be a hater?

Love, Chris

So there is this people's choice awards thing for the "Doras", which are the Toronto "Sterlings", which is a theatre award. If you vote for us, we might win! A "Dora". (see above for explainaion of 'Dora') 

I'm so excited

And i just can't hide it. I'm about to lose control, and I daresay, I like it.

The GANZA is so soon now, and I am so excited/scared I could just pee. Things seem to be going well, all the T's crossed and eyes dotted. The Publicity seems to go well. The SEE cover came out a bit early, but that is okay, this happens. A little prepress is a good thing, and we still got VUE and multiple Journal pieces coming out, not to mention our hilarious Sonic ads and posters going up, our tent cards and so forth. People should come, they came last year...

Also there is the "Seeing Old Friends" component. I am just excited for that. Ah, to hug my man Lee White, to drink a cold one with Rene Dellafont, to sit at the feet of Patti Stiles, Improv's prettiest guru.

Mostly I just want to provide my guests with large audiences to delight. That is my chief function here, and I aim to please. I am not worried about what the groups will do when they get here. They're so awesome. I just know the shows will be great. It is wonderful to beleive in what you are selling. That's why working at the GAP sucks so much.

Today I am running all about, doing interviews, dropping off passes, meeting with the lady from Avenue.

Did you know that Avenue is preparing to drop an edmonton version here? (This may be a secret, but nobody told me to keep it) You may know the glossy arts-lifestyle mag from Clagary, well here it comes to Eville, and they've asked me to write a comedy thing for the back page of the inaugural issue. I am kind of excited about that too.

I guess I am just generally excited.

Look! Scared now? 

This petition was sent to me by Michael Petrasek, and I send it to you: this is called "Stephen Harper is a Sports Fan"

To: Government of Canada

The decision by the Government of Canada in its most recent budget to give a tax credit to the parents of children taking part in organized sports (the so-called "soccer mom" credit) is fundamentally unfair. It provides a subsidy to one group of citizens by making a value judgement about the activities in which they choose to involve their children.

The implicit assumption is that involvement in traditional sports has a higher value than taking piano or dance lessons, taking classes in the visual and dramatic arts, singing in a youth choir or taking part in debating or chess clubs. This is unsupportable in fact and undemocratic in its effects. Parents who choose to spend their money on developing the aesthetic, cultural and artistic gifts of their children should not be discriminated against in favour of parents who choose to support their childrens athletic abilities.

Therefore, the undersigned petition the government to reconsider its announced policy and to extend the tax credit to all children and to any activity in which parents enroll their children for their mental, artistic or physical well-being.

Sincerely,The Undersigned

If you think arts and culture may, in fact, be as valuable as soccer to our society, please consider signing the petition below on thewebsite here listed:

http://www.petitiononline.com/dbs201bl/

Okay Stephen Harper. Now you're pissing me off.

What's next? Double the baby bonus for being born twice?

Free cable for those who watch demonstrably more Fox News?

And now you won't talk to the press? That's not allowed! You're the PRIME MINISTER. We're allowed to know what you are doing. That's a really big democracy rule.

You watch this guy. He's got Bushitis. And that is not a spell check mistake.

A rough patch

My improv, especially in Theatresports, has been going through quite a rough patch. After some 14 years of doing this stuff, I find most Fridays I am hitting the second half tired, distracted and without the spark I need to really rock it out there. The stuff I am doing is okay, but just that, and sometimes less. It lacks luster. What is that word? Lackluster. Luckily Mark to the Meer has been around to save my ass.

CHiMPROV goes a lot better for me, for one reason or the other.

Maybe when Kevvy gets home, the pleasure of seeing my good friend and improvising with him again will relight my fires.

Maybe the sloughing off of external theatrical work will leave me the energy I need for the RFT stage.

Maybe the upcoming GANZA will inspire me to greater heights.

And if that doesn't work, a break. Like a month break from short form improv.

I'll still do the CHiMP though. I mean, do you see how many HopRocks shows are coming up?