The odd dog (photo by Trent Boswick)

This was taken in Point Pleasant Park this summer.  Lots of dog park these days.  Working on Tracy’s tribute with Don and Daniel.

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On the Way to the Park

Saw this on my way to the dog park. Always something to learn. Although this was most certainly not meant for me since I was most certainly not drunk. But I’m sure it was helpful to some poor, lost, confused soul.

On an arts council jury this week. Lots of reading to do. LOTS. A veritable ton. When this jury is done I focus on the Stratford play about a dog - that happens at the end of October in workshop with Iris as dramaturge and Nova Scotia’s brilliant John Beale as my acting foil. The play has no title at this time and so we’re referring to it as the Dog Show. It will be about more than dogs I suspect.

“Marion Bridge” opened last night at Kansas City Actors Theater.  A good review here in the Kansas City Star.

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/08/28/2183411/review-marion-bridge.html

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Just So You Know

Found this on the street walking back from the dog park this morning. That’s 268 days from now (inclusive).  I’m curious why Anderson Cooper doesn’t have this information. Or the people at the weather network. Regardless it’s good to know if one is considering quitting smoking or thinking about putting a big purchase on the credit card or if people who live in Toronto are worried about the possibility of a moron as mayor. Relax, a year from now it won’t matter a bit.

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Brooks and I are helping Don to get this together. Monday September 6.

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Me Sandwich with Trace and Moll - “Trigger” Set

On Monday saw “Trigger” at the cast and crew screening.  I brought the odd dog and we sat alone together.  That was the perfect way to watch.  The movie is beautifully put together - I hadn’t seen it since picture-lock so the sound mix was new to me.  The choices were great.  The credit song is “Five Ghosts” by Stars - very fitting.  It was hard for me to distance myself from the experience of making the movie, of Tracy, of the energy of the group surrounding the experience - to just watch the film.  Maybe someday this will be possible.

“Trigger” will be opening the new Toronto Film Festival permanent theatre - the TIFF Lightbox - on Sunday, September 12th as part of the festival and then 2 weeks later it will begin its commercial run.

Tuesday met with Bruce MacD to talk about another project.  Another medium now, more info to come.  These days finishing inputting the changes and Japanese translations to “Arigato, Tokyo”.  It will be the final draft.

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Photo by Matthieu Paly (A Winner from Banff Mountain Photograph Competition)

I passed this photo a hundred times while in Banff, it was hanging in the lobby of the Sally Borden Building.  It wasn’t until the last morning I saw it.  I wish you could see the photo in person, the eyes the eyes the eyes.  I can’t imagine what it would be like to see the person in person.

I am at home now.  Happily.  I’m inputting the changes to the script along with the Japanese translation, should take a day or two.  Tonight there is a cast and crew screening of “Trigger” at the Royal Theatre on College Street.   Oh and below is a photo of one of our ASM’s on the Banff Workshop, Ruby Bantock, to whom I gave the nickname “Ruuuuuuuubyyyyyyyy!!”  It seemed to stick.  Ruby said it was a goal of hers to make it onto the blog.  So here she is.

Ruby and some guy (photo by Mieko)

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The Set

That’s a bed with a kimono on it.  And music stands, since it is after all a “reading”.  All went well.  A nice crowd.  Vicki S and Vanessa P came up from ATP in Calgary.  Sherrie J was there since she’s here for the Air India opera that Push is co-producing in Vancouver.  A couple of students Taylor and Lyle drove all the way from Red Deer.   Our first audience and I learned a lot.  I probably wasn’t as “in” the show as I might have been because I was so aware as the director of the overview, and as the writer of the underneath.   But as I said learned a lot.  And as I write that I ask myself, “What exactly did I learn?”, and I can’t articulate the answer.  Perhaps I need a bit more time and distance to put words to it.   Maybe even after our final reading today I’ll have a more clear answer to my question.  But I know that I feel like I learned a lot.  Perhaps I learned that the play is about feeling.

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The Gang on a Break (Shawn, Shomee, Mieko, Iris and David)

Work through this morning and a run this afternoon.  Kelly, who runs the theatre section and Phillip from the Walker Arts Center in Philly were there for the run (Phillip just happened to be in the area).  It was great having an audience, we all stepped up our game and the show dropped in a bit more.  Tomorrow we work through with lights and then run for the public in the evening.

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Iris in Her Natural Habitat

Long day.  Good day.  The space is much bigger than the rehearsal space and so it was a bit of a job running through the show for Julia our lighting designer.  Iris is a great help as an outside eye with a special concern for “honouring the text” as Iris (constantly) puts it.  Today was transitions and tech tomorrow a focus on scene work.

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Mieko, Lamp

Lots of laughs in the rehearsal hall.  An especially good sign for a play that is for the most part a tragedy.  We’re connecting on many levels.  Did some great work with Iris on the script and a few more tweaks and we’re there.  Tomorrow we’re on the stage for the first time.  In the days to come some lights, some sound.

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