Vision Theatre at the Ottawa Fringe Festival - June 19th to 29th

Fringe is fun! Well when you are doing an esemble fun comedy it can be a BLAST. Last year was lonely as I performed in a One Woman show – which was more done as an exercise to stretch my acting abilities and see if I could do it. But this year, I wanted FUN FUN FUN…and that is what I got. I am doing a show with Vision Theatre called – 4Play – One Acts by David Ives. COME OUT AND SEE IT. It is such a fun crew to work with. We are like a little family. And the audiences have been great! I think we have now hit our fun stride and we are just playing.

We have 3 shows left, In Arts Court Theatre:

Thursday at 9pm
Saturday at 6pm
Sunday at 1:30pm

Read these reviews we gotten below – and you know if Alvina from the CBC laughed you will too!!!

FROM CBC Radio 1 - Alvina :
"4Plays Vision Theatre created near pandemonium with 4 short one-act plays by David Ives. It features 6 actors who morph through all these performances with the greatest of ease. These are all comedies based on language…very different from the Austrailians who like their bodies who do things with their bodies. These are all twisted uses of English, and reminds a bit of George Carlin actually, running jokes, word plays, everday situations made strange and hilarious and lots of verbal gags. Best of all I liked the 4th segment, based on 4 plays by David Mamet all squashed together in 15 minutes, you got to know his works to get this but it was quite funny I loved it! This one directed by Greg Wysynski what we come away with are the basic themes of Mamet’s theatre – male bonding, women are dangerous, and lots of F-U words, which Im not allowed to say on air either. So for me however there was a bit of deja-vu in it all, but they still pulled it off very well, and the staging is excellent and the audience loved it again…packed packed packed, their packing the houses its very good."

From a Audience member posted on the Ottawa Fringe website:

Saturday night, I spent my money well with this one! Or FOUR as it turns out! Four Plays by David Ives.The elevator doors opened at Arts Court Theatre to a packed lobby and a crowd eager to see what Vision Theatre has produced this year! Last year’s craziness with the 3 one acts were wild and pushed the envelope. This year, they’re treating us to 4 tightly knit shows that may not have the EDGE but most certainly have the entertainment value. Picture 6 cast members woven into shows (some, as I’ve read the scripts) adding actors where they wouldn’t normally be, duets becoming foursomes and finishing with an ensemble piece. The packed house on Saturday night roared with laughter and applauded with a want for more! All six actors are STRONG and know what comedy is about. Their understanding of that allows the audience to just sit and enjoy every single moment of it. The facial expressions of Jennifer Scrivens are priceless. Shaun Toohey’s hysteria balances Sam Awwad’s subdued manner in The Philadelphia. Stewart and Laplante’s deadpan in the difficultly maneuvered Sure Thing allowes the audience into "what if we could take back what we said" moments, and Marsha as the male roasting David Mamet in Speed-the-play does a great job keeping the scenes running with an "F-U if you don’t like it" attitude.I HIGHLY recommend spending your money wisely and entering the world of Vision Theatre. This is a talented young theatre company that, if they continue to fire out the hits, will soon become a company in the ranks with GCTC and NAC.Go see their shows. You won’t be sorry you did!

Grandmaman Plante - Marguerite Plante 1922-2008

This is a poem I found that I read at my grandmaman's funeral on June 6th.

I Remember YOU

I find an old photograph
and see your smile.
As I feel your presence anew, I
am filled with warmth
and my heart remembers love.

I read an old card
sent many years ago
during a time of turmoil and confusion.
The soothing words written then
still caress my spirit and bring me peace.

I remember who you used to be
the laughter we shared
and wonder what you have become.

Where are you now,
Where did you go,
When the body is left behind
and the spirit is released to fly?

Perhaps you are the morning bird
singing joyfully at sunrise,
or the butterfly that dances
so carelessly on the breeze
or the rainbow of colors
that brightens a stormy sky
or the fingers of afternoon mist
delicately reaching over the mountains
or the final few rays of the setting sun
lighting up the skies edging the clouds with a magical glow.

I miss your being
but I feel your presence,
In whatever form you choose to take,
however you now choose to be.

Your spirit has become for me
a guardian angel on high
guiding, advising, and watching over me.

I remember you.
You are with me
and I am not afraid.

Proud Theatre Parent and other parent stuff

It's been awhile. I've been busy in theatre of all kinds but mostly at the Ottawa Little theatre as of late. So after the last few days this is how I feel......

Directing is like being a parent. You nurture and guide the play and send it on it’s way to fly on it’s own. Last night I felt like a proud momma watching her baby bird fly. Mind you I am not the director of The Ladies of the Camellias (which opens on Tuesday June 10th by the way), but I have been a close part of the development of this production helping with the casting, blocking, elements etc. Sarah listened to me, and found that I had some good ideas as did some of the actors. I gave the actors some very good guidance which is showing through. When I see them with that energy, that commitment and that fun it makes me proud to be apart of this production.

Granted there are things I would change about the show – but not a lot. I think the movement works well and everyone looks really great and committing to their roles. I wish Eddie the scenic painter at the OLT would actually do the job he gets paid for and paint the backdrop he was suppose to paint, and that The Girl actually have a second skirt for Act II so she can come in as she is suppose to – soaking wet….and then there are Sarah Bernhardt’s “feathers” on her costume……suppose to be ostrich, looks like she’s a dead seagull…but the rest of her looks GREAT. At least the actress is not letting it get to her and rising above the dead bird around her neck.

Nope, I feel other then those minor things (and maybe some lines and blocking change that are minor that I would change) , the show is getting tight and the actors are ready for their audience. I am so proud of them. They still are making me laugh with there small touches and reactions, and they are definitely ready to fly and take the audience on a fun ride.

Break a leg Cast and Crew of the Ladies of the Camellias. I’ll be watching a cheering for you from the audience on Opening night.

On another similar note; which is dog related, I am a proud “parent” of the cutest Wire Fox Terrier --Guinness. We are done Level 1 Agility. Though he’s not the brightest dog on the face of the Agility planet (and neither is his handler – ME) he LOVES playing on the field and when he gets a sequence or obstacle he really remembers and gets it. He’s a little too Handler focus (meaning he watches ME all the time instead of the obstacle he’s suppose to concur) but he’s smart and funny when he gets things…..I am proud of that little cutie pie. I just love that little dog.