Pride & Prejudice - A Backstage Review

Last summer my partner, Pierre, and I were introduced to the delights of the theatre. Not that we hadn't enjoyed attending a number of plays over the years. We had indeed; however, both of us had avoided drama classes like a proverbial pandemic. Little did we know that joining the crew of Dangerous Liaisons at Ottawa Little Theatre would infect us with the "theatre rat" bug. (Admittedly, I have a worse case than Pierre.) A caution to our non-theatre friends: we may now be contagious.

Val, Mike, me, and Pierre

Fast forward a few months from that auspicious (perhaps fated) beginning....

We were thrilled to see that OLT's fabulous 100th Season lineup included a production of one of our favourite stories: Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice. Soon thereafter we learned that Geoff Gruson -- Dangerous Liaisons' director, and one of only two that we'd worked under -- was also directing P&P. We definitely wanted to work the show. (Besides, how could P&P resist doing P&P ?)

Lounging in our living room with dear friend Val Bogan (who's celebrating 25 years of volunteering at the OLT this month) after a big meal and a bottle of delicious Australian Shiraz, we found ourselves nodding Yeah. Sure. We can do that... to her suggestion that we were ready to take on the responsibility of Set Crew Chiefs.

(Caution #2: Val and our mutual friend, Mike Heffernan, were our original [dare I say intentional?] bug-carriers. Just so you know.)

OLT Stage Manager, Jim Hogan

Now we are nearly half-way through the run of this incredible production, and the hardest part of our role is finished. With the support of Val and Stage Manager, Jim Hogan, we gathered an amazing team of 16 volunteers. After rallying them to rehearsals, our "Star Crew Members" follow Pierre's five meticulously choreographed and coached set changes between beautifully acted scenes.

The sharply-clad set crew turns periactoids (three-sided towers depicting three different rooms), flies walls and curtains in and out, and moves furniture to subtly marked spots on the stage. They do this while three or four props people are also setting and removing vases, tea-sets, pillow, throws, and chotskies. With amazing grace and finesse, I might add. And last night, they even garnered unexpected audience applause.

Grey, Meghan, Don, Mihee, Nadine, Pierre

Paul and Sharon

Barb, Caroline, Chrisy, Don, Grey, Jennifer, Maha, Mihee, Mike, Meghan, Nadine, Patti, Paul, Rich, Sharon, and Val -- We are so proud of your contributions to this play, and look forward to the remaining ten performances!

Since Geoff's goal (and audiences' preference) was for our team to squeeze these graceful moves into the briefest time-periods possible, our little pieces of P&P soak up a little under four minutes of audience-watching time and five minutes of intermission behind-curtain time.

The remainder of the two hours is filled by a perfectly-chosen and unbelievably talented cast who bring the well-known characters of the Bennets, Lucases, and Bingleys, Mr. Collins, Col. Fitzwilliams, Lady Catherine De Bourg and Mr. Darcy to life. It has been a treat getting to know the actors and watching them evolve from reading their lines to becoming their characters.

Kim and Purni - props

Every nights' audience has laughed and applauded throughout the show, and reviews of all parts of it--including our scene changes!--have been glowing. Bravo to Geoff for envisioning such a delightful version of this play, and to each cast and crew member for bringing that vision to light.

Paul, Val, Meghan, and Chrisy

Performances run Feb 12 - Mar 2, Tuesday through Saturday -- curtain time at 8:00, and one matinee this Sunday, Feb 24 -- curtain time 2:00.

For tickets and information, visit Ottawa Little Theatre - Pride & Prejudice Hope to see you at the show!
P.S. While you're on the OLT's website, do check out the remaining five shows of the 100th Season. With one play from each of its 10 decades, there's sure to be at least one more that draws you to the theatre. And you never know... you may even catch the bug, and be tempted to join us in the wings. :-)

In Response to the 16th Mass Shooting of 2012

As someone who lived 50 of my 54 yrs in the states, who fell in love with a Canadian and has lived in Ontario the past four years, I can't tell you how refreshing it is to be surrounded by non-gun-toting people. Canadians are not afraid of each other. I can walk or ride my bike anywhere without wondering whether this or that person might mug me, or go off on me or my loved ones. (Yes it happens--more often in the largest cities, but compared to the U.S., VERY rarely.) I'm grateful for Canada's gun control laws. I had absolutely no idea how pervasive the underlying daily paranoia was until I moved out of that soup.

I've thought about this a lot, actually. How is it that these two neighbouring countries are so very different? One answer may be the way that the countries were established. America became the U.S. through war. Canada continues to be part of the British Commonwealth. The Constitutions and Bills of Rights are fundamentally different, and in many ways, almost opposite. The U.S.'s emphasizes independence and individual rights. Canada's focuses on being interdependent, and acts as a guide for the world's peacekeepers. It is no surprise then, that the cultures are so diverse.

Many people in the states are saying that it's time to write gun control laws. There are even ugly accusations that those who lobby for free access to guns are complicit in the murders at Sandy Hook Elementary School. I do not believe the U.S. will ever allow gun control. From the time American kids are children we are taught that owning guns is a fundamental right. "And nobody better take my rights away, dammit...." In addition, there are now billions of dollars involved (the National Rifle Association lobby, to name just one piece of that pie) that has -- and would again -- turn this into a battle unlikely to be won.

IF the laws were ever changed, with the sheer number of guns already owned and continually sold in the states, the black market would be gigantic overnight. I can't count the number of times I've heard the chant "If guns were outlawed, only outlaws would have guns." You probably know it well enough to have chanted along, don't you?

From my viewpoint, the answer to this problem is less about attempting to win a fight to control the weapons, and more about creating a less violent culture. I believe that what you resist, persists. Rather than fighting yet again, perhaps it is time to evolve.

Peace, kindness, and respect must be practiced and taught. Those who see violence as an answer to their frustrations are NOT mentally healthy. Am I the only one who sees cutting funding to education and mental health programs as counterintuitive and counterproductive to helping terrified and angry people with inappropriate coping skills become healthier?

There is no quick and easy answer to our problems. However, if we want to live in a safer world, taking steps toward building a more peaceful existence rather than escalating mistrust and separation seems the wiser -- in fact, the only direction in which to move.

Christmas Spirit - Some Random Thoughts

Ahh, the gift of life, and what we do with it.... It's the "Holiday Season." (How odd, our political wording, and yet I choose to respect all paths).  

Most people I know are either Christian or Agnostic, so the circles I run in sing a similar tune: Merry Christmas! Be Jolly! It's the Season of Peace. Joy to the world. Happy, happy, happy.... And yet so often those sentiments seem to ring hollow when the real people in my life share their thoughts and feelings about late November to early January. There's So Much Stress! 

I happen to love Thanksgiving and Christmas. Always have.... I was blessed with a family who love each other dearly and have made a big deal of being together (or missing each other), cooking and eating too much, partying, and gifting each other. (Although, since none of us really need anything, we have moved to non-gift-giving.) Even with my lucky history around the holidays, I look around and see people in pain, and I feel it with them.

Especially during this season, we are advertised to death. Sold everything from what our house decorations are supposed to look like to the obligation of giving just the right gift. It's another chapter in the "Keeping Up With the Joneses" book, as opposed to an outpouring of gratitude and sharing of our abundance.

Granted, I'm not saying this is everyone... there are some I know who love this season as I do. They revel in the traditions, want to put up the lights and decorate the tree -- at least the women and kids seem to ;) -- and for the most part, enjoy finding and wrapping gifts for the people they love. 

Is it just that the holidays intensify already tightly wound springs? Adding another externally applied pressure to our busy lives?

I wonder how we can embody the peaceful, loving, and generous spirit that holy days are truly about, and how we can spread that love to everyone -- those who are like us, and those who are not.

Couch Potato No More!

Given the chance, I'll stay in my robey most of the day, with only short forays away from the couch or rocker to eat, run errands, tutor students, and empty the hound. Exercise, to say the least, has never been my passion.

There was one major exception.... Five summers ago I completed Seattle's Danskin Triathlon -- an amazing experience that happened purely because the thought of it (especially the .47 mile Lk. Washington swim) terrified me. I trained with an incredible group of beautiful, diverse women -- the Kitsap Tri Babes -- for 12 weeks, swimming, race-walking and biking, and I loved it (well, maybe not the swim so much, but...). Then, after the life-changing August event, I sat back down.

We all know that sitting is not the road to living a long, active life, so it's time to get off of my rapidly-softening rear again. Menopause seems to be in full swing, and my metabolism is beginning to crawl in time to that music. At almost 54, along with many people at this age, I'm beginning to think about the upcoming second half of my life. While I've always been a bit of a health nut, I'll admit to having known much more than I've practiced. It is time to step up my game.

(Ok, the truth is, I do love my weekly yoga class. And I did dust off my bike for a few great rides this year. So I'm not a complete slug.... Just a minor one.)

The movement I most enjoy is walking. From strolling to race-walking, I like it all. Walks with my pup are stop-and-go exercises with frequent visits with other dog-walkers for neighbourly catch-ups and fascinating sniffs. To supplement those non-aerobic, brief in the hot- and cold-season jaunts, kijiji provided a low-cost used treadmill last weekend, to which I've added a lovely first-phase hunk-o-plywood desk. So, at this very moment, I'm moseying at about 1.5 mph -- have been for the past hour -- and will amp it up this evening for another 1/2 hour with Pierre on his bike trainer beside me.

While I doubt there is another triathlon in my future, (unlike one of my fellow Tri Babes who went on to complete an Ironman last year!) Ottawa holds a number of 5k's, 10k's, half- and full-marathons. And I plan to greet next spring and summer with a stronger, healthier body, ready to cross some finish lines. :) Would you like to join me?