Never Fall in Love With A Writer: A Writer’s Assessment.

Jen at an early morning CKCU interview, after opening night.

I’m not one for fiddling with the text of a play while it’s being rehearsed.

Feedback from actors and directors is a valuable part of the writing process, but, at some point, the script has to be set in stone, and the production team left to make it work as written. Otherwise, it becomes far too easy for the production team to edit out problems, rather than solve them.

As an actor and a director, I’ve made some of my most important discoveries working the hard bits of a script that others might have simply cut.

As a further plus, because I’m not part of the rehearsal process, I get to see opening night with fresh eyes.

I was very impressed with Wayne and Jen’s work, on opening night. Very quickly, I realized they had figured out how to make the script work, as I watched Jen easily and confidently transition from character to character.

The production was a success, I think, because the characters were allowed to move through space when they were “off-camera.” When Jen played one character, there was no reason to expect the other character to stay put. As Grace spoke, Samuel could prowl. As Amy spoke, Grace could draw near. Effectively, Wayne and Jen gave themselves permission to move the characters around the stage, as if there was more than one body on the stage. At times, I was reminded of a well-edited film.

At play’s end, I wanted to see it again, which, for me, is quite rare. Unfortunately, my schedule did not allow me to see the production again at the 2013 Ottawa Fringe. Fortunately, Wayne is cooking up the possibility of a very unique kind of remount.

I will keep you posted.

Never Fall in Love with a Writer: Opens Tonight!

It’s the big night, at long last! It should hold almost as many surprises for me as you.

Have you seen the awesome poster yet?

The photograph was taken by Mauricio Ortiz. The poster was designed by Jay Lutes.

So why do I expect to be surprised tonight?

I haven’t look at the script in a couple of months, since I delivered the final version to Wayne for rehearsal. Other than briefly dropping by one rehearsal to shoot some footage for a short video, I haven’t been involved in the rehearsal process at all.

Why?

The script is in very capable hands and I also enjoy rediscovering my text in one fell performative swoop. Tonight’s the night we can all enjoy it together for the first time.

While you’re here, download the song Shannon Rose wrote for the production. You can download it for free, during the Fringe.

“Never Fall in Love with a Writer,” premieres 10PM tonight at the 2013 Ottawa Fringe Festival in Studio Leonard Beaulne (University of Ottawa).

Show Times:
June 20 10:00 p.m.
June 22 9:00 p.m.
June 25 8:30 p.m.
June 27 5:30 p.m.
June 29 4:30 p. m.
June 30 7:30 p.m.

Never Fall in Love With a Writer: Capturing the Promise of Theatre in Video

Work took me to Vancouver. Then, fun took me to Vegas!

Meanwhile, the opening night of “Never Fall in Love with a Writer” moved ever closer.

While I was gone, Wayne released the promotional video for the show.

Created by Keir MacDonald, I think it’s an excellent promotional video for a piece of theatre.

I like it because it works as a short video, while remaining faithful to the spirit of the play and a work of theatre.

Too often, promotional clips for theatre are too cinematic. They promise an experience that a work of theatre can’t — and shouldn’t try to — fulfil.

Nice work, Keir!

If you like the feel of this video, I’m sure you will enjoy the show. It opens Thursday, June 20th at 10PM in Studio Leonard Beaulne (University of Ottawa).

Show Times:
June 20 10:00 p.m.
June 22 9:00 p.m.
June 25 8:30 p.m.
June 27 5:30 p.m.
June 29 4:30 p. m.
June 30 7:30 p.m.

Never Fall in Love with a Writer: A Peek Into A Stage Manager’s Kit.

Pamela Feghali and her stage manager’s kit.

If you’ve never been involved in the production of theatre, there’s a good chance that you’ve never even heard of one of the most important people in the process: the stage manager.

Essentially, the stage manager is the cog at the centre of the production, who ensures that it runs as the director intended it to run. The director provides the artistic vision. The stage manager ensures that vision is realized each performance.

Because the stage manager is involved with and ultimately responsible for all aspects of a production, s/he is the go-to person for any and every problem. The best stage managers have an unnerving ability to be ready for anything that may come his or her way.

The physical manifestation of this “ever readiness” is the stage manager’s kit, in which, depending on the scale of the production, just about anything can be found.

In this short clip, Jen and Pamela take a a playful look at Pamela’s stage manager kit.

Never Fall in Love with A Writer: A Song to Call Our Own.

I’ve been paid for my writing, but I don’t think my writing has ever been the catalyst for someone else’s creative work.

Until now!

Shannon Rose of Shannon Rose and the Thorns wrote a song inspired by my play “Never Fall in Love with a Writer.”

In this short clip, Jen talks to Shannon about the song and Shannon plays it live.

The best part about it all is that I like the song and, in particular, I’m impressed by the lyrics. She’s faithful to the script and yet puts her own spin on it. Very cool.

You can also listen to the song on Soundcloud.

Please like the band’s page on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, and check out their website. Actually, before you do all that, watch this video, too. You will thank me.

And if you are wondering, yes, I will take catalyst over cash any day of the week. When art is for art’s sake, there’s no finer gift than art inspired by your own work.

The play, “Never Fall in Love with a Writer,” premieres at the 2013 Ottawa Fringe Festival in Studio Leonard Beaulne (University of Ottawa).

Show Times:
June 20 10:00 p.m.
June 22 9:00 p.m.
June 25 8:30 p.m.
June 27 5:30 p.m.
June 29 4:30 p. m.
June 30 7:30 p.m.

Never Fall in Love with a Writer: A New Addition!

In this short clip, Jen introduces Keir MacDonald, the filmmaker who will make a trailer for “Never Fall in Love with a Writer.” If you haven’t met Jen before, this also is your first chance to see her not in character.

The raw footage was shot today. I’m looking forward to what he comes up with! Judging by his concept, it should be good.

Never Fall in Love with a Writer: Four Characters One Actor – “Take 1”

Jen as an early version of Amy.

For me, what I love most about the rehearsal process is the development and evolution of a character from a cold read outline to a full bodied being.

It’s an incredible transformation that the audience rarely gets to see.

In keeping with my decision to write “Never Fall in Love with a Writer” with my pants down, Jen and Wayne are going to try and give you a sense of how a character develops and evolves over the rehearsal process.

To do this, we’re going to shoot three short videos at different stages of the rehearsal process, which will feature each character speaking an important line from the script.

This first video was shot on Friday, May 3.

At this point in the rehearsal process, Wayne and Jen are still very much exploring the characters, asking questions, and testing ideas. When the script is still in hand, nothing is set in stone.

Keep your eye out for two more videos and, if you want to witness the full transformation, come see the show. It premieres at the 2013 Ottawa Fringe Festival in Studio Leonard Beaulne (University of Ottawa).

Show Times:
June 20 10:00 p.m.
June 22 9:00 p.m.
June 25 8:30 p.m.
June 27 5:30 p.m.
June 29 4:30 p. m.
June 30 7:30 p.m.

Never Fall in Love with a Writer: A Lesson Learned.

The rehearsal process for “Never Fall in Love with a Writer” is well underway.

Wayne and Jen made an important discovery last week. Like many discoveries, it started with a mistake.

Wayne writes,

During this rehearsal, I made a mistake. Trying to unravel some problems between character transitions, I began to give Jen movement instructions. This is called blocking and, I realize now, we were too early in the process for it.

In this short clip, Jen talks about the most important thing to focus on at this point, which will ultimately make the show a success. A good reminder for both of us!

Have you learned from a mistake recently? Let us know!

Never Fall in Love with a Writer: The Challenge of Incarnation.

Wayne and Jen have started rehearsing “Never Fall in Love with a Writer,” which opens June 20 (10:00 p.m.), as part of the 2013 Ottawa Fringe Festival.

In this short video, Wayne outlines the challenge of producing “Never Fall in Love with a Writer” as a one woman show. He also  highlights what he and Jen will work on to address these challenges.

Comments on the play and the rehearsal process are very welcome. They will help Wayne and Jen’s work.

Never Fall in Love With a Writer: Ready for Incarnation

The script, our first prop, and Jen.

The notion that God-the-son became human — that divinity became flesh — is one of the most important doctrines of the Christian faith.

At Sunday school, growing up, I don’t recall having any particular fascination with this mystery, which is sometimes characterized as the “word becoming flesh,” but it is with this mystery that I make sense of the unique delight I take in writing for theatre.

Theatre transforms words into flesh.

Poems, stories, and novels, even when read aloud, are not fleshy. Film and television requires living breathing people to embody a writer’s ideas and words, but it is not a fleshy experience for the viewer. Only theatre (and some theatrical dance) transforms a writer’s words and ideas into a flesh that must be directly experienced to be appreciated fully.

“Never Fall In Love With a Writer” is now ready to be made flesh.

There’s nothing terribly mysterious about how theatre transforms words into flesh, but it may sometimes seem mysterious because the process normally happens behind very closed doors. Jen and Wayne very soon will launch the incarnation process for “Never Fall In Love With a Writer” and, with a little help from social media, we’ll try to keep the door propped open as much as possible.

In the meantime, feel free to read and comment on the play. It may be of some use to Wayne and Jen.