Carrot River is a small town in Northern Saskatchewan, notable for the discovery of the skeletal remains of a 92 million year old crocodile named Big Bert. What it should be known for, however, is its abundance of community spirit. This past weekend I made a trip up to Carrot River to catch productions of two of my plays, Smarty Pants and Drama Geeks. I'm always excited to see my plays because I rarely get the opportunity, but I was not expecting to have the greatest personal and professional experience of my life.The drama program at the Carrot River Junior/Senior High School is nothing short of amazing. I was dumbstruck when I found out that the program has only been in existence for 5 years. The students are exceptionally talented and dedicated, the director is beyond gifted and encouraging, and the entire community is so supportive of the arts that it made my jaw drop.
Dean Armstrong, director and also the principal of CRJSHS, started the drama program 5 years ago in order to fill an artistic void that existed in the school at that time. In that short amount of time, his program has grown to include dozens of students, garnered the support of the entire community, and mounted productions that have gone on to compete in the top drama festival in the province. In 2010, their production of Booby Trap by Ed Monk won Best Overall Production at the Provincial Drama Festival in Regina, SK. Then earlier this year they entered the play Tracks by Peter Tarsi, which I still contend is the best high school production of a play I've ever seen.
It was this production that inspired me to contact Mr. Armstrong and see if he might be interested in producing the premiere of my latest play, Drama Geeks. When he agreed, I was over the moon. And when he said that he'd like to produce it on a bill with Smarty Pants, and then invited me to the productions, I could not believe my good fortune. Needless to say, I cleared my schedule and jumped at the chance.
What I appreciate most about their program is that the juniors share the stage with the seniors. This ensures that there will always be a constant rotation of talent, with the older students teaching the younger students what they have learned. I'm always hearing from drama teachers that they will have a few good years, but then lose all of their best students when they graduate and have to start from scratch again. I have no idea why more schools do not use the Carrot River model, and incorporate students of all ages in their productions, but many seem resistant to that idea. I have no clue why because it obviously works so well. Their loss.
On to the productions. They were phenomenal! Both plays were presented better than I could have ever imagined in my wildest dreams. They were dripping with energy and creative invention.
Smarty Pants was made up of strictly junior students, in order to give them a shot at more featured roles. Well, you'd think they were all old pros. When people read Smarty Pants, they often see it as just a simple comedy. However, when they put it on its feet, they quickly discover its many, many challenges. I can't even begin to tell you how great these kids were. They managed to overcome every obstacle and had the audience (and me!) in stitches. They worked beautifully as an ensemble and remained in character for its entire running time. It was beautifully staged, gorgeous to look at, and a hoot and a half from start to finish.
Drama Geeks had a mix of students, from grade 7 to grade 12. When I wrote the play, I thought of it merely as a silly farce. Well, now I'll never be able to think of it the same way again. It was definitely silly, but the direction and performances added a dramatic edge to the piece that I never saw coming and I was totally moved by it. They found an emotional gravity that I wish I could take credit for. Now whatever original vision I had has been entirely wiped from my brain. It was really, really, really good.
Sitting in the darkened theatre, waiting for the plays to begin, it hit me that all of my dreams have come true. I feel like I should want more, but what more could I possibly want? I believe that the arts bring people closer together and the fact that all of these people had gathered together because of something I had written overwhelmed me to the point of tears. It was the very first time I truly believed that I've "made it." Just like Big Bert, moments like that only come around every 92 million years or so.
I certainly don't make a lot of money doing what I do, but I'd rather live a life in the theatre and eat spaghetti than have all the steak and lobster I want and not have time to write about how good it is. Besides, if you're doing something you love, that spaghetti tastes an awful lot like steak and lobster.
A huge thank you to Dean, his students, and everyone in Carrot River for a weekend that I'll never forget.
