SDA Festival: Day 3

THE PERILS OF CHIEF CIMÄGASIW OF CÏCIGANÏHK by Duncan Ball, presented by Charlebois Community School – I was completely enamoured by this production. While not as polished as many of the plays here, there was a spirit about this show that was infectious. The actors could have worked on their diction, the blocking could have been more varied and the set could have been more functional; however, the joy of theatre emanated from the young cast and rolled over into the audience. Of all the plays so far, this had the most energy and was all the better for it. With further guidance, I believe this group could really do great things.

WHY DO WE LAUGH? by Stephen Gregg, presented by Campbell Collegiate – All eight actors in the play were remarkable, playing their roles with gusto and verve. I also want to make special mention of the spectacular use of light and sound, particularly during the opening moments of the show. Without going into too much detail, they utilized Nat King Cole`s ``Unforgettable`` and some spot lights to marvellous effect.

IN A ROOM SOMEWHERE by Suzan L. Zeder and Daniel Paul Davis, presented by Sacred Heart High School – The production was very solid, including some terrific technical work. The actors were also very focused, especially after having to face some strong distractions from the house. I wish the staging had used more angles, rather than playing everything face-forward. That’s not to say it was not well directed – it was very well staged. I just personally would have chosen to use stronger angles and maybe eliminate a set piece that cut off half of the available playing area. All in all, it had some very thoughtful and creative choices.

SDA Festival: Day 2

JUST ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL PLAY by Bryan Starchman, presented by Broadview High School – Backstage comedies always score with an audience and this was no exception. I loved the visual aspects of this production, as well as the comic timing of many of the leads. The play itself has an extended sequence involving puppets, which is not an easy task, and Shayna Moore expertly switched between numerous puppets without a single blunder. I worry they went long, however. Each play has a 60 minute time limit and I know they must have come pretty close. But I was not the bearer of the stopwatch, so I hope for their sake I am wrong.

PROPERTY RITES by Alan Haehnel, presented by Turtleford Community School – I have judged this play in the past and seen it many times beyond that, so I am rather familiar with this script. It is not an easy play to do because it requires a great deal of trust between the actors. The students from the teeny tiny town of Turtleford blew me away. There is an enormous amount of choral work involved and the ensemble never once hesitated to jump right into their dialogue, which helped propel the play forward at a snappy pace. Every single person in the audience, no matter how young or old, was stretched forward in their seats as not to miss a single word. I heard debates amongst the students afterwards who did not quite understand what the play was about, which is exactly the point of a metaphorical piece such as this.

LAUGHING STOCK by me, presented by Gordon F. Kells High School – My play is made up of the youngest group of students at the festival and I could not be more proud of their performance. It’s amazing to think that many of the talented students are just in the eighth grade. They are already naturals on stage and have a fantastic flair for comedy at a level far beyond their years. Their teachers are very lucky to have several years left with this group; a promise of great things to come. I am most impressed by the cleanliness of their production. There is not a single movement, costume, prop, sound cue or light effect that does not have a distinct purpose. Quite often I find high school drama littered with more, more, more…just because it’s available. It’s nice to see a group of students (and directors) trust the material and add to it only what is necessary. It makes for a crisp, lively and genuine performance. Carlyle, you should be so proud of what you have accomplished!

ALL THAT TWITTERS IS NOT GOLD by Ray Sheers, presented by Swift Current Comprehensive High School – At the top of the show, a curtain flew into the rafters and revealed a spectacular set design that resulted in a collective “oooooo” from the audience, myself included. The lights, the costumes, the makeup and the set pieces were expertly designed. There was also some nice acting throughout the play. Unfortunately, and I’m not sure why, the audience around me in the balcony was confused. I admit I also was a bit bewildered by the plot, and the lady beside me was certain they must have skipped a scene of important plot exposition. I don’t think they did, or if they did, they smoothed over it nicely. Being a fantasy, I believe it was just the result of audience vs genre. All in all, it was a visual stunner with some strong ensemble work.

BOOBY TRAP by Ed Monk, presented by Carrot River Jr./Sr. High – I love it when junior and senior high work together. It gives the older actors a chance to pass the torch and the younger ones the opportunities they need to become stronger thespians and technicians. This is a very nice drama that utilized its cast very well. The play is very, very, very depressing, but it never lost the audience for a moment. And the design of the entire piece was spot on, as was the stellar direction. This was an exceptionally strong showing from yet another tiny town of Saskatchewan.

SDA Festival: Day 1 (Cont'd)

There were four plays tonight so the back of my shirt is a bit sticky from sitting for so long. However, they were well played and a joy to watch. I’d also like to point out what a phenomenal audience the students are this year. Cell phones were tucked away for the most part, and everyone was an active participant. One usually thinks a play is made up of actors and stage crew, but the audience is every bit a part of the show. So to the audience here in Regina, way to go!

BABEL RAP by John Lazarus, presented by Lumsden High School – I would need three hands to count the number of times I have seen this play. It’s a Canadian one act staple, and for good reason. It’s a challenging play with two characters on a set that restricts their movement greatly. The two young men in the leads did a great job with the pacing, which is key when the blocking is limited. This group also added a nice touch by including a non-speaking chorus of angels at the beginning. I would have liked to have seen them appear throughout the play, though. Given that it was such a nice touch, I think they could have been utilized more.

THROUGH THICK & THIN by Keyanna Burgher and Katie Cotter, presented by Vanier Collegiate – This musical drama was a take off on Alice in Wonderland, and falling through the rabbit hole was represented by an eating disorder. Not only was the show well conceived and beautifully staged, it was written by two of the students. Rarely have I seen a student written production so solid and sure of itself. And the presence of a band on stage is one of my favourite choices when watching a musical because I think it connects them more closely to the actors. This was a really good show with phenomenal performances all around. My only quibble is that the main actors wore microphones. If Ethel Merman didn’t need a mic, nobody does. But I’m in the minority there because most every musical uses them nowadays.

SASKATCHEWAN NIGHT LIVE by Leanne Griffin and the Hanley Composite School Drama Students, presented by Hanley Composite School – Yet another student original, this sketch comedy show spoofed everything from Glee to the Slap Chop. To be fair, I am not generally a fan of parody, but this group walked a nice line between being politically incorrect and obscene. Sometimes it stepped over the line a bit, which was off putting to the audience around me. The hot topic sketch was the take off on the Slap Chop. I’ve seen this sketch done similarly by Second City, but the two actors pulled off the joke and thankfully cut it short before going too far. All in all, their energy was great and it made a strong impression on the younger members of the audience. I did feel a bit old, though, when a few of their spoofs went right over my head. I guess I’m out of touch with pop culture nowadays.

PROMISES by Guy Michaud, presented by Walter Murray Collegiate – This lovely drama about friendship relies heavily on strong chemistry between the two leading characters. Felix Turcotte and Rowan MacLachlan truly seemed like best friends, which made the message of the promises involved in friendship ring loud and true. During the last few minutes of the play, as the leading character dies from AIDS, I saw tissues coming out of purses and men disguising their tears as a runny nose. I loved the simplicity of this particular production, as well as the subtle touches of fantasy added by Turcotte, who also was the student director. It was very mature production that struck a chord with the entire audience.

So the evening was a hit and look forward to more tomorrow!

SDA Festival: Day 1

This weekend I am attending the 2010 Saskatchewan Drama Association Provincial One Act Play Festival. I can hardly believe it’s been a year since I was here in Regina for the 2009 festival. Last year I attended as the judge of the playwrighting competition, and I work shopped the play Table Talk by Daniel Russell.

This year I have the good fortune of having a play of my own, Laughing Stock, in competition. Gordon F. Kells High School in Carlyle won the Region 1 festival for their fantastic production of the play and advanced to provincials. This is the first time a play of mine has made it to this particular festival so I am thrilled they made it this far and know they will knock it out of the park.

Over the next three days, I will keep you posted on all the plays as they are performed. Like I have said before, I adore the festival format because it gives students a chance to experience the work of others their age and pushes them to grow as thespians and technicians. And at this level of competition, the productions are extremely strong, so they should go home with a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. Win or lose, there is a great deal to gain by watching plays and discussing them at length.

Looking at the list of productions, we all should be in for a fun weekend. There are 12 plays over the course of the festival, starting this evening with Babel Rap, Through Thick and Thin, Saskatchewan Night Live! and Promises. It looks like a terrific bill, especially so since Promises was written by another Saskatchewan playwright, Guy Michaud. I read this play many years ago and it has always stuck in my heart, thanks to its beautiful drama and exceptional characters. I am very excited to see it on its feet, rather than on the page. Tomorrow afternoon begins with Just Another High School Play, followed by Property Rites. Friday evening’s plays are Laughing Stock, All That Twitters is Not Gold and Booby Trap. The festival concludes Saturday afternoon with The Perils of Chief Cimägasiw of Cïciganïhk, Why Do We Laugh? and In a Room Somewhere.

Stay tuned for further commentary!

Competitive Drama

People often ask me why I am an advocate for high school competitive drama and my answer is always the same: Nobody questions competitive sports, so why is the theatre any different? Obviously theatre is far more subjective than the number of touchdowns in football or goals in soccer; however, it's the spirit of competition that thrills me. Drama festivals help frazzled teachers keep their actors and stage crew committed to the play. Of course every production has its star who would gladly attend rehearsal in the middle of an earthquake, but far more often teachers face the dilemma of keeping students who are still on the fence about drama from straying to less creative endeavours.

This past weekend I attended the Saskatchewan Drama Association's Region 1 drama festival in Carlyle, Saskatchewan. I am happy to say the competitive spirit is alive and well! Over the weekend I was treated to 5 productions and all of them had their strengths. This particular festival holds a special place in my heart, because from grade 7 until I graduated, I was involved as a participant. In those 6 years, I was either involved as an actor, director or playwright, and while I was mostly stimulated by the work, I must confess that a part of me always really, really, really wanted to win. Well, this weekend I came across dozens of students (and teachers, too, I might add) with that same drive. TO WIN!

The first play of the weekend was a play of mine, Laughing Stock. I had never seen this particular play in the company of a live audience, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to drive down and see Carlyle High School's production. Carlyle has been a strong supporter of my work, having produced 2 others before this, so I always try to reciprocate that support whenever possible. I have to say that I absolutely adored their production! From top to bottom, they nailed it. As a writer, it's always gratifying when students are patient with my material and allow it to be funny, rather than force it to be funny by assaulting the audience at every turn. And the directors were simply amazing, staging the play with terrific levels and strong technical choices. If you have not read the play, it features well over 40 different characters, disappearing and reappearing in a variety of costumes. One teacher said I should be shot for writing so many costume changes and another said the title should be switched to "Costume Hell." But Carlyle really pulled it off and the production was a visual stunner. Also, the performances from the entire cast were spot on. I particularly enjoyed the comic stylings of Rachel Corrigan and Bjorn Rekken in a wide variety of roles, but everyone was great and had a moment to shine. It was my honour to meet the students afterwards and congratulate them for making the play funnier than I ever imagined in my wildest dreams.

The second play was Rest in Peace by Pat Cook, presented by Oxbow Prairie Heights School. Oxbow is my hometown, so I always cross my fingers they do a nice job. Oddly enough, I played the lead in this play back when I was 16, so it was interesting to me that very few of the lines were familiar. I guess my brain had to do some spring cleaning to let in more data, but I enjoyed the production regardless.

Third on the bill was Genre by Wade Bradford, presented by Lampman High School. Lampman won this festival last year with another Bradford play, Conflict. I think Conflict is one of the best one act plays ever written, so this one had an enormous set of shoes to fill. I really enjoyed this play, although not quite as much its companion piece. However, the play is brand spanking new, so I'm sure by the time it goes into print, it will be just as polished as Bradford's rapidly growing roster of wonderful comedies. I'm always excited to see what he has in store.

Next up was Mmmbeth by Allison Williams, presented by McNaughton High in Moosomin. I had read this play previously, but this is the first time I had ever seen it staged. The costumes and set were beautifully designed, and I really enjoyed the 3 witches who narrated the unfortunate events that transpired. Also of note, my cousin Kendra was an actor in this production. After years of working backstage, it was awesome to see her up on stage with such gusto!

The last play was a second entry from Lampman, The Celebrity by Paul D. Patton. Student director Taylor Fornwald went all out with this 10 minute play, and her creativity burst right off the stage and into the audience. Visually stunning, gloriously paced and energetically staged, this play had me in stitches from start to finish. I actually quite enjoy the 10 minute format. For a student director especially, I believe it offers a challenge to grab the audience's attention immediately and hold it. This one succeeded on both counts.

If you hadn't already noticed, all 5 plays were comedies. Usually 1 or 2 are dramatic pieces, but not as many serious one acts are written these days. One could dust off and old relic, but I find more and more that teachers are clamouring for new plays that speak to modern audiences. And thank heavens for that or I would have no career. I enjoy both genres, but as a comedic writer, it thrills me to see comedy becoming a more valid choice as a competition piece. Back when I was in high school, it was normally the serious plays that took home the most hardware.

Needless to say I was thrilled when Laughing Stock was chosen as Best Overall Production! Runner-Up to Best Overall was awarded to Genre, and over two dozen other awards were spread around to the immense amount of teenage talent involved in all 5 plays. The most endearing moment of the entire festival was when Rachel Corrigan was awarded the Mary Ellen Burgess Award for acting excellence. This is the top acting trophy of the festival, and one that I won for two consecutive years many moons ago. Well, it touched me dearly when Rachel ran up to me, all smiles, and said, "I won the award with YOUR name on it!" It's hard to believe it's been 14 years since I held that very plaque, but it felt somehow full circle to pass the torch on via one of my plays.

So the weekend was a huge success and inspired the first creative domino to fall so far this year. One by one, the wacky ideas from my brain will collide with one another until there are hopefully a stack of new plays ready to take their place in the spotlight. Whether or not they are any good is yet to be determined, but it's the hope of something good that keeps me going. And the desire to win.

Saskatchewan Drama Festival

It's that time of year again, as high schools across Saskatchewan are preparing for their one act play festivals. I remember as a teenager looking forward to these weekends the whole year long. The weeks leading up to the festival, I could barely sleep from all the excitement. So it's funny that 12 years later, I am still looking forward to them, but from the other side of the stage. Instead of memorizing my lines, now I anxiously wait to find out which schools in my home province are producing my plays for the very festivals that inspired me to become a playwright in the first place.

This year I am very happy to be close enough to attend two of these performances. Maple Creek is producing High School for Dummies and Carlyle is set to perform Laughing Stock. Both plays are perfect for competitions and have done well in the past. However well they do, it's exciting to know how many students are spending sleepless nights learning words that I came up with many moons ago. Also of note, Yorkton Regional High School will be performing Imaginary Harry in Canora on March 26th as well. I can't make it to their show, but anyone in the vicinity should make the trip and cheer them on.

On March 8th, I will be in Maple Creek, speaking with the audience and students about the play. If you happen to be nearby, please stop in and say hello. Also, I will be in Carlyle on March 26th to support Gordon F. Kells and their cast. I only wish I could always meet the people involved in my plays. They always inspire me to keep writing, and if I listen closely enough to what the students have to say, the well of creativity never runs dry. Teenagers are ever growing creatures and it's my job to keep up with what matters to them most.