By Megan Mooney

by Megan Mooney

I often find that when people find out that I’m a theatre chick they assume I must also be a film fanatic.  So, when the Toronto International Film Festival rolls around people are often asking me what I think of movies, or what movies I’m going to and on and on.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a flick as much as the next person, but I’m more in line with your average Sam on the movie front.  Recently I’ve seen Dark Knight and The Mummy 3.  Not what you’d call highly intellectual fodder or cinematic genius.  But fun, undeniably fun.

So, now my question…

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By Megan Mooney

by Megan Mooney

When I was in university RENT was hot shit.  I mean, some people loved it, some people hated it, but it was actually talked about.

Then it was mostly forgotten (at least by me) until 2004 when it was parodied in Team America: World Police with the musical number “Everybody has AIDS”.  Then, perhaps riding the wave of new recognition through Team America (although, really likely not) it was made into a movie, in 2005, which seems all the rage this decade (Chicago, Hairspray, Mamma Mia pop to mind.  Evita was a bit ahead of the curve, doing the mega-musical as a movie thing in 1996).

During this whole time, RENT continued to run on Broadway, in fact, it’s been running on Broadway for more than 12 years.  So, you know, it’s pretty popular.  But now, the play, cum movie is a play again, but in a movie theatre.

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By Megan Mooney

by Megan Mooney

Okay, so, J. Kelly called me out.  He’s noted that I haven’t gone on the record with what I think of the whole CanStage thing.  So, this post is LONG overdue (I’ve been on vacation, yay summer!) I’m gonna do general thoughts first, then I’m going to answer the specific questions J. Kelly asks in his first CanStage post in this series of posts.

Before I say anything though, let me tell you that with all my heart, I hope CanStage succeeds.  I’m not sure what the definition of success is in a general sense, but for the short-term I’m going with ‘not collapsing under their own weight, and still being able to put on shows’, because, I’ll be honest, I am really afraid the writing is on the wall for CanStage (or Canadian Stage Company, whichever they’re calling themselves these days) but I’m praying to random deities that it is not the case.  Watching a theatre die is always heartbreaking.

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By Megan Mooney

By Megan Mooney

The Pastor Phelps Project, which is part of the Summerworks festival, will apparently be picketed by the Westboro Baptist Church of ‘godhatesfags’ fame.  (and yes, the not linking to them is on purpose).

The Pastor Phelps Project is a musical described as:

Warning! Bible preaching ahead! Pastor Fred Phelps and the good people of the Westboro Baptist Church are here to explain why God hates fags and America is doomed. It’s homophobia versus burlesque in a musical cabaret showdown. Stare into the abyss of fundamentalism; sexy political satire with razor wire barbs.

So, the show that’s mocking Westboro Baptist, is being protested by Westboro Baptist…

I mean, I guess it makes sense that they’d be upset, and they do seem like the protesting type.  But I really hate that these people are going to be in Toronto.

I wonder how the company putting on the show (Ecce Homo) feel about all this.  I mean, it’s a show that’s bound to be provocative.  And, honestly, I’m betting that this is going to get them more audience, and certainly get them more noticed.  So, ‘any publicity is good publicity’?

For those who are interested in just what the Westboro Baptist Church has to say on the subject, the flyer that is posted on their website reads as follows:

WBC will picket The Pastor Phelps Project – at 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Thursday, August 7 – at the Cameron House, 408 Queen St. W., Toronto, Canada.

In religious protest and warning: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked” Gal. 6:7.

God Hates Fags! & Fag-Enablers. Ergo, God hates The Pastor Phelps Project, and all those having anything to do with it.

The Pastor Phelps Project is a tacky bit of filthy sodomite propaganda, with no literary merit and zero redeeming social value, masquerading as legitimate theater. It is of the fags, by the fags, and for the fags – designed only to mock
the word of God and the servants of God. “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision.” Psa.2:4.

God Hates Canada, Land of the Sodomites.

Well.  I guess we’ve been told.

BTW: The show runs Aug 7-17 Thurs, Fri, Sat nights at 8pm and Sunday afternoons at 3pm – at the Cameron House (408 Queen Street West) for more information visit www.summerworks.ca.  You can check them out on Facebook here.

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By Megan Mooney

By Megan Mooney

So, it’s no secret that I wish theatre could reach a wider audience.  In fact, that’s some of what prompted me to start this blog.  Of course, it has no doubt become just another place where people already involved in theatre come, I’m not that delusional…  In fact, if I were being honest with myself, I’d have to note that really, this whole post assumes people know about the Toronto Theatre scene.  But we can just ignore that for now…

I know people who are not involved in theatre who feel like they can’t go to shows other than mega shows.  They aren’t comfortable going to a place like Theatre Passe Muraille, or Factory Theatre, or Buddies and so on and so on.  They can make their way to a Mirvish production, but at $70 a ticket, it’s a once a year at most endeavour.  Stratford and Shaw, sure they’ll go there, but usually that’s not even once a year, given that for most people it’s a day trip.  Well, unless you live in Stratford or Niagara-on-the-Lake I guess.

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By Megan Mooney

by Megan Mooney

Okay, so this isn’t going to be about how to cast, or rehearse for a space you don’t know, or anything like that.

This is from the perspective of an audience member who went to many many shows. 

Read on to hear me ramble about show length, show descriptions, and promotion.

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By Megan Mooney

by Megan Mooney

Okay, so, I’ve already mentioned that I’m excited about the Fringe.  But, as I sit down to do my Fringe planning I find myself tempted to pull all the hair out of my head strand by strand.  The problem?  The Fringe website.

In a little over a week, a huge theatre festival will take place in 30 venues across Toronto.  An interesting side note, something I just noticed while counting out venues, there is no venue 13.  Theatre people a superstitious bunch?  No no, not us!  Right, sorry, back on track.  30 venues across the city, showing 150 shows.  Without a doubt the biggest theatre festival in Toronto, and this year is the 20th anniversary.

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By Megan Mooney

by Megan Mooney

When you think of theatre, what do you think of? I’m betting for the most part people think of a proscenium arch, actors on a stage behind that arch acting out a story for the audience.

One of the best lessons I have ever learned about theatre I learned in my first year of university. I was in an ‘Introduction to Theatre’ being taught by Ric Knowles. Ric taught us that theatre was everywhere. We went to a baseball game, to a religious ceremony, we went to dance performances and the opera, and we even when to a few shows that could be considered almost ‘traditional’ theatre.

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By Megan Mooney

So. Why another theatre site?

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