Three days in the wilderness

Toronto... was stressful. I didn't think my hometown could do that to me. Suddenly, it seemed like the show wasn't reaching very many people. Reviewers were snarky - crowds were small - reactions were mixed... and whereas in Ottawa a lot of people had constructive things to say about the show (or much-needed kudos), in Toronto, there were a lot of evasions and blank stares and "Well...we'll talk about it"s. It didn't feel like the same show. How could we be sure of something in one city and then suddenly lose our OWN confidence in it in the next?

The good in this is that I looked at the show from a new perspective, and two things happened: I made changes to the script, and Aura and I began to reconfigure how we looked at the story and the characters. By the time Toronto Fringe was done, Old Growth had changed - and was going in a better direction. And then we were going West, and I'm sorry to say it but I was glad to get out of there. Deep breaths, come back in September. That's me talking to myself. We're going to be okay.

And anyway, two things happened toward the end of Toronto fest: 1) we started having great comments float in, from friends who saw the show even on days we were really down about it - and 2) we realised how utterly, totally bad that theatre (the Glen Morris) was for us. Apparently the acoustics swallowed nuance and made our show into a boomy tirade. When Alison came down to Toronto for the final shows, she was insistent that the hall itself was the reason behind some of our problems.

Anyway. Now, after three days of driving, we're in Winnipeg. Actually, we got here on Tuesday evening, and according to tradition we checked in at Fringe central and schmoozed with performers before even going to our THREE billets. Yes, we're billeting separately. And yes, Alison Williams is here, as director and as technician, wrangling the wild flocks of theatre lights at lucky Venue Thirteen (Ragpickers). Alison's staying with the family she was with last year - an elderly matron, a gaggle of pets, and random family members in and out. Aura's staying with my amazing billets from last year, way out Portage Ave. And I'm staying with a fellow Fringe performer down in Corydon - little Italy! I haven't hit the gelato yet, but oh, I will.

Anyway. I guess I feel great about this place. I always do. Winnipeg is the oasis after the wilderness. Or something. I think you have to drive here from Toronto to understand it. It takes THREE DAYS, all but one and a half hours of which are in Ontario. We stayed with my old geography teacher near Iron Bridge, and with a composer colleague (of mine AND Aura's) in Thunder Bay. And then, we're here. We've had three shows. Last night was the best one of the tour (we're still waiting on the pronouncements of whatever reviewers were there). It...sang. And today - today was a matinee. And now, I'm going to go see Steve Larkin the performance poet play in a band. And then?

Lator.