It has been a very rich summer for theatre in Kingston with literally hundreds of presentations happening in the downtown core. 
The Storefront Festival converted empty spaces into unique venues that offered a wide range of productions over about 10 days. My favourite was Cul de Sac, a Daniel MacIvor play. In this one woman show, Anne Marie Bergman, under the direction of Will Britton, presented an engaging story told by several memorable characters. And they were characters indeed.
Blue Canoe, with their usual enthusiasm and energy, presented Chicago at the Baby Grand. This show kept my toe tapping and face in a steady grin throughout. On a balmy Wednesday night in Market Square behind City Hall, I enjoyed an evening of Shakespeare – Driftwood Theatre’s Taming of the Shrew. Outdoor theatre-in-the-round always seems to be the perfect venue for Shakespeare.
For a few weeks, I worked with a group of Kingston theatre friends on a Single Thread production of Ambrose – Re-imagined. I loved this unique theatre experience last year when it was presented for the first time so I was delighted when creator Liam Karry asked me to join the cast for this newly re-imagined version. Liam likes to surprise audiences and have them experience theatre in non-traditional settings. In this show, audience members made a journey through many hidden areas of the Grand Theatre to meet up with characters who have had some connection to the mysterious Ambrose Small. Ambrose was an Ontario Theatre magnate who disappeared on December 2, 1919 the day after receiving a million dollars for the sale of the many theatres in Ontario that he owned, including Kingston’s Grand. His spirit is known to haunt the theatre with many people over the years, actors and employees, having had a ghostly experience in the Grand. The mystery of his disappearance was never solved.
No two audience members at Ambrose had the same experience, ever. Their exploration of the Ambrose Small history was their own. Liam told me that he likes the idea that the audience participants are invited to play with us with this material. People who expected to sit and snooze and be entertained may have been a bit overwhelmed but most of our audience members were wildly enthusiastic. When they let go and engaged in the process it was delightful and unique – and a lot of fun. Fun, too for the actors who never knew exactly what was coming next.
In mid August I also took in a Single Thread production of Salt Water Moon that was “staged” on the steps of the University Club, outdoors on a sultry summer evening. This is a great little play and was wonderfully presented. The setting was absolutely perfect for this piece.
Kingston has a vibrant theatre community all year around. It takes no summer break. In fact, this summer it ramped up to provide audiences a wonderful selection of productions in a variety of settings. Thanks to everyone who entertained us so well.
Firstly, this had the potential to be a huge security risk. Over 25,000 people jammed into a market square and flowing into the neighbouring streets and the Prime Minister glad-handing people in the street would not only be a terrorist’s dream in some places but the potential for a few drunk yahoo’s to disrupt it was almost unavoidable. But it didn’t happen. The crowd was orderly and … Canadian. Yes there was the occasional, or not so occasional, waft of marijuana. But that only led to more singing and dancing and air-guitaring. There was security around but not that evident. No guns on display. People checking bags at the entry points to the venue were wearing t-shirts, not uniforms. Everyone was polite. The energy was all celebratory.
Secondly, our Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, an acknowledged Hip fan was there to celebrate with us. He walked through the mob in Market Square just before the concert and shook hands and took selfies and smiled in his jean jacket and Tragic
Last, but not least, was the courage and determination and resolution that Gord Downie showed in not wallowing in his sorrow and illness but living life to the fullest despite a dismal prognosis. I was tired from standing the three hours for the concert in the square., How exhausted must he have been after dancing and singing his way through the concert, the last of several this month, despite his recent surgery, radiation and chemo treatments for his cancer. This, to me, was really something incredible and an example to all of us not to give in to our troubles, but to live every moment fiercely. We are all dying at some point.
My friend, Pierre, was in town and it was a wonderful spring afternoon. We sat on a patio with a pitcher of beer and then decided to take a walk along the lakeshore. Soon I realized that the beer was making its way to my bladder and a stop would be necessary. Unfortunately, the washrooms by the park were closed.
I zipped up and went out into the hall to find Pierre standing there. “I used the Men’s washroom,” he said, pointing to the sign on the wall beside the door I had just emerged from.
The woman on the right is 33-year-old married trans writer Janet Mock. Should she have to use a men’s washroom?
but it suited my character, an obnoxious, intolerant, racist, Trumpish fellow who said so many really nasty things about others that it sometimes made the audience squirm with uneasiness. When one of the other jurors threatened to “split my skull” after I made a bigoted tirade, the audience laughed with relief. They really didn’t like me.
We had a great run with this production. It was a tight cast with fourteen fellows that all got along and brought different characters to the jury room. Our director, Claudia Wade, was a loving and guiding “Mom” to us all and drew out performances that seemed to impress the Domino Theatre audiences.
johnageddes 