Fringed and Confused

The week has been flying by.  The days off work have worked well for Fringe volunteer shifts (not so much for housework and other chores), but not for shows.

Front of House volunteering is much like previous years - a lot of activity for about 45 minutes followed by a break almost as long (rinse and repeat once or twice).  It's tempting to try to fit a show into that break, but not really that feasible.  Instead, I've mostly walked the site and people watched.

Street performers try their best to get the attention to draw a crowd.  One promising to swallow a flaming sword while riding a bicycle... but only if the crowd is big enough.  The zombie bride stares down audience members, while her zombie groom unpacks a big trunk of props...

The Copper Cowboy, Paul photographed last year, is also the "Space Cowboy" on alternating days. The petticoated woman seems to hover next to a large stack of suitcases.  (I catch her setting up one time and ruin the illusion for myself.)

Artists do their spiel to get you to consider their show.  A volunteer tells me how she thought the animal rights protest against "Me & My Monkey" was for real, before realising it was the artist trying to get you to buy a ticket to the show (to protest or not)...

My favourite had to be the handsome man in tighty-whities handing out samples of chocolate cake.  Photos (for Steph) below.

The show involved?  "Red Wine, French Toast, and the Best Sex You've Ever Had" - a contemporary dance number I'm told.  Oh, those beautiful dancers.  























Despite parade of amusements and actual volunteering, I do feel a bit down and alone on site.  I'm really happy to see a familiar faces.

On duty, checking the line at the Walterdale, I spot my high school biology teacher!  She seems to remember me :)

I caught Peter from dance  at VHQ (Volunteer Head Quarters).   I'm pretty sure he doesn't remember my name, but he remembers the dancing and has promised me one at the volunteer party.  With him at my table, I feel a bit more included and laugh along when he hands another volunteer a Canadian penny: "I give these to the Americans as a souvenir and tell them, "Here's my two cents - rounding up from 1.6.  It has a copper maple leaf and the queen's backside."

(Above: A piano fortifies the barrier and encourages people to stop and play. / Below: Marg and Peter - Paul's old neighbours - are team leaders of a different volunteer team.)

I'm ecstatic when I see Rem at VHQ!  He directs me outside and I see there are more good surprises abound: Malcolm and French Anne were in town!

(Right: This guy makes the most amazingly intricate balloon animals - look for his unicorns on site.)

Between slapping at mosquitoes, I catch a small update: They are doing well.  They're now in Strasbourg instead of Marseille.  There are fewer mosquitoes there.  And they're leaving the next day.

 (Above: A magpie appraises the garden / Left: Bicycle couple / Below: Little girl dances to the music of the fiddle septet buskers).

 (Left: Patrons are not allowed to bring food into theatres - this one gets rid of cotton candy impressively fast.)

I also take the opportunity of being on Whyte Ave to check out the stores.  Many pretty things I can't afford, but are certainly nice to touch.  At Murn's Clothing and Curios, I find Murn is a most accomplished cat (see below).

Tomorrow Paul and I will go together to some shows... we'll see what adventures we'll get into.

Zen and Freud's Last Session

Our Thursdate started with dinner at Zen... on our realtor's dime.  Yep, when asked about our favourite restaurant (Um... do we have one?), we figured sushi was pretty special and chose one on that.  Some time later, (thank-you) gift certificates showed up in the mail! 

Paul's never been to Zen.  But even though I had, I noticed different details such as tell-tale signs that this was once a Brewster!  Though, I guess the etched name and beer mug logo on the table could just mean Zen bought their tables...

Anyway, we briefly mulled over the menu, acknowledged we didn't have a lot of time to choose, and picked the Love Boat (which had a selection of items chosen for us). 

A wooden boat arrived not long after -- in real ship shape!  It was delightfully covered in sushi.  A lot of sushi. 

Some of the items were standard familiars, but others were a bit strange. 

Clustered near the middle were maki rolls that looked deep fried.  The menu revealled these were "Golden Philadelphia" rolls.  They were something just so utterly wrong in my mind to the whole sushi esthetic (Beef?  DEEP FRIED?!  CHEESE?!).  It was too weird for me.  Good thing Paul liked them. 



With our time constraint, we ate all that food a little too fast for my liking.  But it was still so good.  Certainly more than adequate motivation to send more friends our realtor's way.  

We speed-walked to Holy Trinity Church (Fringe rules still applied to holdover shows) and made it! We even managed to find seats together (if a bit far away from the stage). 





Freud's Last Session, was listed in the Fringe program as Comedy and Drama.  I think that was alphabetical.  My call for the fictional meeting between Dr. Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis the night before the outbreak of WWII: drama with a little bit of comedy.  Though... it could have been because so much of it was above my head.  I definitely need a history lesson and to read more. This post before hand would have helped too.  But even so, it was good.  Paul laughed really loudly at one point. (Wonder if I can find the quote...) 

Afterwards on the bus, my head was buzzing that feeling I was too awake and on the edge of something big... but was too tired to flesh it out once turning our attention to things like getting home.  The magic / high of good theatre?  Maybe.

The stylish set for Freud's Last Session at Edmonton Fringe 2013 highlighted the dream like quality of theatre.

On the Fringe

Last day of Fringe, last volunteer shift.  Returned to my previous years' team Front of House (FOH), which after all the Friend Raising attention, felt a bit quiet, low energy. and dry.  Spent the big gaps between scheduled duties hanging out in Volunteer Headquarters (briefly with Peter in his kilt) or walking around the site. 

It was a lot of waiting.

For one of the runs, I was paired up with a teen-aged boy, Kieran, who was really excited about Scouts.  He volunteers at Fringe because it's a school requirement.  He plainly said he didn't want to be there, and that made me feel conflicted.  Was I volunteering too out of some kind of requirement?  How much was I enjoying it?

The waiting was such a low point... but high points?  Seeing Mrs. Fairbanks in line waiting for a show: she recognised me!  All the way from elementary school!

But then, it was back to waiting. 

There are other volunteer perks: Fringe bucks I could use to buy show tickets (the holdovers mostly - not much during the festival), the Fringe Volunteer Party, and feeling like I'm part of something cool.  Is that enough? 








 After the shift, I changed into my Strauss Ball BWD and put on a mask: I was going to the Fringe Volunteer Party as a Friend-Raiser (theme: Venetian Masquerade).

I stood alone in line, chin up, as tall as possible, thinking how, unknown in costume, I could be someone grander.  Then someone walked by, "Hi Lana."  Um... hi.  I shrunk back down thinking how silly it was to be pretending...

I continued to quietly wait to get into the party and overheard a complaint from other volunteers: The Fringe is turning into a beer garden with live theatre rather than being a theatre event with a beer garden.  

Then the (core) Friend-Raisers arrived.  And they scooped me up.  For a moment it didn't matter they didn't know my name: the costume was my ticket in, and they seemed excited I was there! But it didn't last. 

After our grand group entrance, we sat down at a table, and they turned back to each other.  I watched them talk and laugh, with nothing to contribute.  Clothes can only get you so far.  It was probably time for me to go.  I find (UADC) Peter near the dance floor and have one dance (a jive) and I go to change. 

It crossed my mind to just ride the bus in my ballgown.  But on my own, I lost my nerve: it would only attract more and more attention as I moved away from the festival site.  I didn't have the confidence to carry it. 

Friend Raising

Me:  "So... do you have a companion?"  
Carley:  "No, but I have all shift to find one."

The Doctor (Carley) was unflapped by my awkward (almost) pick up line.  My first shift as a Fringe Friend-Raiser and I didn't know anyone.  Perhaps if I'd dressed up, people would talk to me?  The theme of the day: "The Doctor."  Don a chunky sweater a la Dr. John Watson (summer heat be dammed!) or some designer modern frock as Dr. Joan Watson...? 

Anyway, standing at the gate, asking people to donate to the Fringe,  and handing out stickers didn't actually allow for much talking.  Though it certainly fit the bill as my personal challenge to be more "outgoing" and "out there" (just not sure if I'd be able to meet it).  




For the most part, we were ignored.  Likely, even the costumed seems everyday when placed alongside the Fringe.  We tried to catch people's attention, to convince them -- but most people either had money already in hand pointing to the collection boxes or just walked by. 

It was hot in the sun.  But then the sun went down and the temperature dropped to 16 C.  We were then dancing just to stay warm. The Doctor moon walked. 
Ami and Val!  They came for a math related show.  Ami, ever the gentleman, visited before leaving to offer me his coat.  
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Me: "Thanks for donating, here's a sticker."
Guy: "I think I'll put it on my pointy nipple."
Me: Yes, good idea.


Next day, next shift, I was prepared.  Theme of the day: Orient Express.  Me in my sparkly red wedding dress did attract some attention.  Kisses blown from street performers.  Hugs from Erika (whose head was printed from a 3D printer).  A request to pose in a picture that was part of a wedding proposal. 

But it was mostly just like the night before: not a lot of eye contact, lots of people walking by, like... 

- Mark Meer and Belinda Cornish. I bowed.  They didn't seem at all phased -- guess that happens to them a lot.  
- Prior students from dance class.  One was kind enough to ask if I was in a show - if only! 
- Sherry S and Claudia.  They were here to check out the site.  The Bechdel test came to mind - our short conversation failed.  

Carley wasn't on shift, but Avery was.  She, as the way-too-cool-girl, was hilarious. So laid back people seemed to be chasing her down to donate money (and give their number?).

During the slow times, I danced to keep myself amused (and warm). It turned out another volunteer had been watching; he donated some money for me :) 

So many ups and downs, but ultimately good for the soul?  There was a that sweet spot moment of being so off the radar that it made no sense to be self-conscious - just be what you want to be.  And then, a reminder to not take things too seriously: People might be watching, but they're most likely not.  And even if they are, maybe they'll like what they see. 

Bashir Lazhar, Griffin & Sabine

I sniffle while watching Bashir Lazhar.  Partially from another summer cold, mostly because this Fringe holdback play is sad.  Recent immigrant, Bashir Lazhar, is hired on as a substitute teacher for an elementary school.  Through dreamscapes and flashbacks super-imposed on his current experiences, one learns he has lost his wife and children to war.  I watch puzzled, trying to piece together the story and figure out what the second actor, a dancing, flitting figure exactly is (A halluciantion? A memory of his dead children?).  Still not quite sure still at the end, but Paul and I both agreed it was overall, really well done. 

On the way back to Paul's, luck would have it, we come by another yard sale!  Paul gained some dishes and I some sparkly bits. 

Back at the house, Paul showed me the troublesome couch now comfortabley inhabiting the otherwise empty garage. 

We started reading Griffin and Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence by Nick Bantock.  The beautiful book is made of postcards and removable letters written and illustrated by the characters Griffin and Sabine.  A mystery from the very start as to why Sabine can see in her mind Griffin creating his art.  Paul played Griffin well, but did have to comment, "[Griffin] has anger management problems."  I kind of had to agree.

A Non-Work Week

A whole week off from work!  Time for Fringe, some niggly stuff, and getting ready for the wedding. 

Stage a Fringe Revolution

More of the same volunteer wise for the Festival.  I felt a little silly wearing the revolution logo (definitely not one I can give Dad to wear), but as required, wore the shirt for all my shifts.  Was paired up, at one point, with a new to Edmonton theatre design student.  John was passionate about the shows and had a whole pocket full of tickets for plays.  I really think he would have slept on site if he could.  Was unexpectedly paired up with Micah for a shift as Mobile Front of House and saw what it really was like to be on the inside - she knows everyone! 

Erik changes Movie Night to Fringe Night.  We watch Grimmer than Grim - a bloody, and cartoony version of lesser known Grimm fairytales.  The theme song is still in my head, but I didn't think it was really my kind of play.  Will have to have to look up some of the tales in my book of collected Grimm.  Later, loitered at "the Sev" with Chris, his friend, Paul, and Catherine after picking up a slurpee.  There was a hole in the wall (that I refused to stick my hand into) and we sang the Inspector Gadget theme.  Chris has a motorbike! 

Didn't watch a play with Catherine or Andrea as originally planned.  Instead, caught the Be Arthurs Reunion Tour with Drew.  He had no idea what I was dragging him to, but I briefed: Edmonton's "official" ukelele cover band reunites after their huge breakup!  Catherine saw it the other day and gave it good reviews.  And of course, it's the Be Arthurs!  What I didn't expect it to be organised in two parts: A documentary (a large screen played interviews of fans, past tour clips, and a gave a history of the band - Jill Pollock made an appearance as creepy-stalkerish fan) and a concert.  The band arrived in the second half in a cloud of smoke and play something awesome, followed by a Snoop Dog cover (slowed down to ballad), plus, to tempo with dance, of Beyonce's Single Ladies.  Hilarious!  Would have been a wonderful night, except afterwards I realised my cell phone had at some point fallen out of my pocket.  Dang. 

"For a young girl you're really falling apart."


Definitely not something one wants to hear from their doctor.  Yes, annual check up time... um... about 2 months late.  Better late than never.  I really hope he was joking. 
My Love's an Arbutus

"What modern stuff your friends did!  The piece had semi-tones... and quarter tones... and interesting time changes..." ~ Meaghan, with a possible response to our performance

I'm told the tenors got a good part.  I don't notice this much... I'm busy trying to get the melody (my part) in my head.  And to sing out. And not fall into Meaghan, who is super strong.  And to SING-OUT.  It hurts, and it's hard, but it sure feels good to be singing again (and very glad not to be doing the alto part).  More rehearsal this afternoon!

Fruit Flower Fringe

"Would you please make it look like a bunch of flowers?" The lady at Sobey's Urban Fresh stared for a second; Beth stood by ready to explain. It was Rem & Steph's 4th anniversary (the fruit & flowers anniversary) and I was determined to bring something special. The venus flytraps didn't look in season (and may send the wrong message), so pineapple it was!



Once there, we all enjoyed the recreation of their "make your own sundae" wedding cake. Talk turned to anniversary gifts, the seeming bias towards women... and the unbias of leather. The answer: Yes. Year 3 (Traditional), or Year 9 (Modern). Or really, any/every year.
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My Fringe volunteer shifts started this weekend. Most volunteers were dressed for the Hawaiian theme and the weather cooperated nicely (plus 30s, phew!). In my mind, everything had to work around my must sees "Maggie Now! Part 3: Claude" and "Maggie Now! Part 4: I'll Bury Youse All", even the running around involved with my Front of House duties. Anything else was a bonus.



Bonus 1: Off-shift and finding food, see Erik in line for a show. Waited with him for a while and was convinced to join. The one-man show "Sev" is about love, loyalty, an over-active imagination, pursuance of dreams, and working at Seven Eleven. It was a little difficult to follow during the quiet parts where he played both protaganist and love interest, but he was amazing at timing. Impressive were all the slow-motion takes: experiencing the moment of an old lady counting out exact change, and dramatic fight scenes and explosions. Wow those explosions. And the B Scene Studios location had air conditioning.




Bonus 2: Also in the "True Fringe Spirit" of choosing a show last minute, I managed to get a ticket to Wooster Sauce. This one-man show featured the amazing actor from (last year's) Underneath the Lintel playing out two of Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster stories. Fiancee Lady Florence Craye, she with the "won-der-ful profile" (I would foolishly attempt to imitate with official Fringe Portrait Photographer Frank Grisdale's photography skills and airbrushing), also made an appearance. I enjoyed myself thoroughly even though the second floor of the Strathcona library was very crowded and hot.


Bonus 3, 4 and 5: On duty I see Krystal and Julie lined up for a show. We chat and I find out there is another Minou! After Maggie 3, I spy Chris & Shannon next to the gazebo stage. The three of us enjoy "My Heart Will Go On" Be Arthurs style.



And Maggie Now! Parts 3 and 4? Lovely and touching as expected. I laughed, I cried, I got really frustrated with Claude. It was good. Now that I've seen them all, I'm allowed to read the book.

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Returned home Sunday night and immediately noticed the tree looked strange (did Mom and Dad actually decide to prune in this heat?). While staring up at its flat top, I see a falling star in the sky. And then there was another! I made a racket so that Mom and Dad would come out and look too. But when they make it outside there were no more. I still made a wish.

Live and Let Fringe

Lana learned:

1. Don't play Scrabble with Welsh people (Rainer Hersch’s Victor Borge)
2. Embelishments are snacks that ruin the dinner of facts (Marty Chan's God's Eye)

3. A one-star rating does not mean your show will die. Instead, word of mouth can shock your FOH volunteer with sold-out shows, and massive line-ups in the rain (Waiting for Grimm)

4. Even if it's your first shift, people will think you're the team captain if you can stay calm and wear a radio set well.

5. Whether German, European or American - Haagen-Dazs is delicious! (Volunteer Head Quarters)

6. Maggie Now has Parts 3 and 4!

7. Mark Meer and Belinda Cornish smoke! (And it is possible to resist Lanarazzi urges)

8. She has a big head. (right)

On Pets and other Animals

"I'm not Asian!" ~ Darren's revelation at Dream Tea House

Pets and Babies: They both take up a lot of time and energy, cause lots of trouble. But in the end they're just so darn cute and lovable, that you end up... loving them. The lines blur so that people with their cats and/or dogs, are calling themselves "Mummy" or "Daddy". They take their pets on vacation, to psychiatrists, and many a time I'm fully convinced that they believe these animals are in fact children... And the wires in my brain cross, and I get a flash of light: People are having babies because they can't have pets! *pause, blink, blink* Hm... o.k. not all the brain cells were firing properly for that one.

Blame it on not getting enough sleep! Another eventful weekend starting with Friday Feast. Rem prepared homemade pizza with steamed Chinese dumplings. I recharged on the food and company. Chris has bought a car, and tries to get us to guess how much it's worth. None of us were that car savy, so he put it in terms we could understand: If this was chocolate, how much would it be worth? That kind of helped with estimations... and kind of didn't. :) Which lead to: ChocolateCarConversion.com... a website which doesn't exist (but someone should build it) However, when you type it into Google, it gets you an article about using chocolate as fuel... cool.

Couldn't stay too long I had to head to Ac... dang... Azucar (means "Sugar) for Yvonne's going away party / Hope Mission fundraiser. Rhianne, Brendan, Jackie, Clarence, and Nick went with me, but it was so loud and crowded that we didn't really had a chance to talk. There was a brief lesson where Nick laughed that I looked like a duck... and danced like a penguin. *crinkled nose* Hey at least I was trying!

Saturday went to the Fringe with Rem and Steph to catch Maggie Now. As predicted, this was a quality play, and it had me laughing and in tears. It was good crying. So now only have to wait a year to catch Part 2 of the story. Hung out by myself for a while, before heading over to Chianti's for Chrisitiana's going away party. An whole year in Ottawa for an internship (a.k.a. Slave Labour) - dance won't be the same without her pep-talks.

Sabine's birthday party was on a perfect Sunday. The sun was shining and it wasn't too hot - just the right weather for Nuclear War, and to be running around downtown Edmonton for a game of Scotland's Yard. Adapting the boardgame (it was a boardgame first... right?) into a live game worked since everyone had a cell phone. So, Detective Space Cadet (that would be me) was teamed with Detective Batman (Dexter - fit with Batman theme ringtone). We were in search of Agent Aqua (Rhonda) and Zoo (Vince), with Black Adder (Andrew) in charge of strategy. We all wore bright yellow "Caution" tape, and garnered plenty of strange looks. Not exactly comforting near the GreyHound station. Eventually all the Secret Agents were caught, and some of us called it a day.

Lidia has been working through lunch... so I should probably get back to work too. *Yawn* Now if only the sun will shine...

Going Swish

Finally the movers have come to help rearrange my office - but of course I forgot they were coming, and there were files, and dishes, and papers, and pens, and paperclips, and... everywhere. *blush* They were pretty good natured, helping me first to pile all the stuff on the floor, and letting me hem and haw over where things should go. What I should have done was have Tip Tip come in an consult on interior design, and fung shui ;) But at least now things are comfortable and my back is not facing the door (ha-ha, people can't sneak up on me now!). Next was a massive erradication of a dust bunny colony! Yes! So inspiring was my lugging around the vacuum cleaner and other cleaning implements, that others started vacuuming their offices too... and that's when we blew a fuse.

Lidia is back! Michael has a new baby boy! Susan's birthday meant an office lunch at New Aisan Village (they had whole wheat naan bread), and cake. And Pablo did a presentation / demonstration on how to drink Yerba Mate (which I thought would be good after my coffee ramblings... until I found out this has caffiene - though debatable - too). And so overall it's been a busy (and not very productive) work week.

Outside of work, lots of going-ons. I went to the Highlands Sidewalk sale with Catherine. Having only driven by the area, I didn't realise there were so many gems. At Swish I found out that paint-by-number is a collectors' item (who'd have thought?). Among the vintage furniture and houseware were clothing from another era. Catherine and I challenged each other mockingly by throwing down gauntlet style driving gloves. We squeezed past racks of old dresses and kimonos - I tried lifting a black velet cocktail dress that weighed at least 5 pounds - definitely a workout dress. Later on we visited Collectiv. The owner indulged me letting me take photos, even though he recognised they could have been used for industrial espionage :P We played with a posable Yoga Babar, and jumped when the plastic tube with a button on the side popped out a blade - it was a vegetable peeler. I hugged an Ugly Doll (which was actually kind of cute), and stared at all the pop art. Being inside the store just made me feel light hearted and happy... Now if they can bottle that up!

Also in the week: Caught up with the TC girls and got to see Charlotte's new house (super cool floor laminate that looks like tile). Visited the Fringe with Catherine and Jaclyn and saw "The Neo-Nancies: Hilter's Kick Team" by Guys in Disguise (if you enjoyed the Producers...) And yesterday Math United had our last game. Hm... no wonder I'm tired :)

It's Too Darn Hot!

"Like, die already..."

~ Jaclyn's take on Hamlet, Shakespeare in the Park

I passed! I passed! Almost 6 months here at the University, and I just had my performance appraisal. And Michael said "I don't foresee anything happening in the next 2 weeks." YES! That should carry me right through vacation, into the "no longer on probation" zone. I can head out to Melfort and Margaret & Morgan's wedding with one less worry.

A whole week since last posting. It has been too hot and very busy. Wednesday, caught Hamlet at the Heritage Amphitheatre in Hawrelak Park with Catherine, Jaclyn, Regina, Jazzy, Diana, Matt, and Malcolm. I was one of those annoying people who mouthed the words (silently) in certain sections... those couplets are just so catchy. A completely different experience to watch it with Jaclyn, who had never read nor seen versions of the play.

Then hid from the heat on Thursday at the Art Bar. Despite reading the placard on the bar tables, and consuming a serving of alcohol (with lots of complimentary munchies) I still don't understand what it was all about. Some neat decor though (loved the stenciling)... and it was a nice place to just sit and chat. Malcolm and Matt had me fantasize a little with the question: What do you see yourself zipping across the city on. They were thinking bicycle. I was thinking Vespa(!). Anne later showed up with her cool aunt Alison - who is librarian. This gave me hope. And then Matt revealed the receipe on how to make biodiesel (simply cool)

Evidently, all my outdoor training from Crimson Lake has left me: See bug on passenger side car mat in Lidia's car - let out a great scream. *laugh* The both of us were shivering, and laughing, and screaming, and generally not doing anything productive. It was great! Good thing we were stopped in the parking lot. The bug in question was dead, and the size of my thumb (which made it impressive), and finally Lidia used her sunglasses case to flick it out of the car. *still shivering at the thought* Perfect for a melting hot day.

The "at home" moments this weekend reminded me of: "For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring." (Romeo & Juliet III.i.6) My parents started having "heated words" over chopsticks. *mental eyerolling* I just stared into the bottom of my bowl, and concentrated on chewing.

Also managed a first visit EBC with Anne. In fanciful moments I still revert to my first impression: bicycle graveyard. Or a battle scene with a strawberry (Shortcake?) bicycle triumphant atop a heap of parts. Must take camera next time.

And tomorrow - I will start my vacation! Yay! Hm... sleeping in...