See you next year

Its over and back in the pen until next year. Thanks to Scott Hebert Daly for an engaging and personal account of the magic of the Fringe. And to all the sponsors, community partners and volunteers that make the Piggyback Fringe possible.

Keep in touch - Theatre Wakefield plans a fall mainstage production, a documentary film festival with Rooney Productions, further history animation adventures in the Hidden Hills, and continued pursuit of a vibrant cultural economy in the Outaouais.

Night's End

And so ends Piggyback Fringe 2009.

We have met some new friends, seen some new things, and experimented with new ideas. We had local, national, and international talent come to our village and create experiences we can talk about for hours. For three days Wakefield was abuzz with theatre goers zipping between the venues and trying to stay dry. This year we had more offerings in more days and we experimented with different ideas just to see if they'd work.

This blog was one of those experiments. The immediacy was something intriguing for me as a writer. I learned a few new tricks...including being able to thumb type quickly. I hope that you enjoyed following along with my ramblings as much as I did writing them.

Eric and I opted for an earlier night tonight. We left Kaffe 1870 and Robert Rooney trying to figure out when we can bring back Archy and Mehitabel (the play with the most buzz this year), passed by the United Church and Chaotica packing up for the journey home, and drove out of the village talking about some of the actors we met in the past few days. The kettle will come to boil soon and we will sit in our living room and talk about the village we call home. We will talk about the last few days and how we got to spend quality time with our friends and neighbours.

Most of all, we will finish up this festival on this damp night with a sense of awe and gratitude that such an event can happen in this village of ours. And, not for the first time, count our blessings to live in such an odd and creative place.

May the same hold true for all of you.

Good bye.

Fifty-one weeks to Piggyfest 2010.

Dissed.

Geez Louise.

I just got summarily dismissed by th Speech Therapy guy. Could it have been because I was a Guidance Counsellor, because he was tired, or because he thought I was with the loud people who were sitting front of me?

Eric thinks I'm too sensitive and I exaggerate. I've told him millions of times that a piece of me dies when he says that.

Hooray For Speech Therapy.

Kurt Fitzpatrick offered us an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of a young person working his way through a number of different approaches and theories to cure his stuttering. In the end there is a moment of reflection that acknowledges what has been accomplished but also that resolution can also mean living with who you are and appreciating the inherent value in that.

It was an active, perhaps too rambunctious at times, crowd that appreciated taking the journay towards epiphany.

Grandpa Sol and Grandma Rosie.

Reminding of us of the dignity found growing old and the grace of finding love even after losing so many times, this play is charming and eloquent in showing us how one woman deals with her fear of growing old.

Her use of puppetry, of which I am not usually a fan, adds to the magic.

And if that wasn't enough, we are given the gift of recordings of the Yiddish accent which will soon fade into history.

Speech Therapy is about to begin, Eric has bought me a latte (Bless the little guy!), and Jill Rick is hanging over my shoulder while wearing a pink tutu (is she supposed to be security?) So it is time to take in the final show.

Already.

My One Regret.

If I have one regret this year it's that I chose not to see Archy and Mehitabel.

It was impossible to see all twelve shows, and a choice had to be made so I made it.

I was told by many that I should have dropped another show. Robert Rooney thought my choice was dead wrong. I stood by my choices...and still do...but I was sad.

Save Point ended earlier than expected so, as Eric sat in Rutherford to order our dinner, I snuck in and caught the very last bit.

The audience, as one, sat entranced by the subtle dance and poetic voice on the stage. I was immediately caught up in the spell and witnessed a charming ending to a story that I was desperate to know more about.

I returned to Rutherford, and Eric, grateful for a stolen moment. After I am done this entry I will tell Eric what I saw as we wait for our dinner.

Save Point

Self described as the fringiest of the fringe, this family holds great charm and no pretensions.

Simon Farrelton, one of the many young people in the audience thought that the costumes were the best part of the show!

Congrats go to mom for finding something meaningful to do with her sons...and kudos to the sons for letting her do something meaningful with them.

Eric has found me. I'm hungry. He should buy me something quick to eat.

Towards the end.

So... I just dropped off our esteemed houseguest, Laura Anne Harris of Pitch Blonde, at the train station and sped home to make it for Save Point. Laura is a sweet and lovely young woman who is very bright, very talented, and very capable of having a brilliant career.

The rain seems to have held off and the spirits are still high...

Gotta go! The lights are off!

Tippi Seagram Update.

Colette Kendall of Tippi Seagram's Happy Hour was called away suddenly yesterday due to a family emergency. As a result, her two shows with us have been cancelled.

Any tickets purchased for tonight's show will be honoured at any other venue. The oganisers of Piggyback have not yet determined whether or not another show will replace Happy Hour.

The Piggyback Fringe crews are grateful that Ms. Kendall is safe and send her all our best wishes during this difficult time.

More monday night

So, after some drinks at Piggy Central I drove Laura home and we are sitting enjoying some tea and wondering wondering just how big Piggyback can be. Apparently the actress from last year's Joe The Perfect Man said we were awesome so word is getting around.

Tomorrow is our last day. I plan on seeing as many plays as possible, but my schedule is now askew due to tonight's cancellation. No matter. With new acts and good friends the evening promises to be fun.

In the meantime it's one more cup and some pie and it's off to bed.

Lies and Flops.

I have been so busy running around and hanging out with all of you that this is my first chance to blog.

Little White Lies is an honest and heartfelt examination of how our relationships with our parents must evolve as we grow into adulthood. Sitting there with my latte was a true pleasure as we all experienced adolesence and what happens when we with our heroes.

Leastest Flops was so intense that Eric said his eardrums caught fire. The wit and wordplay was awe inspiring and often overwhelming. The energy was constant and Jem was an honestly sincere and approachable performer. A nice way to end the night's performances.

Little White Lies.

Next up is theatre at Molos. Eric is getting my latte and I am catching up with blog after some technical issues. It appears God does share the sentiment "blessed are the bloggers" when it comes to Blackberries in the sanctuary.

Craptacular...and that's a good thing!

The Accident is full of vigour, frenzy and heart as we watch the relationship between two brothers evolve and eventually come to a negotiated conclusion.

Through an exaggerated artistic project we see a reconciliation of the past between these two men as they deal honestly with their shared past and family situation. Audience members left touched, some with a tear in their eye.

Waiting for an accident to happen

It is astounding how many people take in the festival even though it is a monday night!

This audience is anxiously waiting for Jono to start his show.

Award winning smile

Jono Katz welcomes audience members to his award winning show - best solo performer at the Ottawa Fringe - at the United Church.

A New Day.

Well...our actor has been fed and burped and Eric has been picked up from work, the weather looks like it'll be decent enough, and my callused thumbs from all those posts yesterday are beginning to heal. Time to head back to the village and check out the action.

New faces to post and more talent to see. Can't wait!

End of Day One.

So, we are settling for the night here at the HD household. We are absolutely exhausted but spending some quality time with our guest Laura Anne Harris of Pitch Blonde
We have witnessed Dante's genius, played the game of life, remembered days gone by and found meaning in the life of a forgotten Hollywood star.

What an incredible day.

Don't forget to post your own reviews at Kaffe 1870 and on this blog. Tell me what you think about what's happening at Piggyfest.

Most importantly, though, check out the amazing shows that have come to our fair village.

Eric's telling me that if I don't turn off the light and get to sleep I'll be sleeping outside so I have to sign off.

See you all tomorrow!

Judy! Judy! Judy!

Pitch Blonde is not only charming and informative, it's very entertaining as well.

Giving us an intimate portrait of an overlooked talent, Harris invites us into the audiences of yesteryear to meet icons like Bob Hope, Groucho Marx, and Tallulah Bankhead. But more than that we are reminded of what happens when fear takes over and our rights are threatened in the name of national security. Something Judy's generation shares with our own.

Nostalgic Journey

Before it was discontinued about 20 years ago, I managed to take the TransCanada three times. I won't even try to pretend that it was just like 1969, but I remember that it was gathering place for Canadians to share music, stories, and our great country with each other and any tourist who happened to drop by.

TransCanada 69 harkens back to this great experience and gives us a musical journey from Montreal to Vancouver with fellow passengers Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Leona Boyd and others.

This is a very intimate and beautiful moment shared between the artist and the audience.

Chaoticarrific!

Remember the board game Life? Well, this show is like that on speed. Energetic, frenetic, challenging, funny and cause for self reflection, this one woman show will captivate and enthrall.

Yes, there is audience participation and, yes, the gods of irony smiled upon our village and found me at the altar at St. Andrew's United. I'm not sure Eric was impressed, though.

Note to self: suggest to Rev. Gisele Gilfillan that Sunday numbers may increase if we added flashing lights, disco music and a tap dance floor to the services.

Waiting for TransCanada 69 at The Black Sheep. Should make for a nice change of pace.

OMG!

As they line up animals two by two as the heavens open up, I have just enough battery power to tell you that Dante was amazing (except for the drunk guy in the back) and I am going home to reread Inferno!

It was all there: love, obsession, and sexy Italian talk!

Gotta go! Eric took the only umbrella.

Dante at The Black Sheep.

The rain started to fall on our way to the venue, but that did not dampen the excitement of the theatregoers.

The Black Sheep, with the covered windows and candles on the tables created an intimate and comfortable space.

Dante did an impressive excerpt at the opening and I am looking forward to seeing how the witty banter and onstage chemistry work through the show.

After MCing with Eric at the opening I am parched. Eric better buy me a drink.

Dockin the Tail

Mayor Bussiere, in great activity and blurry from the excitement, docking the pig's tail to open Piggyback Fringe Festival 2009!

Hello piggies

The games begin.

Free from Perth

Nancy van Dongen and Jeff Culbert of Archy and Mehitabel enjoy a well earned pint after their bus ordeal.

Dante

Kristan Brown, Forrest Seamons, and Caitlin Goldie enjoy the ambience at Kaffe 1870 just before the big show.

Save Point

Sherry Macleod and Grant Macleod of Save Point. This husband and wife team throw back a few at Kaffe 1870. He's the crew, she's the cast. Too bad, mixed marriages are sometimes difficult.

Although their sons 14 year old Harlan and 19 year old Rembrandt lend their talents as well and bring in some stability!

Rumour Alert!

Rumour has it that Jill's son Edan has called Social Services to report his mother's abuse. Apparently she took his skateboard helmet and painted it pink for the Piggy Parade!

Geez Louise! Where is Oprah Pigfry when you need her?

Down off their Stilts

Geoff Cross and Emma Zabloski from The Girl Who Was Eaten By The Dark come down off their stilts and hang out at Molos with Laura Anne Harris of Pitch Blonde.

The village is snortin' at the snout in expectation as we gear up for the Fest!

Fire Dance

Melanie is doing a fire dance worthy of Hawaii 5-0!
The festivities are heating up! (Sorry!)

Easy as a Pig

Jill Rick would make her life sooo much easier if she'd only just come out of her shell!

Pigs in the Peace Park

Pigs are flying!!
Geoff Aucoin and Stephen Satenstein are bringing the pink to the street!

Jeff Culbert has arrived!

Despite trials, tribulations, and being stranded in Perth, Jeff has made it to Wakefield and is prepping for Archy and Mehitable!

Chaotica Relaxed

Chaotica has arrived and is chilling at Molos!

Pitching the Blonde

The talent is here! Laura Anne Harris of Pitch Blonde is ready to take on Wakefield.

Going Live At Five!

I have been given access to the web. Now things get interesting!

At 5pm I will share our great Piggyfest with you and everyone who wants to join us!

Leave your comments, share your piggy experiences, join me online!

Oink!

Blogger in Residence gets new Blackberry

Piggyfest's Blogger in Residence Scott Hebert Daly got himself a new BlackBerry XYZ123.

And he is gonna make the most of it starting tomorrow night.

Check out his BlackBerry induced self potrait ...

Piggy Fest broadcasts live starting at 1800 Sunday

It is happening.

Scott Hebert Daly will be blogging live from the Piggyfest starting 1800 tomorrow.

Stay tuned.