 (This is from Darren O'Donnell in Toronto, in response to Jerry's review of his play [boxhead] at the Magnetic North Theatre Festival in Vancouver, June 4-8.)
 come on, Jerry. Lighten up and have some fun. I'm not there, but I hear we've been getting standing Os!! : )
You don't see any value in silliness? i'm also trying to talk about the limits of scientific rationalism and the ridiculousness of our phallocentric world. but I throw in all the silliness to filter out folks who take themselves too seriously.
haha, just kidding.
keep on rockin!
Dear Jerry,
Thank you so much for mentioning The Melville Boys at the Metro Theatre [in the Theatre Picks for the Weekend in Thursday’s Province].
I discovered the enjoyment of live theatre about a year ago, always wanted to go but never did until a friend asked me to go with her. We've gone once a month ever since. My favorite movies have always been comedy and all the plays I've seen at the Metro have left me in stitches.
Looking forward to next month’s Plaza Suite.
Thanks again,
Maxine Kennedy
Hello Jerry,
I am writing to you today because I believe that you are deceiving the public when you give great reviews to such horribly constructed plays. The West Side Story, done by the Royal City Musical Theatre, was horrible, but what’s even worse is that you recommended it. Me and my wife, had to refrain from laughing out loud at some of the horribly choreographed "dance moves/fights" or whatever they were; and that’s just the beginning. The lyrics to their songs were ridiculous. I actually felt embarrassed to be sitting there watching this catastrophe unfold before my eyes. Don't get me wrong, West Side Story is a classic, has a great storyline, and is great play depending on who directs it. It's just unfortunate that you wrote such a great review to such a disaster. I really think you should start giving honest reviews instead of duping us, and ruining our evenings with such Tom Foolery.
Thank you,
Bal Sohal
Hello Jerry and Vancouverplays,
We just finished the first Queerly Canadian Theatre Series and a debate started between the other director and myself in regards to a prop use in our shows. In Jack Paterson's production of Hosanna he had his actors smoke cigarettes on stage. In my production of Poor Super Man I had the actors mime smoking (they never touched flame to cigarette). As an ex-smoker I knew it could possibly drive smokers like Jack crazy and it apparently did. I brought him out of the show.
I picked up the mime smoking thing when I was at Studio 58 and often when I have seen shows really smoke I am either distracted by the people in the audience who have to cough their disapproval or by the intrusive smell of herbal cigarettes. We don't actually ask actors to shoot heroin or snort coke in plays that require it but are we better off making actors smoke on stage.
Also, according to SHAPE, the new BC law indicates that there can be no smoking in any public space at all (except for ceremonial use by Aboriginal people). So can not patrons now sue theaters if they have their actors light up on stage?
So what is proper stage conduct if the script requires smoking - suck 'em back or just say no? Thoughts?
David C. Jones
Dear Jerry,
Thanks for your dead-on review of How It Works at Touchstone Theatre! Why is it that some critics expect Daniel MacIvor to write the same style of play over and over again? (God knows, Shakespeare stuck to a cookie-cutter formula lol!) Come on! The guy can do whatever he wants. I thought it was interesting that he had a crack at kitchen sink drama, and made it funny and poetic and sexy. Haven't the same critics been complaining about sameness of style by a certain Vancouver duo? Make up your minds! And, by the way, the cast is uniformly excellent, the soundtrack is killer, and it's the best thing I've seen Katrina direct in all the years I've known her. Last night the theatre was almost full and they got a standing ovation! I'm starting to worry about provincialism in the critical community.
Donald Adams
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