Theatrical masks of Tragedy and Comedy. Mosaic, Roman artwork, 2nd century CE. Palazzo Nuovo, first hall, Hall of the Doves. From the Baths of Decius on the Aventine Hill, Rome. By antmoose and Wetman via Wikimedia Commons
On Saturday, members of the Creativity Group to which I belong, met at Granville Island in Vancouver to attend the annual International Fringe Festival. A fringe festival features unjuried theatrical productions. Anyone can add their name to the lot, pony up, be given a techie, a venue, and do their stuff. They also get all the receipts. I love the idea…the rawness, the fringe! Of course, it’s a roll of the dice, but word gets around and we saw productions that had been talked up.
We first took part in flashmob event, a non-violent reenactment of the War of 1812, complete with sabre rattling and glorious death scenes. Of course you don’t see that part in this slideshow because I had to wield my balloon saber instead of camera. I was red-faced and huffing afterward, though, and practiced some good fencing moves…. The event was fun and mediated by podcast, so it was hilarious because people were tuned in yet still acting in concert… It made sense for a fringe festival. Earlier we had had lattes and treats at the Blue Parrot Cafe, which has lovely views of False Creek and downtown.
Then, we strolled to our next venue to see a one-act monologue, “First Day Back,” that was heartfelt and thought-provoking. After that, some of us parted, but three of us carried on, heading to Commercial Drive, to the Havana, where we saw a breathtaking one-act called “Bookworm,” with Corin Raymond.
One of the members of our entourage, Gladys, is a veteran actor who resides at the Performing Arts Lodge Vancouver (PAL Vancouver). I spent the night there with her and her daughter, my dear friend, Sandy, also in theatre. Retirees from the performing arts field live at PAL Vancouver, a lovely low-rise on Coal Harbour in Vancouver. To me, aside from the friendliness of the residents, the best part is the exquisite garden and theatre space on the rooftop. So, the slideshow takes you from Granville Island to Commercial Drive, its lovely neighborhood, then, through the heart of the city to Coal Harbour and PALS, and along the harbour, ending with a view of Stanley Park, just across the water. I adored my outing, am back home, and have been caught up with thinking about the fringe festival …and about that lovely port I drank after dinner last night. Tomorrow, she says, about the logo…tomorrow!
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