Time for a bit of an update from the boards, I suppose…what the Hell, I DO actually pay to maintain this here blog, might as well take it out for a spin every now and again. I have been keeping busy elsewhere, and for once not just taking in theatre. Though I have been fortunate enough to catch kick-ass productions like TAKE ME BACK TO JEFFERSON and THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW in the last little while, and they impressed. Hope y’all made it out while you had the chance!

But speaking of chances, you still have two to catch my main distraction for the last few months, THE HAIRY APE by Eugene O’Neill at the Carleton Tavern. It’s been a wild ride putting up this challenging classic of American Theatre in such a unique and vibrant space as the Carleton, with such a varied and skilled ensemble that local heroes Chamber Theatre Hintonburg have assembled for the task. I’m learning by orders of magnitude with every performance, the kind of things that had not yet been covered in my meagre theatrical training. How do you handle it when you or one of your colleagues misses a line? What do you do if one of your key props is simply not there? What is the etiquette for sharing your green room space with a Darts League? What happens when the hockey crowd on the opposite side of the bar cheers so loud it drowns out our soundscape? How do you handle playing for a small audience…or conversely, the largest one you’ve ever played to?

It’s been an amazing ride and I can’t believe we only have two shows left (or DO we..?). Our last couple of shows were closing in on sellouts, and we have every intention of finishing strong. The Ape is still hungry for more, so come on out and see what is genuinely one of the most unique pieces of theatre you’re going to catch in Ottawa this year. Donnie Laflamme continues to raise the bar with his powerhouse performance as Yank, practically daring the rest of us to keep up with him. How our director, Lisa Zanyk, managed to keep him and the rest of us on course for all these months is a mystery to me. Thanks to her, my castmates, our glorious crew, the Saikeley family and the Carleton staff, and of course our beloved audience. I am eternally thankful to every familiar face I see coming out to support me in this, as well as the wonderful new faces who have decided to take a chance on live theatre in unique spaces. You’re all the goods. We’ll be back at the Carleton Friday at 6:30 (double-billed that night with the amazing Rocket Rached and the Fat City 8!) and Saturday at 5 (closing night, so PARTY!), so get yer tickets now! We’re gonna pack that joint and rock your collective socks. More to come, and I’ll see you at the Theatre! Peace, love and soul,

Kevin Reid (and Winston)