Playwrights & Stage Actors

Posted by Coral Andrews-Leslie

I have a feeling that Jeff is somewhere swaying, swinging and grinning along.

I first Jeff at age 21 backstage after one his great live rock and blues shows.

We talked about a possible interview for the Canadian music industry magazine The Music Scene. Knowing Jeff was a jazz enthusiast I told him I had recently acquired a Fletcher Henderson record at a flea market but couldn’t recall the title. Jeff was immediately curious to know what this title was.

The next day a warm dulcet tone graced my answering machine.

“Hi Coral. Jeff Healey here. I am not feeling so great. I wanted to take the train up and meet you somewhere in town because I like Kitchener, but I don’t think I will be able to make it. Would it be all right to do the interview at my place? Then you can see the rest of my jazz collection. Talk to you soon.”

That chat resulted in my first national cover story called Blues Power: At the Crossroads with Clive.

1988 was a banner year for The Jeff Healey Band. They signed with Clive Davis’ (Whitney Houston, Sly Stone, Janis Joplin) American record label Arista Records landing the deal of deals including complete control over any music released under Healey’s own RCA records deal in Canada.

The world will remember Jeff as one of the music’s finest guitar virtuosos touring the world with The Jeff Healey Band or in later years pursuing his great passion for of 20 and 30s jazz with his band The Jazz Wizards.

But I remember Jeff Healey as a soft spoken musicologist with a rampant wit, wise beyond his years. For a man who had been blind since the age of three, Jeff Healey had tremendous insight into music and life.

Posted by Coral Andrews-Leslie

Last year my theatre company PoorTom Productions presented the work of Murphy's former student Adam Kelly in his one man show The Anorak to small but engaged houses.

I discovered The December Man in 2007 when it premiered at Enbridge PlayRites Festival. Obviously, it’s not an easy play to watch, but anyone who has ever had family conflict will be able to relate. Similar to Harold Pinter’s Betrayal, in its structure, The December Man is written backwards with slice of life humour nuances as three characters unravel through an unspeakable tragedy.

The December Man deals with ripple effects of the Montreal Massacres and may or may not be based on Polytechnique student Sarto Blais, while The Anorak deals with the other side of the tragedy.

The Anorak as playwright Linda Griffiths noted is more “on the nose”, with Adam playing Marc Lépine. Adam who has performed the award winning monodrama in Montreal and Toronto,has since moved to New York planning to do The Anorak there. Murphy's cheering on her "sturdy" student hoping "Big Manhattan doesn't swallow him up"

Tom and I also wish Adam well but I also wish Colleen Murphy continued success with this TO play premiere.

As I hear of yet another high school lockdown, Canadian audiences need to support The December Man. In these dangerous times, we need playwrights like Colleen Murphy, Linda Griffiths, J Karol Korcynski, and Adam Kelly - prophetic voices who help us that chose progressive theatre aisles, to better comprehend the human condition.

Posted by Coral Andrews-Leslie

I thought changing the name from The Stratford Festival of Canada to The Stratford Shakespeare Festival was not the wisest thing to do – but that’s nothing compared to having three artistic directors that didn’t even last through one season.

Marti Maraden, (she will direct The Trojan Women, and All's Well That Ends Well ) and Don Shipley have abandoned their AD Posts..

That leaves The Music Man - Broadway’s Great New Hope Des McAnuff as The Captain.

Well he may have had a hit with Jersey Boys, The Who’s Tommy and the recent Farnsworth Invention and maybe he will do the same with upcoming biker’s Romeo and Juliet Cry Baby, but he's also responsible for 2000 box office disaster The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle.

Was ANYBODY talkin’ to Bob de Niro after that?

For 2008, there's a much more international flair and Stratford is going back to the golden days of Stage Stars – bringing in the likes of box office draws like Christopher Plummer,Brian Dennehy, and Simon Callow BUT …

Meethinks the Festival's still in need of some serious cultural cavalry – so Thank God for Richard Monette who has come riding to the rescue.Say what you will about him, thou critics! I think he was brilliant - just the right mix of commercial and mind blowing theatre because one must happen to support the other.

Welcome to the real world of theatre these days.

Monette created The Studio Theatre where I have seen some of the best work ever produced from Harlem Duet, and Pentecost to Shakespeare’s Will. Kudos to Antoni Cimolino for bringing the Festival’s former King back to oversee Love’s Labour Lost while director Michael Langham recovers from a broken leg.

Zounds, one wonders what more will happen.

Did someone utter the name of the Scottish Play in the theatre?

Posted by Coral Andrews-Leslie

This is it - the Night of Nights! with Faux Pundit Host Jon Stewart.

For my small part, our store Far Out Flicks has 2007 indee titles from The Lookout and Lust, Caution to The Namesake.

Here’s Mee Picks.

Best Supporting Actor

Javier Bardem – No Country for Old Men.

I first saw Bardem in The Sea Inside. Bardem deserves Oscar for his role as the ruthless Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men

Best Supporting Actress

Cate Blanchett - I’m Not There.

Todd Haynes' six dimensions of Bob Dylan is pure genius and Blanchett’s Jude – channels this enigmatic music minstrel.

Best Actress

Marion Cotillard – La Vie En Rose

Move over Courtney, Lisa and Brittany. A legendary forerunner has you beat for tragedy and talent. Cotillard is dazzling as French chanteuse Edith Piaf.

Best Actor

Daniel Day Lewis – There Will Be Blood.

Daniel Day Lewis is winning awards galore for playing oil obsessed / morally conflicted Daniel Plainview this high octane action drama. There will be Oscar.

Best DirectorJoel and Ethan Coen - No Country for Old Men

I’m a Coens fan from 1984 debut Blood Simple to Fargo and Raising Arizona. (Briefly lost Coen Luster after Intolerable Cruelty) Visceral duster No Country for Old Men, gives them there Coen boys a potent comeback. Yippie-yay -yo-kay-yay, motherf***kers!

Best Picture - Atonement

Juno is 2007’s Little Miss Sunshine.So there’s that…But The Academy loves Sweeping Romantic Timeless Epics.

Animated Short – I Met the Walrus

Animated Feature – Ratatouille

FL. Documentary – Sicko!

Foreign Language Film – 12

Adapted Screenplay – Ronald Harwood - Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Original Screenplay – Diablo Cody – Juno

That’s All Folks.

Posted by Coral Andrews-Leslie

I was helping CKMS fight for its life.

On the eighth day of Christmas My Recasting Choice would be

STRIPE - Ebenezer Scrooge – The Meanest Gremlin!

Ruby Deagle – Marley’s Ghost (re: Billy’s Dog Barney) – “He'll get what he deserves, a slow painful death. Maybe I'll put him in my spin-drier on high heat”. … hmmm … I’ll get you and your little dog too!

Grandfather - Ghost of Christmas Past – “You do with mugwai what your society... has done with all of nature's gifts. You do not understand.”

Gizmo - Ghost of Christmas Present – “ Bright Light, Bright Light…“ (Always happy Gizmo croons his joyful Mugwai song!)

Brain Gremlin – Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come – “Now, bear in mind, none of us has been in New York before. There are the Broadway shows - we'll have to find out how to get tickets.”

Bob Kratchit – Billy Peltzer – spends both movies trying to contain Gremlin epidemic and stop Stripe and Brain.

Mrs Kratchit – Kate Beringer – Helps Billy. “Billy, if we get through today alive, you're in big trouble.”

Mrs Dilber – Lynn Peltzer – Gizmo and COMPANY make one helluva mess and she always has to clean it up.

Old Fezziwig – Grandpa Fred

Eight Eating and rapidly multiplying Mugwai, attacking Seven Seething Fang Meisters feeding on six sit com siblings fighting over five bowls of lasagna for four Siamese shadows, scaring three dog-blasted-ornery-no-acount-long-eared-varmaints, Two bottles of Prozac and Tony Soprano joined by Yosemite Sam trying to whack the flea-bitten Tribble drinking lots of Romulan Ale in the Tree.

But during next The Four Days... Cindy Brady spills water on Mugwai who multiply and attack mutating Tribbles while feasting on Garfield’s lasagne. Tony Soprano, out of Prozac, at his wit's end, WHACKS everyone.

The PARTRIDGE calls 911.

Posted by Coral Andrews-Leslie

On the Seventh Day of... Next Christmas! (at this rate!) My Recasting Choice would be.

Nosferatu – Ebenezer Scrooge – “I feed erratically, and often enormously.”

Dracula - Marley’s Ghost – “The Blood is life and it shall be mine. Blood has always been the coin of our realm.”

Marius de Romanus - Ghost of Christmas Past – “We have no more claim upon those we kill than any creature that seeks to live."If I hadn't become a vampire, I would have missed out on the Internet, TIVO, World of Warcraft... and GPS.

The Vampire Lestat de Lioncourt - Ghost of Christmas Present – “Tell me how bad I am. It always makes me feel good.”

Mick St John - Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come - “If I hadn't become a vampire, I would have missed out on the Internet, TIVO, World of Warcraft... and GPS”

Claudia - Tiny Tim - "I shall never grow up.”

Mr. Cratchit – Louis de Point Du Lac – “What if all I have is my suffering, my regret? ”

Mrs. Chatchit – Jesse Reeves – “All a vampire has is time. I’m not as precious as you think.”

Mrs. Dilber - Miriam Blaylock - “When you need to feed, you will need me to show you how.”

Old Fezziwig – Grandpa Munster - “Oh, what I wouldn't give for a nice Bloody Mary. Or Dorothy or Emily.”

Seven Seething Fang Meisters feeding on Six Sit com siblings fighting over Five Bowls of Lasgana for Four Siamese shadows, scaring Three dog-blasted-ornery-no-acount-long-eared-varmaints, Two bottles of Prozac and Tony Soprano joined by Yosemite Sam trying to whack the flea-bitten Tribble drinking lots of Romulan Ale in the Tree.

Posted by Coral Andrews-Leslie

On the Sixth Day of Christmas my Recasting Choice would be..

The Eternal Sister’s Shadow - Jan Brady – Ebenezer Scrooge – Marsha! Marsha! Marsha!”

Marcia Brady – Marley’s Ghost - Hates her nose, is "destroyed” when she gets braces, snitches on Brother Greg smoking, and wants to press charges when her diary is stolen.

Mrs. June Cleaver – Ghost of Christmas Past -TV’s Most Sensible Mom can handle these Brady Brats and say please.

Ghost of Christmas Present – Bobby, Peter, Greg, and Cindy Brady - always telling Jan what to do.

Lois Griffin – Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come - “You all think Christmas just happens. You think all this goodwill just falls from the freakin' sky. Well, it doesn't! It falls out of my holly jolly butt! So you can cook your own damn turkey. Wrap your own damn presents. And hey, while you're at it, you can all ride a one horse open sleigh to hell!”

Mike Brady – Bob Kratchit – He's always working.

Carol Brady – Mrs. Kratchit left alone with three kids to raise… so SIX?

Cousin Oliver – Tiny Tim –Ooh! Oliver said the word sex in the last episode. Shades of Stewie Griffin yet to come?

Mrs. Dilber – Alice Nelson – “If there's anything I can't stand, it's a perfect kid. And SIX of 'em, yecch!

Mr Fezziwig – Sam the Butcher – gave Alice a Bowling Ball in lieu of an engagement ring. “When I saw it, I thought it was right up your alley.”

Six Sit Com Siblings fighting over Five Bowls of Lasagna for Four Siamese shadows, scaring Three dog-blasted-ornery-no-acount-long-eared-varmaints, Two bottles of Prozac and Tony Soprano joined by Yosemite Sam trying to whack the flea-bitten Tribble drinking Romulan Ale in theTree.

Posted by Coral Andrews-Leslie

Meeee - Ow!

My four cats forced me to write this.

On the fifth day of Christmas my Recasting Choice would be….

Garfield - Ebenezer Scrooge – “All right, wise guy, I got another game for ya. It's called the "My Claw In Your Butt" game. Now let me out!”

Heathcliff - Marley’s Ghost – A Bad Tempered Orange 80’s No Nonsense Tabby

Old Deuteronomy - Ghost of Christmas Past – “Old Deuteronomy's lived a long time. He's a cat who has lived many lives in succession…” (just The Cat to teach Garfield some new human tricks)

The Cheshire Cat – Ghost of Christmas Present – (True. He's quite mad but he does have amazing insight into things…) – “You’ve picked up a bit of an attitude. Still curious and willing to learn I hope?”

Mr. Bigglesworth – Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come - “That makes me angry and when Dr. Evil gets angry, Mr. Bigglesworth gets upset, and when Mr.Bigglesworth gets upset, people DIE.”

Top Cat – Bob Kratchit – T.C is always trying to get ahead and will do anything to make a buck.

Penelope – Mrs. Kratchit - Pepe Le Peu’s unfortunate amour. She can never catch a break. – “Le Meu.. Le Sigh…

Nermal - Tiny Tim - (He is very small…)

Mrs. Dilber – Grizzabella – “You see the border of her coat is torn and stained with sand and you see the corner of her eye twist like a crooked pin.”

Old Fuzzywig – Bagpuss - “The Most Important, The Most Beautiful, The Most Magical... saggy old cloth cat in the whole wide world.”

Five Bowls of Lasagna for Four Siamese shadows, scaring Three dog-blasted-ornery-no-acount-long-eared-varmaints, Two bottles of Prozac and Tony Soprano joined by Yosemite Sam trying to whack the flea-bitten Tribble drinking Romulan Ale in theTree.

Posted by Coral Andrews-Leslie

THIS is the fourth day of a Christmas Carol and my Recasting choice would be …

Oogie Boogie – Ebenezer Scrooge – “When Mr. Oogie Boogie says there's trouble close at hand you'd better pay attention now 'cause I'm the Boogie Man”

Lock, Shock and Barrel – Marley’s Ghosts – “We're his little henchmen and we take our job with pride. We do our best to please him and stay on his good side.”

Sandy Claws – Ghost of Christmas past (Cuz Jack’s taken over!) – “Release me now or you must face the dire consequences .The children are expecting me so please come, to your senses.”

Jack Skellington – Ghost of Christmas Present – “You know, I think this Christmas thing is not as tricky as it seems. And why should they have all the fun? It should belong to anyone.”

Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come - The Shadow - " Boys and girls of every age wouldn't you like to see something strange?"

Harlequin Demon – Bob Cratchit – “Won't they be impressed, I am a genius. See how I transform the old rat into a most delightful hat.”

Sally – Mrs. Cratchit – (She has to do all the housework for Dr. Finklestein and make Jack’s Sandy Claws outfit!) “I sense there's something in the wind that feels like tragedy's at hand.”

Corpse Kid – Tiny Tim - “Making Christmas, making Christmas, It’s almost here.”

Corpse Mother - Mrs. Dilber – “Something’s up with Jack.”

Old Fezziwig – The Mayor – “What a splendid idea. This Christmas sounds fun. Why, I fully endorse it. Let's try it at once.”

Four Siamese Shadows, scaring Three dog-blasted-ornery-no-acount-long-eared-varmaints, Two bottles of Prozac and Tony Soprano joined by Yosemite Sam trying to whack the flea-bitten Tribble drinking Romulan Ale in theTree.

Posted by Coral Andrews-Leslie

On with the show.

This is It!

On the Third Day of A Christmas Carol My Recasting Choice would be..

Yosemite Sam – Ebenezer Scrooge - “Why it’s getting so a man c’aint earn a dishonest livin’ no more”

Elmer Fudd – Marley’s Ghost - “Ooh you tweachewous twickster. Hewo. Acme pest contwol, I’ve got a pest I want contwolled.”

Duffy Duck – as Ghost of Christmas Past – “Desthpicable! Wooo … Hah.. hah … hah hah.. ha ha ha… I’ll see what the little stinker is up to on my super video detecto set.”

Bug Bunny – Ghost of Christmas Present - “Nyah…Pardon me Mac”

Marvin the Martian – Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come in his Uranium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator – “Oh that wasn’t a bit nice. You make me very angry, verrrry angry indeed.”

Sylvester the Cat - Bob Cratchit - ”Aaaahhhh shaddup”

Miss Prissy – Mrs. Cratchit - “Yeeahus”

Tweety - Tiny Tim - “I tot I taw a puddy tat “ (***Author’s note…you did you did. Thufferin Thuccotash! Sylvester Cat is Bob Cratchit !***)

Granny - Mrs. Dilber - "I was hep to ya all the time. You ought to be ashamed of yourself!”

Porky Pig - Old Fezziwig -“Ah beah beah beah ..

Three dog-blasted-ornery-no-acount-long-eared-varmaints, Two bottles of Prozac and Tony Soprano joined by Yosemite Sam trying to whack the flea-bitten Tribble drinking Romulan Ale in theTree.

....That's all Folks!!