I dunno Calgary, sometimes I just don’t know. Today’s Vertigo Theatre matinee of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None… was surprisingly well acted on all fronts—four roles in particular, for me. As I’ve previously ranted, I find it unbearably offensive that Calgarians give standing ovations to literally every single live show imaginable—regardless of actual quality. And yet, come time for applause at today’s performance—a remarkably character-driven play with a cast of ten, acted with superb emotion and cadence—the audience claps for one bow, abruptly halts, and rushes for the doors. WTF?! TL;DR: I feel an incredible injustice has been committed, and I wish to convey to the cast and crew—cast especially—of today’s performance my sincere appreciation of their talents. I’m truly sorry the applause, for once, couldn’t have continued on for longer.

I dunno Calgary, sometimes I just don’t know.

Today’s Vertigo Theatre matinee of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None… was surprisingly well acted on all fronts—four roles in particular, for me.

As I’ve previously ranted, I find it unbearably offensive that Calgarians give standing ovations to literally every single live show imaginable—regardless of actual quality. And yet, come time for applause at today’s performance—a remarkably character-driven play with a cast of ten, acted with superb emotion and cadence—the audience claps for one bow, abruptly halts, and rushes for the doors. WTF?!

TL;DR: I feel an incredible injustice has been committed, and I wish to convey to the cast and crew—cast especially—of today’s performance my sincere appreciation of their talents. I’m truly sorry the applause, for once, couldn’t have continued on for longer.

O:
Hey, you know how weird things are said to happen on nights with full moons?
T:
Sure do. The moon's full tonight, isn't it?
O:
Yup. Hey, I just saw Dogtooth (2009). That movie is without a doubt the strangest, most oddball fucked-up can't-look-away-from-the-screen-it's-so-weird feature film you could ever imagine seeing, and it's certainly the weirdest I've seen in my life.
T:
Cool. I heard it got an Oscar nom. I'll go see it at the Plaza next Friday.
O:
You're so cool.

If… Politics

If Nenshi wins:
October 18 will be a big day for Calgary’s youth since it will have bowed to our generation’s fleeting political zeal and got us what we wanted. Later on, though, we’ll be forced to realize how easily we all went along with something that ultimately backfired.

If McIver wins:
Fuck.

Wow. This is simply stunning: Barb Higgins openly admits she’s has no political ambitions, and is just running for mayor because a “group” approached her and suggested she work for them.

Furthermore, in case you haven’t heard, she blew up after this interview and railed on the volunteers off-camera…

To make matters worse, Hawkesworth has withdrawn and given his support to her! Shit

EDIT: Her X929 interview given right after this touches on some important issues too, and it’s just too clear from her lack of concrete examples that she won’t focus on arts & culture (she basically spells it out herself: she’ll change one bylaw, reallocate CADA’s existing finances, then the rest will be left to someone else). Why do people think she is an ArtsVote candidate?

This article from the Calgary Dollars bi-monthly newspaper pretty much mirrors what I’ve been (obnoxiously?) preaching re: the upcoming municipal election candidates—Higgins and Nenshi in particular. Please understand that supporting the arts and culture sectors is not atop either of their priority lists, even if their admittedly eloquent campaigning makes you think it is. Also note that this article must have be published before Kent Hehr dropped out (for lack of funding). And that Paul Hughes is just way too awesome a guy to ever get enough votes in Calgary :(

This article from the Calgary Dollars bi-monthly newspaper pretty much mirrors what I’ve been (obnoxiously?) preaching re: the upcoming municipal election candidates—Higgins and Nenshi in particular. Please understand that supporting the arts and culture sectors is not atop either of their priority lists, even if their admittedly eloquent campaigning makes you think it is.

Also note that this article must have be published before Kent Hehr dropped out (for lack of funding). And that Paul Hughes is just way too awesome a guy to ever get enough votes in Calgary :(

I saw Kooza last night, and while it was pretty good—especially the sick demon drum solo—I really only have one important thing to say, and it’s not directed at Cirque du Soleil, it’s to the people of Calgary: STOP FUCKING GIVING STANDING OVATIONS FOR NO FUCKING REASON!!! Seriously people, a standing ovation is a powerful, deeply emotional thing. Calgarians are genociding it by making sure that no live performance in town ever finishes without every tool in the audience jumping to their feet out of instinct—without any regard whatsoever to the quality of the show they’ve just witnessed. Please stop insulting these talented artists and crew members by negating their chance of experiencing an authentic standing ovation; I guarantee they can tell the difference.

I saw Kooza last night, and while it was pretty good—especially the sick demon drum solo—I really only have one important thing to say, and it’s not directed at Cirque du Soleil, it’s to the people of Calgary:

STOP FUCKING GIVING STANDING OVATIONS FOR NO FUCKING REASON!!!

Seriously people, a standing ovation is a powerful, deeply emotional thing. Calgarians are genociding it by making sure that no live performance in town ever finishes without every tool in the audience jumping to their feet out of instinct—without any regard whatsoever to the quality of the show they’ve just witnessed.

Please stop insulting these talented artists and crew members by negating their chance of experiencing an authentic standing ovation; I guarantee they can tell the difference.