Sprezzatura #20 - The Persistent Threat And Gift Of Overmorrow
It’s about to be June in Montreal. The weather gets sunny and humid. SO humid. Too humid. I don’t like it.
But early June is also time for the Montreal Fringe Festival. Canada has a great Fringe scene. Some artists tour across the country doing one Fringe after another, and they come back year after year. It can be a big part of a developing Canadian artist’s journey.
Montreal isn’t the biggest festival. But it is one of the earliest on the calendar for artists to work out the kinks in their touring show. It’s also the party-est (because it’s Montreal, c’mon).
I did my first Fringe show in 2004. My troupe, Without Annette, created an improvised murder mystery called Murder, You Wrote where the audience secretly voted at the end of the first act for who was the murderer.
In 2005, we did Improv, Lies, and Videotape (improvised documentary). In 2006, we did Radio Daze (improvised radio play). In 2008, we did Argument With a Dolphin (surrealist improvised narrative). In 2011, I returned with my dear friend (and celebrated Canadian author) Sean Michaels as our duo in Venezuela and Friends, an absurdist-gibberish-clown-improv show. Oh man, I’d do that show again in a heartbeat.
I cut my teeth on those shows figuring out how to produce, promote, and perform a bigger show, learning new lessons each time. I’m back again this year with a new show (this time as director). I’ll talk more about it below in the EVENTS & THINGS.
A Variety of Things
[ART INSTALLATION] Pax Americana by Dara Vandor
“Pax Americana is a speculative public art series that re-imagines Toronto as a site of future conflict and occupation. Through a collection of aluminum signs posted around the city, a fictional narrative emerges in which the United States annexes Canada, echoing President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to absorb Canada as the 51st state after taking office in 2025.”
[BOOK] The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
I recently devoured this book (figuratively). It’s a detective novel set in a fantasy world. The mysteries are satisfying, the world is rich and fun, and the characters are endearing. Perfect beach/cottage read. It’s clearly book one of a series but I’m perfectly content to let it stand on its own as well.
[VIDEO] Look Mum No Computer visits a Synth Museum
Brit musician Sam Battle loves synths. A synth museum in Switzerland lets Sam visit and play with everything. Everyone should love something as much as Sam loves synths. One of my favourite videos on the internet.
IMPROV TIP
When speaking to the audience (getting suggestions or hosting, etc.) look ‘em in the eye as much as possible. Move from person to person. Make a brief but real connection.
If you have a tough time with that (eye contact isn’t easy for various types of neurospicy), fake it by staring at the tops of each person’s head. Everyone will think you’re talking to the person behind/in front of them.
EVENTS & THINGS
== J’aime l’amour is coming to the Montreal Fringe from June 5 to June 15. We’ve been working on this show as a group for over a year. I’ve been talking about it here for months. It takes a long time to develop the kind of camaraderie and trust this cast has grown. We’re really proud of this show and I hope we can get people to experience this kind of improv.
Improv is so tied to comedy that it’s hard to get the general public to imagine that it can do other things. This show is a reaction to the idea that improv=comedy. Or that love has to be either sickly-sweet or cynically tragic. Or the idea that sincerity is a weakness, or (ugh) cringe.
J’aime l’amour is our attempt to create a show that is honest, human, and vulnerable, en français. I know many of you aren’t in Montreal or speak French, and that this kind of work exists and is embraced in many places, but I still want to share with you all the idea that there’s always space in the world for a show like ours.
You (or someone you know) can find the schedule and buy tickets here.
== I’m also starting a Magic: The Gathering podcast, but more on that, Camp Zipzap registrations, and other news next month.
Q&A
Haven’t had any improv questions in a bit so please send in more by replying to this email!
An Interesting Wikipedia page: Ugly Gerry
And that’s another issue in the bag. Please tell your friends and send in more questions for next time.
L8r sk8rs,
Vinny