wit's end theatre: program

DIRECTOR’S NOTE When I first read Sandra Shamas’ My Boyfriend’s Back and ere’s Gonna Be Laundry, I was struck with a feeling of “Oh my God! is chick gets it.” I’ve heard criticism of this show being “too female-oriented” or described as “female humour.” So let me address that right off the top, in Sandra’s own words: Fuck. at. When I first read the show I couldn’t put it down, and quickly realized that I knew no one else with that balance of relatability and unique hilarity other than Liz Johnston. I first directed Liz in an abridged version of this show in 2007 but ever since we’ve been dying to put on the full piece. I’ve had such a wonderful experience revisiting this show and exploring it for all it has to offer. It goes without saying that I’ve learned a lot about directing and comedic performance and for that I can’t thank Liz enough. I also have to thank Griffin for his insight and support and Sarah for being an amazing help. Please: sit back, relax, and stretch your sides. producers’ NOTE BY Sandra Shamas DIRECTED BY Chloe Hung PRODUCED BY Liz Johnston & Griffin Mcinnes SANDRA performed by Liz Johnston PERFORMED BY Liz Johnston, Griffin McInnes, Ana Matisse Donefer-Hickie, Padraigh MacDonald and Chloe Sullivan PRODUCED BY Liz Johnston & Griffin McInnes Production Managers KAT SHUBALY / SARAH KESTER Publicity & Program Design ADRIAN LEE Lighting Technician JUSTIS DANTO-CLANCY Clare Waque, Samantha Levy, Lewis Wynne-Jones, Sandra Shamas, Corey Blenkarn, Temma Pinkofsky, Matthew Downey, Maddy Macnab, Iain Soder, Ian Gibb, e University of King’s College, CKDU 88.1 FM, Jubilee Junction, Your Mother’s Bloomers, Julia’s Photocopy, e Aristocrats. MY BOYFRIEND’S BACK AND THERE’S GONNA BE LAUNDRY the project crew We are in no position to tell you what is funny. “Funny” is something that can never be explained or taught. But apparently our lawyers tell us this might constitute false advertising. So if we had to break it down, we’d say we find something funny because it’s out of the ordinary. It surprises us by opposing what’s normal and expected. Apart, an enormous man and a tricycle aren’t funny; but together - hilarious. at’s why we (and Bill Cosby) find children so darn funny. Kids don’t know what’s normal yet, so everything they do – eating, talking, falling– is funny. e shows you’re about to see hopefully capture some of that immaturity. In My Boyfriend’s Back, Sandra Shamas shows us that some of that wide-eyed absurdity lasts into adulthood. In many ways, it’s a play about a grown-up kid– paired, of course, with early 90s pseudo-empowering observational humour. We’ve paired tonight’s performance with an original part-sketch-part-improv show about the ridiculousness that is childhood. We’re always looking to make it better, so let us know what you loved and what you only liked a lot. Most importantly, know that this note is funny because...well, we’re telling you it is. As that great lover of children, particularly his own, once said: “Comedy just pokes at problems, rarely confronts them squarely. Drama is like a plate of meat and potatoes, comedy is rather the dessert, a bit like meringue.” - Woody Allen (… too soon?) a collective special thanks chloe hung liz johnston & griffin mcinnes

Upload: adrian-lee

Post on 08-Mar-2016

217 views

Category:

Documents

1 download

Report

Download

Embed Size (px):

DESCRIPTION

The program for Wit's End's summer 2011 show, designed by Adrian Lee.

TRANSCRIPT

DIRECTOR’SNOTE When I first read Sandra Shamas’ My Boyfriend’s Back and There’s Gonna Be Laundry, I was struck with a feeling of “Oh my God! This chick gets it.” I’ve heard criticism of this show being “too female-oriented” or described as “female humour.” So let me address that right off the top, in Sandra’s own words: Fuck. That. When I first read the show I couldn’t put it down, and quickly realized that I knew no one else with that balance of relatability and unique hilarity other than Liz Johnston. I first directed Liz in an abridged version of this show in 2007 but ever since we’ve been dying to put on the full piece. I’ve had such a wonderful experience revisiting this show and exploring it for all it has to offer. It goes without saying that I’ve learned a lot about directing and comedic performance and for that I can’t thank Liz enough. I also have to thank Griffin for his insight and support and Sarah for being an amazing help. Please: sit back, relax, and stretch your sides.

producers’NOTE

BY Sandra Shamas DIRECTED BY Chloe Hung PRODUCED BY Liz Johnston & Griffin Mcinnes SANDRA performed by Liz Johnston

PERFORMED BY Liz Johnston, Griffin McInnes, Ana Matisse Donefer-Hickie, Padraigh MacDonald and Chloe Sullivan PRODUCED BY Liz Johnston & Griffin McInnes

Production Managers KAT SHUBALY / SARAH KESTER Publicity & Program Design ADRIAN LEE Lighting Technician JUSTIS DANTO-CLANCY

Clare Waque, Samantha Levy, Lewis Wynne-Jones, Sandra Shamas, Corey Blenkarn, Temma Pinkofsky, Matthew Downey, Maddy Macnab, Iain Soder, Ian Gibb, The University of King’s College, CKDU 88.1 FM, Jubilee Junction, Your Mother’s Bloomers, Julia’s Photocopy, The Aristocrats.

MY BOYFRIEND’S BACKAND THERE’S GONNA BE LAUNDRY

the

project

crew

We are in no position to tell you what is funny. “Funny” is something that can never be explained or taught. But apparently our lawyers tell us this might constitute false advertising. So if we had to break it down, we’d say we find something funny because it’s out of the ordinary. It surprises us by opposing what’s normal and expected. Apart, an enormous man and a tricycle aren’t funny; but together - hilarious. That’s why we (and Bill Cosby) find children so darn funny. Kids don’t know what’s normal yet, so everything they do – eating, talking, falling– is funny. The shows you’re about to see hopefully capture some of that immaturity. In My Boyfriend’s Back, Sandra Shamas shows us that some of that wide-eyed absurdity lasts into adulthood. In many ways, it’s a play about a grown-up kid– paired, of course, with early 90s pseudo-empowering observational humour. We’ve paired tonight’s performance with an original part-sketch-part-improv show about the ridiculousness that is childhood. We’re always looking to make it better, so let us know what you loved and what you only liked a lot. Most importantly, know that this note is funny because...well, we’re telling you it is. As that great lover of children, particularly his own, once said: “Comedy just pokes at problems, rarely confronts them squarely. Drama is like a plate of meat and potatoes, comedy is rather the dessert, a bit like meringue.” - Woody Allen (… too soon?)

a collective

special thanks

chloe hung

liz johnston & griffin mcinnes