Grinder's Grumblings

Yesterday I told you about the Innocents, our Hallowe'en show at the Fergus Grand Theatre. For those of you who may not be interested in the frightening prospects of a ghost story, we have another show about some people who aren't dead just quite yet. It's A Bench in the Sun, a play about three seniors living in a retirement home. There's Burt, the curmudgeonly accountant with no regard to fashion who's got a score to settle... with Harold, the dandy-ish "man-about-town" who can barely stand but still comes out of his room every morning looking to impress. In between them comes Adrienne, the former actress, very famous and instantly irresistible to both of the men. Thus a battle for her affection ensues, and alongside it the fate of their lives at the home is played out, when it is revealed that their home is about to be sold to a developer and the residents shipped off somewhere else. A Bench in the Sun is a charming, funny play that will keep audienc...

Just in time for Hallowe'en, we've got an old-fashioned ghost story for you, about a lovely young governess, Miss Giddens, who comes to a country estate in the late 1800's to see to the instruction of two precocious children. With their parents dead, their guardian uncle off in the city and quite uninterested, the children have both come under the influence of two despicable members of the household - one the former governess, the other the former butler. Both of the children have been touched by this evil they do not understand, and it makes them act out in mysterious, terrifying ways. Though both the governess and the butler are dead long before the play begins, their spirits continue to haunt the house, and possess the children. It is up to Miss Giddens to free them of this terror (for no one else will dare), and save their immortal souls. Based on The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James this play features many a good fright, and a plot that will keep you guessing until...

I know I've already posted this - but I still need some actors - get in touch with me if you are interested! In my ongoing quest for profitability, I've decided to write a play about poverty. I have inserted it into our fall season, as the December show at the Elora Centre for the Arts, rather than the royalties project we had originally penciled in there. The show is called Poverty Anonymous, and its set up just like any other "anonymous" meeting, except the people you will meet there are all guilty of the crime of poverty. Led by their wealthy, tenacious, ex-poor-person moderator June, this motley crew of losers, low-lifes, and ne'er do wells tries to put their pasts behind them, and assert once and for all the PA motto: “There is no greater force on Heaven or on Earth than the Almighty Dollar.” Join them, as they recite the Poverty Anonymous pledge before every meeting: I am broke, and that’s not ‘oke, Being a bum is very dumb, I am a jerk until I go to work,...

Yesterday I referenced Rebecca Coleman's postings on The Next Stage Blog. Today I thought I would give you the link to the first posting in the series, so you could check it out for yourself (just click on the title of this posting). It's some interesting reading, and if you're as concerned as I am about putting butts in seats (and that's paying butts, not freebies, corporate give-aways or any other cop-outs) then I think you will find it invaluable.

I've been thinking about how things are different in theatre now. It plays directly into my "Naked Theatre" concept (no, I haven't forgotten it, I'm just letting it stew around for a while until I arrive at a more succinct definition), and I'm thinking today that nowhere is the new reality more evident than in marketing. I've been reading with great interest Rebecca Coleman's blog over at The Next Stage about marketing theatre. It's some good stuff, but it's a little scary too - I'm already actually doing most of that stuff, and it's still no guarantee that the people are going to come out. Her main point, though, that you have to have something about you that makes you unique, is, I think the touchstone of the entire argument. You can argue about the semantics of your Facebook prescence all you want (I have) but it ultimately is no more than just good sense to do all the things you should do - and that's all. It's not th...

I'm pleased to announce that the Fergus Grand Theatre is in the midst of a transformation to the 21st century. After years of quiet diplomacy, the powers that be have seen fit to allow the theatre its own internet connection. (Leafs fans, you can start planning the Stanley Cup parade now - Hell HAS frozen over!) This, in turn, has paved the way for the introduction of a new, more comprehensive box office and theatre management system, one that will provide users groups like Grinder Productions with a whole host of new resources. First and foremost, the new system will allow users the freedom to pay by any method they choose - we can now process debit cards and credit cards. It also means that we can now take a payment over the phone when someone calls in to make a reservation - no more unpaid no-shows. This system is fully web-based, so patrons can browse shows and purchase tickets online from the Fergus Grand Theatre website (or through the Grinder site - we'll be linking...

In my ongoing quest for profitability, I've decided to write a play about poverty. I have inserted it into our fall season, as the December show at the Elora Centre for the Arts, rather than the royalties project we had originally penciled in there. The show is called Poverty Anonymous, and it's set up just like any other "anonymous" meeting, except the people you will meet there are all guilty of the crime of poverty. Led by their wealthy, tenacious, ex-poor-person moderator, June, this motley crew of losers, low-lifes, and ne'er do wells tries to put their pasts behind them, and assert once and for all the PA motto: “There is no greater force on Heaven or on Earth than the Almighty Dollar.” Join them, as they recite the Poverty Anonymous pledge before every meeting: The PA pledge: I am broke, and that’s not ‘oke, Being a bum is very dumb, I am a jerk until I go to work, But cash in hand will make me grand. I'm looking for some women to help me out in this ...

Take a look at this folks: I've linked to this blog before, and while I don't agree with everything they say here (and I sometimes find the bickering a bit childish) they are making a good case for the need for intellingent thought and debate about the future of the performing arts in general and theatre in particular. I think they're right about one thing, at least: something big is coming, we just don't know what it is yet. Theatre Ideas: Divine Fury

Yesterday I mused at length about the deplorable state of Canadian Theatre since 9/11. I don't know that it is totally deplorable, or that it can't recover, all I know is that I'm not comfortable with things the way they are, and I can't afford to sit around and wait for things to change. So am I going to go and work in a bank? No! Like the title line of this blog says, we're smashing all the rules, so somebody hand me my sledgehammer. The first rule that has to go: Name recognition counts for something. This summer I can only think of one couple who came out to see one of our shows because they had heard of the playwright, and only one other couple who came out to see one of our shows because they had heard of the play. Samuel French, in their infinite wisdom, see fit to charge a premium on plays by Neil Simon, simply because, as a well-known name, he should draw more people. Well, he didn't, and we pushed that show just as hard, if not harder, than all t...

Though this post won't be released until September 16th (with any luck that will be the day you read it, unless the guys at blogger are asleep at the switch), I am writing it on September 11th. Not exactly the cheeriest day of the year, I know, but it is a date that punctuates pretty much every facet of our lives today. So too with theatre. Jerry Wasserman, editor of the "Modern Canadian Plays" anthology (4th edition), unwittingly hints at the perils that were about to hit the national theatre scene as his work went to press. In his introduction to the second volume of the work he devotes one of the concluding paragraphs to a lament about the collapse of the theatre publishing industry in Canada, and ends on this prophetic note: "As I write this in the early spring of 2001, the situation is desperate but, as always, hopeful." (I hope Wasserman will forgive me for not making a correct bibligraphic citation here - I was asleep for that class!) A year or two lat...

Am Really Trying Aren't Ready To Announce Reasoning Today Are Ruminating, Thou?

Just thought I'd post the link today to the Fergus Grand Theatre website, since not a lot of people even know it exists. There's upcoming Grinder information on there, as well as other upcoming news and events. Get it here , and add it to your bookmarks.

I'm a little stumped for material today... it seems that the well of inspiration has temporarily run dry, due no doubt to the long, hot summer. So in abscence of a posting, I'd like to pose a question to all of you, and see if you can help me out. Here goes: What was the last play you attended, and most importantly, why did you go to that particular play? Just wondering....

I'd like to send out a big Thank-you to the cast and crew of Laugh-in, our production this past weekend at the Fergus Grand. It was so nice to kick off our fall season with such a wonderful ensemble, who all worked very hard to bring this evening of madness we laughingly called Laugh-in to the stage. Thanks guys. And if you missed that show, don't depair! We have more shows coming up throughout the fall and winter and spring, at the Grand and at the Elora Centre for the Arts. Stay tuned to the blog for all the latest news!

We're rolling out something new here at Grinder Productions, something that I hope you will enjoy. It's the Grinder Card. The Grinder Card is our way of saying thanks to our most devoted fans. It works just like a season subscription, but rather than being tied to a specific series of shows, it is good for admission to any Grinder show, in any venue, at any time. $100 will get you a card that is good for ten admissions to Grinder events. That means you essentially have ten tickets, at ten dollars each, for any Grinder shows you may wish to attend. You can come alone and just use one admission, or come as a couple and use two. Or bring a friend, or two friends, it doesn't matter. The card is simply a way for you to gain ten admittances to any Grinder Productions shows you like. To get your card please call 519-780-7593, or e-mail grinder@grinderproductions.org.

A Random Thought... A Rollicking Tune/ A Raucous Time! A Ring Tone?

That's the nature of the one-weekend shows, folks! Just four shows, that's all you get to see this, and then it will be gone forever. Don't miss the hilarity of Kimberley Young as "Nanette Oomlak," David Lamble as "The Judge", Taylor Delangis as the "Parson", Kaitlyn Walton as the "Cockney Girl," Julie Kennedy as the "Old Maid", Bert Chamberlain as "Dan" and yours truly as "Dick." Also making cameo appearances will be the Letch, the German Soldier, the Reconstituted Lady, and even the dumb blonde! Call the Fergus Grand at 519-787-1981 for tickets to this very special Grinder Productions event.

Just a final reminder to everyone that our fall season at the Grand kicks off tonight, with the stage version of Rowan and Martin's classic TV comedy Laugh-in . A big thank-you goes out to the cast, crew and everyone else who has worked so hard to bring this show to life. I may be a little biased, but as far as I'm concerned their results are spectacular. Don't miss it! We run for just three days: Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm, with a 2pm Saturday matinee. Tickets are available by calling the Fergus Grand Theatre box office directly at 519-787-1981. Here come the Judge!

Just a quick note to let everyone know that today's newsletter is available on the website, right here . While you're on the website, take a moment to look around. We've made a few changes, added and updated some content, and made it easier for you to find us elsewhere on the web. Please feel free to let me know what you think of the site, report any problems, or offer up any suggestions for future revisions.

And... curtain! I'm pleased to report that with the close of Same Time, Next Year, this past Saturday at the Ennotville Library, Grinder Productions now has another summer season in the books. With seven shows in two venues, this was our largest, most diverse, most successful summer ever. And while I still have some work to do on the accounting end of things, I am sure enough about where we are to tell you that we have come out of this summer in a much, much better financial position than when we entered it, and that we will be able to continue operations into the fall on a reasonable financial footing. We're not completely out of the woods yet, of course and we will still have to be very, very careful in the weeks and months ahead, but I'm feeling confident about where the company is sitting right now, and where it is heading. I'd like to say a great big thank-you too all the directors, actors, technicians, and volunteers who helped make this summer a reality. Time...