87% True: The Lies That Bind

Vancouver Attained! And We Drove the Coquahalla!

The mountains! The ocean! The Starbucks on EVERY CORNER! Yes, that's right - Chris and Rose have arrived in Vancouver, where the air is sweet and Chris can finally walk around naked again. The man has been staying at other people's houses since June 14th, folks. That's a LONG TIME to have pants on. Fly free!

We have our tech rehearsal in a couple of days and we're pretty thrilled to be doin' the show at the Waterfront Theatre, which cross-country travellin' Kristen and cool Fringe artist and blogger Darren Barefoot, creator of Bolloxed, assure us is pretty sweet. Here's a quick refresher on our Vancouver show times:

Georgia Straight Stage 4 - Waterfront Theatre, 1412 Cartwright St., Granville Island, Vancouver
 
Fri. Sept 8, 9:00 pm
Sat. Sept 9, 5:30 pm
Sun. Sept 10, 7:15 pm
Tues. Sept 12, 10:15 pm
Wed. Sept 13, 5:15 pm
Sat. Sept 16, 3:30 pm

As Rose types, Chris is out slamming, poeticizing and promoting the show at the bi-monthly Poetry Slam at Cafe deux Soleils down on Commercial Drive. Slam it, Chris! And, uh . . . let's hope he remembered to put pants on. It's . . . it's a family show.

Slurpee count = 94

Edmonton, Alberta - Where the Streets Are Paved With Gold

"Wait minute," Chris said in alarm, as he inspected the concession tents being set up along the Fringe strip yesterday afternoon, "WHERE ARE THE MINI DONUTS?!?"

"Don't worry," said some random babe in a hat who'd overhead Chris' panicked exclamation, "they'll be right around the corner there. Same place as last year."

Chris breathed a sigh of relief. Thank you, soothing stranger!

So we're here! Rose is queer! And the beer tent is beside our venue! Could anything be more perfect? We think not. Again, an Edmonton Fringe showtime and location refresher:

Sutton Stage 9, Walterdale Playhouse, 10322 - 83rd Ave

Fri, August 18          4:15 PM
Sun, August 20         7:00 PM
Mon, August 21        4:15 PM
Wed, August 23        2:15 PM
Sat, August 26          7:15 PM
Sun, August 27         2:15 PM

For other show schedules and key Fringe info, check out the fantastic Edmonton Fringe website!

Chris and Rose grew up here in Edmonton and we have long considered the Edmonton Fringe to be the pinnacle of all things Fringe-y. But it occurred to us, as we swept into the city Monday afternoon, that neither of us has actually BEEN at the Edmonton Fringe since 1998, when Rose was performing in one show, had written and directed another show and was also asked to be on the Sterling Theatre Awards jury for the Fringe, which meant she had to see 40 shows in 10 days. It was pretty awesome. But after a Fringe like that, who can blame a gal for taking a break?

Back when we were last here, the Fringe offices were in kind of a old warehouse-type building that smelled like guano. Now they look like this:

Chris took this photo with tears in his eyes. "Our little Fringe has grown up so much," he sighed as I sniffled. Happy 25th, Edmonton Fringe! It's a privilege to be here performing, uh . . . at you. We raise our mini-donuts in your honour! Also, Slurpees.

Slurpee count = 83

Meanwhile, in Vancouver . . .

We interrupt the Toronto Fringe to announce our dates, time and venue for the Vancouver Fringe! Chris assures me that our venue, The Waterfront Theatre, is a highly desirable location. I trust his judgment, for I have found that even with the burgeoning handlebar mustache, Chris is a keen arbiter of taste. KEEN, people.

Here are the goods:

Georgia Straight Stage 4 - Waterfront Theatre, 1412 Cartwright St., Granville Island, Vancouver
 
Fri. Sept 8, 9:00 pm
Sat. Sept 9, 5:30 pm
Sun. Sept 10, 7:15 pm
Tues. Sept 12, 10:15 pm
Wed. Sept 13, 5:15 pm
Sat. Sept 16, 3:30 pm

Slurpee count = 29

Well, we got our venue and times for Saskatoon today and they're both lookin' mad purt. The Broadway Theatre! On Broadway Avenue! Auspicious! Right?

Here are the goods:

Venue 1 - The Broadway Theatre, 715 Broadway Avenue

Thursday, Aug 3     8:00pm
Saturday, Aug 5     2:00pm
Sunday, Aug 6       10:00pm
Tuesday, Aug 8      4:00pm
Saturday, Aug 12    8:00pm
Sunday, Aug 13       2:00pm

I gotta say, Saskatoon is the exciting mystery spot on our tour. I live in Toronto, Chris and I grew up in Edmonton and Chris lives in Vancouver, but Saskatoon . . . Saskatoon is unfamiliar. My lovely aunt and uncle, who've graciously agreed to host us during the Fringe, live in Saskatoon and we visited there a few times when I was a child. Also, I went there on a band trip in 10th Grade and still have a photograph of me and my soon-to-be Grade 10 boyfriend Mark holding hands by the Vegreville Egg. Ah, young love. He's gay now too.

Slurpee count = 16

Sweet Lavendar Lord, We're Near the Beer Tent! Right?

Well, even if they've moved the beer tent, our Edmonton venue is still ACES. It's on the main drag - it's near the ladies shitter and, perhaps most importantly, it's close to my dad's office, in case Chris and I get into any legal trouble.

Sutton Stage 9, Walterdale Playhouse
10322 - 83rd Avenue

Fri, August 18          4:15 PM
Sun, August 20         7:00 PM
Mon, August 21        4:15 PM
Wed, August 23        2:15 PM
Sat, August 26          7:15 PM
Sun, August 27         2:15 PM

And So It Begins

Mark your calendars, Toronto dwellers! We received our venue and showtimes from the Toronto Fringe Festival yesterday. Factory Studio Theatre - 100 seats - AIR CONDITIONED!! - sweet. But our favourite thing about this venue? The beautiful, beautiful garden out back, where, if memory serves, frothy beers frolic and new friends are made. Good times, people.

Venue #5 - Factory Studio Theatre
125 Bathurst Street (at Adelaide)

Wed, July 5        8:45      PM       502 (I think this is the "advance ticket" code)
Fri, July 7          1:30      PM       507
Sat, July 8         11:15    PM       519
Mon, July 10      3:00      PM       528
Wed, July 12      4:00      PM       541
Thu, July 13       5:45      PM       549
Sat, July 15        7:00      PM       564

Door Tickets: $10
Advance Tickets: $10.00 ($8 + $2 SC)
Passes: $7.00 / $6.50 / $6.00