Shells hardening in the Sun. I mean, the Eye...

We’ve caught wind of a terrible online Eye Weekly review. I admit that we haven’t read it yet, but our loved ones are telling us that it’s a classic case of reviewer/show mismatch – some consolation, for sure! But even if this is the case, any sort of in-the-ditch review makes you ask yourself the kinds of juicy and important questions that a great review does not.

Apparently, the person who reviewed our show doesn’t usually write about theatre – and if this is the case, I must say that I feel for the guy. Walking into a show like ours – theatrical, experimental, monological – must’ve been a bore and a half.

Before the show opened, I fantasized about the prospect of a shitty review and was sort of dreading it. But now that it’s happened, I feel surprisingly alright about it. It’s the sort of thing that makes you ask, “What do we want from this show? What do we expect? Why are we putting this material before an audience?” Lara and I have talked about this from the first and we know that Georgia & Leona is a peculiar piece that asks a lot of its audience. But some people like it. And if those some people get something from it – a bit of comfort or relief; a flash of memory or recognition...then what the hell, right? We’ve done our job. If our answer to “What do you expect from this show?” was “We think Georgia & Leona should follow up the Bourne Ultimatum,” then we’d be in the third or fourth ring of mega-disillusionment by now. But thankfully, we know what we’re about with respect to this particular show.

Third performance today! It’s a crazy rhythm to get into, a crazy experience overall...we can feel some of the soft spots in our souls getting harder by the day!

Sex, Drugs & the Holy Ghost!!

If you are perusing the Fringe program book and are overwhelmed with what other shows to check out, may we suggest you see "Sex, Drugs & the Holy Ghost"? We are going to go, and we're looking for (hot) dates, so give us a call.

Here's the important details:

Under the Blood Productions presents

Sex, Drugs & the Holy Ghost

by Diane L. Johnstone

Directed by Winnie W. Wong

Starring & Written by Diane L. Johnstone

Sex, Drugs & the Holy Ghost (SDHG) will make its world debut at the Toronto Fringe

Festival. SDHG is a one-woman show that explores ideas of sex, drugs and God, through experiences of church members; an Ex-Stripper, Deacon’s wife and ‘tell it like it is’ Grandma Word.

Sex, Drugs & the Holy Ghost is playing at the Walmer Centre Theatre

188 Lowther Avenue (Bloor and Spadina)

Friday, July 2 (7pm)

Saturday, July 3 (3pm)

Sunday, July 4 (9pm)

Monday, July 5 (7pm)

Tuesday, July 6 (9pm)

Thursday, July 8 (5pm)

Saturday, July 10 (5pm)

Sunday, July 11 (7pm)

Go behind the scenes at www.bourgee-bushwoman.com

TASHA SMITH, Hollywood Actor, says go see the show! (see website clip)

The dreaded TECH RUN

I only say "dreaded" because we didn't know quite what to expect. And the lovely Fringe people frightened us a bit by telling us horror stories about shows that didn't get through all their cues in their allotted time and had to go to opening night flying by the seat of their pants. We were nervous, but prepared.

Jacob started the day by taking a break.

Our whole set nearly fit into one Yaris.

We waited patiently in the courtyard of the Factory Theatre until we were called in.

Then, we were called in:

GO GO GO!

We set up.

Stage Manager Extraordinaire!

(Not to mention also a babe.)

We set our lighting cues.

We got into character:

...and we ran a cue to cue.

And, I'm happy to report, we are under control. All of our cues have been set and even though we didn't get a full run through on our stage, we are as ready as we'll ever be for opening night.

(WHICH IS TOMORROW.)

Thank you to Brian and Shawn for their help in getting us through the tech run process and to kp for documenting the whole thing.

MAKE UP

My pal Kenji came over to give Misha and I a lesson on stage make-up. I worked with Kenji last year on a short film (directed by Erica Leung) that required Kenji to do this to me:

Amazing, right?

Unfortunately (or fortunately...?) G & L aren't burn victims, members of the undead or Lady Gaga so our make-up is a lot more tame.

Kenji taught us how to age ourselves slightly by changing the shape of our faces and the results were amazing--when I looked at Misha I saw LEONA and it gave me a slight prickle of goosebumps.

Kenji is a great teacher, not to mention a lovely person and very good at what he does. Here he is drawing a map of a face so we know what the hell we're doing when he's not around:

Thank you, Kenji, for being patient with us--especially Misha who doesn't like when the mascara wand comes close to her eye. ("It's like a goddamn millipede coming at me..!") To check out more of Kenji's work and to see why he was recently named the winner of the 2010 International Make-Up Artist Trade show in Vancouver, visit his blog HERE.

If you want to see the results of what he taught us (and whether or not we can pull it off on our own!), you will just have to come see the show.

Overheard at Rehearsal

"A pig would eat Gary Oldman, for chrissakes!"

--Misha, on the extent of what a pig would be willing to ingest.

BLOGS! (Our kids are growing up...)

Georgia & Leona are making their way into the world! We feel like proud parents over here...

Wavelength and Art & Culture Maven have done us a great service. Thanks a mil! Here are the links, if you get a sec:

http://www.artandculturemaven.com/2010/06/georgia-leona-at-toronto-fringe.htm

http://www.wavelengthtoronto.com/

!!!!!!!!

LESS THAN ONE WEEK TO OPENING NIGHT.

And.. script changes.

Misha said something to me last night about how, in high school, we were appalled to hear about script changes happening in the professional theatre down to the wire, even *gasp* between shows! And now we are doing it. To our own selves. And, honestly, it's not as bad as we imagined. Because with every change or cut, the show is getting tighter and more true to its theme. I support them, wholeheartedly. (Until, of course, I have to memorize new lines...)

Rehearsals are going well!

Jacqui has been bringing vegan baked goods. We've seen some really good performances as well but, MAN, those chocolate cookies with the peanut butter in the middle... best performance so far.