Publicity

January 25, 2007

Theatre a la carte: DaPoPo serves up songs, sonnets, drama at Mollyz Diner

Would you like a poem with that? DaPoPo Theatre gives new meaning to the term dinner theatre with its new performance series, Café DaPoPo, on the last Thursday of every month starting tonight, 8:30 to 11 p.m., at Mollyz Diner, 2104 Gottingen St.

When diners go to Mollyz they will get a theatre menu along with the food menu. From the theatre menu they can order a song, a sonnet or a soliloquy. The cheapest item on the extensive menu is a whispered nothing for $1, the most expensive a one-act play for $15.

The idea was "born of necessity," says DaPoPo’s artistic director Garry Williams, when Mollyz director of operations Doug Melanson offered his diner as a venue to the two-year-old Halifax independent theatre company. "We had the free venue and we wanted to make use of it."
After DaPoPo’s two professional engagements in Berlin last year, the company has run up a small debt. "We have two tickets outstanding to be paid. We were thinking of a fundraiser that would be fun for us and the public," he said. "We are mandated to not repeat ourselves. We’re trying something that we don’t know if it’ll work or not."

DaPoPo’s name is taken from Dadaism and the recurring po- in poetic, political and popular, which is the kind of theatre the company wants to produce. DaPoPo likes to redefine the relationship between performer and spectator.

In this case, spectators dictate what they will see, whether it’s an excerpt from DaPoPo’s previous productions including Karel Capek’s R.U.R., Arthur Schnitzler’s The Sex Play and the original 13 Ways of Looking at a Madman or a DaPotPourri combo of songs, sonnets and poetry sprinkled with sweet nothings.

"People can specify — ‘I’d like this sonnet for my friend Emily,’ " says Williams. "Or you can get something for the table — ‘We’d like this scene from the Importance of Being Earnest.’ "
Prices are aimed at an audience that can’t afford big ticket prices. "We’ve always mandated to be affordable. We’re catering to the North End community and the student audience pool who are two of our main groups who come see our plays."

Performing a la carte are DaPoPo regulars Eric Benson, Steven Bourque, Mike Chandler, Kim Parkhill and Williams joined by Sarah "Pip" Bradford and Andrea Dymond. Today coincides with Robbie Burns Day so "we have some special Robbie Burns offerings as our monthly special," says Williams. For reservations call 420-1395.
( ebarnard@herald.ca)

January 18, 2007
THE DOPE SHOW

Tara Thorne has news about art both on the web and off.

Da cafe

Always-innovative local troupe DaPoPo Theatre begins a cool new venture this week with the launch of Café DaPoPo, a new monthly performance series held at Mollyz Diner (2104 Gottingen). You will be able to order specially priced performances, ranging from poems to songs to scenes to improv, to your own table for a private show. (Not like that.)Participating performers include DaPoPo's artistic director Garry Williams, regulars Eric Benson, Steven Bourque, Mike Chandler and Kim Parkhill plus Sarah Bradford and Andrea Dymond."Like much of DaPoPo's work, Café DaPoPo explores ways of bringing theatre to its audience, eliminating the fourth wall and redefining the relationship between performer and spectator," says Williams.Café DaPoPo takes place on the last Thursday of every month, starting January 25. Reserve a table by calling 420-1395.

What kind of side dish would you order with your poem? Email: tarat@thecoast.ca