April 26/07 Café

April 26 (posted by Garry)

Sadly, this was my (Garry's) first full café experience since January, having missed February's (to attend my father's funeral in Berlin) and most of March's (to perform in Metamorphic Theatre's "Creatures of the Moment"). I had learned more about the goings-on at Mollyz through Kim's blog entries than on the floor. I missed the formative runs with the current DaPoPo troupe: Kim, Andrea, Eric, Mike, Shtev and our new 'chef' Sher.

Garry muses at the Shakespeare workout

Most wonderful was my discussion with Robin Metcalfe about Shakespeare sonnets; the intimacy of slow and intimate Show Tunes for two corner tables; and this month's reprise of Pasta Bolero with Kim, splattering our unsuspecting audience with mustard and pasta goo.

Aforementioned goo

Prior to the performance, Lee J. Campbell led us through a rigirous and honest look at our Shakespeare sonnets, monologues and scenes. I've always wanted a core group to evolve and train, improve their craft, and here it was. Also, most wonderful!

Kate and Petrucchio kick it at the Shakespeare workout

Lee J. Campbell shares Shake's secrets

We welcomed our first guest artist, our 'Special of the Month': Alex Derry with "Ululation Installation -- or: U and I" (reading of texts using exclusively one vowel... ah, that's as hard as a bad bat whack, and always as bad-ass). Another debut was Dustin Harvey's one-act "The Canon" which Kim performed for the first time at the writer's table.

I missed Pip (although she joined us as a patron mid-evening).

Sher and Mike have some improv fun

The challenges remain: how to quickly follow performance with performance, how to track seven performers and two score patrons; how to 'serve up' performances in often close, cramped settings; how to rehearse the unrehearsable.

We have said -- sometimes with excitement, sometimes in despair -- our work often places us in previously untried theatrical situations. This could be be said of the audience, too, I suppose. The Café, then, continues in good DaPoPo tradition: much to be savoured, much to be learned.