Video: A Café Appetizer

May 29, 2008

Daring, popular, poetic, political, etc. indeed. This event by DaPoPo Theatre certainly completes the task of fulfilling all of the above and more! Freshly out of theatre school, I was lucky enough to be accepted into this group of eager and adventurous performers without question. An enthusiastic smile and a “this is Kristi, she’s cool” from one was enough to let me fly with the flock. Yeehaw!

I had been hearing about this event for sometime now and was continually intrigued by the concept and structure. A menu of performances? People can CHOOSE what they want to see? Brilliant! And that it was.

The apparently ‘quieter than normal’ café at the Good Food Emporium provided a very cosy and intimate environment for all involved. My evening began with an intro to the lay of the land, how to take orders and what to do when something actually was ordered. (Thanks to Bonnie… that gal knows how to run a show!) I was feeling warm, fuzzy with a slight hint of butterfly fluttering by here and there when it happened. A SONG WAS ORDERED AND I HAD TO SING IT. A large musical theatre character piece was requested by an intimate table of two. “Oh what do I do now?” the line from Gooch’s Song (fr. the musical Mame) came to me in an instant. I pondered this for all of two seconds and then walked out in character and sang. 

In that moment I discovered first hand what it is that makes this café so unique and special:

the unpredictable nature and inability to determine what will happen from one moment to the next. There are no barriers here between the performer and the audience. Everything is in the present; the audience is the scene partner. Once I opened up and allowed myself to explore and accept these given circumstances, new discoveries were made in old, tired pieces and much more fun was had.

Some highlights of the evening included a stunning sock puppet singing Cabaret, an emotional

 performance from Einstein’s Gift, comedic scenes from The Importance of Being Earnest (with

 and without cross-dressing), poetry in a dark but enchanting bathroom and the ensemble piece from Black Comedy where shenanigans were unleashed after a power outage. My personal favourite was singing German lieder with the aid of a fuzzy, quacking duck sock puppet and candlelight. *sigh* How romantic.

What I loved most about the café was that it brought together so many talented local performers and gave us the chance to explore, play and create together in new and exciting ways. Thanks to DaPoPo for creating this opportunity and thanks to all involved for sharing their many talents. This is an event one won’t want to miss. See you in June!

April 24, 2008

It was an encore performance for Café DaPoPo a la Bob and Lori's on Thursday evening, and what an evening it was. With many of our Café stalwarts tied up (gloriously) with Biography (great show, go see it), it was a brand new sort of Café experience. Steven Bourque, Andrea Dymond, Chris Ferrilll and myself (Keelin Jack) returned after hiatus of various lengths, teaming up with newcomers Andre Dumont, Meghan Hubley and Annie Valentina to create a pretty successful night of theatrical treats, if I do say so myself. 

Continuing the success of last month's rehearsal process, we focused on the scenes, and the rehearsal and feedback needed to present them effectively.

With no carry over of scenes between last month's and this month's Café, a lot of new material was learned, some was reviewed from months long gone, and some familiar material shown with a different cast. Although the list of material to be learned seemed daunting after the first meeting, almost all was accomplished. Many thanks to the brilliant and dedicated cast. 

Also many thanks to Ann Denny, Nathan Pilon and Garry Williams, who came to the Café as audience, but helped us out with Pretentious and Popular songs. 

The night started off at a pretty easy pace...delicious pizzas floating by from the kitchen, some intimate monologues, a only slightly skewed version of the Icarus/Daedalus scene from Apocalypse 2006... the only slight stress of an unexpected demand for Leonard Cohen songs (with puppet!) which I was luckily able to dig out of my bag and fake...with the help of Hubley, as singing, playing piano, turning pages and puppeting requires more hands than one person possesses. 

After that, I may not be the best person to comment on the overall feel of the Café, as I was running back to back scenes and monologues from this point onward. I can say, however, that everyone seemed lively, happy and entertained. There was a steady flow of orders, and a lot of new faces... great to see.  

Highlights include: the interruption of a highbrow Shaw scene by a random off the street looking for the bathroom (it was oddly appropriate... thanks to the ladies who ordered it, for their sense of humour); the Big Ensemble Scene, Everyman, and the audience members participating with their interesting interpretation of "penance"... a.k.a. what to do when you are handed a scourge; a new Happening "3 Monkeys" from returning Master of the Happening - Steven Bourque; delicious food provider and Bob and Loris proprietor Paul Rogers stepping in to provide us with a lovely rendition of "Ich grolle nicht"; and the ever in-the-wings Bonnie making her Café debut as an actor, complete with knitting and Southern accent, in a scene from Crimes of the Heart.

   ---  Keelin Jack

March 27, 2008 Café

And another new venue, Bob & Lori's Food Emporium, plays temporary host to the Café as the Mollyz re-opening date stretches us to edge-of-seat anticipation. Paul Rogers, one of the new Bob & Lori's co-owners hooked us up with this wonderfully cozy location. It was a relatively slow night comparatively, but such a delicate ambiance for patrons with soft yellow lighting diffused over intimate booths and an eclectic arrangement of chairs and tables.

Mike C. presided over the hot cider pot and the Bob & Lori's guys slung out sammies and yummies in the early evening. Our lusty legion of performers carried on valiantly, despite complications of illness running rampant through the cast. Steven Heisler joined us for the first time, jumping headlong into the fray with vigor and amazingly good spirit. Ann Doyle, awesomely, was back again for the second time along with a handful of old-timers and new-timers.

We had given more attention to rehearsal this month, with specific matching up of work with observers and a push on scenes. The new venue gave an extra incentive to pull performances into small spaces, a fun thing for DaBig Scene. This was a remounting of the L'il Caezr Teazr from last month, but with 7 cast members for the 10 roles. Ann Denny, the original Cassius, had to leave early, so when the order came in, Mike Chandler grabbed a script, tied a scarf around his waist, armed himself with a plastic sword and took on the role. This last-minute substitution in itself added to the hilarity of our honestly-acted but decidedly camped-up version of Act V. Unanticipated "mere flesh wounds," missing counterparts for dialogue, huge stage whispers and CPR on the dowel horse... you get the idea.

Highlights: Garry's voice student Najet came with a group of friends; chorale Auld Lang Syne caressing the hushed room; the comment "Now I want to see the play!" after a reading of a section of Biography; Nathan plays an intimate Bowie, amp and all for his folks; Ann Doyle dons the tin-foil cap THREE times; Sher in her hockey helmet and pink sunglasses as Young Cato... there are more.

February 28/08 Café

Then you've got to find a space to rehearse and present your productions,
Or the love is all you've got! What?"

Hours of rehearsals at Kim's house: songs in the dining room, sonnets in the kitchen, scenes in the living room and sax in the hallway. And a peeing puppy underneath. The last Ouro Preto Cafe in all probability: busy from really early on, lots of new faces, a new rhythym in simultaneous performance delivery and the best for last (!) L'il Caezr Teazr with a stellar example of "TROUBLE!" call-answer ensemble support.

More ruminations and photos below from Ann Noël (Garry's mum), who attended her first Café during a visit from Berlin...

This was a new, but temporary venue for the monthly „theatre à la carte“ event staged by this talented and innovative group of actors, vocalists and musicians. I was not at any of the previous evenings at Mollyz Diner, but friends told me that this modern-looking coffee shop is a larger and less intimate space. Nevertheless one was well aware of what was going on at the tables in the vicinity of one’s own and the pace at which orders were being filled was quite extraordinary. Once it a while I was curious enough to get up to go and see what was being served up to the customers in other parts of the room and to take photographs of the interaction between the actors and their audience. People seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely.

Some of the things I observed were the following. A tired and dispirited waitress dressed in pink came and sat down at table next to mine to complain about her lot in life.

A guy in a black wig and dark glasses, strumming a guitar and accompanied by a saxophone player, did an Elvis impersonation.

A heartrending ballad was performed by a lanky youth wearing a scarlet sheath dress and a black leather necklace with spikes.

A quintet erected music stands and performed a classic Fluxus score by Emmett Williams, “A Four-Directional Song of Doubt”.

On my way back from visiting the washroom I saw a man hiding behind a tree, with a hand puppet emerging from the leaves, singing an operatic aria.

At one end of the counter a couple were carrying on a dialogue while manoeuvring a Playmobil princess and a prince across a tiny stage.

Another pair, accompanied by a keyboard sang a number from a musical by Stephen Sondheim.

A bearded bard softly recited Shakespeare’s 30th sonnet into my ear.

There were popular song solos, rants and raves, one-act plays, bedtime stories with cuddly toys and lots more to choose from on the menu. In another unforgettable scene involving cross-dressing, a hairy Katherine was wooed with considerable verve and ardour by a smooth-faced Petrucchio. I should have like to have seen and heard everything on the menu that night, but that is why one should attend Café DaPoPo evenings more than one time – it’s constantly changing. I have a bit farther to travel than some, but I’ll certainly try.

Ann Noël, Berlin, Germany

January 31/08 Café

Anniversaries. Milestones. Growth. A mad dash from commitment to execution. Two weeks of intense preparation, figuring out the new space, organizing the bar, licensing, rehearsing for hours with vast amounts of veggie chili (!!), bringing in a new accompanist (yay Tara "Lady Ninja" Scott), making donation receptacles (Bonnie to the rescue) and in the end, a special time to commemorate our start then and again, now. New Year, new...

Michael and Verna, two patrons from the very first Café were back for the anniversary special and enjoyed as we presented some of our favorites from the past. Our biggest fans, Megan and Gina, crossed over to the dark side and joined in the fun of performing, even doing an impromptu group rendition of "Pave Paradise" with Mike C. on guitar at one point. Ann gave freely of her Icelandic folksongs. Ivan and Mike managed to do a bit of improv, Garry and Eric did "A Little Priest" with loud acoustic gratitude following.

Excerpts from Four Actors, The Modern World and 13 Ways and we miss Shtev though Kim tries as the creepy german kid. A nod to Pip and Shtev as we open with a performance of "Pi."

An anniversary wouldn't be complete without sock puppets and Elvis (and those seem to be the only pictures we have from the night), but there was also the complete set of Urban Mysteriez - with joyously fun changes... Jill hides under the table but look, it has a glass top!... Suzanne stalks off to the bathroom and finds a sandwich at her place on her return... Jill and Helen have to improvise a horridly long time because Suzanne can't hear a blessed thing including her cue... the narrators duke it out for lordship (or ladyship).


An ensemble number to start it off and to almost end it seemed appropriate, though we must try not to stand in a line like that again (!) and the finale a first-draft-special-for-the-cafe Bedtime Story, "Juliard Hears the Call of the Jungle," penned and read by Kim. Augmented by Keelin's sublime inspiration to lead remaining patrons to a carpeted area to sit on the floor with their respective stuffed animals.

And of course, the lot of us out to Freeman's for drinks and eats and both happily and sadly, required two huge tables for our growing numbers. Café rocks on...

January 21st, 2008

Entry contributed by Kim Parkhill

To sum up the past few months....

Garry and Eric hosted a Café DaPoPo party mid-December before everyone scattered to their various points of origin for the holidays. This was the first mass gathering for us outside rehearsal, performance or Freemans.

Although we were missing several of our peeps, it was a marvellous time to be social and relax.

I left early, but I hear there was a late-night/early a.m. Biomechanics -Meyerhold dowel-tossing session in the park.

We had put Café DaPoPo on a planned Christmas hiatus, with the intention to start up again in January. However, we knew that Mollyz Diner, our loyal venue, was to be moving "somewhere toward the end of January."

Fast forward to early January when it became clear that Mollyz would be closed for the January Café and probably the February one as well. The diner and Menz Bar are moving to new digs and they are closed for the transition. Which left us wondering what we would do.

Would we also take the time off and let our performers prepare new material? Or would we try to find another venue.... wait! Paul Graham at Ouro Preto café on University Avenue approached us about having the Café there while Mollyz was unavailable.

Ok, so new question: do we do the Café in a new venue?

There were several other questions associated with both of these options. Garry, in his great wisdom, suggested that we take it to our Café DaPoPovians for debate and decision. After all, one of the "Po's" in "DaPoPo" is popular... you know, of the people.

So, on January 22nd, the Café folk were amassed at Freeman's for debate and decision. Oh, Freeman's. We can squish 12 people around one of their long tables. We had 12 people and we were missing a couple of folks. Freeman's hear this: DaPoPo needs a bigger table!

As with the best debates, there were differences of opinion, with some on the side of going for it, others on the side against and still others pointing out the issues or problems with one side or the other. What was clear was that everyone is still invested in this idea and certainly energetic about keeping it going. Yay for us!

Ultimately, the group decided that yes, we would go ahead (with Mollyz' blessing) to have the Café on our regularly scheduled night - in just two weeks, mind you - at Ouro Preto. But it was also decided that we wanted to do it in a way that let us try out the new venue, since it is very different from Mollyz and get some feedback from our regulars and friends.

AND SO.... drum roll please... we're having a party for the first anniversary of the Café. No prices on the menu. Donations always welcome, of course. Performances from the past year and all the performers who have ever done a Café and are available on the roster. Old material, some new stuff. Checking out the acoustics and the layout. Sharing our theatrical treats and having guests share too, if they want.

Today I applied for a liquor license. Probably one of the most bureaucratic things we've ever done, outside of grant applications. Of course, we're late but cross your fingers. If we get it, we'll have a cash bar for wine and beer and quite possibly a singing barmaid. If not, Paul will still offer Ouro Preto's awesome European coffees and teas and he's keeping the kitchen open til 9 pm. Yummy food - healthy sandwiches and soups with vegetarian options. And, he gives students a discount. Cool, hey?

Pass the word and if you're coming, let us know. That limited seating thing, right?

(all photos on this post are from our night of shenanigans, pre-Christmas)