Posted in Dance, Festivals, Ottawa, Theatre, tagged Arthur Milner, arts court, Betroffenheit, canada, electric company theatre, Just Another Gala, national arts centre, Ottawa, Ottawa arts, Ottawa Fringe, ottawa theatre, Patrick Gauthier, podcast, Sarah Waisvisz, the gladstone, Theatre, undercurrents festival on February 15, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Today my friend and colleague Kat Fournier and I launched the very first episode of Just Another Gala: Your Ottawa Theatre Podcast. Ottawa’s theatre scene has exploded in the last few years, and we feel that some thorough on-air discussion is in order. Join us!
We’re also on Facebook and Twitter. Please like and share widely.
Posted in London, Theatre, tagged London, review, Sappho, The Rose, Theatre on May 16, 2013| Leave a Comment »
I shall be tossing in my sleep dreaming over it! It really was the most powerful female performance I have seen in a very long time. Her voice still rattles in my bones.
– review from an audience member who will be attending ‘SAPPHO …in 9 fragments’ for a second time next week
Posted in London, Theatre, tagged Bankside, Jane Montgomery Griffiths, Jessica Ruano, London, Marlowe, Sappho, shakespeare, The Rose, Theatre, Victoria Grove on April 15, 2013| Leave a Comment »
SAPPHO …in 9 fragments by Jane Montgomery Griffiths transfers to The Rose, Bankside from 21st May to 2nd June, 2013. This politically-charged and visually-compelling solo performance, featuring the “magnetic” (RemoteGoat) Victoria Grove, achieved critical and popular acclaim with a sold-out extended run at the White Rabbit Theatre.
“The Rose – part fringe theatre, part excavation site – is the perfect venue for a play about Sappho, whose extensive collection of poetry has been all but lost, save for a few fragments that suggest what might have existed; just like the foundations that permit us to imagine the theatre once used by Marlowe and Shakespeare”
– Jessica Ruano, Director of SAPPHO …in 9 fragments
Following its two-week run in London’s historic venue, this “uncommonly exhilarating” (Exeunt Magazine) production begins a tri-city Canadian tour in June 2013, then plays at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2013 at theSpace Venue 45.
Within a secluded cavern, Ancient Greece’s first love poet laments her erasure from history, while a chorus girl named Atthis is seduced into a modern-day Sapphic romance.
Featuring Victoria Grove as Sappho/Atthis and directed by Jessica Ruano, this production is designed by Ana Ines Jabares, with lighting by Sarah Crocker, sound by Luca Romagnoli, and aerial work by Jani Nightchild.
SAPPHO …in 9 fragments plays at The Rose, Bankside, 56 Park Street, London, SE1 9AS (near London Bridge Station) from 21st May to 2nd June, 2013, Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are £12 (£10 concessions) at wegottickets.com.
For more information: 0207 261 9565, info@rosetheatre.org.uk, and rosetheatre.org.uk.
For a one-minute trailer of the show, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN2E8j5UfiE
Posted in Ottawa, Theatre, Travel, tagged amy lester, clown, eiffel tower, elope, Jessica Ruano, Ottawa, paris, Theatre, wedding on April 1, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Ottawa, Theatre, tagged actor, director, high school, rape, sexual harassment, teacher, Theatre on March 19, 2012| 9 Comments »
I remember being sixteen and receiving my report card for theatre class and noticing that my average was a little lower than I had expected. Scanning my grades for each assignment, I realized with abject horror that I – a straight-A student – had received a 60% for my acting work in the ‘director’s scene.’ You see, at my high school, every grade 11 theatre student had to act in a scene directed (and marked) by a grade 12 theatre student, presumably trying to give these students agency in their work.
Frustrated and a little hurt, I approached my teacher who agreed to meet with me at lunch hour to discuss my grades. We met in the drama office, and she shared with me the notes written by the student director regarding my work. She listed off a handful of negative things he had said about my acting (perhaps an accurate assessment; I never claimed to be the world’s greatest actress), including, and this is the clincher, that throughout rehearsal I kept ‘showing off my breasts’. Direct quote.
This shattered me. Because although I immediately and rightly denied the accusation, I began to wonder from where it had come. I thought back to rehearsals: what was I wearing, how was I behaving, what had I said to him. Maybe I had been wearing clothes that could have been considered revealing – but then, most of the time, we were wearing the costumes that he had given us. And I thought about how some of the blocking required demonstrative gestures, leaning forward facing the audience, so maybe that was it. And I remembered a few times after rehearsal when the other actor had left, that he and I chatted for a while, perhaps even flirted, though nothing happened.
‘Tell you what,’ said the teacher. ‘I’ll increase your grade to a 75%, and then we can forget about this, alright?’
I agreed. And suddenly the notes disappeared and it was as if it had never happened. Although, I’m pretty sure that from that point on, the grade 12 directors were no longer allowed to assign grades to their actors.
This happened almost ten years ago, and for some reason I remembered it this morning and I haven’t been able to put it out of my head. Sometimes people ask me why I wear jackets and waistcoats: ‘You have such a nice body. Why cover it up?’ Sometimes people ask me if I’ve been raped: ‘Define rape’ is my usual answer.
I’m angry. And I’m not even particularly angry at the pathetic adolescent boy who had some small effect on my grades: he’s a fucking moron, and that’s his problem, and I never have to deal with him again. I am angry at that teacher who let it happen and was too cowardly to stand up for me when she could have. And I’m angry at myself for not making a bigger fuss at the time. Because TEN YEARS LATER thinking about this incident completely ruined my morning. And I deserve better.
Posted in London, Theatre, tagged autobiography, being an actor, being shakespeare, lawrence aronovitch, London, my life in pieces, Ottawa, playwright, simon callow, Theatre, trafalgar studios, tuesdays at tescos, wilde on March 15, 2012| 1 Comment »
My background was, I suppose, theatrical…
Simon Callow, My Life in Pieces: An Alternative Autobiography
After about half an hour of waiting for Simon Callow at the stage door of Trafalgar Studios following a performance of his one-man show Being Shakespeare, Ottawa playwright Lawrence Aronovitch asked me: How determined are you?
Considering his book Being An Actor was practically my bible throughout high school and ‘Meet Simon Callow’ is number 91 on my list of 101/1001, yes, I was pretty keen to exchange a few words with the guy, perhaps snag an autograph.
Just as we were contemplating heading back to our respective homes, Lawrence looked over my shoulder, smiled, and said simply, There he is.
And out walked The Actor into the dimly lit street, followed closely by a young man with a fold-up bicycle. He greeted us warmly and happily agreed to sign our newly purchased books.
Did you find the script or did the script find you, I asked with uncharacteristic succinctness.
He laughed and replied: Well, I wrote it.
Didn’t the playwright write it…?
It was a collaborative process. We worked together quite closely. There were some changes made.
Lawrence is a playwright! I couldn’t resist playing the role of agent/producer…
Ah, really! T.E. or Olivier?
Confirming the correct spelling of his name, my companion mentioned that he, too, was working on a one-man show.
You inspire, Lawrence said graciously. I saw you in Wilde. And I’ve read Tuesdays at Tescos.
An extraordinary play, noted Simon Callow. A difficult play, difficult to memorize.
Probably keen to continue with their evening, The Actor and the man with the fold-up bicycle politely made their excuses and headed up the street and into the crowds of Trafalgar Square.
Funny he would say that, said Lawrence.
Say what?
That he wrote the play. Really, Shakespeare wrote most of it. And the playwright, presumably. There was a lot of subtext in that statement.
Yeah, true. Interesting. [pause] Hey – we met Simon Callow! Nice!!
—
And that’s how I celebrated my sixth month anniversary of living in London.
Posted in Film and Media, London, Theatre, tagged anthony sher, bicycles, Harriet the Spy, iPod touch, London, national theatre, Theatre, travelling light, tube, video on March 14, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Several weeks ago I attended a play at the National Theatre called Travelling Light, and it was a wonderful production. But the interesting thing about my experience with this play was not the any one aspect of the production, but how it – as a whole – affected me afterwards. Which is not to undervalue the qualities of this play: despite an unnecessarily sentimental ending, this is a strong and witty script about the creation of film, stemming from small-town ambition, complete with endearing Jewish personalities, a neurotic young film director, and his beautiful assistant turned silent film actress. And it had Anthony Sher, who is a fantastic stage actor.
My experience is not something I can explain in objective terms. I suppose the best way I can describe it is that it had this intoxicating, contagious energy that stayed with me the entire walk and tube ride home. I found myself walking so quickly I was practically skipping down the street with nervous excitement. I just wanted to keep moving. Even waiting at a crosswalk, I could barely keep still. I took out my iPod touch and started filming my route, paying close attention to the quick turns in the road, observing small details as I passed. Similar to when I became acquainted with Harriet the Spy and immediately bought myself a spy notebook just like hers; but, in this case, I thought I could be a film maker. Granted, the little video I created was far from imaginative, and it is, in fact, so boring to watch, that I won’t even bother sharing it. But the point is, at the time, something electric happened, and it felt fantastic.
I mention this only because sometimes going to the theatre can be an exhausting experience, which is why, I think, it isn’t as popular as it once was. Watching videos at home requires far less emotional sacrifice. But if a play is poor quality or simply ‘not for you’, the effort it takes to watch and stay engaged with a live performance can feel wasted when the experience is not gratifying. Still, once in a while, during or following a performance, you find yourself in a similar state to riding down a steep hill at full speed on your beloved bicycle (sometimes more therapeutic than therapy, I recently discovered…) or flying down a particularly lush snow hill with a sharp wind hitting the parts of your face not covered by ski goggles. And those moments are somehow magnified, multiplied by the closeness of theatre, by the intimacy of sharing the same space. And that’s why I keep going back – hoping to renew my acquaintance with that feeling.
Posted in London, Ottawa, Theatre, Travel, tagged 101 in 1001, celestina, dancing, duck, gardening, i-phone, languages, mini golf, NYC, paris, photos, poetry, radio, strawberry picking, tennis, Theatre, Travel, women beware women on July 21, 2010| 20 Comments »
101 items in 1001 days.
To be completed by October 12, 2013 at 27 years of age.
Posted in Festivals, London, Theatre, Travel, tagged accents, applying for jobs, august, bang said the gun, Gate Theatre, LIFT, London, London International Festival of Theatre, paris, poetry unplugged, rain, recycling, shakespeare, spoken word, Theatre, tube, Tunisia, underground, Upminster on July 20, 2010| 18 Comments »
I’m not sure which title is more accurate. Probably the latter. Though I like to think of myself as a Londoner while I’m living in the city. I try not to unfold maps and wave them around in public (in fact, I’ve resisted buying a map to avoid that temptation altogether), and I try not to ask for directions too frequently. This, of course, has resulted in my getting lost on several occasions. But, hey, at least I’m wearing cute outfits while wandering around desperately searching for the underground.
I feel like I’m way overdue for a blog entry. My reasons for the delay are three-fold:
Music for Seven Ice Cream Vans
Gate Theatre presents DOMINI PÚBLIC
So yes, if I do find an arts job, I plan to live here permanently for at least one year. I’m looking forward to this adventure, but there a few things I’ll have to get used to. I’m going to provide a list of London quirks for anyone thinking of visiting or living here in the near future. Perhaps some fellow Londoners would like to add some items in the comments section. But for now:
I plan to return to Ottawa on August 16. Until then, I’m going to discover some London hot spots! Keep you posted.
Shakespeare's house for rent. Anyone?
Posted in Ottawa, Theatre, tagged children, creativity, Theatre on March 17, 2010| 8 Comments »
I love children. More than anything. And that might surprise some people because I’ve always had this reputation of pursuing a professional life over a family life (mainly because whatever you do professionally is in your own hands, whereas having that ideal family life seems often enough up-to-chance, though I’ve been realizing nowadays that it is possible to have both). But it is being around children that makes me feel refreshed, revitalized, gives me a new found curiosity, and reminds me why I love the arts.
Playing on the playground
I spent the whole day yesterday at my mum’s March Break Camp at the Beacon Learning Centre (BLC) in Beacon Hill. I was lucky enough to have grown up with a stay-at-home mum (and I use the term loosely: she was super involved with community events, volunteered everywhere, and rarely had a spare moment to herself), who would take me and my siblings to museums, art galleries, outdoors events, and the occasional children’s theatre production. When I was in middle school and beginning to have a life of my own, she decided to apply for her ECE (Early Childhood Education) and in 2001 found herself a job at the BLC; in 2004 she became the director of the school.
It occurs to me now that I haven’t taken advantage of her position as much as I should. Not that we’re the type of family that engages in nepotism, but the invitation is always open to me to visit the school whenever I like and volunteer my time with the children. I have done so on occasion: usually for special events when I get to rediscover my skills in face painting and balloon animal making. I had such an opportunity yesterday at the camp, as the theme was “the circus.”
Some of the children remembered me from the last time I came to visit; some of them called me “Jocelyn” which is my sister’s name. Some of them were surprised to know that I was their teacher’s “little girl” as my mum called me. As the day progressed, I fell into that strange middle-ground of being both a teacher and a friend to them. Some of the older girls (7 or 8; the other children were mainly 3 or 4) decided I was kind of cool and invited me to play in their imaginary game: they would fill buckets with water from the areas with melted snow and dirt and use old paintbrushes to “paint” the school walls and front steps. The idea was that some evil man was making them do all this work, and once in awhile one of the girls would pretend to be that man and say to the others “Get back to work!” And they would all scream a little and continue to follow orders.
Another group of children had been talking all day about a play they were going to perform for the rest of us. They wanted to get their faces painted a specific way and they had arranged for costumes and props and sound design ahead of time. At one point in the day, they went off to rehearse by themselves. Mid-way through the afternoon they were finally ready, and we all gathered in the activity room for the performance. Almost immediately there was some miscommunication about when to turn on the lights, and one boy announced that they were having “technical difficulties.” Trying to get things moving, one girl playing the ringmaster went ahead and introduced the gaggle of guys that were playing clowns; I would argue that they were type-cast. Then some girls performed a ribbon dance that looked like a cross between a gymnastics class and an R&B music video. And then there was a curtain call. The whole show lasted about 5 minutes; there was no dialogue; and I thought it was brilliant.
Children are wonderful storytellers. They have a vast imagination that most theatre creators would envy. I consider myself a creative person, but I feel that my ability to “think-outside-the-box” is effortlessly surpassed by most of these school children. I want to spend more time with them so that I can learn how to be more creative and bring stories to life as they do.
I was invited to make sandcastles with a vibrant little girl, who worried that she “looked boring playing all by herself.” We tried to figure how how to transfer enough water over to our sandcastle village in order to build a moat. When we realized that a literal rendition of this idea was easier thought than done, she looked at me and said decidedly: “Maybe we’ll just have to use our imaginations.”
Jessica Ruano
ruano.jessica[at]gmail.com
the most exquisite moments 
