Posted by Paul Connolly in Uncategorized on May 2, 2012
Since this event is definitely playwright-oriented, I thought it should be mentioned here:
Featuring new works by four local playwrights: By Dan Ebbs, Lynda Martens, Rob Wheeler and Michael Wilmot Location: Procunier Hall
An Evening of Staged Readings
May 25, 2012
Posted by Paul Connolly in Uncategorized on January 7, 2011
Sorry to see the Orignal Script category for this year’s Brickendens is blank. Ominous.
Posted by Peter Janes in Uncategorized on August 18, 2010
Ever have trouble coming up with character names that sound plausible? Slate Magazine has put together an interesting tool based on Facebook users’ names. (via Alex Epstein)
The London One Act Festival concluded today at a 4 p.m. awards presentation at the Black Shire Pub.
To preface, I saw all the plays, having attended on the three nights during which the adjudicator, Bernard Hopkins, gave feedback (Thursday, Friday and Saturday).
The plays staged on Monday and Thursday were:
Displaced By God by Joan Clayton
Tourist Games by Terri Griffin Burman
Tribes by Robin Israel
The plays staged on Tuesday and Friday were:
The Reviving Bones by Petryna Venuta
Safe And Sound by Dorian mills
Summer Comes Late by Mike Wilmot
The plays staged on Wednesday and Friday were:
No Wrongs No Rights by Ray-Alan Cameron
The Robinson Family by Samantha Gray
Where Do I Begin? By Jocelyn Graham
Poison by Lynda Martens
It was a diverse collection of productions. I think the audience received great value each night for its entertainment dollar. Certainly anyone who aspires to write for the stage was well-advised to attend all productions. It’s a great way to see what works on stage, and to hear audience reaction.
Here are the results in the order awarded: Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by JKlaver in Uncategorized on February 23, 2010
my soul could sink to the depths of you,
come up for air
and sink and rise
a thousand times
in want of eternal satisfaction.
Posted by Lynda Martens in Events, Uncategorized on February 8, 2010
www.lyndamartens.com
This week was another deadline. Sometimes I don’t think I would write anything if it wasn’t for deadlines.
The London One Act Festival has been around for eleven years now, starting in 1999. An exciting group of women decided to start something new, and it has been a hotbed of debuts for new work in the city, and a launching pad for writers spreading their wings outside the safety of the city limits.
We playwrights know there is nothing that improves our writing like seeing something on stage, so any opportunity to see our work produced is very exciting and necessary for growth. LOAF’s mandate is to provide learning opportunities for everyone in the theatre world. They also provide a workshop by an experienced adjudicator, an adjudication of the script and production, and they work to encorporate live music and visual arts as part of the week long extravaganza. The learning is tremendous.
Last year there was a very interesting entry, as Dan Ebbs’ script “Outer Space” was offered a last minute spot and, without much time, he secured a cast and crew one night at the Blackshire Pub. Without much time to prepare, they did a marvelous job and walked away with the coveted “LOAFIE” award! It’s a very supportive atmosphere and an intriguing mix of theatre over the period of one week.
I encourage you to support local writers this April (opens the 19th), and to consider entering your own script into the next London One Act Festival!
Posted by Lynda Martens in Uncategorized on December 19, 2009
I went to my husband’s business’ Christmas party last weekend. The night before, I found out that Dan Needles would be the guest speaker! I was ecstatic. Dan is a long established and award-winning Canadian playwright who penned all the Wingfield plays, plus more. Of course, I strategically placed myself beside him at the dinner table and spent the evening happily picking his brain about the Canadian new play scene. Dan also has some high profile relatives in London who are involved in theatre.
I won’t regurgitate the conversation, but Dan’s encouragement about my own work got me thinking again about how difficult this writing business really is, and how badly we do need support, especially when we are just beginning. In life in general, I believe, it helps to surround yourself with people who are honest with you, and who think you’re special and tell you so regularly. Even more so for the emerging playwright. For every success, there are many disappointments, and the competition is fierce to be noticed and established as a playwright.
It’s not easy to share our writing. It’s terrifying at times. A director or actor can whisper blame about lots of things… but those words on that page can only be traced back to us. I remember being paralyzed with fear and despair the first time I shared a piece with someone who was brave enough to be honest with me. Waddya mean that’s not funny? I (secretly) want everyone to like everything I write. Isn’t that ridiculous? I know it’s not possible, but is that my deepest wish…? I seriously have to get over that.
I’ve learned that, if I’m going to get better at this, I will need to value and listen to (but detach myself emotionally from) the opinions of others. I want to choose carefully who I share things with, and listen to their feedback with an open mind, and then go back and use what helps me to change my piece. The changing is important. Dan said (and okay maybe someone else said this before him) that writing is really ‘rewriting’. He also suggested that it takes seven years to grow a playwright.
We have a thriving community that has opportunities for us to learn and grow as playwrights. Let’s use each other and celebrate this gift!
You can read more blogging by Lynda at www.lyndamartens.com
Posted by JKlaver in Uncategorized on December 17, 2009
there I was, swimming in you, and you were on the shore drying your feet of me…
Posted by Char in Uncategorized on November 4, 2009
THE MANICURE
By Charmaine Costello
CHARACTERS:
MIA
MARLENE
JIM
SCENE ONE
(Interior of MIA’s living room with a manicurist’s table set up in the corner. The doorbell rings. MIA answers the door.)
MIA: Welcome Marlene! Come in, come in.
MARLENE: Thanks for asking me over. My nails are seriously challenged.
MIA: Well, I need the practice. Six more weeks and I’ll be officially licensed.
MARLENE: How do you like it?
MIA: I love it! I’ve finally found something that I am excited about doing. Have you put on some weight since I last saw you?
MARLENE: No, I’ve lost a few pounds actually. My daily walks are finally paying off.
MIA: Here, have a seat. It’s not a real manicure table but we’ll have to make do.
(MIA takes MARLENE’S hands and examines them.)
MIA: What a mess!
MARLENE: I know! I told you they were a mess. That’s why I took you up on your offer.
MIA: Your hands are so dry.
MARLENE: I wash my hands a billion times a day in my line of work …. don’t want to be spreading germs around to the old folks.
MIA: Ahhh yes, I guess you can’t help but do that.
(MIA takes off the old polish and begins the manicure.)
MARLENE: So, how is your new romance going?
MIA: Oh, he is so wonderful. We’ve been together for six weeks now. That’s a record for me! He’s been doing a lot of stuff for me around here. He put those curtain rods up last week. He’ll be calling me later tonight so I need to get this done.
MARLENE: That’s great! This is sounding like it has long term potential then?
MIA: I am hoping for that. He says he’s thinking of moving here in the spring.
MARLENE: To live together?
MIA: Yeah, I’d be open to that. It’s not every day you meet a handy guy with money.
MARLENE: So what have you been doing together?
MIA: Well, last week he took me out and bought me some black leather pants to wear on the Harley. $325 leather pants!
MARLENE: You must look pretty good on that bike.
MIA: Yep … pretty sexy. The guy’s a sex machine! That’s all he ever wants to do. Last weekend we went to a sex show and he bought me a pretty racy outfit. $200 worth!
(MIA looks up from the manicure and studies MARLENE’S face.)
MIA: You need to get your eyebrows waxed.
MARLENE: I didn’t think they were that bad.
MIA: Yep, they are.
(MIA gets up from the table.)
MIA: Hey, would you like a glass of wine?
MARLENE: Sure, that would be nice.
(MIA pours the wine, sits back down, and resumes the manicure.)
MIA: I’m just curious. How much do you drink?
MARLENE: I have a few glasses of wine with dinner. And I drink when I go out.
MIA: Do you drink after dinner?
MARLENE: Not often. I like my clarity for the most part. Why do you ask?
MIA: Sometimes I wonder if I drink too much.
MARLENE: How much do you drink?
MIA: I drink every day. I often finish the bottle before I realize it. And I smoke pot about four times a week.
MARLENE: Not to judge, Mia, but that does seem a little excessive.
MIA: Ahhh well, I feel good. Don’t you think that I look awesome? Hey, why don’t you consider getting acrylic nails. Have a look at mine. (MIA extends her hands to MARLENE.) Aren’t they beautiful?
MARLENE: They are pretty on you, Mia, but it’s not something I’m interested in. I’d like to keep my real nails.
MIA: Ok …time for polish. (MIA reaches for various bottles of nail polish.) What colour?
MARLENE: Something pretty but neutral. I don’t want anything too crazy.
(MARLENE picks out a light pink polish.)
MIA: You want that one?
MARLENE: I like it. I’ll have that one.
MIA: (Sighs) Ok, whatever.
(MIA starts to apply the first coat of polish.)
MIA: Geez, you’re going to need more than a few coats of this colour just to be presentable to the world.
MARLENE: I like the colour. It’s fine.
MIA: You should try this one. Live it up! (MIA shows her a shocking pink nail polish.)
MARLENE: (Laughing) No, this one is more my style. But thanks anyway.
(MIA continues to polish MARLENE’S nails.)
MIA: Hey, how is your love life?
MARLENE: We’ve fallen into a lovely, comfortable place with each other. It feels right. It feels good.
MIA: That sounds pretty boring.
MARLENE: I’m pretty content these days.
MIA: Well, if content means multiple orgasms every night, then I guess we have that!
MARLENE: He writes me poetry.
MIA: That’s nice.
MIA: Ok, you’re done. How do you like how they look?
MARLENE: I love how they look. They feel so much better.
MIA: I only charge a fraction of what they would charge at a real salon.
MARLENE: (Awkward pause.) Oh … ok … how much will it be then? I didn’t bring too much cash.
MIA: $15 would be fine. Here, I’ll grab your purse for you so you don’t mess up your nails.
MARLENE: I’m not complaining, don’t get me wrong, but did you not say on the phone that you just wanted to have a few people over to practice your manicures? Did I get that part wrong?
MIA: Oh! I guess I did say that! Never mind about the money. Forget it.
MARLENE: It’s not that I mind paying, I will pay you. Here. (MARLENE tosses a bill to MIA.)
(MIA takes the money.)
MIA: He’s taking me to the tropics for a few weeks this winter. I offered to pay my own way but he insists that it is his treat. I need to look great though. Some extra cash here and there will buy me a few new outfits for the beach. Thanks!
MARLENE: That’ll be fun. That’s great, Mia.
MIA: Here’s my business card. Do tell your friends about me and please call soon about that waxing. You are starting to look gorilla-like.
(MARLENE takes the card and says nothing.)
(The phone rings.)
MIA: That will be my man! He calls every night at this time. Just let yourself out. See you again soon!
(MIA’S demeanor changes as she answers the phone. She speaks in a sultry voice.)
(MARLENE walks out the door, tears up the business card and tosses the pieces into the air.)
MARLENE: Fuck you, Mia.
SCENE TWO
MARLENE is getting into bed with JIM. As she pulls the covers up, he reaches out to her and holds her close.
MARLENE: Sorry. Did I wake you?
JIM: No, I was waiting for you to get home. How was the manicure? Do you feel great?
MARLENE: It was interesting. Not what I expected.
JIM: What do you mean?
MARLENE: It’s not really worth talking about.
(JIM holds MARLENE close and kisses the back of her neck tenderly.)
JIM: You are so beautiful.
(MARLENE and JIM kiss and begin to make love.)
Lights dim.
THE END
