Random Crap....

Yesterday I saw Dustin Hoffman....

....and didn't speak to him at all! I'm SO Canadian.

I was on set for a bit more shooting yesterday afternoon, and when I came out of the make-up trailer there was Mr.Hoffman returning from location. Honestly, I didn't think I was going to get to see him at all - but there he was looking extremely friendly....But what do you say? What do you do? There are those who would run over and introduce themselves right away, gush about his body of work, rattle on about how they've always wanted to meet him....I've just never been one of those people.

There are few "stars" that I've dreamed of meeting: David Suzuki (who I did meet doing a promo video for the Calgary Public Library)....Lorne Greene (who died when I was in grade 8...Poor commander Adama!)....that's about it. Yes - there are famous people whose work I respect and admire...but again, if I were in the same room I'd be hard pressed to simply step forward and introduce myself just for that reason. I suppose because I've always tried to look at all human beings as EQUAL....and I would never just walk right up, randomly, out of nowhere and introduce myself to a stranger that happened to be crossing my path as I came out of a make-up trailer.

This could be out of arrogance on my part though, a refusal to get caught up in hero worship and ask for an autograph!....Maybe I simply refuse to recognise 'stars' as any MORE special than myself, or anyone else, out of sheer stubbornness. When I have met famous people....I try to keep conversation as real and as low-key as possible. I shoot the shit as I would with anyone else..."How do you like Toronto? Are you home sick? How's the hotel?"

When I was 3 1/2 I was on the Buckshot Show. Buckshot would allow each child to stand up next to him and he would ask things like, "What's your name, how old are you, do you have any siblings?" I was NOT able to wait to be invited up to stand next to him. I rattled on at him from my place on the carpet, "My mom's pregnant right now and is going to have a baby soon." I mean, come ON! Shouldn't we speak when inspiration strikes? And then share the things on our minds that MATTER in the moment? When I was four, or five years old I met Werner Klemperer at the Ponderosa Steak House in Calgary. (He played Colonel Klink on Hogan's Heros! God only knows what he was doing in the Ponderosa in Calgary!!!???) I walked right over to his table and offered him half, and ONLY HALF, of my Twizzler. He accepted and, our exchange of social kindness complete, I returned to my dinner.

I think I steer clear though, more out of a sense of empathy. It must be overwhelming to have strangers rush at you, wanting to shake your hand. So, in my Canadian, prairie gal way I prefer to leave a respectful distance.

So...I may have missed my chance to meet Dustin Hoffman - I didn't have any Twizzlers on me...and my Mom's not about to have a baby. C'est la vie. He seemed very positive and friendly and had spent the morning buying pizza for the crew, and that's all I know.

Back Stage Pass....

Re: this BLOG going private very SOON!

Ok. I've made the choice. We're going private....before May 26th.
So here's the deal....Soon, when you arrive at "www.northan.com" you will be asked for a Username and Password.
The clues to these two things will be as follows:

Username: What is the name of the neighbourhood Rebecca grew up in?
Password: Rebecca's Mom's first name.

IF you are a regular reader who does NOT know the answer to these questions you will have to contact me and apply for access. Many of you have already spoken up about who you are....so I'll just send the answers along once I get your email.

It's THAT easy!

Cheers!

;-)

Home again, home again....Jiggity, Jig!

We're HOME!!!

What a wonderful trip! Loose Moose performed on the Friday evening. We had the first half of the show to ourselves and played Gorilla. I could attempt modesty at this point...but we did in fact have a GREAT show and the Norwegians went bananas for us. In truth, our half was a little bit too funny which always raises the concern that you leave yourself nowhere to go in the second half. Our efforts to "bring it down" only resulted in more laughter and applause. We were playful and mischievous...just the way Keith Johnstone likes it (but too funny).

It was SO great to be improvising with Calgarians again. There are wonderful improvisers in Toronto, a handful that I even look up to and learn from when I see them work....But Calgary improvisers have a certain quality about them that is rarely found elsewhere. It's an amazing feeling to look into the eyes of your fellow improviser and a) they're right there looking back at you, b) there is so much trust between you that even if a scene is sucking you know you can admit it and go down in flames together, c) when a scene IS going down in flames...it's not long before another improviser runs in to try and save your ass, and d) there is a common goal of "tell a story and take care of each other first"....and trust that the comedy will come to you in the moment without having to sacrifice the scene or your partner. Ahhhhh.....improv BLISS! ( and LIFE bliss too, because wouldn't it be GREAT if the people in your life had your back in that same way? I think that's why I have such good friends!)

In the second half we played Theatresports against Oslo. Our team name was, "Rumpe Hule"....which is a literal translation into Norwegian of "Asshole". We found it amusing, as did the Norwegians who had to yell it out anytime they wanted to vote for us. Tony Totino, a former Mooser of days gone by, played with the Norwegian and improvised IN NORWEGIAN!!! So great! I had met all of these improvisers at a Loose Moose Summer School 13 years ago, if you can believe it! One of them, Thorbjorn Harr (who is now a famous actor in Norway and works at the National Theatre), I must admit to having been madly in love with way back when......Nothing ever happened between us, other than a lot of flirting and some great hanging out with him and the other two Norwegians (Harald Eia and Jan Paul....not sure what his last name is...). However - during the show they challenged us to a scene involving history. Thorbjorn got up and told the audience all about the summer we hung out, how he had felt the same way but had had a girlfriend at the time that he wanted to stay faithful to...who ended up dumping him not long after he returned from Canada, etc....And he wanted to do a scene with ME that would show the life that we might have had IF we had kissed that summer!!!! I could not stop laughing and blushing! (Lucky for me that Bruce is a relaxed and confident man when it comes to stuff like that and he was not phased in the least!)

Anyhow.....In the scene Thorbjorn and I were married, not all that happily, with two ROTTEN, foul-mouthed kids (Shawn Kinley and Derek Flores) and it came out that we had an agreement that we were to live in Canada for 13 years...and then move to Norway.....But I confessed that I couldn't move to Norway....because I can't stand the sound of Norwegian. So, we decided to end it and each take one child. As Thorbjorn was about to leave I suggested that we should at least have a goodbye kiss then....The audience went CRAZY and Thorbjorn and I both got a bit nervous in a "19 year old" way - because it's strange how something like that can take you RIGHT back to where you were 13 years ago! The lights came down on our actual "first-kiss-13-years-after-the-fact", which was lovely and awkward, and partially done in a comedic way to save us both from anything "too real".....But it was nice. Only in the world of improv do you get to manufacture some of the moments you wish you'd had and get to tie up some loose ends. Thorbjorn is well and has a wonderful life in Norway.....He's a father of a beautiful little boy name Illias, and he's going to marry Illias's mother Thai in August. And I have a wonderful life in Canada with Bruce Horak, my HUSBAND! Life is good!

The rest of our time in Norway was gentle. Bruce caught my cold which left us both wiped out and off to bed early every night. Norway is BEAUTIFUL though! We did some great sight-seeing....We went to the National Gallery, to the Viking museum where they have three Viking ships built in 900AD (!!!!). We went to a big park that is FULL of one man's sculptures, over 100 of them, of naked people in various stages of life. STUNNING! We even got the chance to hang out with Thorbjorn, Jan Paul, Tony and their families and walk through the Norwegian wood and spend some time at Jan Paul's house and see the domestic side of Norwegian life. Delightful!

Now we are home with a week's down time before we head off to Acapulco for a corporate gig. I can hardly wait! There's a HUGE group of us going down: Albert Howell, Peter Oldring, Pat Kelly, Roman Danylo, Audrey Dwyer, Tracey Erin Smith....! We're there for three days, but only working for one! I have no doubt I will have MUCH to tell after that little trip! If anyone is curious....this gig has come out of a company that Albert and I have started up with a partner, Randy Sabourin. It's called Biz Improv....and we even have a website:

www.biz-improv.com

Check it out. It's really starting to take off! So much so, that Albert and I are a little overwhelmed by the success of it! Be careful what you wish for, I guess! Randy is doing most of the work at this point as Albert and I are still learning the ropes. Fun times!

More later.....

R

Norwegian Wood...

Here I am in Oslo, Norway!

After NINE hours of flying, some running through the halls of Heathrow to make a connection,and a 40 minute drive from the Oslo airport....I arrived safe and sound at an improv workshop being taught by a group of Columbian improvisers. AMAZING!

It's a strange feeling to get on a plan in Toronto, fall asleep, and then wake up on the other side of the world!

Oslo is totally beautiful! There are only half a million people here. The streets feel safe and are free of litter. There are gorgeous plazas everywhere with cafes and fountains to lounge at. There are CITY bikes at bike racks throughout the city - you can buy a yearly pass that gives you access to these bikes. You swipe your card to release a bike and all you have to do is make sure you return it to another City bike rack when you're done with it....and no one ever tries to steal these bikes. In a word: Civilized!

So far we have watched improv shows by the Danes, the Columbians, the Germans and the Swedes. Tonight Loose Moose performs on the same bill with Norweigians. The Columbians' work has been head and shoulders above the other groups so far. Really AMAZING work to watch. There are four of them: Beto, Cecilia, Felipe and Juan, their musician. As improvisers they are all extremely charming, generous and calm. Their work is wonderfully physical, funny, playful and relaxed. Not once did we see that frenetic, tense energy that can creep into so much improv. There was a constant joy of performing about them, and a delight in each others' work. They did a Harold type format that consisted of three different storylines that all came together in the end. Not ONCE did they "comment' on anything that happened - even when they struggled. The entire audience was blown away!

As for the other groups - there have been nice moments for everyone. It's been interesting to watch improv in so many different languages - and yet still see the improvisers struggling with the same issues that improvisers face everywhere. There is obviously a deep seeded, human condition at play that causes improvisers to TALK WAY TOO MUCH, to rarely allow themselves to be CHANGED by what's happening on the stage around them, to try too hard to be funny, to avoid telling stories, to not listen to each other, too much singing....FEAR of the unknown, FEAR of losing control, FEAR of not being liked, FEAR of being altered....You know, all the same fears that we face in life. All very normal and understandable in life, and yet oh, SO deadly on the STAGE. It leaves me both inspired that we're all in it together, and totally depressed that improv hasn't made any bigger steps forward....

We have another workshop this morning followed by a sight-seeing tour of the city. I can hardly wait! I also look forward to seeing some old friends here. About fifteen years ago a group of Norweigians came to the Loose Moose summer school the year I was working on a grant at the Moose. I made fast friends with all of them....and have kept loose tabs on them ever since. All three have gone on the find great success in Oslo. Harald Eia is a BIG star here and has his own TV show. Jan Paul also has a TV show of some kind (as well as a few children!)...and Thorbjorn Harr is a STATE actor at the National Theatre...(and I believe also played the Jack Tripper role on the Norwegian remake of Three's Company!). We'll see them tonight!

Imagine being a State Actor! A government employee - paid to put on plays! The arts occupy a whole other strata in Europe, as opposed to the ghetto-ised position they suffer in Canada. It's hard to wrap your mind around. I can only dream....

Anyhow. It's 7am Oslo time...I should really try to get another hour of sleep. This jet lag business is too much!

More later....
;-)

Whooooo are you? Who, who? Who, who?

Yeah....CSI is a secret addiction of mine. I think the actor that plays Grissam is totally HOT! I know, I know....we're supposed the think the black guy and the other built white guy are the hotties....But I like the slightly older, mysterious smart guy.

Anyhow...that was a total tangent! Because my real reason for writing today is to ask my gentle readers to reveal themselves to me - NOT in a "surprise-me-in-a-dark-alley-and-whip-open-your-bathrobe" king of way....but I invite you all to come forward and let me know who you are and how often you read. Some of you I know well, even too well, as I am forced to suffer your stabbing comments in person after a new post....But others - well, I have no idea. The internet is such a wide open space, perhaps some of you are in prison?!

I ask for a couple of reasons:

1. I'm just plain, old curious...

2. I am toying with the idea of taking my BLOG out of the public domaine. My reason for that is that "Alice, I Think" will be previewing on the Comedy Network on May 26th (8pm if you want to set your VCR!), and on CTV in the fall. Now - the show is very decidedly aimed at a "family" audience and I am concerned that some of the content on this BLOG may not be suitable for younger readers....

Yes- I could very well be jumping the gun here. The show may air, and no one young and impressionable will find my BLOG and read all the intimate details of my life....At this point I'm convinced that most readers are blood relatives and you can just call me and ask for the PASSWORD to get onto my BLOG once I make it private.....But if you DON'T share a genetic code with me, but still want to log on in the future....Well, I'm gonna need to know who you are....Dig?

ALSO....If you're a regular reader and have a blog of your own...I'd be into checking it out!

So, am I being a shitty internet date here and ruining the mood? Is part of the fun of reading someone else's BLOG knowing that you're doing it anonymously? Is there a peeping-Tom aspect to this BLOG thing? ( and who was Tom and how did he get such a shit reputation that his name is forever linked with perverts through time?)......(NOT that any of you are perverts)

Then again....as I've said here many, many times....What do I have to hide? Not much. I'm human. If you're reading this, you are too....OR you're one seriously, fucking SMART house cat - and I want to know all about you too!

I'm torn...

I open the floor for comments....

Saidye, Saidye...Married Lady!

Finally! Finally!
My first posting as a married lady!

Where to begin?

It was thrilling and love filled and wonderful! We laughed a LOT, we cried a bit. We were reminded yet again what amazing friends and family we both have. We could not have asked for a more perfect wedding. It reflected our beliefs and our values to a "T"....

Well - ok...There is one thing I must be honest about...It was also the LONGEST wedding that I, or anyone else has ever been to, I'm sure! After bitching my face off about Lord Of The Rings a few postings back, here I am sheepishly admitting that our wedding was ALSO four hours long! And I'm NOT including the socialising, dancing and snacking part! There came a point in the evening that Bruce and I were seriously concerned for his 91 year old grandmother as we watched her shrink in her seat. I thought, "My God, she's going to die right there in her chair...and there will still be another 90 minutes to go!" (In our defense though...I still think we came out ahead of Lord Of The Rings in terms of the overall entertainment value of the evening! At least in our wedding it was obvious who the hero and heroine were...and genuine emotions were felt by all in attendance! No one mimed climbing a ladder for 3 minutes, only to nap once they reached the top!)

Here's the thing: You ask a number of your stunningly talented, well-spoken friends and family to say a "few words"...We went so far as to request folks do a "tight five"...But once they get up there, and everyone is caught up in the moment and have such lovely things to say...Well, before you know it each person in doing 10 - 12 minutes!

So yes - it was long, but looking back on it Bruce and I are not able to say what we would have cut if we got the chance. Even thinking of it now I am overwhelmed by the amazing things that people spoke about. I wouldn't change any of it! And, Bruce and I have both said in the last week, "What's four hours when you're laying the foundation for a life-time together?!" I myself have often complained about how SHORT most wedding ceremonies are. I've sat in the back of churches watching newly weds walks back down the aisle together 20 minutes after the ceremony started and thought, "Well, if that's all it takes no wonder so many people get divorced: Fast-food weddings!",

To each his own, I know. ;-)

As for the rest of the evening - it's all a blur. We were both so tired and overwhelmed but that point! There were so many people we wanted to spend quality time with, but in the end we were lucky if we got 5 minutes with each person there. We are still recovering! Just this morning someone compared weddings to New Years Eve...which I thought came very close to capturing some of the feelings.

So, as of today, I'm back on set at Mr.Magorium's and Bruce is at home making his final preparations for his trip to London, England. He leaves at 5pm today. I will join him and Derek Flores in Oslo, Norway on May 10th! After having spent half of yesterday on the patio at the Black Bull, watching Bruce and Derek down SEVEN pints, there are now plans in the works for Bruce to stay in Europe and extra week and join Derek in Amsterdam for fun and trouble Dutch-style! What a whirlwind May is going to be! And really....Not a bad way to put an ending on my "Christ Year".

Yes...I will be celebrating yet another birthday on May 16th. This is year has seen highs and lows, both personally and career wise, that I could never have imagined. How appropriate to end with a wedding and a month of international travel! I look forward to another year, and my first year as a "Married Lady"...already it feels just a little bit "different" and I like it!

Good times. Good times.

;-)