Day 7

tired....

Day 6...Day 6

Slept 10 hours last night. Was sooooo tired. Today was much better. Rehearsals were much the same, much physical work, many sore muscles.

Many of the cast went out for Friday night beers at a local pub to listen to fellow ensemble mate, Charlie play the flute along with her band - very folky. We had a wicked time, it was about time we all met for a pint.

It was a clear night so I walked home. I live over this bridge right now and looking at the frozen lake is spectacular. Its 9 and still light out. Probably will be until 10. I guess when we put on the show the light will be out until 11 or later....wow.

Day 5? Or whatever...

Day 4 of rehearsal, I think Im going to stop counting, I feel like an astronaunt. It was great. I'm really getting to know the cast much better, I'm sure we'll be sharing our life stories soon, it will be eight more weeks. Got there at 7:30 did yoga by myself, which was a real treat.

It was really really fucking cold this morning. I feel like my face could be removed from my head, its usually pretty frozen by the time I get to the rehearsal hall. But there is a child care facility upstairs - sorry thats too politically correct - a daycare beside us so they keep the place toasty warm. I love rehearsing to the sound of kids.

Again there are many many children here. People don't have much to do in the winters I guess.

Rehearsals are gruelling physically, but I like it that way, so they are interesting. My thighs and legs are pounding from a full day of physical work. I think a cold / hot / cold / hot shower is in order...

Found out about this crazy bar in Dawson city where they have a severed toe in formaldihyde (spelling?) Apparently there is a prize for anyone who goes into the pub and takes a shot with the severed toe inside it. In order to get the prize the toe must either a. touch your lips or b. be held in your mouth.

F-ing gross. Course I'd go and watch. My friend - the one who told me - can't go because he has a pretty high gag reflex. Go figure.

I have to say not much happens here. Feels wierd writing a blog - Im not in Paris or anything. Still its absolutley spectacular - the snow and the frozen lake. In the mornings its extremley quiet. Its a David Lynch movie. Apparently all the taxi drivers, or a large majority have offenses ranging from minor theft to child molestation. And the rate of fetal alcohol syndrome is like 30% in the Native population. This of course is all speculative.

But yesterday when I went to go get wine every liquor bottle or can had signage on it: Do not consume liqour if you are pregnant, it will harm your baby.

Crazy.

A David Lynch Movie.

Or maybe not.

I mean what the fuck do I know. Im exausted and Im listening to all the local gossip. Must sleep.

Day 4...

sooooooooooooooo tired. ate a chicken and had great conversation. met two big dogs....

Day 3 is Day 1 of rehearsal...

3 days in and I begin the reason for my trip: rehearsing Carnival. It was fantastic - I am so lucky. Here I get to be in a small community with a whole bunch of artists creating work. Oh fuck yeah....we went to the site where we're performing. Raven Recycling depot. We all donned work gloves and carted out garbage for props: huge brass pipes, old signage, a fucking huge box size thing of crushed cans, old sink facets and a huge bag of shredded paper to make a llama mask with. Don't you love the theatre...

Then we read the script and watched this amazing movie called the Devil's Miner, which is about 10 year old - 14 year old boys working in the mines in Bolivia. It was both hard-wretching and totally life affirming. I was pretty speechless at the end, I highly recommend the film.

Got to meet the playwright, Mitch. He looks like a 14 year old boy. If he is he's a fucking genuis because his play is great. Oh, and he has two kids. So much for the pre-pubencent boy genius cover...

Went and ate expensive Mexican food and then came home and pretty much passed out. What a day. I woke up to the moon again. It rises in the same spot everynight over my house and through my window, becons me and comforts me. Everyone knows the moon rising.

And then this morning I looked out my window and saw the biggest neon green snow-mobile I have ever seen with an anarcist A spray painted along the side. God, I love this town...

Day 2: Let there be beer...

There are so many bars in this town. Michael and I went to yet another and had a round (or two) at another old time bar on the Main Drag of this town we call Whitehorse. Walked around a bit, chillllyyyy...

There are very friendly folk up here, everyone looks at each other, lots of beautiful children. The people Im staying with have two bright eyed little hockey kids, very curious with the tell tale sign of happiness: fat red cheeks.

Woke up last night and saw the biggest moon I have ever seen shinning down through my window. I could have read by it, it encompassed the entire sky it seemed. A little gift I guess.

About to head off to the first day of my rehearsal....nervous and excited...more to come.

note to self...

when out in minus 0 weather, wear something around your arse so that your thighs and ass don't become a frozen piece of flank steak....

Galloping Through Town: Day 1

There is something about the sensation of flight: both exilerating and terrifying all at once. I felt like a kid being dropped off for my first day at kindergarden as I walked into the Vancouver International airport yesterday. Filled with anticipation - like having to piss or something. Yukon Air has to be the most lax airlines, which was a welcome change. It took me a mere 20 minutes to go from the opening gates to the waiting lounge.

Met an adorable 4 year old on the plane and played with a cornocopia of cars, motorcycles and baby blankets. He was a real country baby - rosy fat cheeks, big and present gaze, chubby fingers. Looked really happy. We red books about trains and we rode through the air.

I got to see the snow snow snow that I was about to be enveloped by. I really didn't see much out the cabin window except for the heavens above me, the clouds below, and the occational break in the vast cloud blanket that revealed a snowy peak or a frozen lake.

Landed in Whitehorse 2:10 - 20 minutes early and met David Skelton and Jason - both from Nakai Theatre. We drove into Whitehorse and I got a bit of a tour as we picked up one of the Toronto actors Michael. I immediatly got along with all of them, which was fantastic, and before long we were all making dirty jokes and talking about divorce, sex, and theatre. Ahhh, what a life is this life in the theatre.

Michael and I went to meet our billets, took a tour of the performance venue (an old recycling depot) and did some grocery shopping before Jason dropped us off at the Capitol which is this old bar down on Main Street. To the beer and the free pool. Michael is a wicked pool player and I got my ass kicked, but then these drunk folks came along and challenged us so then we beat them, and then left before we got our asses kicked again...(haha)

This bar was pretty great, chicken wire in front of the stage, old pictures of 'ladies of the night' on the walls. Had the smell of cigerettes and cheap booze. Good times.

We all met up later at David's place where I made miso rice and Michael brought some amazing steaks. We ate like gods, continued the talking, and then walked home in the Christmas like snow.

Not too exciting, which is exactly the way I wanted my first day to be. More excitement later....I get a digital cam soon so pictures are coming.

T

The White horse rides...

I'm leaving tommorow for my adventure in Whitehorse. A little excited, a little nervous, a little (gulp) scared even. Don't know what to expect. Expectations...plahhh. Haven't been on a plane in quite a while. I'm bringing an acorn and a rock from my house, want to keep connected. WHat hippy shit. Or maybe not.

At any rate, ready or not, I'm coming to ride the Whitehorse stampede....