My Life In Four Cameras

“You’ve got yourself a real nice place here.”
“Glad you like it. You know, we couldn’t decide whether to buy a house or a condom.”
“…”
-Hi Honey, I’m Home! pilot episode

The last bit of advice that Justen gave us before we headed out from our last rehearsal before the Nextfest read was “Think sitcom-y. Think those rhythms and timing, and play with that.” Now, at the time, I was slightly offended, because I was all up in my Comedy Is Serious zone, with a side of I Am Doing Important Acting Work, So I Better Do It Properly. The more I think about it, though, the more right his suggestion was, on a lot of levels.

Hi, I’m David Johnston. I’m playing Logan in this production of Addition, and as I told Justen early on, I’m a writer/blogger myself, so I jumped at the chance when he opened the blog up to the rest of us lowly flesh puppets. I wanted to talk about something that’s been growing on me more, and more as I work on the project: viewing Addition as a sitcom.

Not just, of course. I’d rate the play 80% comedy, 20% drama with unusually raised stakes in the tense moments, but in all fairness, that’s the approximate ratio of most of your standard Friends or That 70s Show memorable episodes. From the second it opens, with a darling little I Love Lucy-esque moment that the characters correctly identify, diagnose and mock as being hopelessly kitsch. Except they’re both guys, so instead of your Ricky Ricardo character coming in and smooching your Mary Tyler Moore, character, he’s going after the Fred Mertz, or the Dick Van Dyke. (Claim your punchline… now.)

Continuing on, there are more broad set-em-up-knock-em-down jokes than I can count, at least three instances of someone barging into a room without knocking with hi-larious consequences, bad puns and extended metaphors out the wazoo and one clever moment involving a surprise costume change that only works if I am a complete dunderhead and cannot see what’s happening two feet behind me. There are moments of joke, pause and beat that you can just hear a cheesy canned laugh track going insane at. (Though live audiences will also respond, I’m guessing.) Most of the action is centralized in one location (Ben and Logan’s living room) with only a handful of scenes showing the outside world, and the time-frame is alternately simplistic or spelled out clearly for the audience to see. There are sitcom-y touches sprinkled throughout the play, subtly inviting the audience to a simpler, broader time.

And what I like about the script is that, yes, it’s that, it’s not just that; it doesn’t rely only on any of the obvious stereotypes for the humour, and it doesn’t take itself so seriously that we can’t laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Ben and Logan and Daren demand to be taken as real people coping with a realistic situation, no matter how witty and acerbic the dialogue gets, no matter how mildly contrived the resolutions are, no matter the plot twist that get thrown their way.

There isn’t anything wrong with that; one thing I’m amused at in rehearsals is how well the broad sitcom timing works with both comedic and dramatic moments. You can be serious and thoughtful while playing to four cameras; you can make the cheap jokes and the clever jokes all at once, and no one will think any less of it. The play continually straddles that line, and I love it for it.

So in conclusion, Addition is your big ol’ wacky gay sitcom, and I think it’s important to view it occasionally in those terms. Specifically, it has become my ongoing quest to convince Justen that there’s no way the play can move forward if we don’t have 1) a door (for slamming and entrances and huffy exits) and 2) a couch (for lounging and leaping and sitting and living on.) Come on! What kind of sitcom doesn’t have at least one couch somewhere? They’re great! Right? Guys? Anyone?

Hmph. I’ll be in my condom.

David Johnston
Actor (Logan)

Photo Shoot Outtakes

During our photo shoot on June 20, we ended up with a few pictures that maybe won't be making it into our press kits. We figured while we work on touching up the press kit photos and preparing them for print that we would share some of the outtakes with all of you! Enjoy!

L–R: Robert Medeiros (Ben), Richard Lee (Daren), David Johnston (Logan)

Standing: Robert Medeiros (Ben)
Sitting L–R: David Johnston (Logan), Richard Lee (Daren)

Standing: Richard Lee (Daren)
Sitting L–R: Robert Medeiros (Ben), David Johnston (Logan)

Standing: Robert Medeiros (Ben)
Sitting L–R: David Johnston (Logan), Richard Lee (Daren)

For all photos:
Photographer: Justen Bennett
Photo Editing: Tess Chappell
Justen Bennett
Director/Playwright

New Sponsor

I just want to welcome our newest sponsor, GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine! We're very excited to be working with them and ask that you take a moment to check out their website.

Justen Bennett
Director/Playwright

Performance Times and Venue

Here's an announcement many of you have been waiting for: we now have our official performance times and venue for the Fringe! Without further ado, here's the information:

Venue
Venue 5 - Fringe Cabaret
10330 84 Ave.
(North end of the TransAlta Arts Barns)

Performances

Thursday, August 13	8:00pm
Saturday, August 15	2:15pm
Sunday, August 16	10:00pm
Tuesday, August 18	4:00pm
Thursday, August 20	6:15pm
Saturday, August 22	Noon

Tickets may be purchased starting July 28, 2009 through the Fringe Box Office at the TransAlta Arts Barns, by calling the ticket hotline at 780.409.1910, or on the Fringe Festival website!

Since one of our performances is on opening night, it's a great chance to start the Fringe off with a bang by catching Addition: An Unconventional Love Story!

Justen Bennett
Director/Playwright

A Busy Day Before the Break

Today was a busy day for the show. In the morning we had our media photo shoot. This involved a lot of dressing and undressing in a space with floor-to-ceiling windows and one security guard who popped in to investigate why 3 men were dressing and undressing in a space with floor-to-ceiling windows. Once Tess gets back from her trip and has some time to edit the photos we took, we'll post a couple here for all of you.

This afternoon Addition had its reading at Nextfest. Thanks to Steve Pirot, all the organizers, the cast, and everyone who came out to the readings, especially those of you who gave feedback on the show. The cast did a fantastic job and we received a lot of great feedback.

I'll be working hard in the next few days to incorporate what I can before our main rehearsals start on the 30th. We have a 65-minute slot at the Fringe and right now we're running at 60 minutes. I don't think I'll be able to incorporate all the feedback I'd like, simply because of time constraints, but there are some great ideas I'd like to do what I can with.

Also, I want to give a shout out to everyone involved with Edmund and Cadaver, the other two plays that read today. Great job to you all and break legs at the Fringe!

Right now the cast are on a bit of a break until the main rehearsals begin. Tess, Amanda, and I will be working on script changes, unit breakdowns, rehearsal scheduling, media kits, photo editing, poster design, ads, and all that other fun stuff in the next little while. Not much of a break for us, but it'll be a great time working on all those things.

Welcome again to anyone new who may be following us here, through our Facebook group, or both! Continue to stay tuned for more updates and behind-the-scenes looks at Addition!

Justen Bennett
Director/Playwright

Pride Parade

IMG_3599
Originally uploaded by Addition2009

Welcome to everyone who has made their way to our blog from the Pride Festival. Don't forget to check out Addition's Facebook group for updates and discussion.

Yesterday, we handed out mini-cards to nearly 500 people at the Pride Festival. I've posted a sample so you all can get a chance to see one of the things we've been working on.

In other news, rehearsals are going well and we're all looking forward to the read at Nextfest on Saturday at 1:00p at Conrad's Sugar Bowl. Hope to see some of you there!

Justen Bennett
Director/Playwright

Cast Changes

Firstly, congratulations to cast member Mark Vetsch who has been offered an incredible opportunity this summer to be part of the National Artists Program. Unfortunately this means he's unable to perform in Addition.

Secondly, what a great opportunity to introduce our newest cast member, David Johnston! David will be taking over the role of Logan and we are all very excited for him to join us. Our first rehearsal with the new cast went well, even though I accidentally went overtime, due to being confused about scheduling. I can honestly say I've never done that, but it will certainly not happen again. Thankfully, everyone involved seems to have forgiven me, so we're good.

So, yes, we are very excited to be working with David and incredibly proud of Mark for having this opportunity. The Nextfest read is in just a little over 2 weeks and we're moving on ahead!

Justen Bennett
Director/Playwright