The Boy Who Went Outside
Written and Directed by Conrad Alexandrowicz
FEATURING: Meghan Gardiner, Anna Hagan, Josue Laboucane, Michael Mori, Richard Newman and Linda Quibell
Music by Lee Gellatly
May 27 - 30, 2010
Wed. to Sat. at 8pm, Sat. & Sun. matinees at 2pm
VENUE: Performance Works, Granville Island
TICKETS: $20 adults / $15 students & seniors
BOX OFFICE: www.brownpapertickets.ca or 1-800-838-3006
The Boy Who Went Outside is an original play-with-music based on the life and struggles of the American musical revolutionary Harry Partch. This new production is a work that pushes at the limits of the theatrical medium in exciting ways.
Harry Partch (1901-1974) was one of the most individualistic artists of the last century; a great composer, and an innovative theorist who broke through the centuries-long stranglehold of one tuning system for all of Western music. In the 1920’s and ‘30’s he formulated a new theory of tuning, based upon ancient Greek, non-Western and pre-Classical musical forms. He identified, codified and scored the audible musical material in between the twelve tones and semi-tones of the “traditional” octave, and proposed a vastly expanded idea of harmony based on the use of microtones.
Partch was an outsider in every way: alienated from his family, he spent much time alone; he was openly homosexual in a time when it was very difficult and dangerous to be so; he was a rebel who fought relentlessly against an established order, and was frequently mocked and dismissed. Meanwhile, he went on, creating new instruments, writing music that was celebrated by a few people, misunderstood by many, and living a marginal and nomadic existence. Both his work, and the narrative of his life, align with archetype of the rebel, and rebels are always compelling figures.
The Boy Who Went Outside deals with the political and dramatic implications of music as an art form, and as a means of cultural production. Ultimately, the play is about who is granted—or who is able to claim—the right to speak, to express him or herself in the world. This is an exhilarating work that opens up a broad range of artistic and cultural questions for its audiences.
Media Contact: Jodi Smith, JLS Entertainment:
ph (604) 736-4939, Fax (604) 736-4439 e-mail: jlsmgmt@lightspeed.ca
PAST PRODUCTIONS
Beggars Would Ride (2007)
Beggars Would Ride, the latest from theatre artist Conrad Alexandrowicz, promises “revolution (with sexual overtones) on an estate in a fantastic Otherworld”. Apparently, the servants in this land speak a bizarre language that combines Shakespeare, Dr. Seuss, and A Clockwork Orange. If that’s not enough, there will be music, satire, and a couple of very gifted actors: Allan Morgan and Damon Calderwood. Alexandrowicz (The Wines of Tuscany, The Singer Falls Silent) is a remarkably innovative guy.
The Singer Falls Silent (2003)
A performance piece for five actors inspired by Prophecy by Peter Handke. A Wild Excursions Performance production at Performance Works, part of the See Seven series.
Cast: Conrad Alexandrowicz, Tara Friedenberg, Lindsay Sterk, Kim Tuson, Todd Woffinden.
The Hanged Man (2000)
A one-act solo involving text and movement, presented as part of The Hanged Man and Other Stories, a Wild Excursions Performance production at Performance Works, Granville Island, Vancouver.
Cast: Conrad Alexandrowicz.
The Erotic Curve of the Earth (2000)
A one-act play for two actors presented in workshop by Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Rhubarb! Festival 2003; and by Wild Excursions Performance, Summerworks Festival 2000, Toronto.
Dance, Little Lady! (1999)
A dance-cabaret for five women. Presented by Wild Excursions Performance at the Firehall Arts Centre, Vancouver. Dance Little Lady was presented by the Chutzpah Festival in 2006.
Cast: Tara Friedenberg, Andrea Gunnlaugson, Marthe Leonard, Janna-Jo Scheunhage, Kim Tuson.
Passion: Elysian Fields (1998)
A two-act play for nine actors. A Touchstone Theatre/Wild Excursions Performance co-production at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre.
Cast: Scott Bellis, Shawn Macdonald with Wendy Donaldson, Patricia Idlette, Goran Savic.
The Wines of Tuscany (1996-99)
A one-act physical-theatre duet for men first presented at the Vancouver New Play Festival, 1996; Firehall Arts Centre, Vancouver; High Performance Rodeo, Calgary; Belfry Theatre, Victoria; Tarragon Theatre, Toronto; Workshop West, Edmonton.
Cast: Shawn Macdonald, Shaun Phillips.
Howling After Music (1995)
A physical-theatre duet for actor-dancers. A Wild Excursions Performance production at the Firehall Arts Centre, Vancouver.
Cast: Rita Bozi, Sylvain Brochu.
Srebrenica (1994)
A duet for women. Co-commissioned by dancer Pat Fraser and the Continuum New Music Ensemble.
Cast: Pat Fraser and Heidi Strauss.
This is a Dance Solo (1993) with text.
Premièred November 24, 1993 at Dancemakers Studio as part of "Two Men Dancing (and doing other things too)." Created with the assistance of the Dance Section of the Canada Council, the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council and the Laidlaw Foundation.
Cast: Conrad Alexandrowicz.
Hard Drive (1992)
One-act dance-play for two men. Premièred at the duMaurier Theatre Centre as part of “Wild Excursions of the Muse,” November 24-28, 1992. Created with the assistance of the Dance Section of the Canada Council, the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council and the Laidlaw Foundation.
Cast: Conrad Alexandrowicz, Sylvain Brochu.
Ladies and Gentlemen Trio (1988)
Premiered June, 1988 at the Winchester Street Theatre in Toronto as part of an evening of works; presented at the Canada Dance Festival in Ottawa Created with assistance from the Laidlaw Foundation
Cast: Sylvain Brochu, Julia Sasso, Tatiana Skljarevski.
