Drama-rama Redux

Thus begins our tour of Toronto's numerous theatres -- as of last night, The Advocate and I are now officially stalking Ship Sharp like the eager fangirls we are. She's thrown herself into the wide world of auditions and is owning the stage like a feudal lord owns the world.

(Ah, archaic similes.)

So yes, another trek into the city calls for a point-form update:

• Reunited with The Advocate after her month abroad. Got to gossip about Team Canada's athletes and other delicious tidbits.
• I took the longest route to the subway. We arrived in Toronto to meet The Advocate's Boy at least.... one hour late? *Pulls collar* Eek. And oops. Our plan involved browsing through the Silver Snail (another comic book/manga-related store), however we were cutting it too close with the time. Ah, one day I will explore its crowded shelves like the nerd I am.
• Headed to The Black Bull Hotel and Tavern for a quick dinner. (I believe that's the name of the spot -- it's across the street from the Silver Snail in any case). The Advocate and I split a wicked plate of nachos. Mmm, classic. So fulfilling despite its poor health.
• Hopped a cab to The Alumnae Theatre to commence praise of Ship Sharp's stage skillz. March = The New Ideas Festival at the venue. Playwrights are encouraged to stage their new work/work-in-progress/experimental theatre for an audience. In addition, the festival is a juried affair, so I imagine the exposure for writers/actors/directors is an excellent CV credit. Our group arrived ten minutes after the show started. Alas. We had to wait for intermission before we could take seats -- luckily, Ship Sharp's play was in the second half, so we were still covered.
• Commence tension: An ex girlfriend and a one-date gal of The Advocate's Boy were cast members in the first play. Eek.
• Spent an hour lounging in the foyer nursing beers tasting of soy sauce. The Advocate's Boy read sections of Anne of Green Gables for our amusement. Voices: Christopher Walker, pleasant Scottish accent, creeper voice. Good times.
• Ship Sharp's play was the first featured in the second act. Ashes to Ashes -- Three siblings gather for their mother's wake, awaiting the arrival of her ashes. Dark hilarity with ample quirk ensues. Serious, it was a well-written piece. Sharp, quick-paced, brimming with humour, and supported by a strong, fun ensemble cast. And Ship Sharp played a character far removed from her usual roles which was wild to see. The cast was a solid one and it was obvious everyone appreciated each other's work.
• Last play: OH. NOES. Picture: an emotional/plot flatline, awkward stage (mis)direction, unnatural dialogue phrasing ("When I left, which was seventeen years ago, I...."). Painful, indeed. There was quite the circular logic with the play, too: "You left." "But, I wanted to be a rockstar--" "You left." "But, I couldn't support--" "You left." "I'm an alcoholic--" "You left." "Hey, long-lost Mom, I am angry at you--" "Grandson, you will RESPECT your mother, even though I made it evident throughout the play I will never forgive her for leaving us. P.S. worthless daughter, you can sleep over here in your old bedroom tonight."
• Congratulated Ship Sharp and took our group out to Betty's. Sleep-deprived shenanigans stalked our conversation. The Advocate tried to purchase a picture from their wall (a man and a woman riding a fish, Renaissance-style), but alas -- the staff would not budge. It's a nice location with a fantastic beer selection. And their menu was quite detailed despite their kitch appearance. You could order Pad Thai, nachos, or breakfast -- where else is this possible?
• I returned home at 2:00 AM after the subway and a car ride. On a Wednesday night. Ah, the life of the unemployed. Glamourous? Maybe?

It was a full evening with the nearest and dearest, I must admit. I like the sense of adventure there, the knowledge of great potential. We might have set plans for a night, but we know full well the course of the wind might change and take us in a new direction. Brilliant.

I spent most of this afternoon/evening with Ship Sharp and The Advocate. We sipped tea, ate a pile of junk food, and nourished our minds with the random fare of YouTube. It's astounding how addictive random videos can be. We were all subdued after our rambunctious night, but, hey -- that's how we should be at this age.

I feel I've had the weekend shuffled into the ol' schedule earlier than anticipated. It's weird to think tomorrow is Friday. Maybe it's a sign I should spend the next few days cleaning and completing writing projects. You know, get down to the grit of the grindstone.

We shall see.