This Is Our Youth: A Scathing Yet Honest Review
I am a man of taste, of high regard within the theater community. I have read about many plays, and have seen several filmatic adaptations.
It was with nothing but great pleasure that I sat with to watch This Is Our Youth at the Havana Theatre this week.
The play tells the story of Warren, who after stealing $15 000 from his criminal father, hides out at his friend Dennis’ house. Written by Kenneth Lonergan, This Is Our Youth is modern warhorse of a script, that- along with critical acclaim- has seen many big name actors tackle its meaty limbs of theme and emotion. The current production features Sean Gilchrist, Andrew Baker, and Sydney Cochrane and is directed by none other than Robert James Woolsey.
It’s a period piece, in the sense that the play is so terrible your body will reject it and you will begin to bleed from your anus.
Tags: acting, bob woolsey, broadway, play, this is our youth
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How to Become a Serious Artist
I don’t know if anyone has heard or not, but I am a theatre director now. That’s right, I directed the current mounting of This Is Our Youth, running at the Havana Theatre (1212 Commercial Drive) till Saturday. It’s a famous play. It’s been performed many times by many actors. Among some of the most notables are the likes of Mark Ruffalo, Hayden Christensen, Jake Gyllenhaal and Anna Paquin. It’s been on Broadway with ‘big time’ Broadway directors. That’s all well and good of course, but I think it goes without saying that the material has never really been in the hands of a truly serious artist – such as myself.
How did you get to become such a serious artist, Bob? You may be thinking to yourself as you read this. Well, it wasn’t easy, I’ll tell you that. There were many long roads, twists and turns, winding paths, spiral staircases and just down right poorly designed freeways along the way. I’m a man of perseverance, taste and above all integrity. These are the qualities that have allowed me to survive as an artist against all odds. Here today I will outline for you my rise through the ranks of this business they call show in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, I can help someone else to stick to their dreams and never give up.
Tags: A Tale of Two Cities, ACDC, Adventures in Babysitting, anna paquin, artist, bob woolsey, Crash, director, Hamlet, hayden christensen, HE MAN, jake gyllenhaal, kenneth lonergan, mark ruffalo, The Dark Knight, The Ninja Turtles, The Predator Series, thespian, this is our youth
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The Rambler
Directed by
Darren Borrowman
Featuring
Lauren Martin as Lucy
Trystan Carter as The Rambler
Tags: Comedy, comedy sketch, darren borrowman, funny, lauren martin, rambler, trystan carter, Videos
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Coffee Conundrum a.k.a. Stargh-bucks
I’ve been inside of a Starbucks exactly six times.
Only one instance involved me purchasing a coffee. (The line at Tim Hortons was too long and I can’t go back to Blenz because I made a comment… look, this blog isn’t about me.)
It’s about Starbucks.
Generally I am very pleased when big corporations begin to go bankrupt. I’m not this big, anti-conglomerate socialist guy or anything; merely because I am a contrarian, and that applies to other people’s success. “Why should your company be so big and powerful? I will enjoy watching you burn.”
Tags: coffee, crap, giant corporate satan, mexican coffee industry, starbucks, suck
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A Bob Woolsey Tribute to: Food
Oh, delicious food, how I love thee. It sustains us, delights us, brings us together and can even be used as a weapon. It’s versatile wonder has brought joy to all at some point in their life and continues to bring joy to this blogger.
Let me begin by giving you my food credentials:
I eat about two and half to three meals a day. I’m primarily an eater of western foods, but I have ventured into other cultures on many occasions. I also cook whenever I can and enjoy it very much. I think meat is a valued part of any dish, although I have tried (and liked very much) many vegetarian and vegan dishes. I have a large extended family and as a result food has factored largely into our get-togethers. Every Christmas, Thanksgiving, Birthday, Camping trip, etc, there was never a shortage of food. And so I bring to you, my tribute to: FOOD.
I think it makes sense to break down this blog in terms of meals, so here are my favourite foods for all times of day:
Tags: bacon, bob woolsey, breakfast, Chinese, delicious, dessert, dinner, eggs, food, Greek, Indian, Italian, lunch, meal, meat lover's skillet, obi-wan kenobi, tribute
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The Bob and Andrew Show: Don’t Call Me Zombie, Racist.
This week on a jam-packed episode of The Bob and Andrew Show, the boys wax poetic on a number of pressing issues including the death penalty, racism, and their new short film “Don’t Call Me Zombie”.
Directed by Nicholas Humphries (black shirt; the guy who is neither Bob nor Andrew), DCMZ is the latest short film birthed and written by Bob and Andrew. Today they look back at the shoot and discuss their experiences on set.
Or DOWNLOAD it and listen to it on your Ipod.
Tags: alex dafoe, andrew menzies, bob woolsey, Comedy, death, hanging, kkk, nick humphries, Podcast, racism, shoplifting, stickers
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The Runner
THE RUNNER
featuring:
Trystan Carter as The Runner
Aaron Brooks as Greg
Tags: aaron brooks, Comedy, fitness, runner, sketch comedy, trystan carter
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Pigeon Technology II
If you remember the vicious flow I spewed several moons ago, good on you.
On vineyard land there’s a practice of shooting air cannons to scare away birds and other predators that might eat the wine berries. It appears Pigeon Technology has been adapted to the detriment of the homeless person yet again.
The bank nearby my place of business has a warm, spacious foyer in which many a hobo has taken the odd slumber. While the general bank is closed, it’s not uncommon to find, two, three, four, five or six hobos napping. Not once have any of them hassled me for money while I used the ATM, which is unfortunate, because I enjoying lying.
There have been no hobo sleepovers in my bank for the past month. Why? Because a constant, eardrum-crapping beep rings out during the bank’s off-hours.
Tags: andrew menzies, atm, bird, cardboard box, hobo, hobos, immortal technique, loitering, pigeon, pigeons, technology, teeangers
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This Blog is One Tough Mother
Man up. Be a man. Stand tall. Walk hard. Take it like a man. Stop crying.
Sound familiar? I know it does to me.
In this hard knock life we live it’s easy to get down on yourself from time to time, easy to whine, easy to just plain give up. The regular reply to this kind of behaviour is one of the above sayings from a father or authority figure of another kind. But just how does one go about being a man? What does standing tall entail exactly? Is walking hard simply an especially vigorous form of regular walking?
These are hard questions and there are no easy answers. At least that’s what I’ve found as I’ve cried myself to sleep many a night thinking about them. In fact, I would say that being a man is much more complex than the most manliest of man’s men would make it seem. Look at Gary Cooper, Kris Kristofferson, Sam Peckinpah, Johnny Cash, Russel Crowe, Tom Selleck, John Wayne, Steve McQueen - they all seemed like they didn’t give a shit about anything. Thus making them seem tough, hence their status as manly men. Not so, however. Let me explain.
Tags: bob woolsey, kublai khan, man, manliness, manly, men
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Further Considerations of the Phantasmagoric
Sleep, much like the cognate world, has not been kind to me.
I’m often plagued by visions magnifique, thematic elements that haunt me even when I wake.
I’ve noticed that recently, the way I remember my dreams has changed.
Usually I remember whole chunks, stories or acts. Event A led to Event B, which initiated Event C. I can see why things unfolded as they did. Though medical doctors have stated in many reputable studies that one can dream up to a dozen times in a single eight hour session, we only tend to remember the last few before we wake. Fairly normal, across the board sort of occurrences. However my dreams have been cutting in and out, as I seem remember as little as a line of dialogue, or as much as a single scene. It’s as if I’m flipping channels and catching bits and pieces of an old movie on cable.
Something must have happened to cause this shift in recollection… the questions is what?
Tags: andrew menzies, bar, bob woolsey, confusion, dreams, jamie lee curtis, kurt cobain, tigers, whiskey
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Words Said By People That Are Not Me
Do you ever find yourself in a public place, baffled by something you’ve overheard in a conversation unrelated to your own? We’re not talking about your friends and the stupid things that come out of their mouths (Graeme Beatty); that’s par for the course. I’m speaking strictly of eavesdropping.
The other night, I was walking home from some fuckin’ place, when I happened upon two chaps. They were dressed in in sweater-vests and cargo pants. I quickly assessed that I could take either in a fight. (Perhaps both at once, though I’d have to be resourceful and use the environment to my advantage.)
I thought nearly nothing of them, as I was drunk at the time and focused primarily on securing a hot dog.
Tags: corporate, dead chickens, kfc, naomi klein, nike, rebook, scooter, tofu, vegetarian
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A Bob Woolsey Tribute to: Well-Fitting Pants
I like a lot of things in this world. There’s a lot of stuff that I see and think “Hey, I should tell people about this!” Hence, this blog.
This particular tribute: Well-fitting pants.
Let me begin by saying that I am a fan of well dressed people. I admire their ability to put outfits together and walk the streets stylishly. However, I do not consider myself a well dressed person most of the time. Appropriately dressed? Yes, but well dressed? That’s a stretch. I like the old t-shirt and jeans combo – or perhaps the t-shirt and shorts combo, depending on the season. T-shirts are easy to find. There are plenty of people making really cool t-shirts (Jadefish is a perfect example). You don’t even really have to try them on. Once you know your general t-shirt size, you’re set. Pants however, are a different story.
Tags: bob woolsey, leather pants, pants, tribute
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Mexico
Featuring
Stephen LeBail as The Man
Trystan Carter as Algazar
Directed by Darren Borrowman
Written by Bob Woolsey and Andrew Menzies
Tags: adultery, darren borrowman, mexico, stephen lebail, trystan carter, wet noses
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Podcast follow-ups: An Andrew Menzies Lesson
Podcasting can be a cruel bitch.
While I embrace the emotional roller-coaster of highs and lows of pithy arguments about pop art and life, often times topics are left underdeveloped, and some things call for an elaboration and explanation that just cannot be given during a fifteen minute show.
I am here on the Internet today to offer a few words of follow-up to previous Bob and Andrew Show episodes. I feel it is my duty as a respected member of the web community to provide you with all of the information.
Andrew Menzies is CNN pre-9/11, not post 9/11.
So I wish to offer you addendums, reactions, and post-scriptures of Bob and Andrew Shows past. For you, the viewer, deserves to know.
Tags: Bob and Andrew show, justice, Podcast, redemption, Shawshank Redemption
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