WEBVTT 00:00:00.460 --> 00:00:07.690 you Today on YQG in bloom I am at Windsor's KordaZone 00:00:07.690 --> 00:00:10.990 theater and I am with the director Dean Valentino 00:00:10.990 --> 00:00:14.289 and Brandon Chappus who plays the main character 00:00:14.289 --> 00:00:17.289 of Murder on the Orient Express. How you guys 00:00:17.289 --> 00:00:19.750 doing today? Great. Thank you. How are you? I'm 00:00:19.750 --> 00:00:23.070 great. I'm excited and Just watching a little 00:00:23.070 --> 00:00:25.510 bit of the practice. I can't wait to see the 00:00:25.510 --> 00:00:28.829 performance What made you choose this actually 00:00:28.829 --> 00:00:32.950 a little bit of an odd story? last year a friend 00:00:32.950 --> 00:00:35.850 of mine and a fellow actor, she presented me 00:00:35.850 --> 00:00:39.229 some scripts to read and to consider presenting 00:00:39.229 --> 00:00:43.630 to different theaters. I'm not a murder mystery 00:00:43.630 --> 00:00:46.270 guy. I've never been in one. I've never directed 00:00:46.270 --> 00:00:48.310 or acted one. I've done over a hundred shows 00:00:48.310 --> 00:00:50.869 and it was really kind of foreign to me. I never 00:00:50.869 --> 00:00:55.530 read the novels. But when I read this one, I 00:00:55.530 --> 00:00:59.729 was shocked at the... morality of it and the 00:00:59.729 --> 00:01:02.649 ethics that came into it. And so I read it again 00:01:02.649 --> 00:01:04.829 not as a murder mystery, but a story about a 00:01:04.829 --> 00:01:08.310 person who has to make a decision. And so it 00:01:08.310 --> 00:01:09.769 struck me as a play that I would really like 00:01:09.769 --> 00:01:12.090 to take on. It was a good challenge, technically 00:01:12.090 --> 00:01:15.370 a good challenge. And yeah, so it started as 00:01:15.370 --> 00:01:19.469 just a gift from a friend in a genre that I was 00:01:19.469 --> 00:01:22.689 unfamiliar with. But I took it on really quickly 00:01:22.689 --> 00:01:26.500 because it was quite a delicious ending. Now, 00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:28.780 with a production like this, being that it's 00:01:28.780 --> 00:01:32.799 from a novel, and it's already been a play, movies, 00:01:33.219 --> 00:01:35.900 how far are you allowed to go to make it your 00:01:35.900 --> 00:01:41.019 own? I think that the adaption by Ken Ludwig 00:01:41.019 --> 00:01:44.980 gives you enough space that you can either build 00:01:44.980 --> 00:01:48.939 out an enormous elaborate stage... or allow the 00:01:48.939 --> 00:01:51.500 audience to do most of the work. Given the stage 00:01:51.500 --> 00:01:54.000 size we have here and the limitations on space, 00:01:54.340 --> 00:01:56.400 we've defaulted to that. The audience has to 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:59.180 do a lot of work to put us in the train, in the 00:01:59.180 --> 00:02:02.420 atmosphere. But once they're there, it's a pretty 00:02:02.420 --> 00:02:05.439 easy show to keep them there. It's easy to be 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:08.240 able to envision it if you have a really good 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:11.759 cast and you got that dialogue going, and half 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:13.780 the time when you're reading a book, you're just 00:02:13.780 --> 00:02:17.120 kind of playing it out in your head anyway. So 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:22.120 Brandon, who is your character? So I play the 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:27.969 detective, Hercule Poirot, and he's of... well 00:02:27.969 --> 00:02:30.770 -seasoned character. Many actors have played 00:02:30.770 --> 00:02:35.030 the role, and I'm honestly honored to take on 00:02:35.030 --> 00:02:38.030 and kind of add my own spin to them. So yeah, 00:02:38.270 --> 00:02:41.469 I'm very excited. We watched a little bit of 00:02:41.469 --> 00:02:45.909 the practice. Your accent is amazing. It was 00:02:45.909 --> 00:02:50.150 spot on. Oh, thank you. I've been working pretty 00:02:50.150 --> 00:02:54.840 hard on it. I do have... a French background, 00:02:54.919 --> 00:02:59.300 so I am bilingual. I do speak French, and so 00:02:59.300 --> 00:03:04.039 I kind of took that and spent some time with 00:03:04.039 --> 00:03:06.860 the character to try and... Figure out how he 00:03:06.860 --> 00:03:09.300 would speak and and it just kind of all really 00:03:09.300 --> 00:03:11.800 kind of came together very naturally so and then 00:03:11.800 --> 00:03:16.060 adding on the extra Mustache do you think by 00:03:16.060 --> 00:03:18.400 opening night a little curl? Oh, yeah, I think 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:23.060 I could get a nice curl for sure for sure Awesome. 00:03:23.580 --> 00:03:27.740 Now this is quarter's first ever How did I be 00:03:27.740 --> 00:03:31.219 say it public call for production? I think in 00:03:31.219 --> 00:03:34.360 general the way the people at quarter worked 00:03:34.360 --> 00:03:37.099 was on When they do their production meetings 00:03:37.099 --> 00:03:38.979 they they tend to know they want to keep the 00:03:38.979 --> 00:03:41.259 direction in -house like a Jeff Marin Tate is 00:03:41.259 --> 00:03:43.439 Basically the resident director one of the most 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:45.699 incredible people you ever meet incredible director. 00:03:45.699 --> 00:03:48.479 I've worked with I've known him for I'm not gonna 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:50.120 say how long we've known each other for a very 00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:53.539 long time work together so much And I think it 00:03:53.539 --> 00:03:57.020 it's such a great family here that sometimes 00:03:57.020 --> 00:04:02.060 asking for outside producers directors If they 00:04:02.060 --> 00:04:05.740 don't know you It makes them nervous because 00:04:05.740 --> 00:04:08.400 they have a reputation a very positive and solid 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:11.620 reputation and I haven't worked with them for 00:04:11.620 --> 00:04:13.080 years and years and years. I think it made it 00:04:13.080 --> 00:04:17.699 easy for me to to be accepted as the next director 00:04:17.699 --> 00:04:20.899 here. The last time I directed a show here was 00:04:20.899 --> 00:04:23.439 Shakespeare's Othello, and that goes back almost 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:26.100 10 years. So it's been a while since I directed 00:04:26.100 --> 00:04:28.120 here. I've been in a number of shows since then. 00:04:28.660 --> 00:04:33.759 But they are cautious because they have a reputation 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:37.319 to uphold, but also they have standards. So it's 00:04:37.319 --> 00:04:39.660 quite flattering that my friends here thought 00:04:39.660 --> 00:04:41.839 that I would make sure to maintain those standards. 00:04:42.379 --> 00:04:46.600 Now, how long have you... Have you acted as well 00:04:46.600 --> 00:04:50.560 as directed? Yes, yeah. My first show I was in 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:54.240 grade seven, and I was the evil prince, and I 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:56.540 haven't stopped playing bad people since then. 00:04:57.160 --> 00:04:59.779 Yeah, I tend to do two or three shows a year, 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:03.420 so. Do you like being on stage or directing? 00:05:04.019 --> 00:05:06.810 Selfishly. I like doing both at the same time. 00:05:07.050 --> 00:05:10.649 I like being in shows I direct because especially 00:05:10.649 --> 00:05:13.250 if I have a real solid vision of what I want 00:05:13.250 --> 00:05:15.310 from a certain character and from the overall 00:05:15.310 --> 00:05:20.410 show, my preference is on stage because the interaction 00:05:20.410 --> 00:05:23.730 with other actors is just so good. Now, are you 00:05:23.730 --> 00:05:25.910 in this or just directing? Just sitting out there 00:05:25.910 --> 00:05:30.519 watching. And how many... Crew members do you 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:35.879 have? The cast of 12 and including all the crew 00:05:35.879 --> 00:05:38.160 that's supporting both sound light and stage, 00:05:38.339 --> 00:05:41.439 we have seven of them. Oh my goodness. So 12 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:45.420 on this stage, that's a pretty big cast. Yeah, 00:05:45.779 --> 00:05:47.620 there's definitely certain scenes where it gets 00:05:47.620 --> 00:05:53.699 a little tight. And sometimes in about a space 00:05:53.699 --> 00:05:56.319 between you and I, we're fitting between like 00:05:56.319 --> 00:05:58.180 five, six, maybe seven actors at once. Oh my 00:05:58.180 --> 00:05:59.600 goodness. So yeah, it's a little cramped, but 00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:01.639 it's fun. It's fun. As long as you like each 00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:05.019 other. We get real close real quick. And you 00:06:05.019 --> 00:06:07.980 were just in Three Musketeers here at Cordon 00:06:07.980 --> 00:06:11.860 not too long ago. Yes, I was. Yes, yes. A wonderful 00:06:11.860 --> 00:06:17.040 experience. And I've always loved being a part 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:19.980 of Korda. So I've done the Three Musketeers, 00:06:20.220 --> 00:06:23.560 but I have my first show here was when I was 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:26.519 in high school with Jeff Marentate, actually, 00:06:26.860 --> 00:06:31.319 who is my former drama teacher at Massey. And 00:06:31.319 --> 00:06:35.300 we... We've been very close since, and I've gotten 00:06:35.300 --> 00:06:39.319 the chance to take part in so many cool shows. 00:06:39.959 --> 00:06:42.040 Romeo and Juliet, that we were both in. We were 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:46.160 both in together? And then there is a beautiful 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:48.360 one that we did last year, The Trench. I don't 00:06:48.360 --> 00:06:50.879 know if you remember that one. Yes, I did the 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:53.579 podcast for that one. Yes, yeah, I know. It was 00:06:53.579 --> 00:06:56.819 really good. It was such a good show. And then 00:06:56.819 --> 00:06:59.399 Three Musketeers, and then now we're here at 00:06:59.399 --> 00:07:02.860 Orient Express, and honestly I'm I'm just so 00:07:02.860 --> 00:07:07.300 excited to finally be able to show people kind 00:07:07.300 --> 00:07:09.379 of a little what I can do. Now is this the first 00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:12.319 time that you're the lead? For a stage production, 00:07:12.500 --> 00:07:15.399 yes, actually. This is my first leading role 00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:19.000 that I've had. I mean, I've always kind of enjoyed 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:21.899 just taking on any character that's given to 00:07:21.899 --> 00:07:26.139 me. I like... delving deep into how a character 00:07:26.139 --> 00:07:30.120 thinks and acts and feels, and it doesn't matter 00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:33.199 the size, it's just now I've been given an opportunity 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:35.879 to have an entire story based around this character. 00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:39.759 And to be able to explore it as exhaustively 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:43.660 as I have, it's been really, really, really rewarding. 00:07:44.060 --> 00:07:46.980 For a production like Murder on the Orient Express, 00:07:47.139 --> 00:07:49.899 is it hard to cast, being that there's going 00:07:49.899 --> 00:07:54.860 to be 12 on stage? It was... The hardest show 00:07:54.860 --> 00:07:58.379 I've ever had to cast. A lot of times I'll go 00:07:58.379 --> 00:08:01.240 in as a director and I'll have a preconceived 00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:03.540 notion of who I want for parts. You get to know 00:08:03.540 --> 00:08:05.740 the actors in the community and sometimes a part 00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:07.339 you just know there'll be an actor who would 00:08:07.339 --> 00:08:10.839 just knock it out of the park. Going into this 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:16.779 one, I had to see who could play this role. And 00:08:16.779 --> 00:08:20.060 I've worked with Brandon enough and I know his 00:08:20.060 --> 00:08:24.019 versatility. And there were 43 actors came out. 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:30.699 There were eight men. And that's not a lot of 00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:34.080 variety to choose, but it wasn't even close. 00:08:34.779 --> 00:08:37.200 He was far and away the best actor for the role, 00:08:37.419 --> 00:08:41.519 albeit young. So everybody else after that, I 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:45.379 had to cast based on his age. So some of my most 00:08:45.379 --> 00:08:49.919 favorite actors that were just too old had... 00:08:49.710 --> 00:08:51.769 I had to leave them aside because we had to sort 00:08:51.769 --> 00:08:54.590 of massage everybody into a bit of a different 00:08:54.590 --> 00:08:58.500 age demographic. It wasn't hard in terms of quality. 00:08:58.620 --> 00:09:00.600 There's a lot of good actors came out. There 00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:03.000 really is a lot of good actors. In this community? 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:07.220 Oh, great. Yeah, you have a bevy of riches for 00:09:07.220 --> 00:09:11.700 quality actors. So once I decided with Ian Loft, 00:09:11.700 --> 00:09:14.679 who's my assistant director, who was always by 00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:17.840 my side on every show I do, we decided it had 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:20.080 to be Brandon. We sort of had to take everybody 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:22.600 else and figure out, well, they're great. They're 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:25.740 great. How do they fit in with this actor? And 00:09:25.740 --> 00:09:29.110 I think... I'm gonna suggest that we have found 00:09:29.110 --> 00:09:33.110 a really good chemistry and you know yourself 00:09:33.110 --> 00:09:36.090 and Maggie work together so well as she's the 00:09:36.090 --> 00:09:39.929 countess and You and Greg is book it with some 00:09:39.929 --> 00:09:42.210 things just fell into place quite nicely and 00:09:42.210 --> 00:09:45.669 sort of makes me Grateful the decision -making 00:09:45.669 --> 00:09:48.990 team that we had we I think we got it right is 00:09:48.990 --> 00:09:51.669 this first time that murder on the Orient Express 00:09:51.669 --> 00:09:55.090 has been produced at Cortisone Theatre? Yeah, 00:09:55.289 --> 00:10:01.049 I think so. They have done a number of door -slamming 00:10:01.049 --> 00:10:04.070 farces, you know, the murder mystery farces, 00:10:04.389 --> 00:10:06.529 which they knock out of the park because Joey 00:10:06.529 --> 00:10:09.870 Wright did one a year and a half ago, and my 00:10:09.870 --> 00:10:12.110 brain is forgetting what it was called. Clue? 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:15.240 Yeah, the clue he didn't clue. Yeah, and it was 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:18.360 outrageously good funny and and but this one 00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:20.919 there's bits of humor But is it's supposed to 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:23.080 be very serious and the moral conundrum makes 00:10:23.080 --> 00:10:26.639 it so so yeah That's the one thing I I have to 00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:29.879 read here when I was talking to Abby Lee to get 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:33.220 this podcast going She said while setting up 00:10:33.220 --> 00:10:36.659 this interview She quoted you as saying you are 00:10:36.659 --> 00:10:39.179 focusing on the ethical conundrum offered by 00:10:39.179 --> 00:10:42.320 the text and the power of the female characters. 00:10:43.539 --> 00:10:48.019 Now, what is that all about? Since I'm new to 00:10:48.019 --> 00:10:51.340 this whole production. When I first read it, 00:10:51.340 --> 00:10:55.980 I didn't see it. And one could say it's obvious 00:10:55.980 --> 00:10:59.580 why. I'm almost 57 -year -old white male, so 00:10:59.580 --> 00:11:03.940 I see things through a lens. But as we started 00:11:03.940 --> 00:11:09.720 to rehearse and the actors that were cast and 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:12.379 their interaction with Poirot really spoke to 00:11:12.379 --> 00:11:16.440 the fact that these women are really strong and 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:20.840 they have characteristics that you can see in 00:11:20.840 --> 00:11:23.659 the period of the suffragette would be the ones 00:11:23.659 --> 00:11:28.320 that were publicly presented by the brave but 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:32.200 admired by the ones that weren't and I don't 00:11:32.200 --> 00:11:33.820 know, I'm gonna have to read more Agatha Christie 00:11:33.820 --> 00:11:37.299 or more about her because these characters are 00:11:37.299 --> 00:11:40.179 determined, they're strong, they're focused, 00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:43.279 and they, I don't mean this pejoratively, they 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:48.059 control so much. And even if Poirot, who is not 00:11:48.059 --> 00:11:51.639 only... a genius character, but played extremely 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:54.379 forthright by Brandon. They control a lot of 00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:57.600 stuff he does. So it is a really interesting 00:11:57.600 --> 00:11:59.940 play to see the power of the female character. 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:02.440 And I really want the audience to get that. And 00:12:02.440 --> 00:12:06.360 the actors are just taking it on and really absorb 00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:09.840 that and working together very well. Now how 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:14.440 are you finding playing such a character? It's 00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:18.179 been a wonderful process. There is a huge... 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:23.700 catalog of, of stories with Eric U. Poirot in 00:12:23.700 --> 00:12:26.639 them, and many actors that have taken on that 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:29.340 role. And so in my research, you kind of see 00:12:29.340 --> 00:12:32.120 what each person kind of takes from the character, 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:37.139 like David Susette, Albert Finney, Kev Brana. 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:40.820 But it's been really, really cool to kind of 00:12:40.820 --> 00:12:45.659 get into the mind of a detective, of a person 00:12:45.659 --> 00:12:50.399 who has to take all of these hints and clues 00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:52.460 and piece them all together to try and make sense 00:12:52.460 --> 00:12:55.279 of a story. And it's been really cool going through 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:59.120 the script, figuring out when he learns what 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:02.440 and how that affects him emotionally. Because 00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:07.940 there is truly some heart -wrenching scenes. 00:13:08.940 --> 00:13:11.419 One in particular I can think of with the Countess 00:13:11.419 --> 00:13:17.360 that really motivates him emotionally. And it's 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:23.320 a conflict that he finds between his own moral 00:13:23.320 --> 00:13:26.419 standing, that he finds so rigid in black and 00:13:26.419 --> 00:13:30.779 white and a little bit of a challenge to that, 00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:32.460 a little bit more of a compromise. He has to 00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:35.039 figure out how to go about the situation. He's 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:40.340 never been in that situation before. And so he's 00:13:40.340 --> 00:13:46.730 extremely... detailed in how he thinks, he processes, 00:13:46.950 --> 00:13:50.750 and also how he presents his information as well. 00:13:51.029 --> 00:13:54.370 He sounds very complex. He is very complex. And 00:13:54.370 --> 00:13:57.269 I have noticed there's a lot of dialogue for 00:13:57.269 --> 00:14:00.809 him. Is that going to be... Yeah, that'll be 00:14:00.809 --> 00:14:06.009 a bit tough. There's still time. How long have 00:14:06.009 --> 00:14:10.789 you guys been practicing for? Well, we... auditioned 00:14:10.789 --> 00:14:14.210 for it in November, and we just sort of did once 00:14:14.210 --> 00:14:18.970 a week for the end of 2024 and built it up. I 00:14:18.970 --> 00:14:22.230 was in another show that took a bit of my time, 00:14:22.250 --> 00:14:24.350 so I thought we'd just start slow and build it 00:14:24.350 --> 00:14:26.970 up. So we've been working on it for a bit. I 00:14:26.970 --> 00:14:29.850 think the reason we needed that much time is 00:14:29.850 --> 00:14:33.409 I originally said I didn't want accents, because 00:14:33.409 --> 00:14:37.350 most actors, when you say we're doing accents... 00:14:37.419 --> 00:14:40.500 they can't do them and they try to do them first 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:43.100 and I have a real problem with that and not everyone 00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:44.919 will agree with me and I'm perfectly happy with 00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:47.440 that but when you start approaching a character 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:50.879 with an accent with the accent first you don't 00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:52.980 develop any character you work so hard at making 00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:56.000 sure every single syllable sounds like that person 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:59.100 from that that I get a robot I don't want robots 00:14:59.100 --> 00:15:03.340 so I said no accents but Then as time went on, 00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:06.399 as we knew our characters, built them up over 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:08.960 this full length of time, we just let the accents 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:11.659 happen. And now they're bringing into, and the 00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:13.940 characters are complete, they're full, the accents 00:15:13.940 --> 00:15:15.820 make sense, they understand their lines, the 00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:18.120 purpose of it, the cadence is improving because 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:22.320 they're finding their accent. So that's why we 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:25.809 had that length of time. I know this is bouncing 00:15:25.809 --> 00:15:27.590 back just a little bit, but I have to give some 00:15:27.590 --> 00:15:30.029 credit to Brandon on what he said. The research 00:15:30.029 --> 00:15:32.289 he's done and the time he's committed to it, 00:15:32.710 --> 00:15:35.809 he has invested in the moral conundrum deeply 00:15:35.809 --> 00:15:38.929 and personally, and that's what's bringing so 00:15:38.929 --> 00:15:41.429 much authenticity to the character, is he's spent 00:15:41.429 --> 00:15:46.850 time. He's looked into why this character is 00:15:46.850 --> 00:15:49.129 important to him and why the conundrum would 00:15:49.129 --> 00:15:51.149 be important to the character, and it really 00:15:51.149 --> 00:15:56.110 shows. So I mean, in such a complex story, I 00:15:56.110 --> 00:16:00.169 think it helps to have that extra time to really... 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:04.019 create your own version of this, whether it's 00:16:04.019 --> 00:16:06.259 watching all of the other people and how they 00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:08.759 portrayed it and taking little bits and pieces 00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:11.779 to make it your own. I think it's going to be 00:16:11.779 --> 00:16:13.779 fabulous, because just that little piece that 00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:16.379 I've seen, even though you're reading it, you 00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:19.460 can tell that it's really becoming a part of 00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:21.320 you. And I'm really excited. Now, how long is 00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:23.919 it until opening day? Three weeks yesterday. 00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:27.080 Three weeks yesterday. There's always the moment 00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:29.960 where you have the... Oh, Christ, what did we 00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:34.620 do? And I think it's different for actors and 00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:36.919 directors and stagehands, but the stage crew 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:41.679 is incredibly proficient and capable. No concerns 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:44.480 there. Sound and lighting will be fine. Once 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:51.659 our stage is done, it's hard for the actor when 00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:54.480 you're not in your place. When your place is 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:57.220 finished and you have your home, then it becomes 00:16:57.220 --> 00:16:59.600 much easier. All the lines sit easier, the action. 00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:03.220 So they're still faking some of the place. So 00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:05.680 I know how hard it is to get all of the nuance. 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:08.859 But once we get the sets, the flats, the beds 00:17:08.859 --> 00:17:12.559 all done, then the first rehearsal, when everything's 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:16.839 there, will be a disaster. And we know it. But 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:20.660 that's okay. You know you're going in. So when 00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:23.220 should the set be ready? How long were you on? 00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:26.569 Last week. Well, I know there's a production 00:17:26.569 --> 00:17:28.970 here at night, but yeah, they'll have a couple 00:17:28.970 --> 00:17:32.289 of weeks with all the pieces parts Yeah, and 00:17:32.289 --> 00:17:35.509 the cast works really well together so that if 00:17:35.509 --> 00:17:39.509 anybody kind of Wavers somebody's got your back. 00:17:39.710 --> 00:17:43.630 Yeah, honestly, it's it's it's a really really 00:17:43.630 --> 00:17:46.710 good cast of characters and a good group of people 00:17:46.710 --> 00:17:51.009 I I've worked with a number of them before, but 00:17:51.009 --> 00:17:52.970 just kind of all of us together right now, I 00:17:52.970 --> 00:17:56.769 can already feel like us getting so close and 00:17:56.769 --> 00:17:59.650 like to the point where sometimes we get a little 00:17:59.650 --> 00:18:02.089 rowdy backstage, we gotta calm down a little 00:18:02.089 --> 00:18:06.769 bit. But no, all of them, wonderful people to 00:18:06.769 --> 00:18:08.950 work with. It's gonna be a great, great cast 00:18:08.950 --> 00:18:11.559 of characters, for sure. How long has it taken 00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:15.640 you to grow that mustache? Well, I mean, ever 00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:17.519 since I found out that I was cast, I haven't 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:21.579 cut it since. So I've been growing it since about 00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:24.740 the beginning of December. The key to it all 00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:27.599 is making sure that's teased, and I have my little 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:31.980 comb that I keep, and it keeps it nice and neat. 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:35.539 So you're getting ready to wax it? Oh, yeah, 00:18:35.539 --> 00:18:37.839 yeah, yeah. We're getting ready to give it some 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:41.240 style, some pizzazz. Now, are you going to have 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:44.740 a hat on, too? Or are you just going to let the 00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:47.819 hair? We're going to. I don't know for sure exactly 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:50.299 how we want to do the hair yet. My hair does 00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:54.480 have a mind of its own. But no, we're going to 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:56.680 just, if anything, it'll probably be a nice. 00:18:56.859 --> 00:19:01.220 comb over or like a nice neat look to it. We 00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:05.420 have a hairstylist who is a present student at 00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:07.700 the University of Windsor in education working 00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:10.059 with Jeff Maratait to bring his name back up 00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:12.980 again. And she was in recently to talk about 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:15.940 it. That time period, the 30s, is one of her 00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:18.539 specialties. So she's going to take care of everybody. 00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:22.759 So the men will have their hair styled just as 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:26.480 well as the women. So I'm leaving it to her to 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:32.319 tame the madness. But I actually don't have mind 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:33.819 his natural look. I think it looks quite good. 00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:37.079 I don't either. Yeah. And sometimes for characters, 00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:39.599 you have to adjust it. In this case, we'll see 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:41.640 what she says. But she has total control over 00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:44.390 that. Because it's over to this. I think that's 00:19:44.390 --> 00:19:47.289 what makes it work, especially once you get that 00:19:47.289 --> 00:19:49.710 full -on mustache, because you don't want that 00:19:49.710 --> 00:19:53.109 to overtake everything either. And a hat would 00:19:53.109 --> 00:19:56.410 detract from that too a little bit. Hats are 00:19:56.410 --> 00:19:58.609 dangerous on stage, because if you don't wear 00:19:58.609 --> 00:20:01.150 it correctly, then the lighting will create a 00:20:01.150 --> 00:20:05.210 weird shadow. So if it's not necessary, you'd... 00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:07.500 tend to not use them. In this case, some of the 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:09.380 female characters will have hats, but only for 00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:11.119 a short portion. That's why I was just going 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:14.160 to ask you, being that this is set in the 30s, 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:17.660 the costumes. Yeah, the costumes were fun. Karen 00:20:17.660 --> 00:20:22.759 Kilbride and one of our other actresses, Sarah. 00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:26.220 I've been working on costumes. Actors have been 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:30.140 finding little parts themselves, but they have 00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:33.019 really worked hard at finding period -specific 00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:35.539 material and dressing everybody up so they look 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:37.980 quite good. So they're an incredible team, the 00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:40.099 two of them, so. Yeah, I never even thought about 00:20:40.099 --> 00:20:42.579 when it comes to costumes. Is that something 00:20:42.579 --> 00:20:45.619 that's created or just, like you said, just found? 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:48.819 Value Village found, but you'd be surprised what 00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:51.420 this theatre has. And every nook and cranny, 00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:54.880 there is a costume from a time... period or a 00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:57.799 genre, they have something to start with. Yeah, 00:20:57.799 --> 00:21:00.660 they had 20 years to build up this whole thing, 00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:05.200 and there's a whole loft of a really wacky selection. 00:21:05.819 --> 00:21:07.920 That's a good word for it. Yeah, there's definitely 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:10.099 some weird ones up there, but it's fun. It's 00:21:10.099 --> 00:21:12.539 fun to go up and play around. I might have to 00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:15.420 go up there after. Yeah, it's pretty interesting 00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:17.960 for sure. Because you said it's going to be a 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:22.619 minimalistic set. What exactly do you envision 00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:28.980 having up here? So the main set pieces are these 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:34.319 three revolving flats. And on one side will be 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:37.359 painted the bedrooms and you'll see the door. 00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:40.099 So there are three bedroom compartments that 00:21:40.099 --> 00:21:42.980 need to show up for a number of scenes. And on 00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:45.339 the other side, they'll be slid together and 00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:47.519 it'll look like the dining car. It'll just simply 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:50.349 be. painted as if it's the wall of the dining 00:21:50.349 --> 00:21:54.190 car instead of the window side. So that will 00:21:54.190 --> 00:21:56.349 do the bulk of the heavy lifting when it comes 00:21:56.349 --> 00:21:59.190 to convincing the audience where we are. Then 00:21:59.190 --> 00:22:03.349 the set pieces will do the rest. But because 00:22:03.349 --> 00:22:06.869 of the nature of the... The fact that we don't 00:22:06.869 --> 00:22:10.569 have a train car. We don't even have the correct 00:22:10.569 --> 00:22:13.529 depth for a proper train car. So everything has 00:22:13.529 --> 00:22:15.750 to be, as Brandon said, squeezed. So you have 00:22:15.750 --> 00:22:18.369 sometimes five actors into one little tiny area. 00:22:19.390 --> 00:22:22.730 But it will be just the combination of the pieces. 00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:25.980 And the fewer, the better in this case, because 00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:27.680 then you make the audience do more work, and 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:30.339 once they've done the work, it's done. So you 00:22:30.339 --> 00:22:33.440 don't busy it up. So it'll be very plain background, 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:37.119 two colors, two colors on the turning flats, 00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:40.380 and then the beds or tables, and everything is 00:22:40.380 --> 00:22:43.079 simple. So it'll give the impression of the scene, 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:46.460 and the actors' lines will do the rest. And the 00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:50.359 one thing I like about cortisone theater is I 00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:54.890 noticed in... the three musketeers the the people 00:22:54.890 --> 00:22:58.430 behind the stage that come out and they just 00:22:58.430 --> 00:23:01.829 move things around but they kind of intertwine 00:23:01.829 --> 00:23:04.930 themselves with the cast you don't even really 00:23:04.930 --> 00:23:07.930 notice them after the first time they come out 00:23:07.930 --> 00:23:11.859 because it's like oh they're changing a set right 00:23:11.859 --> 00:23:14.059 then and there, but then after a while they just 00:23:14.059 --> 00:23:16.400 kind of get in. You don't even notice that they're 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:20.380 there. Such a great crew you guys have here. 00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:24.279 Yeah, no, they work hard and they do such a good 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:27.609 job. Amazing job. Now, after this show, do you 00:23:27.609 --> 00:23:30.230 have anything planned, or is it gonna be a little 00:23:30.230 --> 00:23:32.069 bit of a break? I'll let you go first, because 00:23:32.069 --> 00:23:35.130 my list is big. My list is a little big, too. 00:23:35.369 --> 00:23:37.849 You guys have a big list? Yeah, good. What's 00:23:37.849 --> 00:23:44.289 next? What's next for me? So I I do acting in 00:23:44.289 --> 00:23:47.849 both the the theater community as well as the 00:23:47.849 --> 00:23:51.009 local film community And so there's there's a 00:23:51.009 --> 00:23:54.029 few projects that I have lined up One or two 00:23:54.029 --> 00:23:56.609 feature films that I'm going to be filming which 00:23:56.609 --> 00:24:00.670 is really cool and then I don't know how much 00:24:00.670 --> 00:24:04.150 I can talk about it, but there is a potential 00:24:04.150 --> 00:24:09.460 Shakespeare coming to to Windsor in an outdoor 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:12.759 space sometime soon. I can't say too much more, 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:15.460 but it's gonna be a lot of fun. It's gonna be 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:20.500 really cool. Yeah. I will equally say as little 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:23.380 as possible about the same production because 00:24:23.380 --> 00:24:27.599 we might... both be involved in that. Immediately 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:29.920 after this, I returned to a play that I just 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:31.859 put on at the Bank Theatre in Leamington. We 00:24:31.859 --> 00:24:34.839 put it into WODL, a Western Ontario Drama League 00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:37.740 festival. We got into the festival and we got 00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:40.279 the prime Saturday night slot. The festival's 00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:43.180 run out at the Bank Theatre. And so we're redoing 00:24:43.180 --> 00:24:46.599 that show, remounting it for adjudication. So 00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:50.059 we'll get feedback from professional acting adjudicators. 00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:54.440 And then... we have this summer project. Dr. 00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:57.359 Barry Brody wrote a play about Tchaikovsky that 00:24:57.359 --> 00:25:01.460 I'll be doing in end of September. And then there 00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:05.720 are a couple of shows I'm actually auditioning 00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:10.559 for in the fall, both of which excite me. So 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:12.980 I'm hoping that I have opportunity for one of 00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:16.259 them. And then next year, I can't say the name 00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:18.180 of the show, but I'll be doing another very big. 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:21.119 Personal favorite at the bank theater again, 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:23.640 and I have an idea to put forward for this theater, 00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:27.859 too So so I'm thinking 2026 will be as busy as 00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:32.200 25 I am so excited because Windsor Essex County 00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:37.339 is exploding in the theater, in the arts in general. 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:41.000 It's just amazing the amount of productions. 00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:45.599 And we're talking like major league quality productions. 00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:48.779 I love it. I'm very excited about what's coming 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:52.099 up this year, next year. Yeah, when you look 00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:54.740 at this place, post -productions at the Shadow 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:57.920 Box, Windsor Feminist Theatre, Eric Minchin, 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:03.990 his improv, the Bank Theatre. a number of other 00:26:03.990 --> 00:26:06.430 groups that do things. It's not just because 00:26:06.430 --> 00:26:09.450 of the shitstorm of stupidity in our world that 00:26:09.450 --> 00:26:12.049 arts is good in this town, but we notice it more 00:26:12.049 --> 00:26:14.990 when it goes crazy. Otherwise, it's always there. 00:26:15.130 --> 00:26:17.390 There are great people in this community doing 00:26:17.390 --> 00:26:20.029 great. Oh, and how could I forget? Martin and 00:26:20.029 --> 00:26:22.910 Carly have just opened the space at the Masonic 00:26:22.910 --> 00:26:26.359 Theatre, and they just put on a... Killer production 00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:29.200 and they have a great space there and they're 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:32.099 just so enthusiastic and great to work with we 00:26:32.099 --> 00:26:35.380 have We're very lucky and jump to film and you 00:26:35.380 --> 00:26:37.440 could speak to that way more than I can there's 00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:43.000 so much there is a huge huge community around 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:47.140 here dedicated to the arts. And it doesn't feel 00:26:47.140 --> 00:26:50.839 like it's given the opportunity to breathe as 00:26:50.839 --> 00:26:53.440 much as it could because there is so many cool 00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:55.880 ideas and so many cool projects just waiting 00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:59.240 for funding or some kind of thing to just bring 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:02.299 it all together and get it going. But the ones 00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:06.200 that you do see the final product of are amazing, 00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:11.660 amazing. I've worked with many, many good people. 00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:19.680 WIF has driven that passion for the city in terms 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:23.319 of film. It's been a really, really an honor 00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:26.140 to be a part of that. There's some great people. 00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:29.519 Great people here. We have an incredible community 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:34.079 of actors, actresses, behind the scenes, directors, 00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:38.440 writers even, of on stage, on film, and then 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:41.880 we have the film festival on top of it, the flick 00:27:41.880 --> 00:27:45.619 fest. We have so much going on here. And when 00:27:45.619 --> 00:27:48.460 does the production open? I think we open the 00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:51.880 28th, the Friday. for a Friday, Saturday, Sunday. 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:54.960 And then the subsequent two weeks are Thursday, 00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:57.180 Friday, Saturday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. 00:27:57.700 --> 00:28:01.759 And there's always the traditional... court a 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:04.220 Thursday night, pay what you can. And off the 00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:08.000 top of my head, without the poster here, it's 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:10.519 usually the second week that that happens, but 00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:12.220 I could be wrong, so I'd investigate it through 00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:14.819 the website. But they have a nice opportunity 00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:17.740 for people that, especially students, that may 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:19.460 not be able to pay the full value, they can come 00:28:19.460 --> 00:28:22.779 on a Thursday, pay what you can. So starting 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:25.779 the end of March and then going into April, which 00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:29.539 is really nice because not everybody has the 00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:33.539 time the first weekend. And I'm going to have 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:36.559 all of the information about this production, 00:28:36.900 --> 00:28:40.619 about Courtesan Theatre. in the highlight on 00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:44.880 my reels and on social media. So make sure that 00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:48.160 you get to the Cortisone Theater in Windsor this 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:51.819 coming end of March and see the Orient Express. 00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:55.539 I'm so excited. Thank you guys so much for being 00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:56.980 here today. You're welcome. Thank you for the 00:28:56.980 --> 00:29:00.380 opportunity. Oh, I really do appreciate it. My 00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:02.440 name is Tracy Martens. I want to thank you so 00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:05.220 much for joining me for another episode of YQGM 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:07.859 Bloom at the Cortisone Theater. Have a great 00:29:07.859 --> 00:29:08.299 day.