High Performance Rodeo preview
Posted by John Manzo on November 29, 2007
Man, there is no stopping Father Time. November, that most hateful and hated month of my year, is almost behind us, and in barely three weeks is that beacon of hope known as the Winter Solstice. I’ll even be around to witness it in these northern climes since for the first time since 1999, Brian and I will be celebrating the holidays at home- OUR home I mean.
And after that comes January, which is one of my favourite months. Why? Well, first, my birthday is on the 21st. Second, it’s the first full month after the solstice, which means that for us in the northern hemisphere, the first month in which every day is longer than the one previous. Third, it’s the month of One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo, which is a completely amazing alternative theatre festival. I’ve seen some of the best performances of my life there, including Cul de Sac and In On It by the outrageously talented and very cute Daniel McIvor, The End of the Moon by Laurie Anderson (which was, by far, the best thing of hers among the three performances I’ve seen), and a fun concert by The Hidden Cameras. Amazingly, people who malign Calgary for its supposed lack of “culture” usually have no idea that we have an accessible, world-class event like this. It’s a damn shame.
This year, I’m really looking forward to two shows. Well, one I’m really REALLY looking forward to, and that’s Kevin McDonald’s (yes, the Kid in the Hall) Hammy and the Kids, a monologue that (so I’ve read) is about his life with his alcoholic dad. Anybody recall the “Daddy Drank” sketch? Here it is:
I’m looking forward to some stories about the early days of KITH, which, as any KITH expert knows, was partially born (partial birth, hyuk hyuk) in Calgary since Bruce and Mark met while at Loose Moose, but I digress… this one is a must see, and he’s doing four performances.
The show that I’m really, if not REALLY, looking forward to, is Bash’d, a “hip hopera” with two gay MC’s, Feminen and T-Bag. This would appear to be right up my alley, especially since I now have the goal of becoming the world’s oldest gay beat boxer- more on that later. Maybe.
