Never a Dull Moment - Part 2

As promised, here is part 2 in my series that attempts to prove that even though Mt. Allison and Sackville are small, this place is anything but quiet and slow.

If you have been following my blog regularly, you will have heard me talk about the play Blood Relations. The play, written by Canadian playwright Sharon Pollock, is about the notorious Lizzie Borden axe murders that happened in Massachusetts in 1892. The play won the 1981 Governor General's Award for Dramatic Literature. I was the assistant director for the play, which I was actually doing through a course (DRAM 4951).

Last week, after months of work, the show finally opened! We did four performances in the Windsor Theatre, and each of them went very well. We had a pretty good turnout for the opening night on Wednesday, and a little bigger house for Thursday night. Word of mouth spread after this, which is how things seem to work around here. As such, Friday was just about full, and Saturday night we were bursting at the seams, trying to fit everyone into the theatre.

The actual performances were splendid. I could not have asked for a better cast to work with. They all really came into their roles in the last week, and their hard work paid off. Most people said it was one of the best shows they had ever seen in the Windsor Theatre, which was very flattering. We also got a few standing ovations, which is not typical around here.

Jazz at Jennings also happened last week. This annual event is put on by the Jazz Ensemble, which any student can join through an audition - you do NOT have to be a music student. This is always one of my favourite nights of the year. The jazz band takes over the top floor of Jennings Meal Hall. They dim the lights, put tables out with candles, there is a bar, everyone dresses up, and all the dancers from the Swing society come on out to dance to the music. Every year, a few voice students will sing a song or two with the jazz band. I have done this every year since I arrived here, and I always enjoy it. It's such a treat to sing with a big band behind you. This year I sung the jazz standard Sophisticated Lady.

That is it for last week. Stay tuned later this weekend for my post about this week. Classes have just officially ended. This last week of classes was crazy busy - recitals, special events, parties etc. I will of course write about it and also talk a little bit about what exams are like around here.

Until then, please take care. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me.

Landon

lsbraverman@mta.ca