The Search for A Premier - Alberta's Progressive Conservative Leadership Race

Well, people, last night I stepped outside my comfort zone a bit and attended the Progressive Conservative Leadership Forum right here in good ol'  Fort Mac. Why is this outside of my zone? Well, two reasons, really. The first is that I like politics, but I'm not what I would call "politically astute". I have my opinions, but if you want someone who can talk about the tiny details of specific issues for hours then I am NOT your girl. I tend to go more with my feelings about politicians as individuals, and while their platforms interest me I am more intrigued by their character. The second reason I was out of my zone? I'm not a member of the Alberta PC party. Yes, that's right. Ideologically I lean left (I grew up in Saskatchewan and spent my formative adult years in Toronto, so sue me, okay?). However, I'm also not dumb, and I know which way the political wind blows in this province. One of the candidates currently competing for leadership of the PC party will be our premier, at least for a time, and will very likely be leading this province into the future for some time to come (unless things change pretty drastically, and drastic change doesn't seem the Albertan political style).

So, there you have my full disclosure. Despite all that I found myself at the Quality Inn last night with a whole lot of other people to hear the candidates. I was very impressed with the turnout from Fort McMurray, people. It seems there are a lot of people here who are quite involved in the political process, and it was terrific to see them there. I was especially delighted when a family came and sat next to me, a mom and dad with their teen and pre-teen kids in tow. Seeing youth interested in democracy thrills me, regardless of political orientation, because our future lies with these young minds.

The debate and forum was very well organized, with each candidate giving an opening speech, answering questions that were submitted by the audience, and then giving closing remarks. The moderator of the forum did a great job, even including a couple of "left" jokes about the candidates on the left of the podium (I was afraid my not laughing at these would give away my own political leanings, but everyone else was thankfully too busy to notice the lefty in the crowd).

I'm not going to go into grand specific details about all the platforms and positions of the candidates. I will say that this is an impressive group on many levels, and I do have some observations about them.

Of the entire group I would say that Gary Mar and Rick Orman are the most politically "polished". They speak like politicians, and carry themselves like one, too. This isn't a bad thing, of course, and it means you tend to pay attention when they speak (well, I did, anyhow). I was amused when Rick Orman took some shots at the other candidates, too, as I like a bit of feisty aggressiveness in my politicians (I've been told I am feisty so I guess perhaps it's a quality I admire). Gary Mar is very smooth in his delivery and oration, and has the kind of voice you could listen to for a very long time and not tire of. Rick Orman may not be quite as smooth but he's not far behind, either. The one thing that seemed a bit disingenuous about Rick Orman is when, during his closing remarks, he said he thinks about Fort McMurray every day when he wakes up, and how to make it better. This seemed an odd statement, especially since I live here, have done so for ten years, write about it daily, and yet even *I* don't wake up thinking about it every day. Maybe he really does, but it just seemed...well, a little bit false.

Ted Morton is a bit of a quandary for me personally. He was the only one who was very specific in platform details most of the time, and I admire that. No wishy-washy comments, just straight-up "this is what I will do, and how, and when". The problem I had is that he's not a terribly inspiring speaker, and just doesn't seem as polished as the previous two I mentioned. Now, that's not necessarily a bad thing as sometimes "polish" can come off as "car salesman slick" so it's a fine line to walk, and maybe this is where Ted walks it.

Doug Horner seems passionate about his run at this, but I must admit he didn't inspire me personally or make me want to buy into his vision. I don't know, he just comes across a bit bland, and I'm the sort of person who wants to be inspired. If you read my blog you know I'm into two things - vision and passion - and I adore people who can make me see their vision and feel their passion. Doug just didn't do it for me. Even after two hours he remains a bit of a puzzler for me.

And so to the final two candidates, and, quite frankly, the ones who impressed me the most last night. I don't know if either has a real shot at the leadership as I admittedly do not know enough about the inner workings of the party to say - but these are two people I would love to see as premier, and if not now, some day.

Alison Redford brings passion, vision, intelligence, and a different perspective. I happen to be one of those people who loves to see a stereotype turned on it's head, and the idea of a woman running a party and province long perceived as an "old boys club" thrills me. This isn't about gender, though, it's about ability and competence, and I think Alison has those qualities. She has worked with the Prime Minister's office, and she has worked internationally. This impresses me and makes me think she may well have what it takes to lead our province into a new phase of our development (and people, we are headed into a new phase, make no mistake). She also seems to get Fort McMurray, and told me that when she thinks about this community she "gets goosebumps" - and that won my heart as, quite honestly, so do I.

Doug Griffiths is the youngest candidate, and while he is young he is clearly passionate. I spoke with Doug last night after the forum and twice he apologized to me for monopolizing my time or boring me - but passion is NEVER boring and I was delighted to hear him express his vision so clearly. I also think that he gets Fort McMurray on a local level, and we talked about the enthusiasm in this community that is just waiting to be tapped into. He gets the importance of arts and culture on influencing our world, and he and I spoke about how residents of this city are starting to tell the story of our community through things like blogs and film-making. I really happen to like Doug, not just politically but as a person, too, and I think he has an incredibly bright political future. In his closing remarks he commented that people have told him he will be a great premier "some day", which I admit is what I was thinking(totally busted, sorry Doug!) but as he pointed out "some day" is now. And maybe he's right. Maybe what we need is someone young and fresh and new, like Doug Griffiths or Alison Redford. Even this left-leaning non-politically astute blogger can get behind that kind of premier.

So, there you have my decidedly non-professional opinion of the Progressive Conservative leadership forum, and the candidates. Look, people, I don't think I'll be running out and buying a membership in the PC party in order to vote for the leader, but I do know that when the provincial election rolls around decisions will need to be made. So, for me it's about who will likely lead this province into the next several years, not just who will lead the PC party. I have just as much at stake in this as any card-carrying PC party member.  I may not be one of those members, but I am an Albertan, and whether I am PC or not the premier is my representative, and I want one that I am proud of and trust. I may lean left in ideology, but once the premier is elected that falls away a bit and I entrust my home, my future, and my child's future to their guidance. This is irrespective of my political leanings, and that's why I attended the forum last night. It wasn't because I am a staunch PC member - it's because I am an Albertan, and one of these people will be my premier. I hope it's one that makes me, and all of us, proud.

Northern Workers and Blame, Part Two

Well, people, it seems my post from yesterday started a little bit of a fire both here in Fort Mac and in Edmonton. Now, that's not a bad thing in my mind - we need to open a dialogue on these topics, although preferably without the pitchforks and burning-at-the-stake aspects. So, here is what has happened since I posted yesterday morning.

Kim Krushell, the Edmonton city councillor I wrote about, has now clarified the comments she made to the CBC and says her remarks were taken out of context. I can accept that, people, and I know it happens. I'm not sure if she thinks I took them out of context or if CBC did, but this is the original article showing what she stated. Her implication seemed fairly clear (and I didn't even comment on the statement about a "better holding facility would give the partiers a safe place to sleep", which to me loosely interpreted means "let's lock up all those drunk northern workers until they sober up and get out"). So, maybe she was misquoted and misinterpreted - and I wish it could end there, but it hasn't.

Last night someone showed me this via Twitter. This is City of Edmonton official spokesperson Jeff Angel, who has stated that "Edmonton's bearing the brunt of a petroleum-driven workforce that blows off steam leading to violence". He also stated that going to Edmonton is like going to Disneyland for "camp workers", and while I love Edmonton I don't think anyone is going to mistake it for Disney, do you? (and I think Disney has a much lower crime rate, incidentally)

So, benefit of the doubt time. Maybe Ms. Krushell didn't mean her remarks to imply what I, and many others, thought they did. So what about Jeff Angel, then? Was he taken out of context, too? Or is this "northern worker problem" some kind of undercurrent going on in Edmonton city hall that has begun to leak out into the media? Is this what they talk about behind closed doors, how to deal with us "northern workers" who are creating their problems? I sincerely hope not - but there seems an awful lot of this kind of comment appearing in the media right now, and that makes me deeply suspicious.

Look, people, I happen to love Edmonton. And Calgary, and Banff, and Red Deer, and the rest of Alberta. I consider ALL of this province my home, and I think we are in this together for better or for worse. When people target the oil sands for reproach the bulls-eye isn't just on Fort Mac, it's on all of us in this province. When an oil well experiences a blowout I worry for those around it. When grizzlies are killed by trains in Banff I am saddened by their loss. When someone is murdered in Edmonton I am horrified and I feel for their community. This isn't about pointing fingers and blame and recriminations and who is at fault - it's about our province, and how we are going to handle our boom-bust economy. We could descend into scapegoating and blaming and pointing fingers, but who does that serve? How does that solve the issues? Who does that help? Or, in the end, does that just harm all of us and instead of strengthening our bonds as a province and a community severs them?

I doubt this story is over yet, although I'd like to believe that maybe we have started a discourse that can help us to better understand how we can help each other and work together instead of blaming each other. The time for blame and an "us versus them" philosophy is over. The time to find solutions for all our communities has arrived. Let's get at it, shall we?

Murders, Northern Workers, and Blame

I've been wanting to write this post for a few days but decided instead to focus on interPLAY because it made me happy. This next topic doesn't make me happy, people. In fact, it makes me pretty angry, and I don't get angry very often. I'm a bit like Mount Saint Helen's in that regard though - quiet for a long time, and when I blow my top, I really go - and this particular topic is of the volcano variety for me.

A few days ago an Edmonton city councillor, Kim Krushell, was speaking to the media about Edmonton's murder rate. There has been 34 murders there this year, and I truly feel for them as this is a troubling situation with no clear answers or solutions. But Ms. Krushell "suggested that the large number of workers from the north that come to Edmonton to party may be a problem". Look, people, I know who she is talking about, and so do you - she is talking about people like us, up here in Fort Mac. And frankly, I deeply resent her comment.

It is so very easy to blame "outsiders" for problems in our communities. After the riot in Vancouver I was bemused by all the claims that it wasn't locals, it was people from other places rioting - and all I can say to that is "bull". Yes, of course there were people from outside Vancouver rioting - but I'm quite certain some were Vancouver residents, too.

The same is happening right now in England, with police chiefs and politicians from every community claiming it's not their residents rioting and looting but ones from other areas. Again, no doubt some are from other places - but clearly some are from those communities, too, and trying to fob off blame on "those other people" doesn't serve anyone well.

On a scale much closer to home it's like when my kid has a friend over, and after they leave I notice a huge mess in her room that needs to be cleaned up. My kid will often exclaim "but so-and-so made the mess!". For starters I know my kid contributed to the mess, and secondly who did it doesn't really matter. It's her room, she has to live there, and now she has to clean it up. Blaming someone else is not going to clean up the mess, address the problem, or make anyone feel better about it, either.

So too it is with the murder situation in Edmonton. I resent city councillors trying to fob off their crime statistics on "northern workers". No doubt those northern workers may occasionally be involved in crime in Edmonton, but I also doubt they are primarily responsible for the current murder statistics. And in the final analysis even if they are it's immaterial, because it's still happening in Edmonton, and they need to address the problem. We have enough issues to address here in Fort Mac, and I don't think we should be asked to carry the burden of Edmonton's murder rate, too. I'd also point to our own rather low murder rate (with the exception of the sad and deeply troubling murders earlier this summer) as evidence of the dubious nature of the claim that we are some lawless people who go to Edmonton to perpetrate crime.

Look, I am really annoyed by this allegation that it is northern workers who are driving up Edmonton's murder rate. I'd like to see some statistics proving that. I'd also like to remind certain Edmonton city councillors that they derive a lot of economic benefit from us "northern workers". As I've noted before in this blog I am a shopper. I am the kind of person that makes the eyes of shopkeepers glow with delight, especially if they happen to run shoe or clothing stores. I try to do a lot of shopping here in Fort Mac but over the last decade have spent a lot of time and money shopping in Edmonton, too. Like many people I've bought clothing, electronics, and cars there. I have contributed to Edmonton's retail, restaurant, entertainment, and hotel industries. But right now I'm seriously considering heading right by Edmonton next time and straight to a city further south where shopping is also good and where perhaps "my kind" won't be seen as "northern workers" contributing to their crime statistics. I am deeply offended by a city councillor who no doubt encourages those from the north to come to her city to shop and stay and eat and enjoy - but then turns around and blames us for her city's current woes.

Look, people, I'm not blind. I'm sure there are people from the north involved in crime in Edmonton - and probably people from the south, too, and people from other provinces, and, quite likely, people with an Edmonton street address. To point to one group, though, and say that they "may be a problem", to imply that somehow it is "those other people" who are at fault - well, that doesn't earn my respect, and it shouldn't earn the respect of Edmontonians, either. I feel truly awful about the problems the community in Edmonton is experiencing right now, and they have my sympathy. Just maybe, though, it's time to stop pointing fingers north and start looking a little closer to home for the root of the problem. I'm afraid regardless of who is responsible it's just time to start cleaning up the mess. If my kid can accept that responsibility, so can a city councillor.

interPLAY 2011 - The Post-Mortem

Well, people, interPLAY 2011 has come and gone, and it's all over for another year. Now that I've had the benefit of some some sleep (and loads of coffee) I'd like to recap what I think worked with interPLAY this year - and what might need some work.

First, the major change this year was of course the move to King Street, and I think that it was a decision of pure genius. A street festival and a college are a natural match, and access to the theatres gave the event a true performing arts focused feel. The additional room on King Street meant expansion of the marketplace, more areas for street performers, and less feelings of intense claustrophobia (this was an issue for me on Franklin Avenue where I would sometimes leave simply due to the crowd). The only drawback about this site is noise for area residents, particularly during the evening concerts. I do recognize the event is only once a year, but four nights of loud music might be a bit hard to take, particularly for people who may not even enjoy interPLAY. I'm not sure of the solution for this one, and my instinct as an interPLAY supporter is to say "well, once a year, surely they can cope?", but I don't live there, and it is a concern that may need to be addressed.

One other complaint I heard was about things starting late in the day, after 11 am or so. That seems a natural time to start the plays, but it seems everything (the marketplace, food vendors, music, street performers) all started at that time. It might be nice if some of these things could be open at 10 instead, especially since the box office opens at 10 and you have people (like me) who arrive to collect their tickets and then have nothing to do. This is pretty minor, though, and not a big deal, really, even to me.

Parking, parking, parking. There was tons of parking, people, in the Bob Lamb lot and by Syncrude Sport and Wellness - but no one seemed to know about it or remember it. Those lots were virtually empty most of the weekend, so I'm not sure where people were parking. I think the issue was that where to park wasn't really promoted or advertised, and there were no signs directing people to available lots. This is something that could be easily addressed, and it's pretty much what I expect for a new location still having the bugs worked out.

To be honest I don't have many complaints or concerns. I think interPLAY 2011 went splendidly well, and I think some of the new additions (like the Film Festival) have added immeasurably to it. As with any event there is some tweaking to be done, and some improvements to explore. So many things about this year's interPLAY were amazing, so I'd like to recap those, too.

First, the community BBQ. Sparsely attended this year, as it was a new concept, but a brilliant idea. It seemed right to kick-off interPLAY in the evening, and allowed people a glimpse of what was to come the next day. I do hope they keep this idea going, and hope in future years more people know about it and attend, as I am certain they would enjoy it if they did.

Second, the venues for the plays. I love sitting in a theatre and watching a performance. There's nothing like that feeling, and the more formal setting just seems more fitting. In addition to the venues, of course, are the plays themselves, and this year I laughed, smiled, and, at one moment, even began to cry a bit. This is the mark of true success, people - when an actor can reach inside you and grab your heart, even if just for a moment. I had a lot of those moments this year at the plays I attended.

Third, the expanded marketplace. I spent money there, and I bet many people did. There was something for everyone, and it truly felt more like a festival marketplace than ever before (and there was plenty of room to move around, unlike previous years when I was almost mown down by strollers).

Fourth, the film festival. Brilliant to meld it with interPLAY, and brilliant to add the local aspect of the 48-hour film challenge. If I knew how to use a video camera I might even try that one next year, but technology baffles me and so I will leave it to those who are a bit more technically minded. Regardless, one of my festival high points was watching the 4 films entered in the 48-hour challenge, because it was our residents, and our community, being showcased.

Fifth, the street performers. We somehow manage to attract some world-class acts, like the Aerial Angels, and that they are willing to keep making the trek back here says something about us. We might love them, but I think they might just be pretty fond of us, too.

Finally, and most importantly in my mind, all the volunteers. Every single interPLAY volunteer I encountered was helpful, friendly, thoughtful, and kind. They embodied everything I love about this community. They were there to embrace the arts, to help out a special event, and to serve their community. These people earn no salary, and give freely of their personal time so people like me can hang around for hours just having fun. They have my gratitude and respect, and I think the volunteers are the true heart of interPLAY.

So, there's my interPLAY 2011 post-mortem. I truly believe that this is the best one I have attended in a decade, and I think the potential for continued growth and improvement is unlimited. As our community grows and changes so too will our events, and they will need to do that in order to continue to serve the needs and interests of our region. I am delighted to say that Events Wood Buffalo seems very cognizant of this reality, and have managed to take interPLAY into a new phase. I applaud them, and all involved with interPLAY 2011, for a job very well done. I'm already looking forward to interPLAY 2012!

Laser Tag, Potatoes on a Stick, and Independent Films - interPLAY Day Three Review

Yesterday morning it was a bit tougher to get out of bed and launch myself into interPLAY mode. This wasn't due to lack of enthusiasm but rather due to late night shenanigans involving closing down the beer gardens and then moving on to the Tavern On Main instead of going straight home as a sensible person might have. While I was moving a bit slower, I was still moving, and the Intrepid Junior Bloggers and I decided to hit the festivities at about noon.

When we arrived things were a bit quiet on King Street due to the rain that had been happening off and on all morning. The rain had seemed to stop, though, so our first visit was to Tiny Tim's mini-donut vendor to acquire some of those delicious little circles to accompany our morning Starbucks. We sat under the covered tent by the Transalta stage listening to the talent competition, eating mini-donuts and planning our interPLAY attack for the day.

The girls had asked that I spend the day with them so I decided to forego any other plays and simply see interPLAY with them, and hopefully see a bit through their eyes. They had decided in advance that we needed to visit the free laser tag area, so after we finished our meal of mini-donuts off we went. I think the free laser tag was quite likely one of interPLAY's most child-fun aspects and yet it was never busy. I'm not sure why, but perhaps because it was a bit off the beaten path many people didn't realize it was there. However, the Junior Bloggers knew and had spent a good part of Friday there, so they knew their strategy. They had warned me to wear sensible shoes, but apparently these were not sensible enough as I was soundly beaten down by two young women who followed me around simply shooting their lasers at me. They were a formidable little team, and even the young man running the laser tag commented that my daughter in particular was quite sneaky, simply hiding in corners and shooting people as they went by. I'm hoping she hasn't added "sniper" to her future career plans, but I do know that laser tag was a complete hit with all the kids who tried it (and quite a few of the adults, too).

After we emerged from laser tag hot, sweaty, and tired (and some of us deeply embarrassed by our shameful performance) we headed over to the marketplace. The marketplace this year hosted an amazing number of booths, and I was very impressed with the variety and scope of the vendors. From clothing to candles, artworks to jewelry, there was something to appeal to everyone. The extra room available to the marketplace allowed them to really expand it, and this was yet another great aspect to this new interPLAY home on King Street.

We were just finishing in the marketplace when I realized the Aerial Angels were starting their street performance, so we rushed off to find a seat. The girls absolutely love the Angels, and so do I. This was their choice for best street performance at interPLAY, and I would agree. The Angels just manage to astonish you while also making you laugh, and I continue to hold them in very high regard. My daughter considers them role models, and in this world of Lindsay Lohans and Paris Hiltons I would much prefer she sees strong, confident, healthy, and visionary women like the Angels as women to emulate. We watched the entire performance, and then headed off in search of snacks.

The girls both opted for selections from the ice cream trucks that were scattered around the interPLAY site while I decided it was time to try deep-fried potato on a stick. That is exactly what it sounds like, a fresh potato cut into a spiral, deep-fried and then doused in your choice of flavouring. I chose cheddar, and all I can is that these delectable items are like a cross between potato chips and baked potatoes, and I'm quite glad I can't have them more often as I would need to spend a lot more time at the gym to compensate. Once we had finished our snacks (some of us now high on sugar, while others were loaded down with starchy carbs) we went off to meet a friend who had just arrived on King Street.

We found our friend, and the girls decided he was their next laser tag victim. Unfortunately he also happens to be someone with a bit of a video game addiction and they found themselves becoming his victims instead. Their former bravado was replaced with a bit of shock when they realized that he was quite good at this laser tag thing. Once again they played several rounds of laser tag, and once again came out hot, sweaty, tired, and very, very happy.

When we emerged from laser tag we discovered the rain had begun again, so we parted from our friend in order to grab some supper before returning last night - because last night was the finale of the interPLAY Film Festival, and I knew this would be an event not to be missed. My niece had agreed to come with me, and never having been to a film festival I was curious to see what her response to it would be. I'm pleased to say she is now an independent film festival fan, and I know given another opportunity to attend one that she will most certainly go.

I was delighted when I entered the Keyano Recital Theatre last night and saw a fairly decent sized crowd in attendance for the final night of the film festival. This is, of course, the first time any such thing has ever been attempted in Fort Mac, and one always has to wonder how it will be received. People - it was amazing! Toddske and Tito of YMMPodcast approached Events Wood Buffalo with their vision of a film festival, and that vision coupled with passion and initiative resulted in the start of something that I think will eventually be huge. The film-making community here may be small and just in it's infancy, but there is a desire and a passion for it that was just waiting to be recognized and encouraged. I was thrilled to see so many local people willing to take on the 48-hour challenge and enter a film (in one case despite never having made a film before). I was delighted to see so much local talent - directors, actors, and all the rest - using this opportunity to showcase their work.

Look, I'm not a film-maker but I know a bit about what it takes to be involved in a creative process. Just for this blog I spent my entire weekend (and then some) at interPLAY, both having fun but also "working" in order to bring my perspective on it to you. I know that it takes time, commitment, energy, passion, vision, and sometimes a lot of headaches in order to create something of which you are proud, and so independent film-makers have my deepest respect.

A few more independent films were screened, and then the four entries in the 48-hour challenge were shown. I was completely amazed by the level of talent and effort displayed by the four film-makers who took this challenge, and I suspect great things could well come from all of them in the future. I just love that they had the opportunity to do this in their own city, and I know they appreciated this chance, too.

The full results of the interPLAY film festival awards can be found here, and I won't repeat all that information. All I really want to say is that the local effort that won best film, "Tale Lights", was done by Fort McMurray residents who wanted to share their take on our city - not an "all good" or "all bad" tale, but rather a story that walked the centre line. I think that is what so many of us - podcasters, bloggers, filmmakers - are trying to do now, people. We are trying to take control of the message about Fort Mac, not to paint it in an exclusively rosy glow but rather to show the true portrait of this city we call home. We want to be the ones to tell the world about our city, and not entrust drive-by journalists or TV crews to capture who we really are. I am so pleased that a film with this scope and vision won the best film award, because I think it truly speaks to the renaissance that is going on here.

So, there it is, people. This morning I woke up, looked around my house, and realized it looks like a tsunami swept through it. After more than 3-days of interPLAY related neglect there are dozens of household chores to do, and I'm about a week behind on all of them. The dog needs some serious attention as she feels quite miffed at being left out all weekend, the Intrepid Junior Bloggers are exhausted, and frankly I feel a bit like I've been hit by a very large speeding truck. And in the final analysis it was so very worth all of it, because this was, by far, the best interPLAY I  have ever seen. This was an event worthy of a city this size, and I want to thank everyone - Events Wood Buffalo, Keyano College, YMMPodcast, all the volunteers, all the directors and actors in the plays, all the musicians, all the street performers, all the sponsors, all the radio stations, all the marketplace vendors, all the food vendors, and, finally, all of those residents who came out to this weekend - because we shared something special this weekend. We saw an event that has been a staple summer activity become something incredible, and with the potential to just keep getting better. I am proud to have been a part of it in just a very small way, and I was so very, very happy to see you there, Fort Mac. I know I will see you there next year!

Macbeth, Burlesque and Fozzy - interPLAY 2011, Day Two

Day Two of interPLAY dawned early and sunny in my house, although my Intrepid Junior Bloggers had burnt the candle at both ends on Day One and decided that a day of extreme laziness was in order. So, I headed off to King Street solo in order to get my tickets for the day and get a second day begun.

The box office opens at ten and being a vaguely neurotic type (as in "will have a meltdown if I can't get in to see a show I want") I like to be there when it opens. The only problem with this is that while the box office opens at ten none of the rest of interPLAY opens until 11, and none of the street performers start until then, either. Fortunately I had picked up a coffee on the way so I settled in with it and a newspaper to await the doors opening for my first event of the day - the play "One Man Macbeth".

People, "One Man Macbeth" is yet another interPLAY must-see. Jeff Hoffman brings both a pathos and humour to Macbeth that I certainly never expected. There are elements of comedy and tragedy, drama and downright silliness. There were moments that evoked Monty Python sketches, and at one point when he was beating a small rag doll on stage with a Nerf sword (to raucous audience laughter) I realized there was a delicious absurdity to it all. Jeff is a stunning actor, with incredible range and a gift for involving his audience in his vision (including "stabbing" my companion at the play, Russell Thomas, who was cast as "Duncan" in a very impromptu way). I walked away from Macbeth both deeply impressed with Jeff's talent, and still giggling about certain ridiculous moments in the play (the witches in particular are a hoot!). Look, I didn't know Macbeth could be funny, either, but Jeff Hoffman did, and he does it well by both staying true to Shakespeare's vision and yet also incorporating his own in a way that leaves you a bit breathless from laughter and surprise. Go get your tickets for this one, people!

I must admit that like my junior blogger crew I was bit weary from so much interPLAY on day one so I headed home for a bit to rest and take care of some errands. Last night, though, I returned to Keyano for an event much anticipated, and for which I had invited a group of friends. The event? The Aerial Angels Naughty No-No Show!

Now, if you are an interPLAY fan like my family then you may be familiar with the Angels. They have been visiting interPLAY for years now, and they do a delightful street performing act involving aerial hoops, aerial silks, fire, and whips. They are a collective of wonderfully talented, inspiring, and beautiful women, and my daughter has adored them since the moment she first laid eyes on them. She even attended The Starfish Circus Camp associated with the Angels a few years ago, and since then has quite likely become their number one Fort Mac fan. Now, their street show is a family act, suitable for children, but the Angels have another side. A naughty side. A very, very, naughty side, which comes out at night for their adults-only burlesque show - and people, what a show it is!

I brought with me my husband, best friend, a friend originally from England, and a new friend from Ireland who is now working in Canada. When I told them about the show I explained I'd never seen it, but couldn't imagine how a burlesque show involving whips, fire, and acrobatic contortionists could be anything less than spectacular - and I was right.

The Angels combine confidence, humour, beauty, talent, and burlesque into a show that takes your breath away from start to finish. Audience participation is crucial, and at the end of the night the stage is littered with various articles of clothing - only some of it belonging to the Angels. I'm not going to give anything away, but if you go do wear more than just sandals, shorts, and a T-shirt - trust me, if you get called on stage you'll be glad you took this advice.

The show isn't vulgar - actually, it's anything but. It's sexuality in a healthy, confident, honest way, with humour and jokes (and okay, whips and fire, too). You find yourself sore from both laughing at their jokes and gasping with amazement at their incredible talent on the aerial silks and hoop.

One audience participant, a young man named Marty, will likely stick in my memory for a very, very long time as the poor young man was enlisted for help in the whip portion of the act, and, as Isabella, the Angels troop leader, said it was like molesting a kitten. When the whip came out poor forlorn Marty, standing there in his underwear, socks, and t-shirt, looked imploringly at his friend in the audience to save him from these obviously crazy women, but the Angels managed to convince him to stay until the very end. The crowd was going crazy, chanting "Marty! Marty!", and the poor young man probably woke up this morning still wondering what kind of insane tsunami tore through his life last night. But I bet he's never going to forget the experience, either.

The Naughty No-No Show is X-rated, and this is definitely an adult show. There is suggestive language, definitely suggestive situations, and mild nudity (and Isabella, as a woman of a "certain age", all I can say to you for your bravery and confidence during the final act on the silks is "thank you" - you are an inspiration to women like me everywhere, and while my daughter adores you, so do I!). People, the Naughty No-No Show runs tonight, too, and this is my vote for best act of interPLAY. You need to see it for the laughs, the beauty, the talent, the skill - and if burlesque is your thing, then you need to see it for that, too. Aerial Angels - you are true geniuses of the performing world, and inspiring role models for women everywhere! (Now, people, go get your tickets for their show tonight, and thank me later, okay?)

After the Angels ended I took my crew (including my now dazzled, overwhelmed, and slightly speechless Irish and British friends, who happen to be men) over to the beer gardens to see Fozzy. Now, metal is not my thing - and neither is wrestling, so this band being led by wrestler Chris Jericho didn't mean much to me - but it did to the small but very enthusiastic crowd attending the concert. I haven't seen that much head-banging action since the 80's, and it was lovely to see so many young adults taking in the event. The sheer enthusiasm and worship of the crowd delighted me as I love seeing people appreciate music and the arts even if it happens to be a style or form I don't personally embrace, and while I can't say I am a Fozzy fan I am thrilled to have been there to see so many Fort Mac youth rocking the night away.

 I am proud to say that my crew pretty much closed down the beer gardens, leaving only when it was clear that if we didn't leave soon they would kick us out as they had stopped serving and were starting to clean up. We walked off into the night, chatting about burlesque and wrestlers, beer gardens and interPLAY. Once again it was a full day of merriment, and once again I woke up this morning tired and yet so profoundly grateful to live in this community. interPLAY this year has undergone yet another transformation and revival in it's new home on King Street, and I am so pleased to be a part of it.

 Today, I am off to interPLAY yet again, junior intrepid bloggers in tow as they wish to involve me in laser tag (I've been warned to wear "sensible shoes", which I find an oxymoron, but I digress), and I may take in another play. I also plan to be at the interPLAY Film Festival tonight to see the results of the 48-hour challenge and the awards, and I cannot wait to be a part of that, too. Fort Mac, it's rainy and grey today - but the spirit of interPLAY, and this community, cannot be dampened by a little rain. Come on out to interPLAY and join me in seeing what this city has to offer. Fort Mac - it's the last day of interPLAY - and I don't "hope" to see you there. I expect it!

Parades, Elves, Street Performers, and Films - interPLAY 2011, Day One

Well, people, I'm writing this bright and early after spending the entire day yesterday at interPLAY 2011. And what a day it was!

I began my day by herding my daughter and niece into the car and straight to Starbucks for some desperately needed coffee. I drove over to Keyano and found the perfect parking spot, and while I am reluctant to tell you I will because it's just so good. The Bob Lamb parking lot costs $2 for the entire day, is within easy walking distance of King Street, and was virtually empty yesterday. Now that I've told you I fear I won't find a parking spot there today, but just remember who to thank and I'll forgive you, okay?

So, we headed into the new interPLAY grounds and found a bustling beehive of activity. The girls immediately began to explore the grounds and I headed for the box office to pick up my tickets for the day. I was delighted to see a small line at the box office and lots of interPLAY Passport buttons - that means people are getting into the spirit, and therefore I don't really mind waiting in line.

The plan was for me to take in a couple of plays while the girls took in the street performers, marketplace, and food (reporting back to me in their role of "intrepid junior bloggers"). I had just gotten to the front of the box office line when a lady I didn't know, overhearing which plays I was requesting, handed me tickets for them as she had extras she could not use. People, that was a great start to the day - that kind of neighbourly generosity is what makes a community. So, to her, if she happens to read this - thank you! That small act started my day on such a bright note, and made me feel that community spirit is alive and well at interPLAY this year. While at the box office I also picked up tickets for the interPLAY Film Festival last night. As expected the Passport made all this a breeze, and I am so impressed with the concept.

The girls headed for the street performances and I headed for my first play. It was a play I had considered not going to see as it seemed a rather serious one to start the day, but in the end I am forever grateful I went. "Waiting For The Parade" is a hands-down, no-questions-about-it, interPLAY must see. There were only 4 of us in the audience (being early on Friday I was expecting that) but what we lacked in size I think we made up for in enthusiasm. Beautifully acted, and beautifully directed, this play actually moved me to the brink of tears on occasion. I won't spoil the entire plot but just to give you an idea it's about five women in an Albertan town during World War II. One character in particular, the German seamstress, resonated with me deeply and profoundly, as I am the product of German-Canadian parents and grandparents who lived through the war years in rural Saskatchewan. I have heard the stories of the discrimination they faced during those years simply due to their ties with Germany, and the experience of the character "Marta" moved me beyond words as it connected on a very personal level. Look, I cannot say enough good things about this play, so I will say this : go see "Waiting For The Parade". I guarantee you will not be sorry. To the director and performers of this play - bravo! You made this writer forget the outside world for an entire ninety minutes, and that is not an easy feat, so you have my admiration!

After the play finished I went to find the girls. They were nowhere in sight, having discovered the free laser tag. I finally found them and they told me they had seen several street performers at that point. I needed to head home for a few minutes, so I asked if they were done and would like to head home where I could drop them off before returning for my next play. They looked at me like I was nuts and said there was no way they were leaving, and off they went again.

When I returned back to interPLAY (and my super-secret parking spot that you now all know about) I headed into the next play, "The Santaland Diaries". This is an amusing little play all about the experience of being an elf at Santaland in the Macy's department store. If you've ever had an absolutely ridiculous and absurd job then you will relate to this play (and haven't we all had one of those at some point?). There were some rough spots but the acting was genuine and fresh, and I thought the cast pulled it off extremely well. If you want a good fun hour-long romp then go see "The Santaland Diaries". I guarantee you will laugh, and probably quite a bit (again, not giving anything away, but I've been at "Oh My God" corner at more than one Santaland with my kid).

Then last night I returned to Keyano for the opening night of the inaugural interPLAY Film Festival and I have two words : blown away. Okay, there were some initial technical glitches, but I expect that at any new venture so it didn't worry me. Once those glitches were sorted out and the films began I could not believe the calibre and quality of the films that this event attracted. Some of them were funny little cartoon bits that still make me laugh when I think about them - and some were so deeply profound that I can't get them out of my head (a short called "Reproduction" will probably have me thinking for some time to come as it was just amazing both in concept and creation). There was lots of local talent, too, which so impressed me, like "Steve & Derek : Puppy Love" by Zachery L. Barrett and Alex Rushdy (incidentally actors I recognized from "The Santaland Diaries"), and "Social" by Eric R. Janvier. I was also delighted that YMMPodcast's own Tito Guillen had some of his short films in the festival (and while he didn't want to be "that guy" by having his own films in the festival I'll just say that I am so glad he did as I was so pleased to have the opportunity to see them). The other films came from places like Russia, Ireland, the USA, and all over Canada. Some of them, like "The Debt Collector", which closed the night, "The Silent City" , and "Le Jeu Des Soldats", were just so incredible that I will never forget them. So, in short, there are two more nights of the interPLAY Film Festival. I can't say this quite strongly enough, people - go get tickets now and see the films. I am deeply grateful to YMMPodcast and Events Wood Buffalo for organizing this film festival because I will be very honest and admit that it has been years since I have seen this many independent films - and that was likely three of the best hours I've spent in a very long time.

As for the reports from my "intrepid junior bloggers" - well, they had a complete blast. Laser tag was highly rated by both (and they returned there several times over the day). They took in street performances by the Aerial Angels, Pyro Kabaret, Jason Escape, Vinyl Burns, and Sheldon Cassavant. All of these performers received rave reviews from the girls, and they would have stayed for second (and third, and fourth) shows from each performer if they could have (as it was I had to drag them away). Highest kudos from the girls went to the Aerial Angels, and they both gave the Angels all the money they had left from what they had been given to spend during the day (which by the way is cool with me as I think street performers deserve very nice tips - keep that in mind, okay?).

So, that's my day one review, people. By the time I got home last night I was pretty much exhausted but very, very pleased. Today is a new day, and another full agenda for me, including "One Man Macbeth", "The Aerial Angels Naughty No-No Show" (a burlesque acrobatic contortionist act with whips and fire - can it get any more intriguing?), and the band "Fozzy" tonight. I'm running on about 4 hours of sleep, but that's totally okay - because interPLAY comes once a year, and I can sleep on Monday. I do so hope to see ya there, Fort Mac - because I have three words for this year's event : Best. interPLAY. Ever!