top ten thousand | playlist

Well, that's it for The Top Ten Thousand Of All Time, at least for now. Folks have asked about various tunes that were played in the show, so here's the rundown.

Be My Baby, by The Ronettes
Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes featuring Veronica (1964, Philles Records)

Northwest Passage, by Stan Rogers
Northwest Passage (1981, Fogarty Cove Music)

Statesboro Blues, by The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band At Fillmore East (1971, Capricorn Records)

Theme From A Summer Place, by Percy Faith
Percy Faith's Greatest Hits (1960, Columbia Records)

Mysterons, by Portishead
Dummy (1994, Go! Discs)

I'm Beginning To See The Light, by The Four Freshmen
First Affair (1960, Capitol Records)

Long, Long, Long, by The Beatles
The Beatles ["White Album"] (1968, Apple Records)

Tomorrow Never Knows, by The Beatles
Revolver (1966, Parlophone / Capitol Records)

Sugar Sugar, by The Archies
Everything's Archie (1969, RCA Victor)

Terra Tremuit, by Les Peres du Saint-Esprit de Chevilly
Gregorian Chant: Easter Liturgy / Christmas Cycle (Seraphim)

Goodbye Pork Pie Hat by Charles Mingus
Mingus Ah Um (1959, Columbia)

The End Of The World by Skeeter Davis
The End Of The World (1962, RCA Victor)

Dance Of The Dream Man by Angelo Badalamenti
Twin Peaks (1990, Warner Brothers)

Are You Going With Me? by Pat Metheny
Offramp (1982, ECM)

I also played tunes before the show began, and during the intermission. (Apologies to anybody who came up to chat, and got snubbed: I should have had a sign, "The DJ only appears to be here right now. Please do not disturb."  Something like that.) At any rate, people have also asked after some of the songs played during those sets.  Here are a few of the nearly 100 that got played over the course of the five shows:

Blackbird by Dionne Farris
Wild Seed - Wild Flower (1994, Columbia)

Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) by US3
Hand On The Torch (1993, Blue Note)

Awungilobolele by Udokotela Shange Namajaha
The Indestructible Beat of Soweto (1985, Earthworks)

Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone by Leon Redbone
Champagne Charlie (1978, Warner Brothers)

The Nightfly by Donald Fagen
The Nightfly (1982, Warner Brothers)

top ten thousand | supreme dream

The Top Ten Thousand Of All Time includes a piece by Canadian playwright Frank Moher called "The First White Supreme" - which is, essentially, the opening of the first draft of the play that became Supreme Dream. It's the story of Rhonda Trodd, who grew up in Calgary in the sixties (as did Frank and I) dreaming of one day being a Supreme (as didn't Frank, or I).  Here's a link to more about that show.

That Calgary connection with Mr Moher doesn't stop there. I vividly remember a high school drama festival at Lord Beaverbrook, a heady experience meeting theatre students from all over the city. Most impressive of all to me was that one of the plays, "Damn You Shakespeare," was actually written by a high school student.  It awed me that somebody my age could actually write a play: in fact, it awed me to realize that anybody could write a play. That human beings actually made up these things that we acted in.  The earliest seed of my own life as a playwright.  (You've got a lot to answer for, Frank).

top ten thousand | in the province

Thank you to The Province news for a fantastic preview article on TOP TEN THOUSAND OF ALL TIME today!  There's a snippet below, or read the whole thing in its context (and help support arts journalism) by clicking here.

top ten thousand | more photos

TOP TEN THOUSAND OF ALL TIME opens tonight!  Here's some more shots from the show.

top ten thousand of all time | playwright's notes, 2004

Writing my notes for the Top Ten Thousand program, I happened upon these, from the play's September 2004 run at Fire Exit Theatre, in Calgary - where I saw Diane Tucker's play Here Breaks The Heart premiere a couple weeks ago. Bravo, Fire Exit!

There came a time when the theatre company I founded was on the ropes. My cohorts and I laid ourselves off, we put Pacific Theatre on barest life support, not knowing if the patient would ever recover, and I spent well over a year unemployed. Before then, most of my artistic work was as an actor, but during that long dark night of the vocational soul, I kept alive creatively by writing. THE TOP TEN THOUSAND OF ALL TIME came out of that period, written entirely as an act of self-indulgence, a kind of messing-around-in-the-sandbox exercise I was sure would never be performed. To this day I'm astonished that such a quirky and personal piece manages to connect with an audience of anybody but my own peculiar self - sometimes quite powerfully. Check your eschatology at the door, crank up the volume and enjoy!

The Top Ten Thousand plays Pacific Theatre this week only, Wed through Sat

tickets

selections from autobahn | a late-night stone's throw production

We've got our first apprentice showcase of the season coming up quick!  Following performances of TOP TEN THOUSAND OF ALL TIME, stick around and see selections from Neil Labute's AUTOBAHN, each piece directed and performed by our three apprentices.  Or come out at about 10pm to only see this show.

In Autobahn, Neil LaBute’s provocative collection of one-act plays set within the confines of the front seat, the playwright employs his signature plaintive insight to great effect, investigating the inchoate apprehension that surrounds the steering wheel.

Tickets Pay-What-You-Can at the door.
Audience Advisory: Contains strong language.

BENCH SEAT
Directed by Kenton Klassen
Featuring Ryam Scramstad, Kirsty Provan

LONG DIVISION
Directed by Ryan Scramstad
Featuring Pippa Johnstone, Kenton Klassen

ALL APOLOGIES
Directed by Frank Nickel
Featuring Kenton Klassen, Kirsty Provan

top ten thousand | be my baby

TOP TEN THOUSAND OF ALL TIME includes some of Ron's favourite songs of all time, including The Ronettes' 1963 hit, 'Be My Baby'.  Take a listen and guess what number this would make in the countdown from ten thousand to number one.

green room | extreme makeover

This past week a group of volunteer PT artists, staff, apprentices and even an audience member took on a project that has been a long time coming: The PT Green Room Makeover! Anyone who has worked at PT in the past knows that our green room serves many functions: staff room, dressing room, rehearsal hall, work area etc. It's a tiny space with no windows and poor lighting which easily becomes cluttered and disorganized. 

As a gift to the theatre, we artists and staff members decided to give the green room an extreme makeover. Check out some before and after photos below and enjoy what a fresh coat of paint and elbow grease did to our beloved little space:

BEFORE/ AFTER:

AFTER:

THE CREW:

Many artists not only volunteered their time to make this project possible, but also donated funds to go towards the transformation. On behalf of Pacific Theatre, thank you so much! We now have a peaceful,  clean and beautiful green room for you to to enjoy. Come on by and check it out! 

top ten thousand | photos

Here's some of our shots for TOP TEN THOUSAND OF ALL TIME.

Nov 22-23 | TWU SAMC | Music from the Movies

Our friends at TWU are presenting a night of music from the movies, spanning Beethoven to Star Wars, Indiana Jones to Pixar.

7:30pm concerts:
Nov 22nd at Peace Lutheran Church (2029 Ware Street, Abbotsford)
Nov 23rd at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church (20097 72nd Avenue, Langley)

Conducted by Allan Thorpe, the 40 piece SAMC Concert Band will begin the evening with the memorable 20th Century Fox fanfare arranged by Abbotsford’s Bill Workman (TWU alumnus) and follow up highlights and selections from, or inspirations for, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jaws, Pirates of the Caribbean, Cool Runnings or 2001: A Space Odyssey, The King’s Speech; and the iconic “Flower Duet” featuring vocal soloists Krystal McEwan and Karina Pelaya.

Admission by Donation.
More information.

original top ten thousand poster | dirk van stralen

coming soon

nov 20-23

subscribe before communion closes!

Our 30th anniversary season has just begun, and we’ve already had two hit shows! THE FOREIGNER closed last month to sold out houses and lengthy waiting lists.  COMMUNION is selling fast and getting rave reviews: “funny, sad, complicated, and quietly beautiful“ (The Georgia Straight), and “a painfully heartfelt, rivetingly funny and emotionally raw show that gets under your skin” (The Charlesbois Post).

Yes, we're bragging a little, but really we just want to make sure you don't miss out on including COMMUNION in your subscription package just because it passed you by.  There is a lot more to come this season, and we want you to be a part of it.

Still available are 6-show Super Passes and 4-show Sampler Passes.  Take your pick of the 8 remaining shows this season and get in to COMMUNION while you can.  Plus, there are lots of subscriber benefits to take advantage of.

Subscribe this week and make it into COMMUNION while you still can!  To subscribe just go to our easy online form or call the box office at 604.731.5518.

communion | responses

"Leda in one of her rants says the phrase “appointments made long ago”. We know that we have that final appointment – death – that none of us can ignore. However, in between, are many little appointments – running into a friend you haven’t seen in years, or talking with a stranger on the path. How can you bless others in your encounters (appointments) with them?" | Kim Alexis, audience response

"This play is one of the very best I have seen in a very long time. The acting, the story line, and the ambiance of the theatre all made for a great show. I highly recommend it as a must see play." | Sean Sheriland, audience response

"A compelling and moving production – inspired acting, provocative themes and points of view, excellent character development and questions that tease the mind for days afterward. Theatre doesn’t get any better than this!" | Colleen Cruikshank, audience responses

"Thanks to director Roy Surette and the cast and crew of Communion for creating such an engaging and stimulating night at the theatre. There’s a familiarity to the characters, relationships, conversations, and themes of Communion which is easy to relate to and where the viewer can hear her own voice or see someone she knows. If you are looking for theatre that both entertains and challenges, be sure to visit Pacific Theatre for Communion." | Carol Heynan, The MB Herald

"The intimate playing space of the small Pacific Theatre is the perfect setting for Daniel MacIvor’s sensitive and thoughtful play, as the seating is so close that one feels as one is almost on the stage, sharing in the emotional experience. MacIvor has crafted three powerful female protagonists and all three actors gave stellar performances." | Review from the House

"Communion is funny, sad, complicated, and quietly beautiful. Daniel MacIvor’s script is a spare, emotionally rich, and mordantly funny exploration of belief and connection." | Kathleen Oliver, The Georgia Straight

"Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor gets under the skin of his characters Leda, Annie and Carolyn with such intensity that Communion brought me close to tears. … Under Roy Surette’s intelligent and sensitive direction, these are three superb performances. … Presented by Pacific Theatre, this Ruby Slippers Theatre production is courageous in its exploration of what it means to live – and die – consciously." Jo Ledingham, Vancouver Courier/JoLedingham.com

"What dynamic actresses they are and how wonderful for them that Mr. MacIvor has written not only such rich and raw dialogue but each character has an involving and satisfying arc. Diane Brown as Leda finds the pain and sadness and deftly covers it with a caustic tongue. She is so beaten and sick in her first scene it is a shock when the character suddenly stands revealing Ms. Brown’s statuesque proportions. Kerry Sandomirsky brings a warm professionalism to her therapist but you can see the conflicts just under the surface revealing she might not be the best at her job. Marci Nestman as the many layered Annie mines them all: convicted criminal, former drug addict, religious zealot and it is to her credit that you can see all of them swirling around in her in an intoxicating blend. How wonderful it is to have Roy Surette back in Vancouver to direct this Ruby Slippers / Pacific Theatre co-production; he has helped craft a painfully heartfelt, rivetingly funny and emotionally raw show that gets under your skin. Open the door, it’s pretty stunning. " | David C. Jones, The Charlebois Post

"We would both recommend Communion for its fine acting and humourous moments (a well-received Ledaism: “Are you wearing a sarcasm filter today?”)." | Ariane Colenbrander, Vancouverscape

nov 2-30 | moon over buffalo | julie casselman

Julie Casselman was last on the PT stage in THE GREAT DIVORCE. Catch her now starring in A MOON OVER BUFFALO at the Metro Theatre.

November 2-30 at 8pm
Metro Theatre (1370 SW Marine Dr.)

Moon Over Buffalo centres on two fading stars of the 1950's. On the brink of a disastrous split-up caused by George’s alleged indiscretion with a young ingénue, they receive word that they might just have one last shot at stardom: Frank Capra is coming to town to see their matinée, and if he likes what he sees, he might cast them in his movie remake of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Unfortunately for George and Charlotte, everything that could go wrong does go wrong as confusion surrounds everyone who enters the theatre: the Hays’ stage manager, their lawyer, their visiting daughter and her clueless fiancé, and Charlotte’s aging, deaf mother who hates every bone in George’s body. The show must go on, of course, but at curtain time one question remains: exactly which play are they performing?

Tickets, Info & Responses.

nov 20-22 | you can't take it with you | church at the hollywood

Twice now, PT has staged YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU. The movie's not nearly as good as the play, but the play's so good, that still leaves plenty of room for the movie to be not bad. And the chance to see it in the Hollywood before the Hollywood is a fitness centre...

November 20-22, Doors at 7pm
Hollywood Theatre (3129 W Broadway)

Three screenings of the classic 1938 Frank Capra film, "You Can't Take It With You" - come and experience the Hollywood Theatre in all its glory one last time before redevelopment happens. The event also features door prizes, a photography exhibition and the Projection Project, who will be documenting the decline of 35mm single screen theatres across North America.

Suggested donation: $5
Tickets and more info.

AND, if you're not ready to say goodbye to the Hollywood just yet, join the movement to save the theatre from demolition or renovation.

Help save the Hollywood and give it the new beginning it deserves by asking that Gregor Robertson and the City of Vancouver place a 90 day moratorium on any development permits to demolish or renovate the Hollywood.

Sign the petition here.

nov 8 | studio series 002 | we make stuff

WeMakeStuff is at it again, hosting a variety night of sorts for different artists and their works to come together. By the looks of it, this will be an amazing night out.

Friday, November 8, 7pm
The Happening Studio, #301-272 E 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Welcome to the artists' space.

We’re creating a space for artists to enrich each other. 5 creatives -- an actor, an artist, a dancer, a poet, and a musician -- engage you in their craft.

Parking is limited; transit will be your most friendly option (via Main Street station).

celebrating 30 years of theatre that matters | video 1

The first in a series of videos celebrating Pacific Theatre's 30th anniversary season!  This one features interviews with theatre professionals Anthony F. Ingram, Lucia Frangione, Erla Faye Forsyth, and Howard Jang, and audience members Paul Kirby, Loren Wilkenson, and Rory Holland.

communion | theatre club photos

This past Saturday we hosted our Theatre Club following the matinee of COMMUNION. Big thanks to everyone who stuck around after the show and shared in the invigorating conversation. We were also very fortunate to have the cast of COMMUNION join us at the beginning to answer a few questions and hear some of our comments. What a rich afternoon! Here are some photos in case you missed it:

Our next theatre club will be held after the matinee of MEASURE FOR MEASURE on Saturday January 25th. Everyone is welcome! And as always, if you'd like to have your own copy of the COMMUNION discussion guide you can download it off of our website here.

communion | rogerian therapy techniques

COMMUNION begins with a scene between Leda and her therapist where the therapist uses that age-old technique of repeating statements back at her client without offering any feedback.  While this may seem like an annoying and stereotypical representation, it is a technique practiced by some therapists who use the Rogerian (or person-centered) therapy model.  Here's some of the background behind this technique.

The technique of repeating back to the client statements made is called "restatement", and it has three basic goals:

1. To clarify. By repeating back what the client has said, they have the opportunity to correct the therapist on what they are trying to communicate. This helps both the client better understand their issues as well as the therapist to ensure they understand exactly what their client is struggling with.
2. To let the client feel understood. By hearing that their therapist understands what they are saying, the client may feel safe to delve deeper into their issues.
3. To allow the client to find their own solution. One of the key tenets of Rogerian therapy is that the client should come up with their own solutions – the therapist is not meant to give any advice or direction. So the theory is that the therapist provides a mirror for the client to see themselves as they are, and to use that new self-awareness to find solutions to their problems.

nov 4 1984 | cotton patch gospel

from the November 4, 1984 edition of Christian Info