My Life On The Z List

I have been connected with the Entertainment industry in one form or another since the 60s, starting as a child actor on television. In my teens I spent four years on a dance show called Boogie which now haunts me on more much under the title Retro Boogie.

My first Feature film as an adult sort of [19] was in 1979 with Hal Holbrook Eva Gardner and William Shatner  The Kidnapping of the President was so good it never got released and went straight to video and tv.

As work got scarce I shifted gears and went on the road with a band as the lead female vocals sharing the spotlight with my Uncle Charley Ecstein. cousins Ray and Grant. in between the dysfunctional relationships and visits to the nut ward I managed to have some fun.

By the 90s I knew I wanted to give the biz one more try which was expeditious, since I ended up coming out here to BC to follow a man [yes I did, the ass] I felt the way we had ended was less than conducive to my health and this was my way of finding closure. 

Once he was dealt with I started doing stand up and MC work, grabbed an agent and began the long climb to principal actor. [bit parts galore and even some extra work].

I kept my feet wet with theatre and cabaret shows here and there among my other endeavors. Then suddenly in 98 the parts started to come and I have been sort of working ever since. There is something to be said for being a character actress, no one gets on you about weight aN sometimes you just need to walk in the room and the part is yours. The comedy timing helps a lot too. 

So here's what I meant by after a long day on set, the last thing I want to do is to be around people. [The beauty of the Net u can walk away from the puter anytime..........]

There have been tons of good experiences on set, nice people, down to earth, no big egos etc, but then there have been those sets where the star aint happy and it has a trickle down effect that everyone feels, this then contaminates the whole experience.

So if you are stuck there for 14-18 hrs a day shooting, it gets wearing. There is a lot of hurry up and wait that goes on to begin with, so if the vibe is icky who wants to stand around the set not me.

There are only so many times during breaks where u get to run n hide in your trailer and sometimes depending on budget the trailer is a cubby hole, so unless the weather is nice and you can leave the door open sit on the step etc, you get my drift, you go stir crazy, or you spend your time gourging at craft services. [Oye the junk food they have there]

It is also the place where people treat you with that deference you don't truly deserve, the yes people and the phony [let's do lunch people], all mingle about trying to decide if you are worth befriending, after all, you never know a good word might get them in your next picture or working behind the scenes.

Now being an empath this is not lost on me and all that garbage inundates me all day long, so by the time I walk in my front door no matter how much fun the work itself was, I am ready for some big time, alone time. Sometimes that includes the hubby at others well even he needs to go to another room and leave me the hell alone ;-)

At least until after my bath........................

Another Day Another Audition

Hey CJ, audition for you Monday at 4:40 pm

Shits n Giggles At The Giggle Dam

Nestled in a comfy little niche on the main drag, in the heart of downtown Port Coquitlam sits, 

The Giggle Dam. 

I was there just this past Saturday night celebrating a friend’s birthday. 

their current show......................

‘Cirque Du So Lame’  which was anything BUT, except in the most entertaining of ways! was a blast.  I laughed, I cried it became a part of me [grin]. No seriously I really did enjoy myself it was a very lively funfilled night and I didn't even have to get drunk.

For those of you not familiar with theater n such the Giggle Dam, is a hybrid where improv meets cabaret in a fine mixture stirred to perfection from years of experience. [cue music] 

With Veterans Mark Friebe [who does a mean Elvis]

and his lovely wife Miss Sheila Sharma [The girl can Sang], heading up an equally delightful and talented cast.

Side note: Sheila and Mark celebrated their 12^th wedding anniversary, [?] that night too and Mark gifted his wife with a beautiful bouquet of flowers at the end of the show. [Ahhh so sweet, note to husbands out there including mine!] 

Now I know due to logistics most of you have dam well never even heard of the Giggle Dam, so what can I say?  If I have my way one of our future GNO's will be here in Beautiful BC which of course means, The Giggle Dam better dam well watch out! Imagine if you will all of us girls descending upon them for an evening of drinking, bonding and waving our boas about while trying not to lose our tiaras! ah yes, good times!

Be warned though, as I said they have no compunction about pulling you right into the show so you done been told! 

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I have to admit to a tad bit of bias here [if you hadn’t noticed already] seeing as almost 15 years ago in a previous incarnation under a boss lady named Maz [Talk about boss lady from hell she was freaking scary people!!!!]

 I worked with some of this cast, at a place called Maz n Mes [it was actually only a couple of doors over from where they are now]. So it was a bit like homecoming, with hugs all around and fast bits of catching up.

 Although my time with them was short, [as unbeknownst to me two weeks before starting with them, I came down with an upper respiratory viral infection that coupled with being asthmatic, greatly effected my ability to sing or to dance without getting mighty winded] I did manage to have some fun and some stellar moments. .

My favorite was playing a little girl for the shows running gag [singing there’s something stuck up in the chimney, [this aint a video of it ] but Picture me in a blonde wig dressed up like a little girl so cute indeed, loved it],  

I braved it out as long as I could, but let me tell you the atmosphere not just for me, was not the greatest place to be [so it was sort of a relief to get let go] I am glad they struck out on their own though and made a go of it.

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Of course I told them I was gonna blog about them and send them a link. I may even write a full review of the show for my new section [The Usher Community Arts & Entertainment Magazine]  covering several little hamlets within the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver Area dontcha know...........

I had so much fun, I think I am gonna catch their Christmas show in November as well.  [Who knows maybe they'll comp me, since I am bound to write a review about that show too!  

I oughtta be careful though, they might pull this ole gal onstage for old times sake, [with my luck they'll put me in the salmon suit!] Oh crap you know, now that I wrote it they probably will........