SummerWorks: suddenly soon

Andrew Templeton
A Plank reviewer or I'm So Close it's not Even Funny

August 17 SummerWorks Update: Well, here we are: the last day of the 2008 SummerWorks Festival. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to Plank over the last two weeks: Anna, Alison, Daniel, Kate, Ann, M John, Andrew L, Kimwun, Rebecca, Waylen, Catherine (who has a non-SW review coming next week) Marjorie and Steve “the Machine” Fisher. (I don’t know if anyone actually calls Steve “the Machine”, but it just seems apt somehow).

I’d also like to thank the SummerWorks team, Michael, Lindy and Avery for their support in bringing Plank to Toronto. And also a personal shout out to my Toronto roomies: Naomi, Matt, Kayla and Jen who must wonder what the hell I’m up to in the basement (I’m working on Plank, just realized how strange that might have sounded).

Plank Magazine was started at the end of May by seven of us. I think I can speak for the others by saying that Plank is a very special project that is close to all our hearts. It has been a wonderful opportunity to extend the Plank family to Toronto.

I’m here for another two weeks and hopefully we will be able to continue with our Toronto cohort and establish an ongoing dialogue about the performing arts between Vancouver and Toronto. And Victoria! Our coverage of the Victoria Fringe Festival starts next week. But before that we have several SW reviews still to come, so please stay tuned.

Thanks to all of you. This has been very special indeed.

This is the third festival I’ve covered for an online journal this year and every time the same feeling has come over me at this point in the proceedings: I can’t believe it’s almost over and I can’t quite remember what life was like before. This might simply be a reflection of my tenuous connection with reality rather than a universal experience but I thought I would share.

Whatever my mental state, we are now into the final weekend of the SummerWorks Festival. And what a blast it’s been. As someone from elsewhere, I have been impressed by the quality of work I’ve seen. I’ve never been bored. I’ve been occasionally frustrated but usually from seeing work that has potential which has not been reached (yet). I’ve even been blown away a couple of times. One work which I probably won’t have time to review – in part because I’m prioritizing work by Canadian playwrights – is Fewer Emergencies which is definitely worth seeing for its innovative script and outstanding performances.

Shows are running this weekend from mid-day to late night, so it can be a bit overwhelming. If you want quick insights, check out the Steve Fisher Files volumes 1 and 2 or see what individuals within the SummerWorks community have chosen as their top picks in the Plank Referral. Or, check out our in-depth coverage in the review section including contributions from the Plank Panel. Reviews will continue to be posted for a few days after the Festival and we have a number already on deck which should appear shortly.

One thing that I’m definitely checking out this weekend is In the Box at the Gladstone Hotel.

If you still can’t decide, just go to something randomly. Honestly, some of my most rewarding experiences at Festivals have been for shows I had no expectations for.