2. I would also like to see a miffed performance of Baby Beluga performed on stage. And a revolutionary performance of The Cat Came Back. And a riot during the Today’s Special theme song. And an overthrowing of government using that Quartermaster’s Store song. Harper had better watch out for those bears buying underwears. In short, I would like you to change the world as we know it by singing beloved childhood anthems.

3. Is there any way that the audience could zipline into the theatre? Because that would automatically make anything my most favourite show ever.

As a side note, given how much everyone has been enjoying Brad’s piece in this entry, I wanted to make sure that everyone knew that his work can be found published by Geist Magazine, and 2010 Handbook for Entering Canada can be found on their website here:

http://www.geist.com/poem/2010-handbook-entering-canada

Enjoy!

The company dispersed onstage facing various directions. As they start reciting the dialogue, the company begins stylized movement similar to a North Korean Traffic Director (not because I mean to suggest North Korea, only to give an example of the type of movement I’m talking about):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGbQ7QRndcA
Eventually one actor becomes separate from the chorus having ‘North Korean Traffic Directed’ himself centre stage. When he arrives at centre, he stops the North Korean Traffic Directing and very slowly starts to turn on the spot, arms at sides, eyes at natural eye level, head moving naturally with the body. The company is gradually moving in on him with their stylized movement. As they draw nearer, his spinning gradually gets faster as his hands approach his ears, his eyes squint (as in ‘I can’t stand the noise or sight’), his body cringes forward. As the company reaches their final position around him, he completes the tableaux facing the audience. Eyes pop open WIDE, still cringing with the body, a second or two of silence then black.

ABOUT THE DIALOGUE
-The dialogue begins as a stage whisper and crescendos to loud shouting.
-The dialogue is shared in a choral format so some lines are spoken by only one person at a time and some are spoken in unison. Some lines are divided between these two options.
-The actors are vocally rehearsed to place emphasis in very particular places so to draw out the accusatory tone. Also to aid this, the tone becomes increasingly bizarre with dramatic pitch variations. A vocal kangaroo court.

ABOUT THE MOVEMENT
-Each actor of the company uses a different front for their movement to emphasize a feeling of organized chaos.
-Obviously the movement has to be very sharp, clean, crisp, otherwise the whole thing will look sloppy, ineffectual, etc.
-The movement gradually becomes faster as the dialogue unravels.
-Obviously, the stylized movement must be such that it gradully brings the company centre stage.

ABOUT THE LIGHTING
-All lights used are hung above the actors/ over the stage.
-At the start, there is one white light centre stage with no one in it. The edge of this light is soft, at a low level maybe 30%, ie: a diffused circle.
-As the dialogue and movement begin, more strongly directed white lights (maybe 3 or 4 max) come up from overhead, alla searchlights (movement of lights obvs. depends on their capacities), at about 60%.
-As the company encroaches on the individual, the lights all point centre on the individual, gradually intensifying to 100%. One final ‘spotlight’ on the man, centre stage at 100%, with much stronger edges than at the top of the scene, before black.

Reminds me of hearing that a question on the EU or maybe German citizenship form was the question:”What cultural event occurs every five years in Kassel?”
In 2 minutes of internet level research I can’t confirm – but heard from a reliable source.

Also from the same source:
a poem by Brecht:

THE DEMOCRATIC JUDGEIn Los Angeles, before the judge who examines people
Trying to become citizens of the United States
Came an Italian restaurant keeper. After grave preparations
Hindered, though, by his ignorance of the new languageIn the test he replied to the question:
What is the 8th Amendment? falteringly:
1492. Since the law demands that applicants know the language
He was refused. Returning
After three months spent on further studies
Yet hindered still by ignorance of the new language
He was confronted with the question:
Who was The victorious general in the Civil War?  His answer was:
1492. (Given amiably, in a loud voice). Sent away again
And returning a third time, he answered
A third question: For how long a term are our Presidents elected? Once more with: 1492. Now
The judge, who liked the man, realised he could not
Learn the new language, asked him
How he earned his living and was told: by hard work. And so
At his fourth appearance the judge gave him the questions:
When
Was America discovered? And on the strength of his correctly answering
1492, he was granted his citizenship.

Staging wise – I think it’s a nice handbook – and maybe nice to hear out loud – I’m not sure I want to see it acted.

or just make a test to pass before the show for the audience (which then means some have to be denied)

(answer to the EU question: documenta: http://www.documenta.de/d13_info.html?L=1)

2 things:

Aislinn, you are doing a great job!

Brad, thanks for letting your poetry be open-sourced too. Three cheers for cross-country collaboration through new technologies.