There's a universal writer's law. If one of your familiars - writers, artists, performers, actors - if there is something on, you make an effort and turn up. Book launches, gallery openings, sound meditation sessions... you name it, you show up. I've even managed a gallery opening in London for a botanical artist friend - mind you I was over there at the time, and it was a pleasure to go. Next week I have to rearrange my Wednesday night training session so I can be at a book launch in Ivanhoe.
It's what you do.
Firstly, to show support, and amazement, in what your friend or acquaintance has done. Support is the primary thing. I will never stop being amazed by some of the things my friends have done.
Secondly, I see this as a paying it forward moment. When (not saying if anymore) my book gets published, I hope some of these people will turn up to my launch.
Thirdly, I was there while she was creating this show. She wrote some of this on the retreat. I was curious.
It's the creative's law. Turn up to your pier's events. They, in turn, will turn up to yours.
Tonight, I went to such event.
One of the women on my writer's retreat was doing a one-woman show at the Festival Fringe. Despite a lot of things - a huge weekend, a play tomorrow night, the need to conserve money and other reservations, I bought a ticket and made my way to the early show.
As with most things on at Trades Hall at Fringe time, you never know what you're going to get. This is what the Fringe is about.
I got on the tram to go. I spent the trip talking to a delightful Cocker Spaniel named Cooper, who was sitting in a bag on his Dad's lap. Dad's name was James. I found this out just before I alighted the tram.
At Trades Hall, I have to find the room - one of the smaller ones. Upstairs I located one show where they were taking IDs. It appears that for this show, part of the audience participation you could walk away with a fresh tattoo.
A few minutes later, I located where I needed to be. Trades Hall is a rabbit warren. We made it just in time and sat down in the half full room.
What really impressed me was my friend's courage to put out there some very heartfelt things. Having heard some of her stories over the retreat, knowing that we had some similar history, it was interesting to see her take on things. Was this a perfect show? No. Was it courageous, fun and interesting. Absolutely. Very in line with the Fringe and its values. As her first one woman show, it was amazing. I could never do that.
I wouldn't call this straight comedy - more a spoken word performance. There were some funny bits, lots of double entendres peppering the hour, but this was more her telling her story of how the local ravens became her friends. As she said, there are dog people and cat people. She's a bird person.
We caught up after the performance. She was chuffed that I'd come. I congratulated her on her efforts - which were huge.
Then made my way back through the maze that is Trades Hall, back on the street and walked back to the tram, knowing that I'd done a good thing.
Juliet Sironi's Crazy Bird Lady show is playing at Trades Hall until Sunday as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
No comments:
Post a Comment