McSweeney’s List (4 October, 2023)
Accessible Audio for McSweeney’s List will be available soon!
This week’s McSweeney’s (Play)List is about fresh starts, chick power, and raising standards!
The thing about boundaries is that I'm terrible with them. A therapist once explained to me that just because someone asks a question, doesn't mean I have to answer it. "But I have nothing to hide," I shrugged. "Yes, but that doesn't mean it's their business." He advised asking people why they wanted to know, or simply saying that I didn't care to discuss the matter. While both options made my skin crawl, I have finally grown comfortable with diverting attention from personal questions asked by strangers and acquaintances. I still have nothing to hide, but do understand that people have to earn clearance level passes to different aspects of my life.
In social settings, I have two settings. One is what our eloquent Creative Director calls my soul akimbo self. I am honest, uncensored, but also open, understanding, welcoming, caring. I'm not bragging, I didn't say it, I was flattered by it. Contrarily, I have been known to clam up, shut down suddenly, feeling a piece of glass slip between myself and the others, rendering me an observer. It doesn't mean I don't like them. It doesn't even mean I'm not interested in the conversation or situation. In fact, save for the fact that I am conscious that I've lost my voice, I'm generally quite comfortable. "I've never seen you like that," Andrew Jamieson said to me after a gathering. Of course not, I thought. But I'm familiar with it, and it feels immovable.
I'm at an interesting and quite active point in my life, though most of the activity is that chrysalis shit. For over a year now, I have been consciously growing my life, moving my goalposts, and expanding my sense of self. Sounds fun, but again, caterpillars turn to liquid before they make it to butterflies. I'm realizing that to expand further, I need to create parameters. How else can I ascertain my growth than to expand the walls of my Queendom of Self? I can't do that without walls. Walls mark my safe and precious territory, defining where my perks and problems are, and what I don't have to worry about or tend to. I don't have the energy to cultivate the whole wilderness, and I don't need strays camping in my garden. Such boundaries are not only necessary, but beautiful. Oh shit, I get what my therapist was trying to tell me!
So I'm liquid in a chrysalis with no idea when this particular metamorphosis will feel complete. And I need to establish some boundaries to define this era, to give form to this new version of Me. It's as though I'm meeting myself after an absence, checking in on what's changed and what hasn't. Yes, my right knee remains glitchy. No, I won't shrink myself to fit into places I don't belong. Possibilities are expanding and standards are rising. And while setting a higher bar used to sound limiting, now it feels empowering, important, like something I deserve.
Checking in with my preferred counsel, the response I got was something to the effect of you're doing the damn thing right. Expanding when vulnerable is hard, is scary, but is the best way to take evolutionary advantage of the softness. Breathe through the fear. Let the tears cleanse you. Bounce back higher. Or something like that. So while I'm feeling frighteningly untethered and deliciously undefined, I know I'm on the right track to…somewhere.
Also uncomfortably unstable is the current state of Forget The Box. We were feeling ourselves quite hard and making mad strides until the government got into a pissing contest with Big Tech. It's left our project in a surreal and censored limbo. Rather than panic or give up, we're using the opportunity to expand in our own ways, which includes changes to McSweeney’s List. I'll still be promoting fab fun shows and events in town (send your info here to be included!), don't worry about that. What I'm adding is album releases, podcast drops, workshops, and more in depth coverage of the Artists we love and support. With fewer eyes on us, the Community we love and live in also gets fewer eyes. As a result, we're eager to ensure that we're offering as much proverbial air time as possible to the local artists we do this for.
We're each the authors of our own stories, and sometimes that's scary as fuck. Just remember that creativity loves weird criterion, even when they make the Artist uncomfortable. Grow where you can.
Special Edition of a Special Event
The Poly Mic is putting together a very special Winnipeg festival submissions taping, with some of the best queer comics in town! Featuring Ké Xīn Li, Lucy Gervais, Sandy, Alo Azimov, Elspeth Wright, Elie Gill, Raquel Maestre, Kaja Levy, and Heathcliff. Hosted by Becca Redden, with DJ Hua Li.
This is a special event, but The Poly Mic itself is a weekly mic, special in its own right. Providing a space for queer voices to express themselves via comedy, song, poetry -- anything! I was lucky enough to attend a few weeks ago, and can’t wait to be there again soon! For an in-depth look at the importance of the event, read our latest MTL Event Series feature on The Poly Mic from visual artist, and new FTB family member, Arcana Shanks!
WHAT: The Poly Mic's Winnipeg Submission Taping
WHERE: Notre Dame Des Quilles, 32 Beaubien E., Montreal, H2S 1P8
WHEN: Today! Wednesday, October 4, Doors @ 730 PM, Show @ 8 PM
METRO: Beaubien (Orange)
DETAILS: Facebook
Be Careful What You Wish For
Jeremy Heere is just an average teenager -- until he finds out about "The Squip". It's a tiny supercomputer that promises to bring him everything he desires most: a date with Christine, an invite to the raddest party of the year, and a chance to survive life in his suburban New Jersey high school. But is being the most popular guy in school worth the risk?
WHAT: BE MORE CHILL: The Musical
WHERE: Moyse Hall Theatre, 853 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, H3A 0G5
WHEN: Wednesday, October 4 @ 730 PM, Friday, October 6 @ 730 PM, Saturday, October 7 @ 2 PM & 730 PM
METRO: McGill (Green)
TICKETS: Zeffy
2 Days, 3 Venues, So Much Music!
La Sala Rosa, La Sotterenea, and Casa Del Popolo are throwing a tiny festival that's got big bang for your bucks! The venues are ideally located for optimized show scheduling, and you won't have to track through a forest to find a stage or a bathroom! Finally, a music fest where I can reapply lipstick, not sunscreen. Bands include Knifeplay, Lesser Evil, Bodywash, No Waves, TVOD, Only God Forgives, bozobaby, John Roseboro, Pataugeoires, Marci, Alpen Glow, Of The Veil, Status/ Non-Status, In Hock, Westelaken, Deer Scout, and more! And everyone knows these spots are your favourite venue's favourite venues, so this will rock.
WHAT: Tiny Fest 3
WHERE: La Sala Rosa & La Sotterenea, 4848 St Laurent Blvd., Montreal, H2T 1R5 Casa Del Popolo, 4873 St Laurent Blvd., Montreal, H2T 1R6
WHEN: Friday, October 6 & Saturday, October 7
METRO: Laurier (Orange)
TICKETS: Le Point De Vente
Dance It Out
During the winter of 2021, smack in the middle of creepy curfew nights, Naghmeh collaborated with a few musicians and former bandmates (Christina Beaudry-Cardenas, Tim Charman, Seth Duin) to make a cover of Daft Punk’s Lose Yourself To Dance. They turned it into the theme song of a virtual fundraiser she was organising for Logifem. From there the song became a favourite among the fundraising team, and in fact everyone who heard it. Soon people were asking when she was going to release it. A few months ago, she got together with Arthur John Pascau Smith to record the vocals, and worked with Seth Duin who produced and mixed the track, and Paul Edwards who mastered it.
For more about Naghmeh and her music, check out this feature!
Listen to the single NOW!
Clowning Around
Play is joy! Melissa G. will guide you on a journey to expand your imagination and find play in the mundane. This workshop will give a taste of introduction to Clown Work and teach you how to incorporate clown elements into your scene work - whether solo and/or in group. This workshop will also give you tools to heighten play using physicality (within your capacities) and explore the magic of tapping into the minute moments in the everyday!
Testimonials
"As an Improvisor, I found Melissa's workshop great. She led us through the experiences and play that was very relevant and, at the same time, asking us to pay attention to usually ignored aspects of interaction (audience connection). ...And Melissa is incredible smooth as a facilitator too."
"Great workshop! There's a lot of care in the learning and exploration with lots of good insights into performance and creation."
Pre-Requisites
Some improv, clown-work or sketch comedy performance experience is beneficial but not required. Suitable for improvisors, stand-ups looking to explore possibilities in their stage presence, sketch comedians or anyone that wants to add a little more joy into their day-to-day.
About The Host
Melissa (she/her) is a clown, improviser, writer, sketch comedian, and artist based in Montreal. She is proudly queer.
Melissa is a co-creator/producer/host of This & That: An Improv and Sketch Comedy Show, co-facilitator of the sketch & clown workshopping space, The Shop, and an associate co-ordinator/behind-the-scenes supporter of Ladyfest Montreal (2022 & 2023).
Melissa has studied clown and idiot work with Ken Hall, Isaac Kessler, Kevin Krieger, John Gilkey, Amrita Dhaliwal & Gemma Soldati. Melissa has extensive training in improv from Second City Training Centre (Toronto), Bad Dog Theatre Company (Toronto), The Assembly (Toronto) and Montreal Improv.
Originally from Tkaronto/Toronto, Melissa performed two solo sets of her act Melissa G: UnHinged at Montreal Sketchfest 2023, and performed with various troupes as part of Montreal Sketchfest, Ladyfest Montreal, The Ottawa Improv Festival, MProv Festival (Montreal), Toronto Haroldfest and the Big City Improv Festival (Toronto).
Melissa is grateful for community and the friends and artists she’s met along the way. Play is joy!
Fine Print
Pricing: $20
Limited spots available! Some PWYC (pay-what-you-can) and free spots available - just contact Melissa by email at mgiac66@gmail.com
Accessibility information for the MAI can be found HERE
Please note that the workshop space at the MAI has a no outdoor shoes policy - socks or dance shoes are acceptable.
Cancellation Policy: Last day for full refund with cancellation is Wednesday October 11th, 2023. Please respect this date to support with planning.
Registration, questions and e-transfer payment to: mgiac66@gmail.com
WHAT: Play In The Everyday: Expanding the Art of Play Through Clown Work
WHERE: MAI Centre, 3680 Jeanne-Mance St., Montreal, H2X 2K5
WHEN: Wednesday, October 18, 6 PM - 8 PM
METRO: Place-des-Arts (Green)
DETAILS: Facebook
McSweeney’s List drops every Wednesday with the best events, workshops, and more, each week in Montreal!
