August 2014 - Bringing FinallySauces Back to the Edmonton International Fringe!

FinallySauces has been busy... not that you can tell from this blog, but we have.  Both Anne Marie and Kristen have been writing and working on scripts and looking for opportunities to produce them.  Life and other theatre projects with other companies sprang up along the way.  Since the summer of 2011 when we produced Pieces at the Edmonton Fringe, we have both directed (Anne Marie - Marion Bridge, The Weir; Kristen - Proof, Nine, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Playmates), and acted (Anne Marie - Nine; Kristen - A Little Night Music, The Misanthrope), and participated in two Playworks Inks resulting in a good deal of writing. We attempted the Fringe lottery for last year, but were unsuccessful, however this year we had not one, but two successful draws from the Fringe Lottery so this spring has been busy with rehearsals and sets and production meetings! Now that August is finally here, we're delighted to let you know more about the two shows we are presenting.  

We are excited to be producing our first one of Anne Marie's scripts, Crack, this Fringe season, in addition to Kristen's third FinallySauces offering, Little Monsters.  

CRACK by Anne Marie Szucs, 

directed by Kristen M. Finlay
Featuring: Joyce LaBriola, Rebecca Ponting & Anne Marie Szucs
Description: Three friends gather to celebrate a 40^th birthday at a cabin in the woods.  With the birthday girl, Christine, as the hub, her disparate friends Angela and Pam rub each other the wrong way.  All have secrets they have not previously shared, and Christine has the biggest one of all.  The celebration deteriorates as the truths spill out.

Note from the Playwright: I've been working on various iterations of this play for 7 years, so the themes have evolved as I have. I first wanted to explore friendships between women - what makes them last, what makes them collapse, what makes them so necessary. Then, I started thinking about public vs. private selves. How much of ourselves do we truly disclose to our closest friends?  Are there parts of ourselves we never expose?  And if not, why not?  Now, I'm intrigued by women in mid-life. Are we really living the lives we thought we'd live?  "Ring the bells that still can ring.  Forget the perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets through." (Leonard Cohen).

LITTLE MONSTERS written & directed by Kristen M. Finlay

Featuring: Erin Foster-O’Riordan, Cory Christensen, Julie Sinclair & Anne Marie Szucs
Description:When Lizbeth had her son, Liam, she thought that she would be the perfect parent and he the perfect child because she would do everything right.  When Liam goes to playschool she discovers that no matter what you do, your child can have issues.  Her husband Brendan struggles to support her because he can't relate to her parenting style.  When other parents at the playschool behave badly, she leans on her friend Tamra.  It's about realizing that there is no such thing as a perfect parent - that all you can really be is the right parent for your child.

Note from the Playwright: This was a hard play to write because it is loosely based on some experiences  I had with one of my children when he was in playschool.  I wasn't as stressed by what happened as Lizbeth is, but I was surprised to discover how judgmental other parents were.  I was shocked by some of the ways people, adults, talked about children. I think because it's been so long since the actual event, I could look back and write it with some objectivity.This is a play for those who feel judged and for those who do the judging.  I think it says something about how we all need to cut ourselves and others a little slack and be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.