Guestbooks
After every performance, the audience exits into a space where a couple of Guestbooks are laid out. Some people write in them; some don’t. Some send emails which are then taped into the books.
- A lovely performance – the dancers were very good and – It was a pleasure to see you in the spotlight – performing. (Cynthia Roberts)
- A good use of space. (Steve Lucas)
- Some thoughts returned unwelcomed. And I'm not sure. Not yet. Thank you for the lovely lovely uncertainty. (Clint)
- I came, I saw, I was tickled. (Steve Marsh)
- Oh, Hillar, remember the growth. These things will pass. Idiots. It makes me angry and sad but by you sharing this with us – in this manner – you've rectified the situation. Keep faith. (Kirsten Johnson)
- So, once again, it comes down to a tear in my eyes – the wilted carnation, the folded-up comforter behind the table, and the music, the music, the music … (Christofer)
- Thanks for the pearls on the carpet.
- A ritual? A demonstration? A lesson? - all of these things. Chase it and you are channeled into it.
- Theatre is about risk! It is artists who are afraid to take the risk, invest in the risk, explore the risk that paralyse the theatre. Theatre is a living artform – no on ein Canadian Theatre has made me feel more alive and willing to invest in life and the risks that come with it! ... Hillar has the ability to create such beauty – and can make me believe that theatre has a chance of survival. (Sherrie Johnson)
- A very controlled, clean bit of return to the Council. Like Hillar's mind reading the assessments? Once theatre is done of plot, emotional journey, conflict and the other trappings of reason and logic – well what then? Then, the theatre DNA has been making for years now. It's time.
- The intimacy and near “secrecy” of the event – like we were being let in on something. The use of language in the formalistic sense was also incredible – the way you transformed the assessments into something else. (Judy M)
- An extremely intelligent and entertaining response in the face of the ignorant and the banal (i.e. the Canada Council). (Oops – guess you can't use this quote in the grant application.) … The assessments – maybe there'll be more material for the mocking soon enough. (Mark Lonergan)
- I can't believe an assessor would like the show, but trash the fuckin' most beautiful touching moment, for me, in the LAST SUPPER. I will never forget Chis' dance, the dropping of the flowers, the mask. All of it.
- Who wrote the salmon assessment? Talk about bitter! Anyway, loved it, Hillar. You're the only person I could have this much patience for as an audience member.
- Congrats on the MIND FUCK!