Desperately Seeking Samuel, the film, has now been posted to YouTube

I did not spend all of our three months in Cuba recently in idle relaxation on a sandy beach by a turquoise sea. I fiddled each morning – the musical kind, although some might question that label – and worked on multiple rewrites of my newest script, then spent hours learning lines, and more hours pondering how in heck I would ever be able to mount this production on stage or on screen! So now, despite challenges, I have spent the past eleven days since our return sequestered in the bathroom – filming this play, and then the more arduous task of editing it. Yes, it takes place in a closet, a broom closet … and a water closet.

This is not a flashy, fast action drama. That is not my style. Neither is it an amusing bedroom farce, nor a comedy of any kind. There may be some subtle humour here and there. However, like most monologues that I am aware of, it is a ponderous reflection in the mind of the character. It is a slow unfolding in the memory bank of an old man. It does not happen in any particular order. His memory may be flawed. But I think of it as a jigsaw puzzle being assembled with deliberation, with the careful study of the shapes and colours of the pieces of his life, and trial and error in putting them together.

Most Independent Film Festivals have no suitable category for “no budget” monologues. Indeed, neither do most of them think to include films made with no money backing them. Indeed, I have entered this in the “no budget” feature film category at the Cannes Independent Film Festival (not to be confused with the other Cannes Festival). But I had to laugh when I realized that that category is for films with a budget of under 25K Euros!!!! My budget was zero! What will be, will be.

My plan is to mount this as a stage production with a test run this summer while we are at our cabin in near-northern Ontario.

Here is the YouTube link to the trailer: https://youtu.be/OYWDrlCeBfc. If this peeks your interest, then here is the link to the film: https://youtu.be/PVK-kJ_mPl0.

It is 80 minutes long, so settle in for the viewing if you can.

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Lighthouse Benefit a Huge Success

Congratulations to all who made the Schafner Point Lighthouse Benefit on Saturday evening an overwhelming success. The sold out crowd of over 70 enthusiastic people enjoyed an evening of spectacular entertainment by fiddler Steve Klein and actor Paul Rapsey. Steve played brilliantly throughout the evening. The audience engaged in energetic hand clapping and foot stomping to his music. Paul’s monologue was sprinkled with both delightful laughter and pin dropping silence from the audience, culminating in a prolonged and spontaneous standing ovation. The many volunteers of the Port Royal Lighthouse Association and of the Lower Granville Hall were the backbone of the evening. Bravo! Steve will be playing his fiddle again on Saturday, March 18 at the Granville Ferry Community Hall in the village starting at 7:00 p.m. He will be joined by Scott Henderson on pipes and flute. There are no tickets, but admission will be on a first-come-first-served basis. Doors open at 6:30. Entry fee is $1

Launch of Five Monologues a Success

Thank you to Holly Sanford and the Mad Hatter Bookstore and Wine Bar for hosting the book launch yesterday of Paul Rapsey's "Five Monologues" book. The packed room was treated to a selection of "readings", actually of recitals by Paul, of a section from each of the five plays. The audience was thoroughly engaged and gave Paul an enthusiastic reception. There was some concern that people would not be as interested in the launch of a book of plays as they had been for the launch two months ago of Paul's novel, "Murder on the Pony Express Way". However, this concern proved unfounded. The space was packed to overflowing. One person wrote of the event: " This was the best reading from a book launch I’ve ever attended. The difference, of course, is that Paul knew the material so well that he didn’t just read, but he acted wonderfully. What a delightful way to spend an hour. "

Fiddelity Screening to be held in Cobourg

A screening of the film "Fiddelity" is to take place at the Loft Cinema in Cobourg, Ontario on Tuesday, December 15, at 2:00 p.m. The three actors, now living in Nova Scotia, coincidently all have a long and strong connexion with this lovely town on Lake Ontario. Seating in this small theatre is restricted to 18 people by reason of Covid-19. The show, which was by open invitation, has quickly sold out and there is a waiting list pending any cancellations. Admission is by Goodwill offering to the local Food Bank. I have performed two shows in this lovely 50-seat theatre: Alan Bennett's "Bed Among the Lentils",. and Micheal macLiammoire's "The Importance of Being Oscar". Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend this event.

One Actor - Another Show

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