Sunday Feature - The Last Fringe Blog: Robin Henderson (The Only Bar)

It's days after the Fringe has wrapped and while my laundry mountain continues to build - I am still floating on happy Fringe feelings. 

What a phenomenal festival and what a phenomenal theatre experience for “The Only Bar”.  

Sitting third on the Fringe lottery waiting list for a very long time is what inspired the idea of mounting our production in a real taverne.  That and a lack of budget.  None of us had ever gone through a site-specific theatre experience before – so we had no idea of what to expect.  We really didn’t know if it would work or if it would be a total bust.  Especially when Boston and Vancouver made it into the final round of the playoffs.  But “The Only Bar” has been “punk-rock” since its original late night conception at the 24-hour musicals, so we relished the challenge of the bathroom doors slamming, regulars talking through our show, cash-registers ringing, hand-dryers buzzing and fire-truck sirens ablaze.

Robin (The Only Bar) Henderson's Fringe Blog

June 15, 2011

Hey Fringe!

Well, its hit that point.  All of us in “The Only Bar” are feeling it: the Fringe mid-point.

Chez moi, the dishes are not getting done.  Laundry is piling up.  I’m eating out too much.  Staying out too late.  Getting up too early.  Debauchery at its Fringe finest is following every show. Dude – I am TIRED but loving every minute of it!!

Robin (The Only Bar) Henderson's Fringe Blog

June 12, 2011

Hey Fringe,

Day 3 of the Fringe was another “gangbanger” for “The Only Bar”.  

My family was in town to come and see the show. All together my Mom, Dad, Brother, Aunt Shirley, Aunt Nancy and Aunt Nancy’s new “friend” Phil all made the trek from Ottawa to come and check out my latest project. 

I am the only artist on both sides of my family.  As they all live in Ottawa, they mostly all work for the government.  Needless to say that my theatre-artist lifestyle is very foreign to them.  But to their credit, they always travel to come see my work and that support means a lot to me.

Robin (The Only Bar) Henderson's Fringe Blog

June 11, 2011

Hey Fringe,

And they are OFF - full Fringe style!!!  

The second night at “The Only Bar” unfurled itself with far less violence that our opening.  No fights tonight.  Not even any loud tonsil hockey between the Verres Sterilises regulars and our actors.  Game 5 between Boston and Vancouver was on in the back half of the bar last night and a wonderful thing happened:  the guys that had come in to watch the game watched us instead!!  They sat there attentive, focused and even shushing each other if anyone got too loud.  Most interestingly, some of them started to move forward into our “half” of the room, hanging out against the wall near the washrooms with full attention on the stage.  

Robin (The Only Bar) Henderson's Fringe Blog (New Feature)

CharPo is very proud to be publishing Robin Henderson's Fringe Blog. Henderson is director/choreographer of The Only Bar, to which CharPo gave a 5/5 charpie rating. (See our review here.) Photos are provided by Ms Henderson.

FRIDAY, JUNE 10th, 2011

Hey Montreal Fringe,

So last night marked the opening of “The Only Bar” at the historic tavern Verres Sterilises and phew! what a night it was!!  Forget that there was media there, my nerves were twisted like a pretzel knowing that Alain (our script/lyrics writer extraordinaire) and Mark (of Louch brothers fame and our set/lighting designer) would be seeing the show in its entirety for the first time.  I really wanted to make these boys happy as “The Only Bar” marks the first collaboration of Robin Henderson Productions with Le Nouveau International and the first time Alain has let someone else direct his script.  So whatevs, no pressure or anything.