Five Questions with the Administrator
I would be easy to write Greer off as the little sister of the Fringe Festival if she wasn’t three steps ahead of me at all times. Â In a very short time she has managed to become a lynchpin of the festival and I feel obligated to say nice things about her, for fear that my career will be cut short if I don’t. Â There are no stars in this festival, but she is definitely a character player. Â Read her answers below.
administratorÂ
1) Â Prior to this year, what was your experience with the Fringe?
My first Fringe experience was when I was in grade nine. I was stage managing a show that was in Youth Infringement and then came to the festival, in Academic Hall. I was right in the middle of my exams and our midnight shows did not make my parents very pleased. Last year though, I worked on three shows — I did sound for all three and then production managed the other two. My parents are much more impressed.Â
2) Â Describe your role with the Festival in three statements.
A) counting machine
B)Â Â ‘underage’ drinker (Ed. note-she is of age. Â I checked. Â Twice. )
C) Laura-Hall-look-alike
B)Â Â ‘underage’ drinker (Ed. note-she is of age. Â I checked. Â Twice. )
C) Laura-Hall-look-alike
3) Â You got to visit the Montreal Fringe with our photographer Andrew Alexander. Â What were the big differences between their festival and ours?
It’s actually really interesting. I was talking to one of the organizers and we were discussing their marketing campaign (www.montrealfringe.ca). He was saying how even though the Montreal fringe is a French fringe in a French city, it’s still mostly English. Because of this, not very many Francophones in the city know about it or even care, and that’s a huge majority in the city. So they really are ‘on the fringe,’ and that’s how they can get away with what they’re doing. It’s brilliant though, because people are stopping and asking and are interested to know what it is when they see the posters around (Francophone, Anglophone, and Fringe-o-phobe alike). Here in Ottawa, the Fringe is so much a part of the city and the theatre community that we’d never get away with stuff like that. But we have the advantage (and maybe the pressure?) of having the entire city supporting us. Just look at our sponsors, partners, volunteers, companies…Â For us, the Fringe is not only about showcasing new works or workshopping pieces (very important!), but is just a regular part of our summers like the cottage or KAMP (eh? eh?).Â
4) It’s no surprise that you’re the youngest member of our staff. Â How do you think your age changes your perspective on the Fringe?
I’m just as jaded and bitter as the next staffer. I think the age thing does and doesn’t change my perspective. It does because I’m coming in from the outside and so it’s still fascinating because it’s not my life. I’m still trying to get a hold on my life. I go to school in a different city now and I’m not performing in Ottawa every couple months like many of the people who are involved in the festival; nor am I able to see stuff. Going to see an Ottawa theatre thing is a special occasion for me. So I kinda have that ‘outsider’ feel because of where I am and what I’m doing as a ‘young’ person. At the same time, it doesn’t change anything at all. Just because I’m younger doesn’t mean that I don’t have opinions or thoughts about the plays, that I hate theatre, and am stupid. Being a part of the ‘next generation,’ I guess I should be paying more attention, but when it comes down to it, I’m seeing the same thing all the 35, 65, and 5 year olds are seeing.
5) Â If you were to get in trouble at camp, what would have been your crime?
Probably for forgetting to brush my teeth or something equally PG. Â
