It has been quite a while since I made my last post as I have been quite busy with many different activities and events both in school and outside of school, so I will be sure to make this post as worthwhile as possible.
An Introduction
In recent years in Calgary, the performing arts and culture has seen a massive boom. At the center of this rapid development and further introduction of the arts into the city, well, lies directly at the heart of the city–that is, right beneath the Calgary Tower.
Vertigo Theatre in all its glory has been at the heart of the arts culture in Calgary for over forty years, and to say the least, it has provided countless moments of humor, anguish, sadness, however emotion you want, to all massive demographics across Calgary (and even beyond). My personal experiences with the theatre has been tremendous and I would recommend anyone to take time off, unwind, relax, and enjoy a show at Vertigo Theatre.
A quote from Ray Bradbury (author of Fahrenheit 451) that reflects my honest views on art is: “We need our Arts to teach us how to breathe.” In a city like Calgary where oil and gas industries are what propels the city forward, a high-octane atmosphere and a work-centered mindset is often adopted. In such an environment, it is even more necessary to relax and settle the mind. What better way to do so than to settle down snugly in a theatre seat and watch a truly fantastic show unfold before your eyes?
Our Man In Havana
I had the pleasure of watching the wonderful Our Man in Havana in March, and below are a few comments  I have made about the play, and how they relate to theatre in general.
Like any other piece of literature, innately there is a big, overarching theme, perhaps a dogma, an aphorism, about life or about human nature. A component of theatre that truly, you cannot find anywhere else is that you are immersed into the story. Unlike a movie where there is a physical screen between you and the actors (and all those fancy-schmancy camera techniques) detract from the overall immersive experience. While in theatre, the people are true, the atmosphere is real, and there is no screen blocking you from the actors. What I noticed is that Our Man in Havana was very immersive, and it truly gives you a feel for what type of place Cuba was in the mid 20th century; Â truly beautiful, yet at the same time dark and foreboding. A setting you would typically see in a James Bond-esque movie, Our Man in Havana captures to feel perfectly and gave me waves of nostalgia as the play unfolded itself.
The dialogue was definitely very engaging, and unlike some theatrical works which rely heavily on tropes and stereotypes, Our Man in Havana deviates from that and employs very individualistic styles which add to the overall experience.
The acting was fabulous, and the overall flow of the play was great. There were not any discrepancies nor in-cohesiveness, as everything tied back together perfectly.
Conclusion
Theatre experiences are wonderful, as they bring light to a whole new world and allow one to be immersed in a world that otherwise would have to created by head or watched in a movie. It is a great way to unwind and be caught up in the story, almost as if you are a pedestrian or a passerby witnessing the events as they unfold. Art and the culture is important in any society, and just like my experience with Our Man in Havana, I hope more people can take time off and appreciate the wonderful and talented space that is Vertigo Theatre as it truly is a wonderful experience and a great way to relax and unwind.
