They're talking in the bathtub

By Dan Hilborn
Published Sept. 3, 2005


What will undoubtedly be one of the most talked about shows at the Vancouver Fringe Festival is the brainchild of Burnaby's own Naked Goddess Productions.

Three Chicks In A Tub is the story of how three aspiring actresses deal with the reality that one of them has finally hit the big time by landing a lead role in a feature film.

The play takes place in the real-life bathtub, bathroom and bedroom of one of the three actresses who co-wrote and stars in the play.

Nicole Fairburn teams up with sisters Sandra and Sandy Medeiros for the production that takes a revealing look at how women interact with each other.

"I've always wanted to do a show in a bathroom," Burnaby resident Sandra said this week. "So, as we were going through the writing, I asked, why do this on stage? This should take place in a real bathroom."

Part of the Fringe's Bring Your Own Venue program, in which productions are staged in unlikely places, Three Chicks In A Tub takes place in Fairburn's West End apartment. Because of the rather cramped quarters, only seven audience members can watch it at a time, Naked Goddess is staging the show three times per evening during the run of the festival.

"The majority of the play take place in the bathroom but at times we cross into the bedroom," Medeiros said. "The audience will be in the hallway, and there are mirrors set up so people can see.

"But once we have people in there, it's going to be odd. We all talk with our hands, and we'll have to curb that," she said. "One small move and we could hit somebody in the head."

The play is definitely daring, and Medeiros said that her apartment-dwelling colleague is a little nervous about opening her bathroom door to an audience, but the show does have a fascinating story to tell.

Medeiros said the current slowdown in the film business in the Lower Mainland makes the premise of the play - landing a role in a feature film - more like a fiction than anything else.

When asked how her own acting career is going, Medeiros does not hesitate to say "terrible."

"I'm actually surprised how hard it is to get anywhere in this city," said the co-founder of one of the most vibrant theatre companies in the region. "Doing Naked Goddess makes me feel like I'm at least going somewhere, but the only way to do it is to create your own work.

"Things are getting slower. There's less being filmed but there are just as many actors vying for fewer roles. It's tough."

The play runs from Sept. 8 to 18, comes with a warning for mature content, and tickets are $10 but must be reserved in advance by calling 604-257-0366 or visiting www.festivalboxoffice.com.

FRINGE ALSO OFFERS A PUPPET SHOW FOR KIDS

While the Vancouver Fringe Festival may be best known for its edgy adult productions, there will also be something for the children this year.

As the Woodburn Turns - Tales from Kids on the Block is a life- sized puppet show, based on the Japanese style of puppetry known as banruka, that is helping to raise awareness, understanding and acceptance for young people.

Each of the puppets in the show has a unique character, whether it's a physical disability such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida, a learning disability or some other issue, such as having to cope with a bully.

First conceived more than 25 years ago, Kids on the Block now has more than 1,000 puppet troupes around the world, including a B.C. team of seven puppeteers who take the program on tour to schools around the province on behalf of the B.C. Coalition of People with Disabilities.

Kids on the Block plays Sept. 10, 11, 17 and 18 at venue number 10, the Public Market Courtyard, 1689 Johnston St., Granville Island. For tickets, call 604-257-0366 or visit www.festivalboxoffice.com.