On The Banes of Darkwood Hall

October 22, 2009 by maureen.ulrich.

 

You’ll recall that Sam Spud: Private Eye arrived in the mail last week.

Yesterday I received an email from Baker’s Plays indicating they would be willing to publish The Banes of Darkwood Hall AKA A Splash of Horror.  A contract will arrive shortly, and when it does, I will submit ANOTHER play when I return the contract – as I did last time. This seems to help speed up the process.

So – what play will I submit? Or plays?

I am thinking A Pirate’s Tale or possibly one of my Christmas productions – like The Swensons’ Christmas or Follow That Star.

So by this time next year I could have doubled my number of published works to four.

Now that’s definitely made my week.

I have to say, I do not care for the title — The Banes of Darkwood. I am definitely open to suggestion on this one. 

I did presentations at Loreburn Central School and John Cuelenaere Public Library in Prince Albert today and yesterday.

When people ask me if I miss teaching, I always say the book presentations help make up for it. But after talking to Grade 7 and 8 students on these two occasions, I have to say – I really miss being in the classroom. No, I don’t miss the marking and the prep and the staff meetings and the bells, but I do miss interacting with all those runaway hormones.

But, back to writing . . .

For the next few months, I am going to turn my attention to marketing some plays – and that will mean making revisions to them to reduce the number of characters. Most theatre companies – whether amateur or professional are looking for smaller casts. At one time we had no difficulty getting 16 – 18 adults out for our community theatre production. Now we struggle to find 9.

Mitch’s Crossroads Café goes on stage in nearly two weeks. And it looks like it’ll be sold out for the dinner theatres on Friday and Saturday night. We can’t wait!

Posted in On Student Productions, On Community Theatre, On Writing | No Comments »

On Snowflake: An Ode

October 16, 2009 by maureen.ulrich.

 Snowflake’s my Sportster

He’s small and he’s white

He’s the perfect motorcycle

If your experience is light.

 

To handle at Sportster

At slow speeds is tough

And I must attest that

My right turns are rough.

 

Snowflake’s seen the sky

Lying on his right flank

While I try to reassure

The tellers from the bank.

 

Still Snowflake has mastered

Hills that are steep

And stopping quickly to avoid

A flock of stunned sheep.

 

To ride him is a glory

When the bugs stay away

And the wind is behind me

On a hot summer day.

 

Sometimes it feels

Like he’s not there at all

Just the purr of his motor

And the highway’s soft call.

 

This summer in Wyoming

There was some consternation

When Snowflake was issued

A traffic citation.

 

“Too fast,” said the State Trooper

And I certainly agreed.

Those 1200 CC’s

Are a temptation to speed.

 

Snowflake’s quick, He’s the boss

 Oh the mindless joy he can bring,

But I’m sad to report

Snowflake’s parked till next spring

Posted in On Life, On Travel | 1 Comment »

On Sam Spud and Other Things,

October 16, 2009 by maureen.ulrich.

A long awaited parcel arrived in the mail today.

Sam Spud: Private Eye — AKA Splash of Mystery for those of you who remember EJH productions from yesteryear – has finally been published by Baker Plays out of New York. Baker is affiliated with Samuel French in Canada.

This brings my official publication list to . . .

. . . two items.

I sent Baker a second manuscript a year ago – The Banes of Darkwood AKA  Splash of Horror. We’ll see how that one fares.

Rehearsals for Mitch’s Crossroads Café are going well. We have five left before Play Week, which entails three dress rehearsals and three performances. Our plans for set are coming together – with minimal expense. There’s great satisfaction to be gained from making things out of nothing for little or no money.

So, the posters are up, the advertising is out, the T-shirts and anniversary mugs are on the press, and now the search for our audience begins. We know our loyal supporters will find their way to their seats, but it wouldn’t matter if we performed for just a handful of them. We’ve learned over the years that we are truly doing this for ourselves . . .

And to help support the Lampman High School drama club . . .

And the Lampman Hospital Auxiliary . . .

And the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency . . .

So let’s hope for a good turnout!

 

Posted in On Student Productions, On Community Theatre, On Writing | 1 Comment »