Reba Terlson is a multidisciplinary artist, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg’s Theatre Program and the PTE @ PTE program. Recent credits include L’armoire with Cercle Moliere, and One Trunk Theatre’s Stage Frights. Reba also produces, writes and acts in her theatre company It’s All Relative Productions. Her 2018 show, One Date City, received glowing reviews and four stars from the Winnipeg Free Press. Her Winnipeg Fringe play, Filter This, landed her on Virgin Radio’s Top 100 Fascinating Manitobans of 2017. She has also studied at the Moving Voice Institute, previously known as Canada’s national voice intensive. Her latest show Isolation Journals won the Audience Pick Award at the Saskatoon Fringe Festival in 2021.
Twitter: @rebajesse
Instagram: @rebajesse
Keeping The Moon
Meet Luna, named after the Roman Goddess of the moon. She’s a Scorpio, who loves The Baby-Sitters Club, Taylor Swift and moon pies. This is her story. But it could also be her mother’s. As she transitions through the phases of the moon, Luna journeys to discover herself, her complicated relationship with her mother, and what she keeps hidden from others. There will be one ASL performance of this show. Tickets are 12$- There is one show that is 2 or 12$ ( so 6$ per ticket ) We open July 20 at 6:15pm.
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Transcript
Transcript auto generated.
Phil Rickaby
I’m Phil Rickaby and I’ve been a writer and performer for almost 30 years, but I’ve realised that I don’t really know as much as I should about the theatre scene outside of my particular Toronto bubble. Now, I’m on a quest to learn as much as I can about the theatre scene across Canada. So join me as I talk with mainstream theatre creators, you may have heard of an indie artist you really should know, as we find out just what it takes to be Stageworthy.
If you value the work that I do want Stageworthy please consider leaving a donation either as a one time thing or on a recurring monthly basis. Stageworthy is created entirely by me and I give it to you free of charge with no advertising or other sponsored messages. your continuing support helps me to cover the cost of producing and distributing the show. Just for people donating $5 A month would help me cover the cost of podcast hosting alone. Help me continue to bring you this podcast, you can find a link to donate in the show notes which you can find in your podcast app or the website at stageworthy.ca. Now, onto the show. Reba Tolson is a multidisciplinary artist based in Winnipeg. She joined me to talk about her solo show keeping the moon at the Winnipeg fringe starting July 20. In this conversation, we talked about what prompted her to create a solo show how she decided to incorporate movement and dance into this show her love of astrology, and much more. Here’s our conversation.
The show is keeping the moon Yes, it is. And you’ll be performing that the Winnipeg Fringe Festival.
Reba Terlson
Yeah, absolutely.
Phil Rickaby
Tell me about keeping the move.
Reba Terlson
Sure. So it’s so funny when I talk about this show, because I think that it has become something that it might not have been originally, once upon a time, I think once upon a time, I was explaining this to someone in 2020, I had a friend who was like, oh, let’s create this like, sort of online like friend, kind of basically like a friend festival. But it was supposed to all be online, and it had a seat. And the theme was that it was going to be moon base, whatever that meant to anyone. And so at the time, I was like, oh, what it was, like, it would be cool if I would do a solo show that had the moon and just talked about the different phases of the moon and the transitions and how they kind of relate to a lot of different things in our lives like, like how kind of how we go about in the world mental health and all of that stuff. And then, you know, I don’t even think that festival ever ended up happening. And then I just kind of stuck with that idea. And I wanted to do a solo show eventually. And I was like, well, I could mess around with that. I could do that. So I think what came about it was, so my character’s name is Luna, because she is named after the Roman goddess of the moon. And that is that I I’ve done a lot of Moon research, if anyone wants to fact check me is doing Moon research since about 2021. So yeah, it’s about her and her difficult relationship with her mother. And kind of, we see that happening as we transition through different phases of the moon, which are throughout the show. So you get to know about Luna and her journey. And also, I put a lot of my research into the show. I put a lot of Moon stuff in the show that people I mean, I hope that I hope that they’re like she didn’t just make that up. Trust me. I did. I did not make it. What’s the research? What is
Phil Rickaby
it one of the things that I find is sometimes you there’s you know, you could make something up and everybody be like, This is really, really well researched or something like because most people don’t know something and they’ll believe it. But y’all know. Yeah, a fifth. Exactly. Now, you started with this as as as an idea. I mean, sort of the way you’re describing it a sliver of an idea that would involve like the phases of the moon. Yeah. At what point did you start to build a character on it to sort of expand it and sort of examine a mother daughter relationship, at what point in the writing process did that come in?
Reba Terlson
Well, That’s so interesting because I think Luna was always there. And her mental health was always there. And I think when I started writing, I was like, the way my brain doesn’t write plot very well. I could just kind of write into the void and not have the pivotal plot, things that you kind of see in traditional light novels or like a hero’s journey or anything like that. So my driving charges along the way, have really helped me with that. But yeah, so when I started the writing process, I was like, Okay, I want each thing to be a phase of the moon. And each phase means something different. So that is going to influence what she does, how she feels in that scene, and kind of, if we call it, the action of that scene, is going to be influenced by whatever phase of the moon that we’re in. And then the mother daughter thing was interesting, because I didn’t necessarily go into it, intending for it to be as strong as it become. But in an earlier draft, I think when I was like, probably struggling with plot points by dramaturge was like, they picked out the mother daughter relationship thing and went, well, that’s interesting. I want to know more about that. Let’s, let’s see what that is. And so that’s kind of how I came about more where I’m like, oh, okay, like I can, if that’s what you’re interested in, then if that’s what you’re curious about, then I will definitely write more of that. And so that’s kind of how it became more about this mother daughter relationship than I think I had originally intended.
Phil Rickaby
It’s funny how these things start with a little something. And then more interesting thing, like more deeper things come in. Yeah, time goes on. And where you thought you were going to go? Yeah, you know, where, like, where you end up?
Reba Terlson
Yeah, it feels like a very, just from my brain to where it is. Now. It’s a very different show. But I think it’s okay. And I think, you know, thinking about it to myself. That’s how that’s how play should be if you have enough time.
Phil Rickaby
Yeah, I think that’s that’s kind of the process to add. It’s like you start with something small and it should expand, it should grow as time goes on.
Reba Terlson
And it is a way better show that. Earlier drafts of it. And even then even I think I thought it would be at the beginning of like, my 2020 2021. And it’s also funny to me, and I’m like, isn’t a better show just because of the amount that I’ve edited it or Gravenhurst it? Or is it a better show? Because I’ve sat with it a lot longer than any other show I’ve done. I like, had this idea again in 2020. And then started to really like, right, I guess it was a year we had twice or three. So I was like God COVID is messing me up, man.
Phil Rickaby
What is it? What is time? It was time? What do we we all don’t like if you try to think back over the COVID years? Yeah, either a year, two years? Three, like it’s four years or one year? I don’t know how long that period was?
Reba Terlson
Yeah, I think so. It was like in my brain for a long time. And then I started like, having to physically write it in 2022. I think that was my, and then because yeah, and then yeah, and then I got the artist residency and 2021. So then that was interesting, because then I that was what I had a beautiful amount of time to research. All of the things that have ended up in the show. Cuz I had a month to just kind of make make art. Yeah, it was lovely. It was like the best time ever. Then I left it. I came home, went back to my job, got a new job, like kind of and then left it again until maybe like, December of that year, like of the next year like it was. Yeah, so it’s really it’s been an interesting journey pressure writing wise anyway,
Phil Rickaby
but it can be good to put something down and come back to it. Right. Yeah, there’s distance from a thing. Lets you look at it in a fresh way.
Reba Terlson
Yeah, definitely. It’s been. Yeah, it’s been and I’m so glad like, I think Winnipeg did this weird thing where I know a bunch of Fringe Festivals last year. Were like a clean slate. You can all apply. You know, again, because of COVID. But Winnipeg held on to the people that applied to it in 2019. And in 2019. I wanted to take a break from doing shows at the Winnipeg red so I didn’t apply and then COVID hat is So I didn’t have a show last year. And I was like, oh, like, it’s been so long since I have performing. So it’s gonna be really a noon day. Getting back into it.
Phil Rickaby
It’s a weird feeling. I did my first performance last summer at the fringe in St. John, New Brunswick. Oh, congratulations. And it just felt weird to be in front of an audience again. Yeah. Hi, Pat. It felt like it felt like you hear about about the sailors getting their sea legs back and kind of a little bit like that finding the the cadence and, you know, interacting with an audience instead of, you know, digital people.
Reba Terlson
Yeah, it’s so different. But that’s so cool. Especially like that you did it in New Brunswick. That’s really cool.
Phil Rickaby
It’s a it’s a it’s a good fringe to, to try out something new in our night. I don’t like to. I mean, it’s a very warm fringe. Yeah. But it’s kind of it’s kind of low stakes. Yeah. And are sure. I mean, if you bomb nobody at home is really going to hear about it. So it’s,
Reba Terlson
I also feel that way about the Regina Fringe Festival. God bless Regina for interest. Yeah. They’re always there. It’s like, it’s so tidy. It’s so cute. And happens over I mean, it used to now I think, I think because I have some friends doing it this year that it hasn’t quite started yet, but used to happen over like, Canada Day weekend. And it’s like, oh, let’s come see some theatre even though you know, there might be other activities happening. And like, oh, or die, then you’re trying so hard. It’s
Phil Rickaby
so cute. Yeah. No, it’s it’s it’s also the I mean, the the the the fringe in St. John. Actually, at this point, there’s there was no media coverage, and no reviews.
Reba Terlson
Oh, wow. It’s really low stakes, then isn’t it low stakes? Like
Phil Rickaby
it’s not like anybody if the show bald, nobody would search it and find a bad review? Because there weren’t any. So as it relates with medicine, it’s like, I could fail. I could fall flat on my face. Fortunately, uh, well, well, Oh, I’m glad that you mentioned you mentioned, always wanting to do solo play. Wow. What? What is it? What was your inspiration? What made you want to do a solo play?
Reba Terlson
And I don’t know what that’s interesting. I’ll probably say that to every one of your questions, because I’m just like, Oh, that’s so you know, just thing you don’t think about? I think I had done a nap shows. I think it’s it’s twofold in that I had done enough shows with like, really small cast, because I liked doing it that way. Because if I can get the opportunity to pay people, well, then I would like that, versus if I had a cast of like, 10 people or, you know, more than that. And then you’re like, oh, everyone gets like $40. I’m so sorry. I have. And I also think it’s part of doing friends so much as now. And kind of learning wearing things. And then I like to be in control a lot. Add people’s schedules and things like that. And so if I only have to schedule, like myself as a director and a stage manager, that that’s perfect, because you know, it, it’s way less scheduling conflicts. So I think all of those things, I wanted to challenge myself because I like I think I like a challenge. And a million years ago when I first started doing print, and I had that I became friends with Sam Mullins who lives in Toronto now. And he lived in Toronto, I think at the time as well. But he used to do, obviously a bunch of solo shows, and we became friends and we’re always talking about theatre and friends and all of that stuff. And I think I mean, this was like I was Oh crazy. Like 25 I think when we met like now I’m much older than that, but but I think I was just like, wow, that’s so cool that like, I think I was like I think I want to do that. Like I’m like I want to but I was too scared. I was like I don’t think I could do that and he was like you can do it. Like I think you could do it so like a million a million years later down doing it.
Phil Rickaby
First off do you remember what play of his you saw or did you get to see one of his shows?
Reba Terlson
I’ve seen many of his shows. I’ve seen weak sauce I saw think it called grandma’s dead or something. She has another one and his Tyrannosaurus Rex show that
Phil Rickaby
I didn’t feel dinosaur.
Reba Terlson
Thank you. Like I like that. That wasn’t the title of the show hope but I was like something about that. So ya know, we’re really great friends now let’s just the bath. So
Phil Rickaby
there’s a funny thing about for me, I had wanted for me I’d want to do a solo show ever since I first read um A wild abandoned by the by Danny McIver Oh cool. And I just read it and it was, you know, it was great. And then it took me years to be able to start writing it. Right. Yeah. Like, I was intimidated as, as you were about the idea of standing alone on the stage. Yeah. And performing until I finally did. Yeah. But writing I found writing and tell me if you found this as writing a solo play was a very different process from writing a straight up play.
Reba Terlson
Yeah, it’s a lot of I think, for me, the challenge was like, I really love writing dialogue, I really love like, you can easily create conflict with dialogue, I think. Because there’s two people or however many people you’re writing. So I’m grateful that he did some workshops, I think around around having like, solo shows that haven’t be able, like, oh, like, what am I dramaturge helped me along with this. She’s like, what’s the turning point? What’s the inner conflict, all of these things. So but I did find it more challenging, because I was like, Okay, I have to create, kind of have to create, like, I guess like, to me, you have to create more inner conflict, you have to create conflict with your environment, to have stakes, because there’s not another person on stage with you. So you have to like, for me, I think it was more about creating more of a world than I had time to before. Because if I have, I think mostly I’ve written like two or three person and you can easily create, for me anyways, you can easily like, just have that quick banter and create conflict. And then where’s the conflict if you don’t have another person? Yeah. So I think for keeping the moon I have a lot of I would say, like inner conflict that I do have, like, voiceovers that are her mother. I have people off stage that you don’t see that she had conversations with because I think it for me, I couldn’t not write that. Because other like, I just couldn’t, I just couldn’t not some even if you don’t, you never see the other characters that I’ve created. But I couldn’t not create other characters. Printing it. So I think the challenge was like, okay, but I have to do this by myself. So I can’t have you can never physically see them. I had to like really incorporate the fact that you couldn’t physically see other people that I’m talking to.
Phil Rickaby
For me, when I’m writing a play that has multiple characters, I started the beginning and I worked through to the end. Yeah, that’s That’s always how it works for me. Yeah. Writing solo. Yeah, I take a notebook, and I start to write about the topic. And once I feel that notebook, I transcribe it I start to type it into into my computer. Oh, wow. And at that point, I learned what the what were like, what is it? What’s forming here? Is there a character here at that point? I find the beginning and I start to like, arrange things. Right. Yeah, may change. But it’s so nonlinear. As opposed to when I write a like a straight up play. Yeah. It’s such it’s to me, there’s like, different different different types of, of writing call for different processes. Yes, definitely. That that was how I learned to work, because I tried starting from the beginning and working through about 20 times. My first solo play, and it just didn’t work for that isn’t. When you were when you were writing this? How many drafts did you do on your own before you worked for the dramaturg
Reba Terlson
I, that’s funny, because I had my dramaturg right away, because she was supposed to be my director. And she’s such an amazing writer. And then she moved to Edinburgh for a year. So we quickly realised that she could not be my director, right. But she was kind of in it from like, the start of my writing process where I was like, hey, like, you know, like, I would I would write things and then she would like send me back notes of like, I it was kind of what I was talking about earlier, like, Oh, I’m curious about that. What would happen if I want to see more of that? This doesn’t work and she just kind of she asked me what I needed. And I was like, I would love like writing prompts in the way of like, what do you think is working what isn’t working? And it again, I think the idea of this mother daughter relationship came proud one of her notes of being like, I really want to know what that is. And the that was the conflict between the mother and daughter that I that and expanded into the entire play. So I’m super grateful for her. Her name is Lindsay and she’s amazing at so I had, I had her from the start. And then my director, who I have now, Megan Phillips, is also amazing and kind of when we started, when we started rehearsing, it was kind of even more levels of, because she also does dramaturgy. And so then I rewrote. I basically reworked everything and like May and June so we had a final script two weeks ago. Yeah, so it’s been like I say, this is the most that I have ever edited. A play? What am I plays anyway?
Phil Rickaby
You know, it’s good that you, you’ve you, you know, have like your finished script. I remember, when I first started writing a solo play, the first piece of advice I got was from my friend, Jeanette Moore, who had done solo plays. And she said, The most important thing that you can do when you’re writing this thing is decide when you were done being the writer.
Reba Terlson
Yes, that’s something that’s amazing, because that is something that that Megan has kind of tried to instil it like, when we were in rehearsals, she would like refer to like, my writer, bright as writer, writer, Reba and then like, my actor brain, as like, and then she would tell me like, oh, switch off your writer brain or switch off your actor brain? Or yeah, you know, so that was really helpful to try to, to try to kind of like I said, currently right now, I’m like, only an actor brain. I have, I can’t go back to be like, but what? What did they want? And what about this thing? I don’t? I don’t know. I don’t care.
Phil Rickaby
Oh, and it’s, it’s fascinating to to be able to make that break to say, now I am the actor and somebody who are like, Well, what about this? What does it mean? What does it play? Right? Yeah, I know. You’d be like, just like, I don’t know. I have to make it up now. Yeah, exactly. I can’t go back and fix it. Now. I have to make it up.
Reba Terlson
Yeah, exactly. Exactly. That’s a good way of putting it. And I think, in the past, it’s been so it’s been really nice to have a director to be like, let us let us distinguish, when you have to do one thing. And when you have to do another thing, because I think a lot of our early od rehearsal process was her asking me like, right or question, which is good, and, and it was good, but that eventually having to be like, Okay, I have to shut that part of my brain off, or I’m never going to be able to act in this thing.
Phil Rickaby
No, no, because you keep your the writer keeps wanting to change things. Quote, unquote, working. Yeah. And then you’re kind of like, never, you’re never. You’re never sitting in the performance. You’re always editing.
Reba Terlson
Yes. Oh, yeah, that was I mean, luckily, I’ve been lucky. I’ve never I’ve never done that. When I performed. I’ve always been really, really an actor. Braden, when I’ve done Fringe Festivals, like on stage, but that would that that would be terrible.
Phil Rickaby
Yeah. I’ve made it. I’ve made it a rule for solo plays that I performing that I never, I never make changes. Yeah. Until I’m about them. So I’m getting ready to produce again. Yeah, then I’ll think about what worked. What didn’t and I’ll tweak and I’ll write maybe some new bits and things like that. Yeah. Only one time, an improv moment, made it into the show and stayed in for the rest of a run. Like thing i Nothing has ever. Like, I don’t edit until I’m like done and about to to get ready to produce again. Yeah, it’s just too much. And also when I’ve done performing, I’m like, I need to let this sit.
Reba Terlson
Yes, exactly. Yeah, that’s yeah, that’s, that’s great advice.
Phil Rickaby
Because I found an audience teaches you so much about like, in your relating when you are, like, if you’re a playwright and you’re watching other people perform it. The audience is teaching you about the show. What when you’re in it when you’re performing it. You’re the audience is still teaching you but it’s a very different relationship.
Reba Terlson
Yeah, yeah. And what I’ve appreciated, because I think, again, three or whatever, how many drafts ago that was when I started rehearsal with Megan. I was like, I was really worried about tone. Because byplay also talks about anxiety, and kind of what can I mean, my character takes medication, you kind of know that right away when you see it, so it’s not a surprise. So I was really worried about it being like, not necessarily like a downer thing, because I think these are important things to talk about, but I think that Also, I was really concerned with, oh, are people going to come into this and be like, Oh, this plays really depressing. Like, you know, I just feel really heavy when I watch this show. And so I think, with having earlier conversations about that with Megan, she’s been great. Because she put a lot of like, more jokey thing in the show than were originally there. She like, wrote, kind of helped me rewrite, rewrite some things to make them funnier. Because I do like do a comedy. And I think comedy comes a bit more naturally to me. So she’s been great and like, being like, okay, let’s make this funny. Let’s make this thing funny. So it doesn’t feel like you’re watching hopefully, like a really, I don’t know, though the pressing play about a mother daughter relationship. Because of it, oh, my character is awkward. She doesn’t know what she’s doing. Right. And she just really, I think she’s very socially awkward. So like, that comes with, that’s gonna be somebody to watch on stage when she tries to interact with other people, if she doesn’t have the social cues, or the social skills to really flourish and then invite her. It’s
Phil Rickaby
one of the things that is is kind of funny as a performer of solo plays is, especially at a Fringe Festival when you’re talking to people about a solo show. You could sort of see people, you started talking about your solo show, and suddenly, you could sort of see it in their eyes. Oh, great. Another autobiographical show. So I found I’m wrong. You’re not right. No, I know. And it’s so it’s such a stereotype. But I found that I had like, my pitch had to be like, why? What can I say that prove that this is not an autobiographical show? Why? Because I’ve been in that situation where somebody comes up, and they’re, again, I’d say about my show. It’s, it’s the story of me overcoming X, you know, and it right. Okay. Right, you know, and so, unless the pitch is really good. But like, you could sort of see people like making that jump as soon as you mentioned solo show. And you also like your show is not autobiographical? No, it’s not. And it’s it. But again, it’s also fantastical. So that sort of gives you a way of talking about this show that sort of reassures people that we’re not, it’s not another autobiographical piece, you know?
Reba Terlson
Well, it’s so funny. I think I talked to a friend of mine, like way, way earlier, when we were talking about plays, and, you know, writing stuff for this year, and at the time, I think, what he didn’t realise was the show that I was planning on writing was like, a play. It wasn’t, I was not going to write a solo show about Rebbes life and write that is like, struggles, or my whatever. I was like, no, no, like, I’m writing a character, I am writing something that has, like, a hero’s journey, plot devices. And so it’s funny. Because, uh, you’re right, a lot of solo shows are autobiographical, but I think hopefully when I, if I hadn’t bill, who’s to say, but I don’t think I would tell people it was a solo show. Because of that. It can be a very visceral reaction where it’s like, Oh, great. You’re right, like another soul? Oh, I think I would end because I think what helps is that any other show I’ve done has been like, up play with characters, right. And so this is that same I didn’t stray from that is just now there’s only me on stage versus before there was like other people was. And, as I always say, or as always, my dad interjects, when I tell people about about my show, because I’ve been currently I don’t have another tagline. But currently, my tagline is, it’s a show about Mother Daughter toxic relationships, because it is and then my dad will say, but it’s not your relationship with your mother. And I like Well, you’re right. It’s not. I think my relationship with my brother will influence how I act certain thing, but it’s a very, these are two very different people that I made up. Yeah. Like, I have anxiety. So Luna, and I have that in common but I am very extroverted and like bubbly and social and all of these things that Luna is So we both have anxiety, that’s about the only thing. I think that that that is the same. And anyone that, like knows me would also, I think, agree that like, if they see the play, they will be like, oh, like, That’s not. That’s not who Reba. I’m not that person. So, and again, the other person that I created, you never see her but she she’s out there, right? She she’s meant to be an absentee mother and my mother is not that person. So yeah, just all it’s just all in my mind.
Phil Rickaby
It’s interesting about about about the pitch you mentioned, like not mentioning that it’s a solo show. And I think that that’s the least, that that piece of information is the least least important piece of information that people need to know. Right, exactly. Where they need to know is they need to what is your hook? What is that sort of thing? And so yeah, once you’ve come up with that, they’ll figure it it’s a solo show, when they look and they see only one performer. They don’t need to they don’t need to know that, you know,
Reba Terlson
exactly. And I don’t think I think like with my other plays, I just tried to describe, like the plot that when want to grab them one date city was really easy with that, because it was like, Have you ever had a terrible dating experience? Of course you have. Would you like to come and see us act out dating, terrible dating experiences on stage? Of course you would. So that one was easy, but it still was like, you know, it was? It’s still a play? Right? Yeah, it’s Yeah.
Phil Rickaby
Well, there’s your there’s movement and dancing in this show. Yeah, there. Yeah. And I want to, because you, you started dancing. And I think you’ve mentioned that you were on the show back in 2020. Wow. And you mentioned that you were you know, dancing. What? That you’d started in 2020. terrible timing.
Reba Terlson
Oh, I know, I know.
Phil Rickaby
But that you continue dancing through the pandemic? Or did Oh, mine. Yeah, it
Reba Terlson
did. My dance studio, switched to online when we had like really intensive Code Red, and they had to shut down the studio. And then when those were lifted, I went back to dancing in person, but we just had masked mandate. So I, that’s kind of how I feel about people that are like, Oh, masks, and I’m like, you can’t even complain if you have never exercised with the mask. Because that is the most torturous thing I can. Because it is you can’t breathe, like like you that I mean, you can breathe, because you know, you won’t die. But you it’s very, very difficult, especially if you’re wearing n95 masks. So I was just like, really, you can’t wear a mask in like a grocery store where a young are pushing a cart and doing very minimal exercising, where I’m like, you know, running around and doing cardio and yoga. And I’m asked and it’s like, really, you can’t just like close your garage? With Mahaska.
Phil Rickaby
Yeah, but as far as like dancing this show or movement in this show. I what point did you figure out did that was going to be a big part of this? Or was it always going to be that
Reba Terlson
my dream was that it was always going to be a part of it. And then earlier on in, in the process, I think when I was applying for residencies and stuff, and earlier on, I had a different choreographer who became busy so she was unable to do it. So now I have a different choreographer. But it was always important to me that, because I love I think a part of me is like, is because I want to incorporate more movement and in my shows, and a part of me is that, because I love watching Dance. And I love going to see that shows, I think they’re so interesting, because it’s a different way of telling a story. And I will also say, the Handy plot device because I do dancing, and then I don’t have to talk. I have two of them. I have two scenes where I know I don’t have to talk, man, that is beautiful. So that was also in my mind, and I was like oh, if I do these, then I have to memorise less. So we’ll
Phil Rickaby
listen, and I think a lot of people don’t know how difficult it is to learn lines for a solo show that you’ve written. Oh, my
Reba Terlson
goodness hits another beast and cover Hill.
Phil Rickaby
Because I mean, you know what I learned that, you know, use different parts of your brain for writing than you do for learning the lines. That’s gonna be easy for you to learn the lines. You wrote it and you let the heart Sure,
Reba Terlson
yeah, absolutely. And I think I’m really, I feel guilty because I’m really good at memorising things. So it is something I will put off to the very last minute because I know my brain can memorise things really quickly. Like, for example, we had a rehearsal this week, where, you know, I, I think now I was technically I’ve been off book for like, yeah, like less than a week and my director was like, You were way more off book than I thought you were going to be like, Oh, you have vastly underestimated my memorising skills. Like, is, yeah, I will say it’s a lot easier to memorise for me like dialogue, like, it’s a lot easier to memorise like this person talks, and then I talk and then this person talks in that I talk.
Phil Rickaby
There were queues there, there are queues.
Reba Terlson
Every everything now is like a queue to myself. And I’m like, Oh, no. Improv I’ve like I have well as it can be as improvised, I guess if the audience wouldn’t know, but the cube is not
Phil Rickaby
good to your stage manager. That’d be good too far, but now, I have resorted to so many tricks to try to learn and relearn the lines of of my solo shows. Oh, man,
Reba Terlson
what tricks do you have? i Okay, so let’s see. So
Phil Rickaby
I’m first off, just like reading it out loud as many times as I can before I start to drive myself crazy internet. And then after a while, I record it. Yeah, I’ve done that. I’ve done that, too. And I listened to it. In place of podcasts. Yes, I’ve done that, too. Yeah. And we’re walking around listening to it, just to try to put it in the subconscious in the back of my brain. So that it’s there. Yeah. And just like, repeating sections. Oh, absolutely. Yeah, just repeating a section until it sticks. Yeah. So because again, it’s like, if you’re in a play, you can run lines with somebody like a friend. Whereas in a solo play, you’re basically can you listen to me?
Reba Terlson
Yeah. And it’s, it’s so funny, because normally, I think I would ask someone, like, because my dad and I have written a lot of shows together. Normally, I would just be like, Oh, hey, like, because we’ve written them together. I would be like, oh, let’s run lines, if my other actors can’t be here, because you know it. But this script, he hasn’t seen any of it. Because I just went by myself. And so I don’t really want to be like, Hey, do you want to like, quote unquote, see my show, which is not being my show, but if it is me trying to memorise my lines in front of you. And like, nobody really wants that, like, no.
Phil Rickaby
Awkward for everybody. Because, you know, this is a person essentially watching this show. Yeah, you stumble into it.
Reba Terlson
But I do say like, it’s so I wish I was the type of person that I could like, memorise like lines, like in public. I cannot. Like I have to be like, at home in my room saying my life out loud to myself like that. That has to be the thing.
Phil Rickaby
Absolutely, absolutely. It’s the same like, because I don’t find value in not saying it out loud. Yeah, yeah. I can whisper it that you can whisper but then he’s like, if you’re outside, he’s still kind of look. No, yeah, you shouldn’t be doing that at home.
Reba Terlson
And I think like one of the interesting things that I found, I think just with this one, and sometimes I’ve done it with other I guess I’ve done it with other plays, but it’s easier because there’s dialogue. But for this one, I’ve found that it sticks in me more if I’m doing something if I like so like the other day when I was like memorising for most of the day. I was like cleaning. And because I was moving around, all I had to do I was still talking aloud to myself these lines, but I was like moving around and I was like, okay, and then you say this, and then I add that because I think I was focusing on something else then like the words came better, because I wasn’t just like, sitting still being like, what’s that fucking line?
Phil Rickaby
That’s because you’re your sub, you know, it’s now you’re coming from your subconscious because you’re concentrating on the dishes or something. Yeah, you’ve figured out that Oh, I know this better than I do when I’m not thinking about it. Yeah,
Reba Terlson
it’s, it’s wild. I think it was it was a wild discovery where I was like, oh, maybe this is how we should memorise lines in the future.
Phil Rickaby
Things you learn from doing a solo,
Reba Terlson
so many things will so many things. Maybe that I never do whenever again and this is just the one time I don’t
Phil Rickaby
know. I don’t know. I gotta I gotta say it doing performing solo shows is addicted. Oh, I
Reba Terlson
believe it. I believe that.
Phil Rickaby
And once you’re done your run, you’ll be like, I can’t wait to do this again. And you’ll have an idea for another solo show.
Reba Terlson
I know I’m worried about that. Because
Phil Rickaby
there’s something about taking an audience on a journey by yourself.
Reba Terlson
Oh, I believe that. Yeah. I can’t have like, I’m always excited.
Phil Rickaby
It’s exhilarating. It’s exhilarating. And that’s why I think it’s so addictive because of that relationship with the audience. And also afterward going like, yeah, they came. I saw I did
Reba Terlson
that. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, exactly. I’m very excited to see the reactions and hopefully the praise. Because I’m like, oh, like, again, this is an earlier thought of mine. Again, if I mess up, there’s kind of only like me to blame, right? Like, I’m the only person on stage. But also, if you love it, it’s because like anime only person on stage, like, that’s kind of my my to like to person thought where I was like, just think of it people really love it. That’s all for you almost like it is also for like, obviously, my director, my sales manager, or they’re both preaching music and could not do this show. Without them. Could they be amount that of collaboration that’s happened, including, like, I stayed managers, brilliant. And she has offered writing ideas that have been great that we’ve incorporated and like, very cool set design ideas that I mean, I don’t have any experience in that. And Megan has been amazing. So, but it’s like, yeah, so I don’t do it alone, obviously. But But, yeah, but also, it’s like two weeks away, and I’m also freaking out so
Phil Rickaby
well, naturally. That’s just the way things are. Now, you were talking about your own research. Yeah. But also, you know, you you love astrology. I really do. Yeah. And so how did your love of astrology, astrology play into this show?
Reba Terlson
Um, I think one of the first things that I wrote in one of Lunas monologues was when she introduces herself to the audience, and she says that her and her mother are both water sign. So and as part of this is still on the show that her mother’s a cancer and she’s a Scorpio. But Luna doesn’t like astrology, but her mother loves astrology. Which, again, would probably be the opposite of, of my real life. But it’s something again, this was an idea that my stage manager had, which is amazing, and is now in the show, is that I mean, I drop a bit of astrology in like, maybe, like, sometimes throughout it, but it’s really not there that much. But at the beginning, when she’s talking about this, my sales manager was like, Oh, what, because I think originally it was just me monologuing about astrology and our differences and our similarities. And my stage manager said her name was Erica, by the way, she’s great. And she said, Why don’t you have it be like a podcast that she’s listening to. And the podcast is about astrology. So it’s like one of those like, astrology podcasts where it’s like, you know, the moon is in blah, blah, blah. But in Mercury Retrograde is doing this and I was like, that’s an amazing idea. I’m like, so now what we have in that theme is she does still introduce herself as her sign and her mother is one sign but like she listens to what originally was a monologue, but then we turned it into just a podcast audio track that she listens to. That’s like, welcome back to the cycle podcast. And now we’re an hour and a talk about the cancer. And then the next thing that she blips is like Welcome back. And now we’re going to talk about like mercury retrograde and how that affects the sign of Scorpio and so that was a really cool thing that wasn’t in there originally, but made it so much better than I could have ever then and so much better than me just like monologuing to have noticed her Hall and she which I mean certain people like but certain people are like oh my god, I got like, we know everyone’s obsessed with astrology. We know.
Phil Rickaby
When did you first start On your astrology journey.
Reba Terlson
Oh, that’s super funny. Um, oh my goodness. When did I like, I think the most funny thing is how I’ve gotten other people into it, because of my obsession with it. But my obsession came from my friend Erin, who lives in Winnipeg, and she’s a lovely she went being and we did a show together a million years ago. And I think at that time, she was like, you know, into astrology and bath and would tell me things. And then, at the beginning, I think, I think this is funny is that at the beginning, I was like, oh my god, really, like, I don’t care. None of this is curate or whatever. And I think the, if I feel like if you talk to anybody that had that point of view, and then they get really into astrology, they’re like, Oh, my God, it’s like, way more accurate than you think that it could be. I remember a really funny conversation with one of my best friends who is a cancer. We were talking about something and she was like ribeye was reading this, this thing on Twitter, where it was like, it named all of these like, kind of characteristics or whatever. And then I realised that that person was a Virgo. And she was like, and I just thought that that was part of your personality. And she was like, and then I realised that there was more of you. And I was like, Yeah, let’s see, this is like the deep rabbit hole. But yeah, so I think from early on, like, maybe, oh, gosh, I don’t know. Maybe 2015. That sounds like that sounds like the right year that I started kind of being more into it. And then because of my friend, Aaron. And then like, now I’ve just dive so far off the deep end of astrology, but it’s kind of nice, because through me diving off that deep end, I have also pulled other people with me. And now, it’s a very normal conversation where I will be like, Oh, that’s because you’re an X, Y, Zed, or oh, that’s because, or like, or that characteristic is because you’re this thigh. And as an example, I just started any job recently. And my coworker literally asked me if I had costar. And that costar is an astrology app. Oh, like, Yes, I do. Do you have coast? Click? necessarily a normal conversation that you bring up, but I was very appreciative.
Phil Rickaby
Did they have a sense that you that you might have that or this thought like,
Reba Terlson
oh, no, I just like talking about birthdays or whatever. And they said what their birthday was, and I was trying to like, I’m normally pretty good at like, oh, it’s that sign? Or what’s that sign? Right. And I was just like, taking a really long time to do it. And then they were like, Oh, do you have costar and I was, oh, yeah, I do. Of course, I have coast. Um, but that’s kind of my Yeah. It’s probably I mean, unfortunately, because I like it so much, it’s probably going to slip its way into like, everything I write, subconsciously.
Phil Rickaby
I mean, why not?
Reba Terlson
And then, well, the funny thing is, is do you know, Melanie, darling, I don’t know if you do or not, but she’s a Toronto while she’s from Winnipeg, but she’s a Toronto Canadian. Now. And we did something during the pandemic, which was all online. That was all about astrology, where we had different actors, or, you know, writers or whatnot, perform a piece based on their astrological sign. And people loved it. People like the people involved loved it. The people that watched it loved it, like so. It’s, yeah, it’s, I don’t know. It’s also really silly. It’s really silly. It’s really fun. It’s fun to like this really silly thing that you can take early, because
Phil Rickaby
the important thing is that it’s fun. Yeah, right. If it’s not fun, don’t don’t do it. Don’t do it. Don’t do that. So this is this is not your first Winnipeg Fringe Festival.
Reba Terlson
Oh my god. No, it’s
Phil Rickaby
not this specific. But it’s been a little while. Well, it’s been
Reba Terlson
the last time it does show was 2019. Yeah. But this will be by if we count the ones that I’ve been in that I had no participatory writing in. This will be Dec. Wow. Yeah. Yeah.
Phil Rickaby
So as far as the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, what is your favourite part of the festival?
Reba Terlson
Or is it gonna sound like, like, there’s there’s too many favourite parts I the city comes becomes so alive, the exchange district becomes so alive during that time. And just like the accessibility of like, you can go see a show for I know like artists we can complain about. I want you to pay more to see my show. Because I want and I mean I can I can be bad about that I can complain about that too. But the fact that you could go see like a really well done show for like $12 right is a mole thing. Amazing. I get so many cool ideas, inspiration from friends more than from any other theatre that I have ever seen. During our, our theatre season here in Winnipeg, that’s where I get inspired, is the Winnipeg fringe. And also I get to see my friends, you my friends that don’t live here. I get to see my friends family that are all super excited for Winnipeg, because it’s one of the bigger festivals, and everybody just kind of glommed together hangs out. It’s like a two week party where we’re just, you know, we’re making our we’re doing our our we’re staying out we’re hanging out. It’s, it’s it’s like my Christmas it really is that people call it fringe miss I don’t know if you guys over there in Toronto do that too.
Phil Rickaby
I mean, people do people do. Yeah, through this theatre Christmas, is it’s all it’s all because it is the time when the fringe family comes together. And I think because I think there’s something different. You know, Toronto, as we record, this, Toronto fringe is in full swing. Yeah, sure. Yeah. But to me, there’s something different between being part of the fringe family in Toronto, and then like leaving and going to other fringes because there’s more I feel like, as soon as you are in some of the the fringes outside of outside of Toronto, like like, like Winnipeg, like Edmonton and all the other the there’s a real camaraderie that’s sort of missing from the Toronto fringe. Artists are constantly like promoting other shows and like going to see each other shows and excited about other people’s shows, which I think is one of the unique things about going to other fringes.
Reba Terlson
Yeah, I love going other crunches I love I mean when I can afford it and you know, when the cash flyer is kind it was this year, but that’s okay. Right, and just experiencing different different things that the the reason that I haven’t done Toronto in the past is because normally you’re well as especially happening right now. Your Fringe Festival falls during Winnipeg Folk Festival. Yes. Yeah. And I love Folk Fest too much. So you go to Toronto for
Phil Rickaby
that is fair. That is completely fair.
Reba Terlson
And also, I think in the past, my tech has normally been except for injuries this year. Winnipeg pregnant this year is like a week later than I think it normally is. Because normally like our tech, the Winnipeg people Tex is like the weekend of Folk Festival, which is normally the weekend before friends starts. But this year, for some calendar reason the festival starts on July 19. So we get like an extra week in between that normally they’re back to that.
Phil Rickaby
Right. Yeah. I can remember travelling like like, I think when when I was went to Winnipeg 12 years ago. Yeah. We it was not even the last day of fringe, but it was some one of our cast members last performance. Yeah. Like their performance ended at like 334 30. We met them with a car. They threw their shit in the car. And we started driving. Yeah. Because we had like two days. Yeah, to get there. And it was quite the quite the track. So yeah, you gotta get there fast when they’re when they’re on on each other’s deals like that.
Reba Terlson
Yeah, it’s a bit nuts. Like I said, this year, my Of course, and maybe this is other things happening in the universe. My tech is actually during the week instead of on the weekend. And I wonder if that’s because my directors, Megan’s technically for about a town. She has her own show. She’s directing my show. She’s directing another show. And it’s been the first time ever where I’ve had to tell my work. I’m like, so I have this thing. Like, yeah, in the middle of the week, and it’s gonna be a real hot mess, but we’re gonna figure it out. Right. It’s not to say that I don’t have to work on a Tuesday. Right, right.
Phil Rickaby
Absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. I’m Reba. One last thing is I know that you have a one ASL performance I do. I’m super POB have you done ASL interpreted? So before?
Reba Terlson
I have not, but I’m very excited. I know, I will say this. I know very, very minimal ASL. But when I was younger, when I was like 11, or 12, I had like, like a mentor, a friend. And she taught me she taught me the alphabet and sign language. So I’ve known the alphabet for most of my life and find language. And then I used to also work at camp and we would often work with, or I would often work with adults with disabilities. So I picked up by awareness and like, again, minimal ASL. So I know like a few thing. Yeah, I by no means am not as experienced and as wonderful as, as the ASL interpreters are, or people that know ASL, but I’m very excited. I’m even thinking about it. I’m like, oh, no, like, I’m just going to be so distracted as an actor, because I will just want to watch that. And
Phil Rickaby
that is, that is tough. That is really tough. Because they’re so cool. What they do, you’re only gonna have like one shot at it with them, and you’re gonna want to see what they’re doing. Yeah.
Reba Terlson
But no, I’m very, I’m very grateful for that opportunity. Because I think we should all be if we have the funding, if we have the opportunity to make theatre more accessible, then that is definitely something we should all be working towards.
Phil Rickaby
Absolutely. Absolutely. Well, Reba, thank you so much for joining me.
Reba Terlson
Thanks spell this lovely. Thank you for having me on. I love a podcast. I love the theatre podcast. I love the theatre podcast.
Phil Rickaby
This has been an episode of Stageworthy Stageworthy is produced, hosted and edited by Phil Rickaby. That’s me. If you enjoyed this podcast and you listen on Apple podcasts or Spotify, you can leave a five star rating. And if you’re listening on Apple podcast, you can also leave a review those reviews and ratings help new people find the show. If you want to keep up with what’s going on with Stageworthy and my other projects, you can subscribe to my newsletter by going to philrickaby.com/subscribe. And remember, if you want to leave a tip, you’ll find a link to the virtual tip jar in the show notes are on the website. You can find Stageworthy on Twitter and Instagram at stageworthypod. And you can find the website with a complete archive of all episodes@stageworthy.ca If you want to find me, you can find me on Twitter and Instagram at PhilRickaby. And as I mentioned, my website is philrickaby.com See you next week for another episode of Stageworthy