by Contributor on Wednesday Mar 01 2023
Lucas Myers, the Nelson-based theatre artist best known for his humorous one-man shows that explore cultural obsessions, brings his latest show “Roof” to The Bailey Theatre in Trail on Thursday, March 9 at 7:30 pm.
In “Roof” Lucas Myers has created another reno-centric comedy that sits in the same world as his previous shows “A Beginners Guide to Nelsonia”, “CAMPGROUND” and “DECK”. The show weaves together elements of stand up, physical comedy and his own brand of observational humour to get to a deeper emotional truth.
INTERVIEWER: You handle some complex issues in the show, including depression and being homeless. Why did you choose to do this in a comedy?
LUCAS MYERS: I want to be clear that I am not approaching homelessness and depression in a comedic way, because, obviously, there is nothing funny about either of those things. I would say I am trying to use comedy as an access point to allow the audience to then consider their own feelings around homelessness and depression. Especially after the last few years, people want to come to a show to have a good time and as a performer, I really enjoy providing that. The show is first and foremost a comedy. But I also want to provide some food for thought, an opportunity to examine our perspectives, so I try to layer in some themes that are current today. Living in Nelson and seeing the challenges around housing, homelessness, addiction and mental health, and knowing that these issues are not just in Nelson, but right across the province and the country, I thought this show could be a good opportunity to try to touch on those topics.
INTERVIEWER: Your shows often address human vulnerability through subverting well-known stereotypes, particularly those that are recognizable as uniquely Kootenays. How do you start to develop these characters?
LUCAS MYERS: Often I come up with an idea, in this case someone desperate to get their roof fixed, and then try and find characters that will really spark off each other and that the audience can enjoy watching. I also try to find characters that initially appear to be very stereotypical, in this case a narcissistic real estate agent, someone who most people can say “Oh, yeah, I know that guy!” and then try to find a way to show their human side.
INTERVIEWER: Why do you choose to play all the characters yourself? Doesn’t that make performing scarier and more difficult?
LUCAS MYERS: The simplest answer is that, organizationally, it's just way easier to write, rehearse and perform a show when I am the only one who is involved! I don’t have to work around anyone else’s schedule or deal with someone disagreeing with how I want to do things. Maybe I have control issues!
But I also see these shows as a form of storytelling, in which I get to embody the characters in the story and use sound, lights and props to help tell the story. I also think there is something enjoyable for the audience in seeing how one person can create a whole world and story.
INTERVIEWER: Do you think “Roof” is even more relevant today after the isolation and mental stress of COVID-19 and the increased visibility of the unhoused and associated mental health difficulties?
LUCAS MYERS: I think the message of this show is really about not judging people by their situation, but rather approaching them from a place of empathy. For the show I am using the themes of homelessness and mental health to discuss that, but I think it can be applied to all kinds of situations. These issues have been around long before COVID showed up and while they have really been brought to the fore, they are going to be here for a long time after. So, if we can figure out how we can shift our perspective as a community and society to be more supportive of the most vulnerable people, we’ll stand a better chance of having some positive outcomes.
INTERVIEWER: Why should we come see this show? What can the audience expect?
LUCAS MYERS: It's been a rough few years on all kinds of fronts. While this show certainly does include some thought-provoking material, it's also a really great opportunity to get in a room with a bunch of other people and laugh and feel. I think we all need that right now. It's what I love about theatre and what I personally have missed so much over the past few years, coming together and having a communal experience.
Lucas Myers’ previous performances include “dress”, “EAST”, “DECK”, “HELLO BABY”, “In The Beginning: The Origin of the Cromoli Brothers”, “iShow”, “CAMPGROUND”, and “Randy From Creston”!
Since graduating from the National Theatre School in 1998, Lucas Myers has performed in many of the major theatres across Canada as well as touring internationally to the US, England, France, Switzerland, Mexico, Singapore, New Zealand and Brunei. He has created and performed in many new plays as a member of the Victoria-based independent theatre company TheatreSKAM and studied physical theatre and collaborative creation with The SITI Company in New York and Boca del Lupo Theatre in Vancouver.
In 2007 he returned to Nelson, BC to raise a family and form PilotcoPilot Theatre with a mandate to create work which is accessible, thought-provoking and highly theatrical in an effort to attract a new generation of theatregoers. He also performs as a post-modern Vaudeville duo, The Amazing and Impermeable Cromoli Brothers, which won the Best Comedy Award at the New Zealand International
Theater Festival. In 2013 he was appointed as Nelson’s Cultural Ambassador in recognition for his achievements in Theatre Arts.
Please note that “Roof” is not suitable for (young) children.
There will be a short post-show chat, free naloxone kits will be distributed and a counselor will be on location to help anyone who needs to talk.
Tickets are $25 or buy 4 and get a 20% discount! Plus, if you’re 30 years old or under get a $10 ticket!
Tickets are available online at thebailey.ca, by phone at 250-368-9669, and in person at the Bailey Box Office at 1501 Cedar Ave., Trail. For the 20% discount please call or visit our Box Office.
Presented by Trail Community Action Team and Trail Arts Council with funding support from the BC Arts Council, the Government of British Columbia, and the BC Touring Council. This show is funded [in part] by the Government of Canada. / Ce projet est financé [en partie] par le gouvernement du Canada.
