Ken Lang talks about his Midnight Hotel Productions presentation of The Journey Is Not Done Quickly

New York City's Midnight Hotel Productions will present the world premiere of its The Journey Is Not Done Quickly, at the Vancouver Fringe 2009 Festival.  We caught up with director and actor Ken Lang.

Tell us about your upcoming show, The Journey Is Not Done Quickly, at the Vancouver Fringe Festival. What can audiences expect?

The show is my adaptation of an old Russian fairy tale, the story of a young man setting off on a quest and encountering a wolf, who becomes both menace and guide.  I think it’s particularly relevant to queer folk as we often have had to make our own way in this world, navigating temptations, dangers, and great wisdom that are not necessarily there in straight life.  The show has compelling movement, lovely music, and a narrator who will give you everything you’ve ever wanted so you can live happily ever after.

The show is billed as a "physical theatre" piece.  Can you explain what that means?

Physical theatre, which is more widely recognized as a genre in Europe, can include a wide variety of styles and sub-genres.  The definition I like is theatre that incorporates physical and visual elements on a level at least equal to verbal elements.  Our show is roughly two-thirds physical, one-third verbal.

You mention that this is based on a Russian folktale.  Which folktale and what drew you to this source material?

I found it in an old book from the 1920s called “Russian Wonder Tales.”  The tale is simply called Tsarevitch Ivan, The Gray Wolf, and the Firebird.   The whole book was enchanting , and I loved the repetitive elements that probably originated with oral storytelling.  I was drawn to this tale in particular because it was something of a “road movie”, which I was interested in doing.  But also because the characters were complex – admirable in some ways, but also given to screwing up, or being downright selfish and dastardly.  Like all of us.  Even though it was a fairy tale, the character weren’t painted a simple black and white, good and bad.

Your co-star Sara Edwards takes on the role of a Russian Prince - why the gender bend?

In Shakespeare’s time, women’s roles were depicted by young men, so I thought why not have the role of a young man played by a woman?  The logic is the same in that there is a physical similarity; the impetus here, though, is the freedom to play, versus the restrictions of the Elizabethan age.  And Sara is just perfect for the part – she conveys an innocence and sincerity I don’t know I could find in an adult male.  It’s also a possibility that the male Wolf character has an attraction to the prince.  I like things that make your mind double back, then double back again.

Music appears to be a big part of the show as well, how have you incorporated the use of Eastern European and Russian music to help the story?

I had the good fortune of discovering some wonderfully evocative music through a friend who had lived in Hungary.  Most of both the movement and narration sequences are accompanied by music, which I think will really help transport the audience to another time and place.

You say you play the narrator as a cross between Willy Wonka and a Russian Brothers Grimm.  That is quite a combination.  How did you land with those two characterizations?

Both are great narrators, and what intrigues me about them is that, while their stories are directed at children, they contain horrible, dark and gruesome elements.  Similarly the voice of these narrators is by turns intriguing and entertaining, but also scary and untrustworthy.  They contain both innocence and the cynical corruption of innocence, and that is fascinating because it forces you to decide which do you believe.

New York seems to be well-represented at this year's Fringe as you are the second queer show coming from across the continent.  Why did you choose the Vancouver Fringe for your show?

Well the creator of the other queer NYC show, Lisa Haas, is a good friend of mine, and we were so thrilled to learn we’d be playing Vancouver at the same time!  I had been to Vancouver on a junket a few years ago while doing some activism for obtaining domestic partner benefits.  (Canadians don’t have to worry about this, of course, since they have both national health care and equal marriage rights.  I love Canada!) My brief visit definitely put Vancouver on my list of places to return to.   And I wanted to go sea kayaking with the orcas!

You're off to the Victoria Fringe before coming to Vancouver.  Do you have plans to take it elsewhere on the Fringe circuit?

I would love to take it around to the earlier season shows next year in Canada, and Edinburgh would be on the wish list too.

I read that you live at an artist's colony in upstate New York - tell us more!

Mostly, I live in Brooklyn, but I spent most of 2007 and much time since at Blue Mountain Center, a residency for artists, writers, composers, and people working on social and ecological justice.  I tend the organic garden there, which provides both vegetables and beauty (I was an organic farmer for a while.)  Besides being around wonderful people, the place for me is the nexus of my favorite things: the arts, the outdoors and gardening, and trying to make the world a better place.

Your company is called Midnight Hotel Productions - where did the name come from?

I have a good friend who always nicknames everyone, and he gave me the name “Doctor Midnight”, based on a time when I was on the prowl a fair amount.  I think of hotels as evocative places where whole worlds can be contained in a single night, just like theatre.  I added the two, and voila!  Reserve a room!

What's next for Midnight Hotel Productions?

Besides touring The Journey Is Not Done Quickly some more, I’m starting work on a piece based on the life of Alan Chadwick, who could be credited with starting the organic movement in North America.  A British Shakespearian actor turned gardener, he landed in Santa Cruz, California in his 50’s in 1969 – the height of flower power.  He beguiled students at the university with fairy tales, charisma, and compost, and they dropped out of school to garden with him, and were inspired to start their own farms. While feared and adored, he was also gay at a time when that was still particularly hard and lonely.  A fascinating figure with whom I share several passions.

The Journey Is Not Done Quickly
Vancouver Fringe Festival
Playwrights Theatre Centre, 3rd Floor, 1398 Cartwright Street, Granville Island

With a bisexual woman playing the role of a young prince, and a gay man playing the roles of the narrator and the male wolf that both guides and preys on the prince, the show will have appeal to a queer audience.

Based on a Russian folktale, and employing movement and music, we will watch as a Tsar’s son sets out on a quest and is overpowered by a wolf and his own temptations. Presented by a Willy Wonka meets Russian Brothers Grimm narrator - a snake-oil salesman for the soul - this production combines Eastern European and Russian music with a tale of struggle, loss, and hope with which every queer person can identify.

Thursday, September 10 at 6:50pm  (1/2 price)
Sunday, September 13 at 6:40pm
Tuesday, September 15 at 7:50pm
Wednesday, September 16 at 5:00pm
Saturday, September 19 at 9:20pm
Sunday, September 20 at 1:30pm

Tickets are $10 Weekday; $12 Weekend; +$2 advance and area available by calling 604-257-0350  or online at http://www.vancouverfringe.com