Our Theatrical Debut

August 19: A fabulous night at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago. Cup Of My Blood began it's theatrical run to a sold out and enthusiastic house. Cast and crew, friends and family, and strangers off the street alike witnessed the first public screening.

I couldn't be happier that we made it this far, in just under two years, practically unscathed.

August 24: I went back to the theatre tonight for the first time since Friday. It was fun to sit in the lobby and watch people come out of the theatre, and not know any of them. Then watching people arrive and buy tickets for the next screening, and it starts filling up with people.

August 25: Closing night, a good crowd, a sold out final screening. Lance can't be there, he's stuck up in Milwaukee working on the creature feature. Ken and I do a Q & A.

It was a good run. It feels good to have a movie in a theatre. Now I want the next movie to open to wider release, say about 2800 screens initially, and maybe go up from there! Yeah!

But still, making a movie and seeing it in a theatre and next week on DVD in thousands of stores across the country, really, how many people can do that?

Next, "Hey, you gonna rent that?"

Another opening of another show

(Photo of the producers, Ken Nilsson, Lance Catania, and Noel Olken by Jonathan Cohon)

Tonight the film I produced, Cup Of My Blood, opens at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago. The director, Lance Catania, and co-producer Ken Nilsson and I will be there to celebrate almost 2 years of work. For Lance and Ken who co-wrote the script, it's been even longer.

We play at the Film Center for one week, and then the movie opens nationwide on DVD Aug 30th.

Checked the two biggest dailies in town this morning. The Sun Times gave us a 1 1/2 star review. Ouch! There was nothing in the Chicago Tribune. Shit! Lance just called to read it to me. It's awful. The guy simply didn't get it. It hurts to get a bad review. I should know, I've been getting them my whole life. But it has never stopped me, never made me quit, never made me give up. And it never will. I go on with the next song, the next movie, and the next play. I do the best work I can. I always get better. That to me is the success. Never give up!

On the bright side, Wes Craven's new film Red Eye, a big budget Hollywood film also got 1 1/2 stars. And we got a better review than Dukes Of Hazard! It's a very funny business.

The weeklies, The New City and The Reader, but gave us good capsule reviews. Ray Pride in the New City had nice things to say.

The audience response so far has been very positive, people like our film.

I guess a group of people who spend two years of their lives on an artistic journey making a gargantuan effort to produce a film is just so ordinary these days.

Next up: Marketing is the key to success in this business.

A wrap up

So, Edinburgh didn’t go as planned. Tough shit and oh well. I’m getting over that. In fact, I think I rather like having such a unique experience, as difficult as it was. I’m sorry James’ Dad had to die, and in fact I wish he hadn’t so I could have had a normal go to the festival do your show and come home kind of experience. Like I said, tough shit and oh well.

Want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans.

It was still a great trip to a fun world. I love art, theatre and film festivals. Seeing other people’s work, meeting them, and getting drunk with them. It was a chance to learn more about another market and see that art is as much about marketing as it is about content.

I will return to Edinburgh again some day, I know it. But now that I am back, I have a movie to open.

My Last full day in Edinburgh.

(Photo of Rawiri Panatene, star of The Whale Rider, and Noel Olken at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2005)

For those of you who don’t like long detailed entries, on my last day in Edinburgh I saw five shows, walked a lot, and stayed out late drinking. End of story. Don’t read any further.

Read on if you want all the details…
I had a plan for my last full day at the festival; to see as many shows in as many venues as possible. But first, I had to deal with Fed Ex and shipping the boxes of props back to Chicago. With that out of the way, I stayed at the Roxy and saw a solo dance piece presented by the Mexican company that brought the movement piece I liked so much.
I’m not a big dance fan, so of course it was hard to keep my eyes open, even though she was making so much noise. All I could think about were all the other shows going on at the same time at the Roxy who were hearing someone stomp on their lines. Flamenco is loud shit, man. I’m glad we weren’t booked at the same time. Something to be thankful for!

After the show, I went to check email downstairs in the café. Many venues have free
wi-fi as an incentive to come in. It works.

That done, I went back to High Street, wandered around awhile, went to get a Fringe catalog and find a show for the afternoon. Ducking into a falafel shop to get out of the rain, I spoke to Kris who called to say hi. It was so nice to hear her voice. I missed her, and I knew I wanted to go home, but I was already missing this fantasy world I was in.

I went to the Gilded Balloon, a long established venue and saw a funny show about a guy who fucked with the people who sent him one of those Nigerian spam letters. For 11 months he lead them into thinking he was a rich rube. The show was basically an edited transcript of his email correspondence over 11 months. Simple, funny, smart.

Then I had dinner at Black Bo’s, a vegetarian restaurant. Food good, service not so good.
What is it with service in Scotland? It sucks!

Then off to the Underbelly for The Bicycle Men show from LA. I missed it when it played in Chicago. It was good, it was funny, it was well performed, glad I got to see it.

Then back to the Gilded Balloon to see a German comic I met on the street do his set with two other comics, one English, one Canadian. It was weird, mildly funny, but not very good. Trying too hard to be shocking and they never really achieved any kind of connection with the audience. A couple of good hecklers, though, that kept them on their toes.

Then I went back to the Roxy to see the cabaret show. Linda, the house manager had been inviting me since we first arrived. The show consists of a woman who interprets Brecht and Weill songs with a quartet backing her up. Good, okay. I like Brecht and Weill.

Then back to the Zoo to say goodbye to my friends from New Zealand whose show, Cracks In The Garden I really liked.

A friend of theirs, a New Zealand actor had come to see the show and we all hung out afterwards at the Spiegel tent. Their friend was Rawiri Panatene, the grandfather in The Whale Rider, one of my favorite movies. I love that film. It was so nice to meet him, and what a great guy. There is a picture of us at the top of this post. We got to hang out until they kicked us out of there.

Well, it was a long day, but since I knew I was going home in a few hours, I didn’t care how late I was out.

It was a long day Tuesday traveling home on crowded planes with cold cheese sandwiches and a thick girl in the seat next to me who didn’t know how to keep her elbows out of my airspace. Where’s homeland security when you need them?

Next up, a recap and wrap up of the trip to Edinburgh 2005.

Fringe Sunday

Today, most venues are dark and most shows have a day off. Not all, but most. In the Meadows, a huge park about 15 minutes walk south of High Street, a huge circus like event was taking place. There were about 10 tents set up to showcasse theatre and music shows taking place in the Fringe. It was a wild party like atmosphere, people camped out on blankets with pic-nic lunches, the High Street buskers doing their pitches in the park.

Of course everyone who usually gives out flyers and postcards on High Street were there as well, trying to desperately get an audience. I spoke with a guy from Northhampton, MA who told me they are in a 200 seat venue and are playing to 10 people a day. They brought a car as part of their set. A car! Stripped of engine and other non essential parts, they shipped the body of a huge american car. And I thought we shipped a lot of stuff. They are hurting for an audience.

There were some new street shows I hadn't seen before. It's interesting to me how the buskers are taking advantage of new technology, like wireless mic's and portable sound systems. But other than that, the juggling shows, the magic shows, the acrobats and the clowns are all the same as when I was on the street a lot in Paris in the 80's.

I saw a good violinist who had a unique hook. He played with a back up tape, classical and rock tunes, while he was standing on a tight rope, on one foot. Steve, you should try that!

Tonight I'm taking myself out for Indian food and go hear some music. there is an open mic I may go play at as well.

I'll send the spaceships round to pick you up.

Lines from the play continue to travel through my brain. What can you say about the brain?

We did the show as a staged reading on Friday. We found an American actor at the Roxy to read the part of Henry Goodbar, and David found a Scottish woman to read the part of the Siren. Pat's wife Robin read the stage directions and narrated. It was a good reading, just going back to the source, the text, James' original vision. It worked, it was the best way to present the work since we couldn't do the full show. But only three people showed up.

David decided we needed a mental health day. He cancelled yesterday's performance. So we got good and drunk on Friday to celebrate our closing.

Last night Pat and I were walking by the theatre at about show time, so went to the space, stood in the empty theatre, said goodbye. It would have been funny if someone showed up on the night we cancelled.

Pat and I wandered around to some of the other venues, like the Pleasance Courtyard, a huge complex of theatres and beer gardens. We heard a comedian joke the other night that the Pleasance keeps adding new spaces. They now have shows going on in a storage container. And it's true, they do. They rigged out a shipping container as a space for a small show. This festival is amazing.

Saturday, David and I went to see a show by a Mexican company that was at the Roxy. The director and one of the actors both studied in Paris at the same time I did, at the same schools I did, twenty years ago. They work in the corporeal mime/Etienne Decroux technique. I loved it. It was so beautiful. This is the work I studied and did for 5 years. They had an audience of 5.

American high school productions of Guys and Dolls are packing them in, and amazing work like the Mexican's are doing can't find an audience. I hear the same complaint from other companies as well.

Pat and I saw a hilarious show last night by chance. We were at the Pleasance having a beer, when two women from New Zealand, out on the street husting up an audience 5 minutes before their show, gave us an invite. We had just gotten a beer, but we snuck it out and walked up the street two minutes to The Zoo. Their show, Cracks In The Garden, was great. Pat laughed so much it made the other the 7 people in the audience laugh even more. They were so glad we came and helped make the show. Fun stuff like that happens when you are open to it.

The raucus bouncing on the bed had no effect on ... the subject. The festival did.

Elvis, Otto, and me.

One of the joys of street performing is that you never know what will happen.
Two days ago while we were playing, a German accordian player who goes on after us, Otto, pulled out his instrument and joined us on Like A Rolling Stone.

Yesterday, same place, same time. Pat is in his Elvis costume, I am dressed like the Duke of Prunes, and Otto, in his traditional German leiderhosen, joins us for a few numbers. It was so much fun. So surreal. As so much of this trip has been.

I'll post a picture of it later.

It's a real trip!

James and Carla left on Wednesday. We got together in the park under the castle on Prince St. in the afternoon and rehearsed the play as we would do it later that evening. That night, in front of five people, we announced to the audience what had happened, and what they were going to see. Pat and I took turns as Henry Goodbar in the bed. It was strange, but remember, for the audience seeing the show the first time, it's not so strange.

After the show we decided not to try the complicated staging and costume changes fro Pat. He said at one point he felt like he was in a skit on the Carol Burnett show, changing wigs and going back on as another character.

Thursday morning we got a warm review in the Scotsman. Three stars out of five, a comparison to the Wooster Group, and he said we performed with skill and verve. See the whole review at

http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/reviews.cfm?id=1759682005&sid=10450

We were all buoyed by the review and it brought up the energy a bit.

For Thursday's show, we laid Henry's hat and goggles on his bed. Pat read him from backstage, and I resumed my usual blocking. At show time, we had no audience. We waited until seven after, and then did the show anyway, for us, for James and Carla. It was surreal. I don't think I've ever done a show before when no one turned up.

After the show we decided that didn't work either. It was too weird. But we all agreed we wanted to do the last two shows. So today we found two actors and we will present it as a staged reading. We will all sit on stage and read the script. I think the text is strong enough.

Who knows if anyone will turn up? If they do, they will be treated to a bewildering text that I quite think will keep their interest.

At the Roxy this morning, I was invited to see Dark Root, a piece of physical theatre by the Mexart 2005 Dance and Theatre Collective. I was introduced to the director, Jorge. Turns out he and I both studied corporeal mime in Paris at the same school, at the same time, in 1986. One of the actors in the show, Ricardo, was also in Paris at that time, and we all studied at one time with Etienne Decroux and Daniel Stein.

I must admit I am tired; this has been a difficult time. The energy has been low the last few days. I am very proud of how we have dealt with all this. Everyone has done a great job and been very positive. The show must go on is a cliché, but for us it has been a reality.

Also, Kris left on Tuesday and I miss her. She was a big help to us.

The show must go on!

It has been a whirl wind three days. The fest is just smashing and our opening yesterday went great. We had an audience - who would have thunk it? We had a reviewer show up and so we are hoping a good review tomorrow will bring in even more of an audience.
How ever we have had a natural disaster of sorts that has just been very difficult for all of us to deal with, especially James Moeller, our playwrite, actor, friend, and co-director of the company. His father, James Moeller, Sr. died last Friday. James and Carla were in Ireland when he got the call, and traveled here on Saturday for our first rehearsal. James told us what happened, and that he didn't know what he was going to do. Go home or stay till the end of the run.

After opening night, and after all of us having a few days to digest all this and think about it, James told us he had to go to his father's memorial in Chicago on Thursday. So he and Carla are leaving Edinburgh on Wednesday.

I thought about it and proposed to everyone that we continue the show, that we do it for James and his father and for us too. We find two actors to read the script on stage. We offer the show for free and tell anyone who shows up what they are about to see and why. It's real, baby. It's something we had to deal with. No one wanted to, but that is how you are tested in life, when you least expect it.

Turns out that we had a way to do it already. Pat's wife, Robin, who has seen the show at least ten times, will read Carla's part. And Pat, who plays Jonny Pilgrim, and never has a scene with Henry Goodbar, will changes hats and read James' part.
Tonight is Tuesday, and we are all doing the second show together for the last time in this venue In Edinburgh 2005. I know it will be kick-ass! But I have a feeling this will not be the end of Henry Goodbar Telepath.

We wish James all the love and courage in the world at this difficult time, but he his so glad to know that the show will go on. It always does, doesn't it.

Robin, break a leg!

Day 1

It's been twenty-four hours since we left the house for the airport. The trip starts out well when we get to the airport and get bumped up to business class for the Chicago-London portion of the trip. Man, that was cool. How can I go back to the back of the plane again?

Mad dash through Heathrow to make our connection, but we made it. Get to the B&B no problem. Head out for a walk to the city center and it's pouring rain now. From sweltering heat 90+ in Chicago to cold rain, 63F in 24 hours.

I love the city, people are so friendly. The city is so alive. So many busses. Madame Pee-Pee at the train station scaring children for life.

Went to the Rocket Venue theatre and saw where we'll be performing. This is so friggen cool!

Found an old man bar that looked so cool from the outside we had to go in. So funny inside, but what a great pour of Guiness!

Very tired. Must leave this great little restaurant called the Honey Pot and get some sleep. As always, traveling inpsires. Being in a different country where they speak English, and I can't understand much of what is said - that is so cool.

Day 1 - travel!

Responsibility

Responsibilty. I spent much of the day being really, really, responsible. It wasn’t very much fun. When I get stuck in these responsibility pictures, where I have to “do” so much, because no one else will, or can, I get very “serious”. Serious Noel is not always a fun guy to be around. I sometimes “talk” to the people who should be doing what I’m doing, who should be helping, but aren’t. I start to get very angry. I found myself yelling today while crossing the parking lot at the Jewel. Then I laughed at myself, found my amusement, and moved on.

What would happen if I wasn’t so responsible? Well, the world would collapse, right? Wrong. It’s my fault, really. I should just stop being so responsible for others. “What’s up with him, that’s not like him”, they’d say. And they’d be right; it’s not like me. I’m tired of being the responsible one. I quit. I just want to be responsible for me. That’s what draws me more and more to acting. I’m only responsible for my lines, for my body, for my part. That seems so easy compared to what I’ve been doing for the last 9 years. It’s time for a change.

Part of the day was spent thinking about Edinburgh and the trip. Part of it was spent packing, making sure nothing is in my bag that shouldn’t be. I don’t want any surprises at the airport.

Part of the day was spent working on the Teen Footlighters web site. Steve put up a message board that I linked to the site. I’d been thinking about doing that for a year, today just seemed like the right time. I need to be irresponsible for a little while.

I called Mickey H today. He sounded good. He was in good spirits. I told him about the website and the pictures I used, and he thought that was great. I asked him if he knew what a website was, and he admitted he didn’t. How refreshing. He hates the nursing home, and in his mind, he thinks he may leaves someday. But I think he knows deep down he won’t. I told him about Edinburgh and he was very excited for me. I told him I’d be wearing my St. Genesius medal on stage each night, and he was happy. He gave me that medal, some thirty years ago. I can’t imagine going on stage with out it.

Responsibilty.

Why a Blog?

Someone asked me today why I started this blog? I've been thinking about it all day.

I had my third piano lesson today. During the lesson I started thinking about the movie, The Hands Of Orlac (1961) and the disembodied hands that played the piano. At least that's what I remember. Maybe that's why I never played piano as a kid. I was afraid of the hands!
The piano in my living room today is the same piano that was in my house as a kid. I found old sheet music and drawings in the bench I made when I was a kid. (How strange that this museum is devoted to my past!)

I hear Heathrow is a big airport and I'm wondering if we'll make our connection? RUN! Maybe it’s not a good time to run at Heathrow?

Today, Bush does an end-around on the Congress and installs HIS man at the UN. What's the problem, it’s all perfectly legal isn't it? What was this provision in the constitution put in for? To protect who? This administration is about as subtle as a Paris Hilton video. Funny how ideas from the play, Free Henry Goodbar, Telepath, ring so true today. Nixon watches over the White House and smiles.

People have been asking me all day if I am excited? I've been thinking about it all day. If you know me, you know I am excited.

I put up a website today in honor of my friend, and mentor, Mickey Henningsen. Mickey ran Teen Footlighters in Chicago for almost thirty years. For four of those years, from 1973 - 1977, Footlighters, a community theatre for teens, WAS my life. It was more important than school. Judging by my grades, that was obvious. Theatre, and the lessons I learned there, shaped me more than any other influence on me. Now, almost thirty years later, I am still friends with Mick (The Dragon). I have a picture that I think captures Mick's personality perfectly. Visit Teen Footlighters

So why am I writing this blog? Why do I do anything I do? Because I want to. Because it's challenging. Because I want to learn something. Because I want to communicate. Because I want to entertain. Because I'm ready to be seen. Because once it's written, once I hit the publish button, once its up on the web - I never have to think about it again. I don't ever have to carry it again. I'm done with all those books in boxes in the basement.

How can I be excited when there is so much work to do before I leave? Our movie, Cup Of My Blood has it's theatrical debut August 19th at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago, and comes out on DVD nationwide August 30. It's so exciting, but there is so much to do! I can't wait to get on the plane. Then I'm just an actor, and I'm only responsible for me, myself and I. How nice.

Two more nights and we'll be on the plane. Let the party begin! © 2005 Noel Olken

What are you doing?

Kris just came downstairs to see what I was doing. She woke up and I wasn't in bed. "I'm working on my website" I said.
"Oh, okay, show me tomorrow. I'm going back to bed". "Hey, would you mind if I told the whole world you are an artist and a clairvoyant" I asked. She smiled and said "no".