Meet Meghan Gardiner aka Penelope Pennywise

Meghan Gardiner is both a performer and a talented playwright. Her one woman show Dissolve continues to tour after eleven years (currently starring Emmelia Gordon), and right now she is writing new plays for both the Solo Collective and Shameless Hussy Productions. In 2012 she won the Sydney Risk Award for emerging playwright at the Jessie Awards. She makes her Firehall debut as Penelope Pennywise, the bathroom gatekeeper.

What is Urinetown?

Urinetown is our punishment for being greedy… But we don’t realize it until it’s too late. 

Meghan Gardiner in Urinetown: The Musical. Behind her: Chris Lam, Rosie Simon, Anton Lipovetsky. Image David Cooper.
Meghan Gardiner in Urinetown: The Musical. Behind her: Chris Lam, Rosie Simon, Anton Lipovetsky. Image David Cooper.

Tell us about your character

Pennywise has seen better days… She is an employee of Urine Good Company but due to some questionable behaviour, was given the lowest job on the totem pole: the gatekeeper of public amenity number nine. I think Penny is a romantic at heart and had moments of optimism in her life, but times got hard and cash got tight. So now the toilet is definitely half empty… 

What is your secret superpower?

Writing blog entries in my sleep. I continually wake up amazed. 

When I’m rich and famous I’ll….

Buy empty warehouses, barns etc and turn them into state of the art theatres. Then I’ll charge companies one dollar to rent them for their productions. I’ll also donate as many millions as I can to women’s shelters and organizations that combat cruelty to animals. 

What is your favourite expression for going to the toilet?

First let me say that I don’t use this expression, my husband does. And I don’t know if it’s my favourite because it’s kind of… well… gross, but I hear it a lot. And so without further adieu “Drop the kids off at the pool”. Oh and I also hear “see a man about a horse” a lot, and between you and I and the interweb, I don’t really get it. 

Capitalism, socialism, totalitarianism, activism, realism, postmodernism. Choose an –ism and tell us why. Well I really want to say VEGANISM, but then I don’t want to get into a debate or sound preachy, so I won’t use VEGANISM, I’ll find something other than VEGANISM to say. Hmm… thinking… 

What is the biggest environmental challenge we as Canadians face? I think perhaps acknowledging the fact that we have huge environmental challenges to overcome….

You can find Meghan on twitter @Meghan_Gardiner and on stage at the Firehall from November 1 – 29 in Urinetown: The Musical. Click here for more info and details on tickets. 

 

 

Meet Anton Lipovetsky, the hero of Urinetown

Anton Lipovetsky is a busy fellow – when he’s not saving the good people of Urinetown from the corrupt Urine Good Corporation, he’s composing music for shows like the award-winning Broken Sex Doll (winner Jessie Award for Outstanding Composition) and donning Shakespearean garb for Bard on the Beach (Colin Thomas from the Georgia Straight called him ‘bloody well on fire’ in his role in Cymbeline this year) . Firehall audiences may recognise him from My Funny Valentine, Zee Zee Theatre’s show in our 2013/2014 season. We took a moment to talk to him about Urinetown and well, peeing.

Anton small headshot
Anton Lipovetsky, who plays the hero Bobby Strong in Urinetown

 

What is Urinetown?

A funny musical!

 

Tell us about your character

He’s a young man with his head in the clouds who hears in his heart the yearning of universal freedom. He takes action and inspires the oppressed poor to revolt! Then… He kinda makes it up as he goes along. A naive James Dean meets eager man-boy Jean Val Jean meets sometimes-gospel-belting-Evangelist.

 

What is your secret superpower?

Screwing up clearly written recipes… The secret is out.. We’re ordering in when you come over for dinner.

 

When I’m rich and famous I’ll….

I’ll give wads of money to strangers and tip 300 percent at brunch. Then I’ll produce little theatrical ventures but spend hundreds of 1000s on publicity so there’s always a line around the street for a little play in a black box theatre.  And once in a while I’ll buy a whole night’s worth of seats so I can sit alone in the audience and eat caramel corn.

 

What is your favourite expression for going to the toilet? 

I like when people from the UK say “have a wee.”

“Oy! I’m gonna have a wee”

 

Capitalism, socialism, totalitarianism, activism, realism, postmodernism. Choose an –ism and tell us why.

I really ding-dong Absurdism because potted plant.

 

What is the biggest environmental challenge we as Canadians face?

I’m not qualified to answer this! Ask the experts!

 

You can find Anton on twitter @antonlipovetsky and on stage at the Firehall from November 1 – 29 in Urinetown: The Musical. Click here for more info and details on half price previews Nov 1 – 4. 

Firehall Fact #29: Ours Shows

There have been thousands of shows performed at the Firehall Arts Centre. As of this post, we have had +/- 7000 performances here – that’s around 230 a year!

Each production has been special, but there are certain ones that strike a special chord with audiences and keep them coming back for more.  Some of our most popular shows have included:

  • The Stone Angel, based on the novel by Margaret Laurence during the 1993-94 Season
  • The  1995-96 Season play by Edmonton playwright Marty Chan based on his experiences:Mom, Dad, I’m Living with a White Girl, which delved into culture and inter-racial relationships
  • Urinetown, The Musical, produced in the 2005-06 Season
  • Banana Boys by Terry Woo told the story of five Chinese Canadian young men as they struggle with identity and and living within two cultures during the Firehall’s 2007-08 Season
  • Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth by Drew Hayden Taylor was first on the Firehall stage during the 1997-98 Season, and came back by popular demand the following year
  • J.J. McColl’s Menopositive was first produced in the 1997-98 Season, but was so popular it has come back four times!
  • Chelsea Hotel sold out houses this year, and will be remounted next season!

People connect with the work done at the Firehall Arts Centre. The shows we present or produce are relate-able in some way; whether it’s a play about finding your place and identity, or a musical about growing older, the Firehall chooses work that shares a truth the audience can feel a part of.

We can’t do the work we do without your help. If you donate through Canada Helps before March 31 and take their quick 5 question survey, Capital One Canada will donate another $10 on top of your donation!

If you’d like to donate to our $30 for 30 Campaign through our website, click here!