'Horse Feathers' brings Dufferin Grove Racetrack story to life
"It's a playful poke at our desire for something better and more - even though we might not need better and more," said Anderson of the "big and colourful" show that made its world premiere in Dufferin Grove Park July 18 and continues until Aug. 17. "Our play is set at that transition moment when the track was sold to developers of the Dufferin Plaza."
Boasting large-scale puppetry, stilt walking, commedia dell' arte and live music, Horse Feathers opened to an enthusiastic and large crowd of 250 last Friday evening.
"It was fantastic. I'm very happy. The audience response was more than we expected," Anderson said in an interview with The Villager Tuesday.
The play is part of Clay and Paper Theatre's continuing community project, Building Local Stories, aimed to ensure that the local stories of Toronto's diverse communities are shared and remembered. Krista Dalby, the play's co-writer and the theatre's assistant artistic director, stumbled upon information about the Dufferin Grove Racetrack in the City of Toronto archives. Horse racing was an integral part of the neighbourhood, she and Anderson learned, from 1907 until 1955.
"We came across a great photo of patrons lined up to place their bets," Anderson said.
Horse Feathers portrays the point of view of "the guys who hung out at the track and their families, he said.
"It's about that moment of change in 1955 when the track was sold."
The acting ensemble of Caitlin Driscoll, Fraser Elsdon, Simon Esler, Aaron Rothermund and Beth Warrian brings the significant part of Toronto history to life.
Anderson founded the Clay and Paper Theatre in 1994 and has been taking his vision of public performance to streets, parks and public places for almost four decades, performing and directing across Canada, the United States, Russia, Europe and the Georgian Republic. With a degree in engineering, he said he got fooled into acting.
"What got me was performing in public space, outdoors," he said. "I started a long time ago, in 1969 in Vancouver performing with the Vancouver Street Theatre."
As much as he loves indoor theatre, Anderson said it doesn't speak to the wider audience.
"People can't afford it or don't have the education to direct them to a fancy theatre," he said. "No one feels these restrictions in a public space. There is no charge for our productions (although, a minimum donation of $10 is suggested). People come back again and again."
In 1994, when Anderson first started working in Dufferin Grove Park there was little else there. Now, there is Toronto's first community-bake outdoor ovens, lush gardens and the Big Back Yard children's playground. Everything that happens in the park can be attributed to the commitment of local residents, Anderson being one of them. He has lived within a kilometre of Dufferin Grove Park since moving to Toronto in 1975. The puppets, the sets and the costumes are built in the park in full public view.
"We've got people walking by who say 'Is there anything I can do?,' Anderson said.
More often than not, he puts them to work.
Performances take place Wednesday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Dufferin Grove Park is across from Dufferin Mall, south of Bloor Street West. For further details, visit www.clayandpapertheatre.org
