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In the Artword Alternative,
75 Portland Street
March 4 to 16, 2003
Painted Words presents
Something Happened
to
Butch and Fritz
written and
performed by
Dave Backus and Graham Vogt
also featuring the mysterious stranger
previews March 4 and 5,
opens March 6
Tuesday to Sat at 8 pm, Sun. 2:30 pm
Wed- Sat $15 / $12, Tues & Sun pwyc
Reservations and information: 416-532-4283
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Here's what Richard
Ouzounian (Toronto Star) said about Dave and Graham in 2001:
"There is some big talent in The Big Thought of Mr.
Fitzsimmons. Backus and Vogt are worth watching
carefully to see what they will come up with next."
What they have come up with
next is ...
Something Happened to Butch and Fritz, the new
work by dynamic duo Dave Backus and Graham Vogt (and the
mysterious stranger guest performer), premiering at Artword
Alternative from March 4 to 16, 2003.
Something Happened to Butch and Fritz opens on
a colourful but hollow world, its fragility exposed with the
entrance of a mysterious visitor bent on revealing a dark
and forgotten past shared by all. Funny and touching, we
follow lifelong friends Butch and Fritz fighting through the
unwelcome intrusion as Butch yearns to seek the truth,
hampered by Fritz who is all too aware of what great sadness
they will unearth.
A moving, human piece that echoes the denial present in us
all.
 Dave
Backus (left) and Graham Vogt (below) are writers, theatre
artists and house painters, whose company Painted
Words supports both their theatre and painting
activity.
Painted Words has built a strong reputation as a high
energy, daring and imaginative theatre company. Their plays,
inspired by the need to challenge themselves in ways they
hadn’t before, result in extremely demanding work on
all levels of their art.
Using their physical, minimalist and rhythmic approach to
theatre – bare stage, few or no props and the inclusion
of music – they deal with important societal issues,
albeit in a light-hearted manner. Their impossibly fast and
flawless use of single word exchanges and rapid-fire
dialogue is trade-mark and indicative of their relentless
dedication to their art.
 They
have tackled the conflicts of the day-to-day
‘grind’ (‘Bibworks’ – 1999), the
conflicts we have with ourselves (‘Dweezle Underwood
and The Perfect Date’ – 2000) and the conflicts we
have with our society (‘The Big Thought of Mr.
Fitzsimmons’ – 2001) using inventive concepts,
abstract realities and extreme characters.
As artists Dave and Graham have been working together since
the spring of '99, developing their minimalist, physical and
rythmic approach to theatre in the 'fringe' theatre
community. For three summers they toured the Canadian fringe
festivals with an Australian tour in-between being honoured
with the 2000 Vancouver 'Best Original Production Award',
the 2000 Montreal 'Spirit of the Fringe Award' an Adelaide
2000 'Top Ten Listing' and a '99 Vancouver 'Pick of the
Fringe Award'. Their '99 play 'Bibworks' was picked up and
produced by Vancouver's 'Presentation House' and their 2000
play 'Dweezle Underwood and the Perfect Date' was purchased
and broadcast by CBC radios 'Definitely Not the Opera'.
In December of 2001 Painted Words debuted on the Toronto
scene to much critical acclaim at the 'Poor Alex Theatre'
with the self-production of their play 'The Big Thought of
Mr. Fitzsimmons."
For more about Painted Words, visit the Painted
Words website
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