Pretty Tough and Alone
A Theatre Double Bill and More
February 13, 14, 19, 20, 21
Staircase Cafe Theatre | 27 Dundurn St. North (map), Hamilton, ON
Pretty Tough and Alone is an engaging theatrical triple-header - great for chasing the February blues away! The evening begins with It's Tough To Be Somebody, a fast-paced comedy demonstrating the latest developments in fame awareness education. Then the winners of Black Box Fire's first monologue competition will perform, followed by PYG - a one-woman comedy about finding romance without losing yourself. All of this takes place at the Staircase Cafe Theatre, which provides a wonderful opportunity to try out the new Tapistry Bistro which just recently opened there. Reserve online before February 11 and get $2 off the price of each ticket!
Show Times
- Friday, February 13 at 7:00 PM
- Saturday, February 14 at 2:00 PM
- Saturday, February 14 at 7:00 PM
- Thursday, February 19 at 7:00 PM
- Friday, February 20 at 7:00 PM
- Saturday, February 21 at 2:00 PM
- Saturday, February 21 at 7:00 PM
Tickets
You can reserve tickets online by filling out our ticket reservation form (click here). Save $2 off the ticket price if you reserve online before February 11! Tickets will also be available at the door.
Prices At The Door
General Admission: $20
Student / Senior: $18
Please contact us directly at contact@blackboxfire.com for group rates (10 people or more).
About the Shows
It's Tough To Be Somebody
by Lee Howard & Greg Gamble
"The idea that fame is the result of hard work is the biggest myth around. It's not always going to happen to someone else. No one is immune."
It's Tough To Be Somebody takes a hilarious look at our culture's obsession with fame and the fact that, while everyone seems to yearn for stardom, few are prepared for the pitfalls of success. The show's rapid pace and preposterous dialogue highlight the most contradictory and amusing aspects of the human psyche as it operates within a celebrity-obsessed society.
The show features such colourful characters as Ms. Arboghast, a long-winded and skittish Fame Awareness Education teacher who is politically correct to a fault. Joining her are Officer Heindmost, a smooth and fervent anti-fame crusader and Lucrece St. Germaine, a washed-up-movie-star-turned-winter-tire-sales-hag. Combine them with an apathetic, indolent group of students and you get an incisive and entertaining look at our culture's most pervasive and problematic preoccupation.
It's Tough To Be Somebody contains some mature themes.
PYG
by Rose Condo
Are you stuck in a rut? Do you feel the need to meet new and exciting people? So does the Pretty Young Girl in PYG, a fresh new play by Canadian playwright Rose Condo. Our heroine has a job, a car, and a good home, but still feels as though something is missing. She decides she needs some romance in her life, and makes several enthusiastic attempts to satisfy that need with nights at the bar, dating websites, complete makeovers and a bag of potato chips. She makes drastic changes to herself, putting everything on the line to achieve her goal... but is it worth it?
This show explores our willingness to be manipulated by peer pressure and media expectations. We often sacrifice what makes us unique and ultimately, happy, by putting on the face we think the world wants to see. But at what point do we abandon who we really are?
This show stars Stephanie Yantsis, one of Black Box Fire's co-founders. Stephanie was recently profiled by Gary Smith in the Hamilton Spectator. To see the article please click here.
PYG contains some sexually explicit language.
Monologue Winners
Pretty Tough and Alone also features performances from the winners of Black Box Fire's monologue contest. Come enjoy some great performances by local actors as they face the spotlight alone.
Some of the monologues deal with mature themes and may contain mature language.
Songshu monologue written by Baziju (Kim Maltman and Roo Borson). All rights are from Prism International and Baziju.
Who to Contact for More Information
General and press inquiries can be directed to Jared Lenover at (905) 865-1383 or contact@blackboxfire.com.