乌鸦传媒

When we heard a 鈥渄ark night鈥� social event was in the works, we assumed it might be Batman-themed, albeit surely not to celebrate Ben Affleck being anointed as Hollywood鈥檚 next Dark Knight.

Intrepid Theatre鈥檚 fundraiser last Monday at Phillips Brewery wasn鈥檛 anything of the kind, its title referring to the night most theatrical productions take a break.

Dark Monday was as much a celebration of Intrepid鈥檚 11-day Uno Fest as a way to help fund and draw attention to a perk not all theatregoers are aware of.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a way for Intrepid Theatre to keep going with our pay-what-you-can initiative,鈥� said general manager Heather Lindsay, referring to an option offered on opening night of every show during Uno Fest, 乌鸦传媒鈥檚 premier juried theatre festival of solo performance that showcases artists from across North America.

鈥淲e always want to keep theatre accessible and affordable. We never want to turn people away no matter what income level you鈥檙e at.鈥�

A lively crowd of artists, sponsors, community leaders and volunteers enjoyed Phillips brews on tap and pizza courtesy of The Joint at the informal gathering at the Government Street brewery.

Victoria MP Murray Rankin stopped in with his pal Glenn Thibeault, the NDP鈥檚 Sudbury-based national caucus chair and Small Business, Tourism and Consumer Affairs critic, on their way to the airport. It was at the end of Thibeault鈥檚 whirlwind visit, part of 鈥渁 listening tour鈥� that included his small-business consultation with the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce earlier in the day.

Although Thibeault said he has never considered himself an 鈥渁rtsy type鈥� he is 鈥渟lowly becoming one鈥� since his 10-year-old daughter began singing in community theatre.

Other notables in attendance included Magnetic North Theatre Festival鈥檚 Brenda Leadlay, Dance Victoria鈥檚 Jason Dubois and actor and Story Theatre Co. founder and artistic director Jim Leard.

鈥淚 came for the free food!鈥� quipped the theatre veteran whose son, rising actor and storyteller Jeff Leard has proven the apple hasn鈥檛 fallen far from the tree. Leard Jr. has enjoyed considerable success on the touring circuit with The Show Must Go On, which he performed here last year, and Gametes and Gonads, his one-man show performed here at the 2011 Victoria Fringe Festival.

His friend and fellow UVic grad Sam Mullins couldn鈥檛 resist ribbing his accomplished father about the impact his son鈥檚 success is having on Leard鈥檚 reputation.

鈥淚 keep meeting people now who say, 鈥極h, you鈥檙e Jeff鈥檚 father!鈥� said Leard.

鈥淚t鈥檚 no longer them saying to him, 鈥極h, you鈥檙e Jim鈥檚 son.鈥欌��

Uno Fest remains one of his favourite theatre festivals because of its focus on solo performance, says Leard.

鈥淥ne-person shows have that sense of adventure, and it鈥檚 real storytelling. People are allowed to experiment, to play. They aren鈥檛 acting, they鈥檙e sharing.鈥�

Mullins, who attended UVic from 2004 until 2008, admitted coming back to perform Weak Sauce, his comedy 鈥渁bout first times, second chances and third wheels鈥� was slightly surreal.

鈥淚 forgot all about the flowers,鈥� said the Toronto-based actor who grew up in the Okanagan before moving here to attend UVic, and later to Vancouver.

During his return visit, Mullins reacquainted himself with Victoria 鈥渨hich now feels really small, but in a good way鈥� compared with Toronto, and took a nostalgic stroll through the UVic grounds.

鈥淥h, man, I felt more feelings than I was prepared to have walking around, especially through the old theatre building.鈥�