After my graduation in June of 1992, I was cast in "Alcan Craze of '42," for Stage North. A locally written play by Deborah Butler to help celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Alaska Highway in Fort St. John, BC. It was directed by Tom Kirschner, his first time directing a project. The play was part musical, part comedy, and all historical, it detailed the hectic life of Fort St. John during the construction of the Alaska Highway. So you can bet the play was a little dull to do... Despite how dull the play was, the cast and crew couldn't help but have the greatest time doing the play. I played two roles during this play. Both small roles, I played a drunken soldier who starts trouble in the store (the set of the entire play), and a Native trapper who doesn't speak a word of English.
Here's a funny story about "Alcan Craze of '42!" During rehearsals for this play, we had a little accident. I was rehearsing the scene where I come in and punch director Tom Kirschner's character in the gut. I feel a tap on my shoulder where I automatically roundhouse punch, nearly hitting Stan Ross' character who backs out of the way. After another punch going wide, Stan's character hits me on the chin knocking me unconscious, then dragging me out of the store, out into the street. This is the way the scene was suppose to go, but it happened this way. The scene was going as planned after I punched Tom in the stomach, and threw my two punches that missed, but it seems that I was a little too far forward when I threw the last punch, and Stan connected with a solid blow to my jaw. It wasn't so bad, but he had forgotten a cardinal rule when it comes to stage fighting... remove all rings! So when his fist collided with my jaw, his ring teared a neat little gash on my jaw... but we both carried the scene on like nothing happened (like bumbling professionals), I pretended to be unconscious (which wasn't so far off) and he dragged me off the stage like he meant to. But still the director called a halt to the rehearsal to see what the damage was. I didn't realize how bad it was until I stood up seeing the front of my shirt soaked in blood, and saw Stan's face go a ghostly white. I was sure the damage wasn't so bad and checked it out it in the mirror and was surprised to see an "L" shaped piece of flesh hanging from my face... I knew I had to go to the hospital... I left during rehearsal. At the hospital the doctor told me that I required stitching, and stitching on the face for an actor isn't the best thing either, so I asked if there was another way to avoid stitches because I was in a play. He laughed at me. So it turns out that the alternate solution was to use a tacky antiseptic and glue the flap of skin back in place and put butterfly strips over the gash. People say artists suffer for their work... I believe that since the antiseptic stung like I had a hornet's nest in my shorts and I was playing it like a bongo!!! But the wound healed very nicely in time for the performance, and the scar is barely visible, even upon the closest inspection.
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