And here’s the note part of things … didn’t want to get this mixed up in the literature. So, umm … hi! Been quite a while, hasn’t it?

I’ve been keeping busy, mostly with my theatre company, Monkeyman Productions, which recently closed a very successful run of our first production, Theatre of the Obsessed. The production included several plays that had their debut as a part of MMS: “Wolf in the Fold” and “The Final Flight of the Phoenix.” We’re gearing up for future projects, so keep an eye out if you’re in the Toronto area.

I also wanted to say hello in case any new people should stop by as a result of the ever-gracious Jim Munroe’s mentioning the site in his article, “10 Ways to Get Your Writing Out There.” Take a look around and enjoy yourself. (Oh, and if anyone here doesn’t know Jim yet, for both his website and his incredible novels, you really owe it to yourself to take a look.)

As to what’s going to come of this little site right here … that remains to be seen. I’ve been tossing ideas back and forth, so keep checking in … and thanks for doing so.

Yours Truly, Deej

Actually, there’ll be two visits back today, but this is the first, and it’s been waiting quite a while. My friend Victoria, who has a lovely and instructional website of her own, sent a couple of late entries to my final week ‘anthology’: 

Monkey, Monster or Spaceman? Week 52 (cont.)
Category: ALL!

THE LAST STORIES:
A Monkey, Monster or Spaceman Anthology
Part II:
Read the rest of this entry »

Monkeyman Productions and Bespoke Theatre Proudly Present …

Theatre of the Obsessed: New Short Plays by Toronto Playwrights

Come see plays about King Kong, alien abduction, sci-fi franchises and mythological monsters! How can you go wrong?

… but what is (or are) the Obsessed?

People can be obsessed with Desperate Housewives and celebrity births or even collecting thimbles – whatever we need to ’shield’ ourselves from the harsh realities of the world. These obsessions are very, very revealing of the truth of who we are. Theatre of the Obsessed is a bizarre and chaotic collection of short plays unified by this theme of obsession.

The complete roster of four short plays will be performed at the Centre for the Arts, 263 Adelaide Street West, Toronto each night from September 24th through September 27th at 8 pm, with an additional matinée performance at 2 pm on Saturday afternoon.

Join us … and join the ranks of the Obsessed!

For Ticket Reservations: Call 647-835-0250 or email admin@bespoketheatre.com! It’s a small house, so we might very well sell out — reservations are highly recommended!

*** Check out our website at theatreoftheobsessed.com and join our mailing list for a chance to win TWO FREE TICKETS to opening night! ***

Monkey, Monster or Spaceman? Week 52
Category: ALL!

Editorial Note: For the final week of MMS, I put a call out to some of my more creatively-oriented friends to submit 100-word (or so) short pieces, making the last week more of an anthology, with myself at the editorial helm. (Actually, I didn’t really so much edit as compile.) So … enjoy! And yes, there are some pieces that I wrote, too — I didn’t take the week completely off. 

 THE LAST STORIES:
A Monkey, Monster or Spaceman Anthology

Read the rest of this entry »

Okay, don’t worry, tomorrow the final MMS piece(s) should be up right on schedule. But before that, an unexpected bonus! My friend Ryan, of various cool web-based projects including his own fiction blog, decided that as part (yes, only part!) of his contribution to my final, glorious week, I really needed a Monkey, Monster or Spaceman theme song!

So he wrote one! Click here to listen and marvel at its wonder!

Pretty swanky, huh? Full lyrics are beneath the cut, if you wanna check them out. Thanks, buddy!

Read the rest of this entry »

Sorry, what with a generally bad week at work and bad luck computer-wise at home, I’m a little bit behind (I actually meant to be posting the final MMS today, but I suppose it’s more fitting if I do that tomorrow regardless) — but I do have that Very Special Announcement to make:

Read the rest of this entry »

… there’s bad news, and then there’s good news.

Bad news is I’m having some annoying computer problems that, while they shouldn’t keep me from posting the final thing(s) in time for Friday, will definitely make it more difficult. We are working on the issue, don’t worry. (Rolls dice, sacrifices chicken, prays to gnomes.)

Good news is … well, technically to be announced tomorrow, I think but go here and you can get a sneak preview.

And here we are, at Week 52; I feel like I should be singing “My Way” and weeping into my scotch. (Actually, I can’t drink scotch, which is a whole other story altogether …) It is an emotional moment, though — it’s hard to believe I’ve really just about done it.

Actually, I have done it, though you won’t see until later in the week. My part of what I’m bringing you for Week 52 is written. But more about that when we get there; don’t want to let the cat completely out of the bag …

And speaking of cats and bags, I’ll stop in here a bit later this week to drop the Big Announcement I’ve been hinting around about. Until then, have a good Monday (hey, up here it’s a holiday!) and rest of the week …

Monkey, Monster or Spaceman? Week 51
Category: Monkey

Animal Crackers
by D.J. Sylvis

It was just about midnight, and the club was so loud that even back in the closet-sized dressing room, it was impossible to hear yourself say anything. Margaret had to practically put her mouth against Billy’s ear and shout to ask a question – and it wasn’t just that he might take the gesture wrongly (they’d been a thing back in school in Peterborough, when he asked her to join the band); he had a major ear wax problem which was completely disgusting. Still, she leaned in and hollered: “Who are these assholes, anyway?”

He turned halfway around, the neck of his guitar swinging out and almost clocking Don in the head. Don was crouched on a broken preamp on the floor, all his attention on the vibration of the metal strings beneath his fingertips, and didn’t even notice.

Billy nodded in the direction of the stage and shouted back to her: “Stompin’ Stomp Stompers. They’re a Newfie band.”

Read the rest of this entry »

So, Week #51 is apparently a Monkey week, thanks to you fine folks who voted in the final poll! (Note again: it is the final poll because Week #52 is going to be completely at my whim.) So I’ll try to cook something decent up by Friday … meanwhile, I expect to have some pretty exciting things to announce soon!

Oh, and if you’re in the Toronto area, we’re going to have a little gathering at Commensal on May 21st to celebrate, among other things, the end of my year of MMS! If you’re interested in stopping by, the full details are on Facebook — so take a look!