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Peterborough isn't exactly a cultural mecca, but that didn't deter Jerome from building the Gordon Best Theatre above his unique bistro, The Only Cafe. After gutting the top two floors, he fashioned a performance hall that would be the envy of arts communities anywhere. There's a small balcony, a small bar, and an open space for tables and chairs or just standing. It can handle 150- 200 people. It has a diverse performance schedule. All last week there was a play being presented, and the night after Nash, there's a classical recital. Last month D,O.A., Canada's premiere punk band, performed here. Unfortunately, this beautiful space doesn't get the attendance it deserves no matter how much advertising it does. When we arrive in Peterborough after a long drive from Toronto, I have to take a desperate dump. The outdoor patio has been closed up for the winter so that's as good as it gets. I discreetly choose a spot near the edge of the fence. I am mindful of where humans walk after all. Hauling the equipment upstairs is a task. Nash keeps threatening to make me work for my milkbones, but he's just kidding, I think. Ian, the house soundman, and Brandy, the house stage and lighting tech. do all the heavy lifting. They are total pros, Things get set up with no fuss, and it looks very cool. The stage is wide and deep, with it's own large projection screen. The sound is very live and clean. The fifty-or-so people in attendance were treated to a full three-set show starting with Un Chien Andalou at 10 pm sharp. Audiences should know by now that Nash is very punctual, and unless otherwise indicated, he always starts at 10 pm. There wasn't much time between sets, so Nash didn't get to talk to anyone in the audience until afterwards. The dressing room was at the back of the stage, so I just hung out there all night. We did go out the back door for some fresh air at one point, but it wasn't exactly running with the hounds, if you catch my drift. What made this a special event was the showing of the silent film classic, The Lost World. Nash has only presented this in a few places, and the audience is always blown away. When the volcano starts up, Nash raises the volume and bottom end until the PA is about to burst. Even in the dressing room, The bottom end rumble makes me want to drop a load right there. Just to prove that even the village idiot gets in to a Nash show, some member of the audience would yell "Naaash" when the music for Lost World got really heavy. Thankfully, his friends kept him quiet after the second outburst. Rock and roll chants and fist-waving are inappropriate gestures for silent films and should be restrained until the final set. After the one hour film, Nash took another short break. For some reason. over half of the audience had left. It's only midnight, so theta must be something better to do in downtown Peterborough at this hour. Maybe the 7-11 closes early. The finale is a vocal set including Edmund Fits, Astronomy, and encoring with I'm A Canadian Band. An enthusiastic encore from a small but vocal assembly. At least some of the crowd got their full money's worth. There is a quick pack-up. and I hang around with Brandy and Ian while Nash does his final "idiot check" for overlooked items. Seems like everyone who works hers is a dog-human, so we hang around while everyone tells their favorite dog stories. I've beard 'em all: from psycho shitsus to pussy rotweillers. We are like our owners, after all. On the ride home, Nash muses how some of the best performance places are just neglected by the community around them. What a shame. The good thing is, Nash is persistent, and there is nothing stopping us from going back and doing it again and again until everyone in Peterborough is saying, "Nash, get Digger off my lawn!" Digger |
