Hard To Say Goodbye

Week 33: Vancouver, B.C.

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

By the end of our third week here, I had completely relaxed into life in Vancouver. The realization this week that we will soon be packing up and moving on was a bit like being doused with cold water. I had been lulled into the comfort of a familiar routine. Also, Vancouver is amazing. Absolutely a livable city--expensive, but then so is every great and desirable city in the world. The incredible abundance of majestic natural beauty surrounding the city is in itself reason enough to want to live here. No question about it, Vancouver spoke to me. Granted, we also arrived at the perfect time of year and have had virtually uninterrupted spectacular weather. I am sure the rest of the year, with its gloom and rain, is not perhaps as gleeful. Nevertheless, I will miss this place.

Our final week here started off with a lovely recital given by the talented Ben Davis, who plays Galahad in the show.
Ben is a very gifted classical baritone, who has appeared in numerous Broadway shows, including Baz Luhrmann's "La Boheme." He is also featured as Papageno in Kenneth Branagh's film of "The Magic Flute" (it has not been released in the US yet, but I saw it on video and it is great). Ben gave all of us a wonderful gift of a program of classical arias at the local Christ Church Cathedral. In addition we were treated to a performance of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" for four hands by Michael Gribbin and Adam Souza, two amazing pianists who executed this complex classic masterfully. Ben also had his friend Xiao Yu execute a song on the Pipa, a traditional Chinese instrument, and she gave an equally bravura performance. It was moving to share in the talents of these fine artists outside the scope of our show, and I admit to feeling pangs of hunger for the classical work I was doing before joining "Spamalot." Granted, our show requires a great deal of energy, technical proficiency and a sophisticated sensibility, but it is more a lighthearted picnic than a six course gourmet meal. I find myself hankering after the athleticism and complexity, the vocal and physical demands of Shakespeare. When I think about how it feels to play Posthumous or Macbeth, I feel a rush of excitement and energy. I'd love to show my fellow artists on our tour, as Ben did, the greater range of my abilities; Robin is a sweet character but to play him only requires certain colors from my actor's paint kit, and certain notes in my vocal scale. It's rather like being a swimmer or a gymnast and only ever participating in one event. I have faith that I will again have the chance to tackle some of the great parts in the classical repertoire.


Another feature of our day off this week was a trip to Wreck Beach. I went with Bree and our assistant company manager David. Wreck Beach is a nice stretch of sand down the cliffs near the UBC campus. It is the area's nude beach and is a hoot par excellence. It is quite simply like stepping into a time warp and finding oneself in the late 60's. There is a pronounced eccentric hippie vibe about the beach. Naked vendors in funny hats and fanny packs stroll up and down the sand dispensing, among other things, watermelon, beer, margaritas, ice cream, marijuana, pot cookies, and magic mushrooms. Watching the scene play out in front of us we were keenly aware that we were not in the USA! It was quite something. And of course, the beach was beautiful and the snow capped mountains rising beyond the horizon were fabulous. It was a nice chance to soak up some sun and enjoy something uniquely Vancouver. And no, I did not get naked. There is something rather goofy about nude beaches. People seem to just be getting naked because they have permission to do so in that setting--and I suppose it might be liberating for some to just let it all hang out. For my part, I prefer to expose my body when I have a little more control over the lighting, the presentation, and the viewing audience! Don't especially want all and sundry to be able to study anything that might jiggle, flop or dimple in broad daylight. But different strokes for different folks. I kept my trunks on.

I suppose my travelogue for Vancouver would be more accurate if I recount the things I didn't do here. Fans of the area might be shocked to know that I didn't get over to Vancouver Island and Victoria; I didn't do the Grouse Grind, a challenging mountain hike; I didn't go up to Whistler, the mountain town where the 2010 Olympic alpine events will take place. I feel I got a nice sense of the beauty and nature of the area while I was here, and a nice taste of the flavor of Vancouver itself. For me this place was a blessed respite from the rigors of traveling life. It was a chance to have a somewhat normal routine for a few weeks and enjoy the low key pleasures of this very fabulous city. Vancouver was a place to go within and be with myself. Doesn't make for an exciting travel diary but man, is it good for the sanity!

Some Vancouver snapshots:

Fresh blueberries that burst in your mouth. Reggae bands on the street on Canada Day creating a joyous block party. The ever shifting catwalk of Robson Street. Boys with faux hawk hairstyles everywhere you look. Hippies, drifters and break dancers hanging out in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery. The freshest, briniest oysters I have ever had, enjoyed with a big hunk of sourdough bread and a cool local lager. My kayak paddle breaking the surface of the water in Deep Cove. The rosy cheeked, busty naked vendor who knelt down on my beach blanket to sell me a sweet, juicy hunk of watermelon on Wreck Beach. Groups of Asian school kids jumping up and down on the Lynn Canyon suspension bridge and screaming with fear and delight. The luxurious, supple feel of my new leather jacket purchased in a designer boutique in Gastown. Pushing my limits in yoga class in Yaletown, all muscles straining and stretching while the sweat pours down. Ben Davis' birthday party, where in addition to cake, we were served Lucky Charms, Froot Loops and milk. Boogying with Bree and Sarah Lin to the funky sounds of Soulstream, the ten piece house band at Republic. The sheer bliss of my bike ride along the seawall in Stanley Park. It has been a full and rich time for me here.

Here is the fabulous Tanya!
Tanya was my dresser here in Vancouver and because we worked together for a month and because she is just such a funny, sassy, irreverent gal, we have become friends and have had some good times hanging out together. Tanya is from Nanaimo, a small town on Vancouver Island, and has recently moved back into Vancouver to restart her life here. I wish her the very best of luck. Her winning personality and great sense of humor will take her far and win over many people here. I certainly hope we will stay in touch. And so I wistfully say farewell to Vancouver. I hope that I will return here one day. Edmonton, Alberta is next, friends. The Canadian odyssey continues...

The Great Outdoors

Week 32: Vancouver, B.C.

We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal, and then leap in the dark to our success.


--Henry David Thoreau

That is just about the definition of "adventure," is it not? So much of what I experience on this tour comes from acting spontaneously and feeling each place intuitively. Vancouver certainly appeals to the naturalist in me.
This week started with a low key day off, which began with a visit to Lynn Canyon, a beautiful park and ecology center with a rain forest, a 30 foot pool, waterfalls and a suspension bridge rising 20 stories above Lynn Creek. With the glorious weather we have been having, the fresh air and the magnificent natural setting, I had such a pleasurable time with Bree and TJ. TJ works wardrobe on the show and is a singer/songwriter among many other things. That's her dog Acon. We sat under the trees and ate cherries bought at a roadside stand. Find your bliss. Find your bliss.





I have taken to riding the seawall route in Stanley Park almost every day. Finding a beautiful vantage point facing the sea to sit and journal. The local yoga studio in Yaletown had a special deal for two weeks unlimited classes and I have been seriously challenging myself in these hot yoga classes. Of course nothing could have prepared me for our fantastic kayaking trip this week at Deep Cove. Twenty members of the cast, crew and extended "Spamily," went kayaking together on a sparkling Tuesday afternoon. The natural beauty of trees, crags and mountains spectacular. A small handful of us decided to push our limits and really get out there in the cove and so we set a goal to reach a vantage point far out where there was a view of a snow capped mountain peak. So we went for it and have pictures to prove it. The "final five:" me, Ryan, Brian, David and Bree then had to paddle our way BACK. This was a greater challenge as we were moving into the wind and the water had gotten quite choppy. I thought, all I can do is go for it, so I really threw my back into it and moved at quite a clip. It was exhausting and exhilarating and I was proud to be the first of the fearless "five" to make it back to harbor. In all, our little posse kayaked seven miles. Kickass!







This week I had a lovely moment when I was stopped on the street by a fan. I was riding home on my bike, with my yoga mat on my back and heard a girl call out to me. I stopped and she walked up and asked me, "Are you James Beaman?" I was so surprised because people rarely recognize me out of my Robin gear, and I was quite delighted by her enthusiasm for the show (she has seen it twice and plans to come once more before we leave) and of course her appreciation for my work. Thanks so much, Meghan!

A Few Canadian Quirks


Canada loves coins. Instead of one and two dollar bills, they have one and two dollar coins, called respectively, a "loonie" and a "toonie." Being a New Yorker, I empty my pockets of all change every evening into a bowl. I looked in my bowl this week and I had over $20 in there. I guess the coins are a carry over from the British heritage.

Speaking of British, the Canadians do use certain English spellings of things like 'flavour' and 'harbour" and 'centre.' The accent is distinctly American sounding here but with certain oddities. 'About' becomes 'a-boat,' and 'out' becomes 'oat.' And you would never say you were 'sorry,' you'd say you were 'sore-y.' And no matter how my sophisticated new Canadian friends protest that they never say it--they do indeed say "eh."

Cocktails in Canada SUCK. The government regulates everything having to do with alcohol sales and consumption and so bars are only permitted to put one regulated shot of booze into every drink. Add ice and a whole lot of mixer and you have a $7 or $8 weak drink with a thimble full of liquor in it. It's terribly sad. I have seen martinis here so meager they didn't manage to submerge even one of the three olives standing in them, withering from dehydration.





We had a visit from our general manager who brought with him news of many exciting and interesting changes in the tour and some really terrific new territory opening up for "Spamalot." With the Las Vegas company now closed, the tour is able to perform finally in California among other West Coast states. So next summer, you will be able to see "Spamalot" in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Great developments and a nice future for the production!

This is the Life

Week 31: Vancouver, B.C.

Morning. Wake up to bright sunshine and a panoramic view of glass high rises with the sea and mountains in the distance. Morning coffee and email. Perhaps a bike ride around Stanley Park? A strenuous yoga class? A day at the beach? Each day includes a fabulous meal of some sort, usually the incredible fresh seafood one can get in B.C. Go to work at 7:30 and entertain a couple thousand laughing, cheering people and GET PAID for it. Go out for a drink at a hot bar or nightclub, or a late snack at a local eatery. Roll in to bed. Sleep. Repeat.

Yep, Vancouver is pretty spectacular. It has all the things you want in a city--great restaurants, ethnic diversity, cosmopolitan style. The bonus is the natural landscape that surrounds the city.
Stanley Park, one of the most incredible public parks I have seen, is only blocks from my apartment here. The park is situated on 1,000 acres of a peninsula at the west end of Vancouver. The woods, lawns, and diverse ecosystems of the park are all embraced by the sea on all sides. The bike ride or walking path that takes you along the perimeter of the park is just breathtaking and it has become a daily ritual for me. Unfortunately on our second Friday night here, I fell off my bike along the seawall path and banged up my leg. It was only bruised and swollen but I did have to sit out the performance; my third missed performance in 7 months.

Dinners out here are fantastic, especially if you love seafood. At Rodney's Oyster House in Yaletown we feasted on a fresh variety of B.C. oysters, which are smaller and delicately flavored. This with fresh sourdough bread and a nice bracing local lager was heaven.
At Coast, and also at The Fish House in Stanley Park, I was introduced to the wild B.C. salmon, which is unlike any salmon you have ever had. Light, buttery, not fishy, and with an amazing dark pink, almost red color. Of course sushi here is fantastic too, what with the fresh ingredients and the large Asian community in Vancouver. A trip out to Granville Island brings more culinary blessings, because it is home to the Granville Public Market, a great place for fresh produce and gourmet goodies. Also ate lunch at the Sandbar, which is beautifully situated right under the Granville Bridge with a great view of the water and the skyline of Vancouver just across.




There are also very interesting cultural activities in Vancouver. Of course I visited the local art museum, the Vancouver Art Gallery. The current exhibition of cartoon art and anime art didn't wow me, but it wasn't really my thing. There were some smaller exhibitions from some interesting contemporary artists, the most interesting being Beijing -born Zhang Huan. A performance artist, photographer, sculptor and self-portraitist, Huang is a compelling artistic mind. Included in the exhibit were photos from his stunning performance art events, as well as photographs like this one, (Huan himself holding the child). He also makes sculptures and paintings that express his feelings about his Chinese and Buddhist roots, using as his material the tons of incense ash that gathers from offerings made at Buddhist temples in China.



Sales for the show are picking up and the audiences have been increasingly receptive and responsive. I really think they are loving it here. I am sure by the end of the run we will be very full. I have some activities planned for next week, including a group outing to go kayaking, which, if I don't drown, should be a lot of fun. Meantime, Vancouver life continues to be a pleasure--an expensive one, but worth it.

Promised Land

Week 31: Vancouver, B.C.

O Canada! We stand on guard for thee. After 22 one week engagements, we arrived weary and grateful at Canadian customs, ready for the month long stay in Vancouver. And what a wonderful place to spend a few weeks! The weather on arrival was mild and perfect, the air fresh, and the sun shining. Vancouver is a beautiful city, a blend of urban streets and glass high rises, tree lined neighborhoods, a true melting pot of cultures, all surrounded by extraordinary beauty--ocean, mountains, trees, beaches... it's breathtaking. The city has a youthful energy and a funky style--the streets are a constantly changing catwalk of contrasting styles. Everyone seems to be parading their own special identity here. And everyone coexists, as in other major cities like New York and London. The second day here was Canada Day, their answer to our Independence Day, and it was a citywide party--outdoor bands, balloons and a generally jubilant energy.




My first couple days were spent walking the streets and neighborhoods of downtown, including a lovely afternoon with my friend Bree in Gastown, which is the historic district and site of the original city that became Vancouver. This area has two characters, which I liken to NYC neighborhoods: the first is a sort of East Village grit--punky shops, crazy junk shops, head shops and cafes where one can smoke-- but not purchase--marijuana; the second is a sort of Soho chic--upscale restaurants, designer clothing boutiques and modern furniture emporiums. The mix is great fun. I indulged in retail therapy in Gastown, adding a designer trench to my growing wardrobe. I have a feeling Vancouver is going to be very, very bad for my wallet.


We are performing at the Centre for the Performing Arts, a modern, glass enclosed complex with an intimate 1800 seats. The interior of the theatre is white with violet velvet seats. We were told that ticket sales are light here in Vancouver but I get the impression that this is a word of mouth town. If our opening night audience is any indicator, Vancouver audiences are a blast! Spontaneous, raucous and very much into the show. We even had a few Python fans in homemade medieval helmets in the front row on our first night. I think we will have a very nice run here.

I love Vancouver! It is the first place on my tour that has felt enough of a world class city, akin to New York, that it feels like a place I could live in happily. As of this posting I have not seen a lot of it but the hustle and bustle of it, the scale of the architecture, the mild weather, and the style of the place all have me energized. Because it is such a cool city, many members of the company have friends and loved ones coming to visit while we are here, and I am no exception. I have someone special here all weekend, and so this first Vancouver posting will have to be a brief one. But never fear--we have three more weeks in this great town and there will be more adventures to come. Meantime, to all my American friends, Happy Fourth!!