Off The Leash in The Chronicle Herald
September 11, 2011
I happened to be in Toronto last week for some work and was able to land a one-on-one interview with the star of multiple-award winning TV show Call Me Fitz, Jason Priestly. Priestly was in the T-dot for the Gemini Awards gala (the next day) and agreed to meet me in his plush hotel bar for a chat.
We sat for 45 minutes and discussed his career and his show’s success. Call Me Fitz is an irreverent comedy, filmed in New Minas, Nova Scotia. The show follows the troubled and tumultuous life of used-car dealer, Richard Fitzpatrick. The role is a blessing for Priestly who told me about the audition process to get the part from creator Sheri Elwood.
“I love this piece of material; Richard Fitzpatrick is such a beautifully flawed character,” Priestly told me over coffee. “What a beautiful opportunity to play a character like this.”
The show is hilarious and, I am happy to report, resumes shooting a brand new season tomorrow (September 12th) back on the main drag of New Minas.
Priestly is a happy man. “I think we found the perfect location out there,” he continues. “The tax credit helped. We were able to get a really top-notch crew. People who are tireless workers and very talented.”
The next night, I was invited to attend the 26th Annual Gemini Awards in downtown Toronto and walked the red carpet into the star-studded room. Jian Gomeshi hosted the industry back-slapping night, with Steve Patterson, Sean Cullen, Rick Mercer all getting up to hand out awards to excitable professionals. Cullen made me giggle the whole time he was onstage. Call Me Fitz had a great night, winning six chunks of metal! Ernie Grunwald, Jason Priestly’s co-star in Fitz, picked up the Best Performance in A Featured Role award.
As a guest of the acting union, ACTRA, I was delighted to join National ACTRA President Ferne Downey at her prime table. I was able to introduce her to Priestly after the show.
The cast of Degrassi
An unbelievable 52 bum-numbing awards were handed out over 4 hours. Now I know why they split the awards up and only televise a section of the show. The wine was free and the steak was rare.
Other Nova Scotia produced shows were honoured that night with Halifax Film winning Best Pre-School TV Program Gemini for The Mighty Jungle. Producer Katrina Walsh was on hand to collect the hardware.
Halifax Film's Katrina Walsh collects her Gemini for The Mighty Jungle
I also spied in the crowd John Dunsworth, Jonathan Torrens, George Strombolopolis among many others. It was a great night of celebration. The stars of Degrassi High were all over the night, looking youthful and exuberant as they won Best Youth Fiction Show.
Amy Reitsma, Aaron Kyte, Brieonna Locche & Anders Balderston in Anne & Gilbert
On Wednesday of this past week I was in the audience for a performance of Anne & Gilbert at the Harbourfront Theatre, in Summerside. Featuring the talented Amy Reitsma of Halifax, in the titular red-headed role, the show was moving, sweet, funny and rich.
When I first saw the show a couple of years ago (it has run the past seven years), I confessed I preferred it to its older sister at the Charlottetown Festival. Although, now I hear they have ‘re-imagined’ Anne Of Green Gables this year, so another dose of cheeky, sprightly, ginger fun may be called for!
Aaron Kyte is so strong as Gilbert Blyth and makes his work seem so effortless. Pamela Campbell was a perfect Marilla; Brieonna Locche and Anders Balderston owned the stage as Josie Pye and Moody. Margot Sampson turned in a comedic turn as Rachel Lynde that had us howling. It was Reitsma though that owned the night. Her Anne alone is worth a trip across the causeway!
To invite Jeremy Webb to your event, email offtheleash@herald.ca, or visit www.offtheleash.ca.
