The One True Dave

Director’s Notes:

Is your online profile an accurate representation of you?  How different are the representations of you on Facebook compared to Linkedin, OKCupid, MySpace, Plentyoffish, or Second Life?  Most people have used internet dating or know someone who has.  Most people use some form of social media on a regular basis.  It follows that most people, like yourself in our audience, have first-hand experience with the 21^st Century phenomenon of dealing with online identities and how they may or may not live up to people’s perception of themselves.  Comedy ensues!  This is a play about a successful and talented young woman who is negotiating the new rules of the 21^st Century dating game while haunted by her past.  This is a story of finding love in a topical tech-savvy world.  This is a story of self-discovery and moving forward.  Growth.

I love working on new plays. As a director who also writes, I get a thrill out of witnessing a fresh fiction released upon the world making connections to the lives of the audience members and opening the possibility for a fresh perception of contemporary life – all while enjoying the story, the comedy and the original music!  Many great Canadian playwrights got their start at Fringe festivals (like Joanna Glass, Brad Fraser and Chris Craddock to name a few) and I see great potential in our own Chloe Whitehorn to join their ranks.  I feel privileged to work with such a good script, a fantastic cast and crew and to see it go up in such a great venue.

This play is very funny without resorting to being mean (which is too easy and prevalent today!) and has a lot to say about the “reality” of representing oneself virtually in our digitally enhanced social arena.  It is my hope you enjoy the show but that you also remember, the next time you login, though the medium has changed, the importance of love and being true to yourself remains the same.

Dave Owen, June 2011

P.S. – Come see our show!  Venue one, Tarragon Main Space!  Toronto Fringe, July 6-17.  Buy tickets here: http://www.fringetoronto.com/