COQUITLAM THIS WEEK

‘In Conversation with Director Mason Fouks

By Brady Ehler, Coquitlam Rep.

This week, I caught up with Douglas College student Mason Fouks, a young director who is currently working on his third theatre production, The Adventures of Super Captain Mr. Dude-Man. Fouks’ new play is a comedic super- hero parody, filled with action, drama, crazy plot-twists, and more silliness than you can shake a stick at.

During the interview, I was able to get an idea of some of the obstacles the young director has to face, and what motivates him to succeed.

BE: So, who IS Mason Fouks?

MF: That’s a big question...would you like me to re-count

my childhood?

BE: No just the nutshell version.

MF: Well, when I was a kid, I had a friend who got leukemia (cancer of the blood). That’s partly why ’m

doing this show—and have done two others in the past. I

grew up and now consider myself an actor, writer, and

comedian.

BE: I see. What is the play about?

MF: What is it about thematically or plot-wise? Because its

_ two different things...

BE: Both.

_ MF: Thematically, it’s about confidence. While working on the script, it seemed to fit so nicely I couldn’t believe I did- n't think of it before. Not only that, confidence is an important issue that I struggled with to a degree and that everyone between 11 and 20 deals with, to one degree or another. Plot wise, it’s about super heroes.

BE: You mentioned one of the reasons you are doing this play is because of your friend with leukemia. Did your friend’s experience affect the script?

MF: Td like to say yes, but honestly it didn’t. His tragic experience is the reason for the script going into produc- tion, but not the story, characters, or plot.

BE: How so?

MF: I promised myself I would do something after he died. Actually, I promised myself I would help cure cancer after he died—as a scientist of some sort, but after I real-

ized I didn’t like science (nor had the grades for-it), I changed that promise to “do something.” It’s a little more vague and gives me more freedom to contribute in other ways.

BE: So the proceeds are going to charity?

MF: The Terry Fox Foundation.

BE: You appear quite young for a veteran director. How old are you and what are some of the challenges that you have faced putting on productions?

MF: I’m nineteen. There are lots of challenges. First, there’s the perception of community theater. Apparently because we’re not “professionals” or “getting paid” our work will automatically suck. People seem to think people like us have no idea what we’re doing. We actually do. Not only that, but people quit. They quit often. They drop like flies at a Raid party...in fact, the other day one of my cast members called me up and said, “Mason, I quit.” After I said, “What?!!?” she told me she’s just joking and my coro- nary stopped. Then, there’s the venues...yeah, we have to get /ots of venues since we want to tour the show around locally. And there’s promotion and dealing with the tech, props, costumes...and the actors! I mean, they’re awesome, but sometimes they don’t learn their lines and some add lib excessively. Can you ask another question now? My heart rate is increasing...

BE: Sorry. Being as how your budget is essentially nil, how are you able to secure rehearsal space and props? How do you entice actors to participate?

MF: We’re rehearsing out of a high school I’m quite friendly with. Also, the actors are high school student actors who are eager to do anything. Plus, I know their teachers and asked them to push the auditions and make it sound fancy and great ‘cause otherwise they'd figure it’s a crappy no-budget play. Not only that, but we’re officially connected to a cause. We even have an event number! As for everything else, it’s kind of like Men In Black...it techni- cally doesn’t exist until we see it.

BE: Fair enough. Here is your space to plug. Go.

MF: “The Complete Adventures of Super Captain Mr.

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Dude-Man”’ is an original play about a nerd who discovers he has super powers. Since he doesn’t have confidence, he sucks ass with spoon. Regardless, he is the only one who can save his best friend, the girl of his dreams (who carries his weakness around her neck), his friend’s girlfriend, and his city. Even worse, he’s up against his father’s murderer, The Evil Kitty Captain Obvious!

Herbert’s (the nerd) adventure spans two years and lots of craziness. Will he save the day? Who knows? Plus, it’s filled with comic book (and comic book movie) references up the wazoo, so die-hard nerds will like it. It also has a good story and all the elements of the classical paradigm that everyone else likes.

BE: Sounds thrilling. One last question, with a name like “Fouks” did you catch a lot of flack in high school?

MF: Not as much as one would think... I mean, my initials make MF! Actually, lately, Pve been getting people miss-

pronouncing my name in ways that make me go, “Oh God, I wish.”

For more information, e-mail Mason at masonwilliam(@ hotmail.com, subject line: Dude-man info