Montreal Fringe Feature: Ephemer-illz

Carina de Klerk and Lynn Kozak bring the Greek back to Montreal

"If you have a problem, there's a Greek poem for you."
That's what Lynn Kozak told me.  I didn't laugh but I made a face like I was about it.
Maybe the problem is that nobody knows that.  Maybe the problem is that, even if we know that, we're too busy watching contemporary rom-coms, soap operas and Sam Shepard plays to really turn our heads backwards.  Maybe the problem is that, we're finicky enough about our contemporaries, finding love for the classics is a whole other haul to the office that we don't feel like taking.  
These are the problems of a lazy-young-anybody.  Not good problems to admit to.
It's totally fine.  Problem solved!  This summer at Montreal Fringe, Oimoi Productions is determined to spread their love for ancient Greek texts with their newest piece Ephemer-ilz.

Though it is unusual for de Klerk and Kozak to take the stage, they are seemingly unabashed about their debut.   After searching through and translating hundreds of poetic fragments that span from the 7th c BC right through to the 4th c AD, these majesties of poetry have selected their favourites.  Each night they will approach each other with a new selection, each performer keeping her pieces a secret from her friend and, without any apparent inhibition, the two will have a conversation about friendship, love and, of course, their love for those ancient Greek poets we keep hearing about.  The result?  An audience charmed, intrigued and motivated to participate in the Oimoi-oh-my-I-love-ancient-literature loveliness.  You will leave fired up to check out upcoming works by de Klerk and Kozak including K-Project, a video installation that explores Klytaimnestra's motivations for murdering her husband, Agamemnon and a possible Fringe tour of their new version of Iliad 21/22.

Ephemer-illz is a 30 minute improvised conversation-meets-poetry-recitation between Ancient Greek gurus Carina de Klerk and Lynn Kozak. De Klerk and Kozak, both founders of Oimoi Productions, have been working behind the scenes to spread their poetic-passion, producing works from ancient Greece including a production of Hippolytus in the 2012 Fringe, a recent version of scenes from Bachae performed in mask and, my favourite, Tragic Saturday Afternoons at the Freestanding Room in Montreal, a weekly group reading of a tragedy.   Their enthusiasm has burst open literary gateways for artists across Montreal.   Their selfless dedication to  poetry from the past as well as their earnest celebration of texts they believe to be timeless and universal is pronounced in each of their productions.  The above considered, I think it's safe to hail de Klerk and Kozak as the Queens of Poetics and aren't we honoured to have them perform for us at this year's Montreal Fringe.

For more information on Oimoi Productions and all of their upcoming projects, check out their Facebook Page and website.

CHECK OUT EPEMER-ILLZ AT MONTREAL FRINGE RIGHT NOW
Ephemer-ilz is a 30 minute show performed at the Espace Freestanding Room.
June 5-8, 11, 13-15, 18-20
All ticket and schedule information here.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW