The ThunderBlogs

In an intimate gathering Friday evening, 14 seniors took turns performing music, spoken word and theatrical vignettes to each other within a cozy living room of the Barclay Manor. It was the West End Seniors’ Network’s first coffee house, an event that gave members the chance to showcase their creative talents and confront perceptions of themselves.

“I’m coming out as a fat woman,” said Sheila Baxter, 77. “I want people to know that fat women can be beautiful. … It’s very radical.”

The women sat tightly together in armchairs arranged to face a blue wall of the heritage building. Canes were propped up against many of the chairs  and handbags rested on the floor by their feet. The chair-less space was a  square of brown carpet that would serve as the stage.

Baxter, a published author and playwright, shared two of her poems with the small group: “Ode to a Beautiful Fat Woman” and “Someone to Wrinkle With”. Gripping a cane in one hand and an open binder in the other, she leaned her large frame in toward the audience. Her tear-filled eyes connected with theirs.

Another member, a retired lawyer, read a clever piece she had authored about a misunderstood parrot. Four musicians played and sang a mix of rousing Scottish tunes, folk songs and Gershwin hits while the group clapped and hummed along. One of these women followed her act with an impromptu round of jokes.

But most of the performances were theatrical pieces  prepared under the guidance and training of Tidal Grace, an acting coach and the originator of the Seniors’ Theatre Project.

Grace, 40, began the project as a ‘wellness through acting’ program. Every Tuesday morning he volunteers his time to lead the project’s members through theatre workshops.

“Tidal Grace is the most amazing man,” said Baxter. “He teaches people how to use your emotions, how to know your emotions, and not to be scared to share your feelings.”

One of his students, Yolande Cousineau, performed a comedic monologue about stage fright. Her character was at an audition, she was panicking. The 76-year-old Cousineau’s hands shook rapidly as she portrayed the character. As the scene neared climax she had her whole upper body convulsing. The crowd laughed and applauded her brave performance.

“I chose this piece,” said Cousineau, “because I have Parkinson’s.”

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Coffee house events are now scheduled for the last Friday of every month.