Brad Fraser
Encyclopedia
Brad Fraser is a Canadian playwright
, screenwriter
and cultural commentator. He is one of the most widely produced Canadian playwrights both in Canada and internationally. Fraser's plays typically feature a harsh yet comical view of contemporary life in Canada, including frank depictions of sexuality
, drug use and violence. His work consistently inspires controversy, and his outspoken opinions have made him a media personality, especially for his criticism of the gay press and of theater critics.
, an episodically structured play about a group of thirtysomethings trying to find their way through life in Edmonton, Alberta, while the city is haunted by a serial killer
. It was a hit at the Alberta Theatre Projects' playRites '89, and numerous highly acclaimed productions followed ,including tremendously popular productions in Toronto
and Chicago
. The play was named one of the 10 Best Plays of 1992 by TIME.
While the New York production of Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love attracted significant attention, Fraser has not directed his career toward New York. Indeed, his next script, Poor Super Man, had its premiere in Cincinnati, Ohio
. Coming three years after the 1991 Robert Mapplethorpe
controversy in Cincinnati, Poor Super Man inspired international headlines when the board of directors of Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati temporarily canceled the production because of its anticipated obscenity. After a public outcry, the production was reinstated. Poor Super Man opened without incident and played to considerable acclaim. The play employed the innovative device of projecting captions onto the proscenium
, commenting on the action and expressing the private thoughts of the characters. It was named one of the 10 Best Plays of 1994 by TIME.
Fraser's plays frequently refer to earlier works, as characters and incidents from one play will make an appearance or receive mention in a subsequent work. The David character of Unidentified Human Remains, for example, reappears in Poor Super Man, and Matt, the central character of Poor Super Man, reappears in Martin Yesterday, and so forth.
Fraser has been especially successful in the U.K., where his work has enjoyed both critical and popular success, beginning with London's Evening Standard Award for Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love in 1993. Fraser's work borrows heavily from popular culture, especially comic books, horror films and primetime television, and is often more highly valued in retrospect than when it first opens. Typical of this would be a reappraisal by Porter Anderson, theater columnist for New York's Village Voice, who conceded that Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love was "under-rated during its 1991 run at the Orpheum", and that the play "had a grunge sensuality that could seduce a young audience to live theatre" and a "slasher plot [that] ripped away at the exhausted cynicism of alienated Canadian youths."
In addition to his theatre work, Fraser has written two films, Love and Human Remains
and Leaving Metropolis
, both adaptations of his plays. He has also written for the television series Queer as Folk, was host of his own Toronto-based television talk show, Jawbreaker
, and for a period of time wrote a biweekly column for the Canadian gay magazine fab
.
Keanu Reeves
had his first acting role in the Toronto
production of Fraser's play Wolfboy.
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and cultural commentator. He is one of the most widely produced Canadian playwrights both in Canada and internationally. Fraser's plays typically feature a harsh yet comical view of contemporary life in Canada, including frank depictions of sexuality
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
, drug use and violence. His work consistently inspires controversy, and his outspoken opinions have made him a media personality, especially for his criticism of the gay press and of theater critics.
Career
Fraser first came to hi prominence as a playwright with Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of LoveUnidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love
Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love is a 1989 stage play written by Canadian playwright Brad Fraser. Set in Edmonton, Alberta, the comedy-drama follows the lives of several sexually frustrated "thirty-somethings" who try to learn the meaning of love — during a time in which...
, an episodically structured play about a group of thirtysomethings trying to find their way through life in Edmonton, Alberta, while the city is haunted by a serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
. It was a hit at the Alberta Theatre Projects' playRites '89, and numerous highly acclaimed productions followed ,including tremendously popular productions in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The play was named one of the 10 Best Plays of 1992 by TIME.
While the New York production of Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love attracted significant attention, Fraser has not directed his career toward New York. Indeed, his next script, Poor Super Man, had its premiere in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. Coming three years after the 1991 Robert Mapplethorpe
Robert Mapplethorpe
Robert Mapplethorpe was an American photographer, known for his large-scale, highly stylized black and white portraits, photos of flowers and nude men...
controversy in Cincinnati, Poor Super Man inspired international headlines when the board of directors of Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati temporarily canceled the production because of its anticipated obscenity. After a public outcry, the production was reinstated. Poor Super Man opened without incident and played to considerable acclaim. The play employed the innovative device of projecting captions onto the proscenium
Proscenium
A proscenium theatre is a theatre space whose primary feature is a large frame or arch , which is located at or near the front of the stage...
, commenting on the action and expressing the private thoughts of the characters. It was named one of the 10 Best Plays of 1994 by TIME.
Fraser's plays frequently refer to earlier works, as characters and incidents from one play will make an appearance or receive mention in a subsequent work. The David character of Unidentified Human Remains, for example, reappears in Poor Super Man, and Matt, the central character of Poor Super Man, reappears in Martin Yesterday, and so forth.
Fraser has been especially successful in the U.K., where his work has enjoyed both critical and popular success, beginning with London's Evening Standard Award for Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love in 1993. Fraser's work borrows heavily from popular culture, especially comic books, horror films and primetime television, and is often more highly valued in retrospect than when it first opens. Typical of this would be a reappraisal by Porter Anderson, theater columnist for New York's Village Voice, who conceded that Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love was "under-rated during its 1991 run at the Orpheum", and that the play "had a grunge sensuality that could seduce a young audience to live theatre" and a "slasher plot [that] ripped away at the exhausted cynicism of alienated Canadian youths."
In addition to his theatre work, Fraser has written two films, Love and Human Remains
Love and Human Remains
Love and Human Remains is a 1993 Canadian film directed by Denys Arcand and based on Brad Fraser's stage play Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love. Fraser also wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation...
and Leaving Metropolis
Leaving Metropolis
Leaving Metropolis is a 2002 Canadian drama film written, directed, and based on the play Poor Super Man by Brad Fraser, about a gay man and a married heterosexual man who fall in love. It was filmed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada...
, both adaptations of his plays. He has also written for the television series Queer as Folk, was host of his own Toronto-based television talk show, Jawbreaker
Jawbreaker (TV series)
Jawbreaker is a Canadian English language television talk show hosted by Brad Fraser. The program features guests who discuss and debate varying topics and issues predominantly relating to the LGBT community. Jawbreaker premiered on October 11, 2002 at 10:00 p.m. EST on the Canadian specialty...
, and for a period of time wrote a biweekly column for the Canadian gay magazine fab
Fab (magazine)
fab is a Canadian magazine which targets the gay community. The magazine publishes biweekly issues in Toronto, Ontario. It publishes alternate weeks to the city's other biweekly gay publication, Xtra!...
.
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Charles Reeves is a Canadian actor. Reeves is perhaps best known for his roles in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Speed, Point Break and the science fiction-action trilogy The Matrix...
had his first acting role in the Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
production of Fraser's play Wolfboy.
Plays and performances
- WolfboyWolfboyWolfboy is a musical with music and lyrics by Leon Parris and book by Russell Labey, based on the play by Brad Fraser. Its story concerns two teenagers committed to an asylum: Bernie has tried to commit suicide and David believes he's a werewolf. The musical addresses psychiatric disorders, abuse,...
(1981) - Chainsaw Love (1985) Edmonton Fringe Festival
- Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love (1989)
- Calgary (1989) world premiere at the Alberta Theatre Projects' playRites '89 festival
- Edmonton (1990) Workshop West Theatre, directed by Brad Fraser
- Toronto (1990)
- Chicago, (1991) Wisdom Bridge Theatre, directed by Derek GoldbyDerek GoldbyDerek Goldby is an Australian-born theatre director who has worked internationally, particularly in Canada, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the United States and France.- Early life :...
- New York (1991) directed by Derek GoldbyDerek GoldbyDerek Goldby is an Australian-born theatre director who has worked internationally, particularly in Canada, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the United States and France.- Early life :...
- New Theatre, Sydney (1994) directed by Stuart Katzen
- London (2006), Warehouse Theatre (Croydon), directed by Dominic Leclerc
- São Paulo (2008), Espaço dos Satyros, directed by Marco Antonio Pamio
- Cincinnati (2010) Studio 307 Series, directed by Casey Snipes.
- Edmonton (2010) Studio Theatre, directed by John Kirkpatrick
- The Ugly Man (1990)
- Edmonton (1993) Workshop West Theatre, directed by Brad Fraser
- Darlinghurst TheatreDarlinghurst TheatreDarlinghurst Theatre is an independent company situated in Potts Point, Sydney. Current CEO and artistic director Glenn Terry established the company in 1993 initially as an inner-city drama school. Darlinghurst Theatre productions were originally based at the Wayside Theatre in Kings Cross. A...
Company, Sydney (1997) directed by Michael DarraghMichael DarraghMichael Robert Darragh is a theatre producer and director as well as writer and occasional performer. He is a Business Partner and UK Head of 360° Digital Influence at Ogilvy PR Worldwide in London.- Theatre credits :...
- Poor Super Man (1994)
- Cincinnati, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, (1994)
- Edmonton (1994) Workshop West Theatre and Theatre Network, directed by Brad Fraser
- Buffalo, Buffalo United Artists,(1994)
- Edinburgh, (1994)
- London, Hampstead Theatre, (1994)
- Washington, D.C., Signature Theatre, (1995)
- Toronto, Canadian Stage, (1995)
- Montreal, Théâtre de Quat'sous, (1995)
- Sydney Theatre CompanySydney Theatre CompanyThe Sydney Theatre Company is one of Australia's best-known theatre companies operating from The Wharf Theatre near The Rocks area of Sydney, as well as the Sydney Theatre and the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre....
(1995) directed by David BertholdDavid BertholdDavid Berthold is a leading Australian theatre director. He has directed for most of Australia's major theatre companies, as well as internationally. Since November 2008, he has been Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of La Boite Theatre Company...
. - New Theatre, Sydney (1999) directed by Stuart Katzen
- São Paulo, Centro Cultural São Paulo (2000) directed by Sergio Ferrara (awarded best director by APCA - São Paulo Arts Critics Association - one of Brazil's main theatre prizes)
- Martin Yesterday (1998)
- OutrageousOutrageous"Outrageous" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears from her fourth album, In the Zone. It was released on July 13, 2004 by Jive Records as the fourth and final single from the album. It was written and produced by R. Kelly...
, (2000, musical with composer Joey Miller) Canadian Stage Company - Snake in Fridge (2001) Royal Exchange Theatre, ManchesterManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, directed by Braham Murray- San Francisco, Actors' Theatre of San Francisco (2001) directed by Christian Phillips
- Cold Meat Party (2003) Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, directed by Braham Murray,
- Toronto, Factory theatre, (2004) directed by Braham Murray,
- True Love Lies (2009)
- Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester (2009)
- Factory Theatre, Toronto (2009) directed by Brad Fraser
- 5 @ 50 (2011)