I love the smell of gasoline
Created by Claren Grosz. Produced by Pencil Kit Productions
Claren’s Dad worked in Albertan oil and gas and also the world is ending because of climate change, and sometimes, it’s hard to hold both. As deeply personal as it is deeply researched, the play picks apart why it’s so hard for her to let go of fossil fuels — all against a backdrop of whimsical projections masterfully executed live on stage by a team of analogue overhead projectionists.
The project was born of a frustration with divisive Canadian politics, rampant hypocrisy, and a lack of team spirit when facing impending doom. It unpacks some of the forces that drive global warming and Western alienation in a personal account of what it is to live in a modern, capitalist environment, be a self-serving organism, and also care about the earth and fellow creature kind.
What does it really mean to sacrifice and to survive? How can we harness our agency and responsibility in a global crisis?
What Is the Inspiration For Your Piece?
I started writing in the fall of 2019: Canada votes the Liberals in while a sea of blue swallows the prairies. As a Toronto based Calgarian expat, I get angst-ridden phone calls from home about sweeping layoffs in the oil and gas sector while my facebook lights up with memes mocking redneck Albertans for getting what’s been coming to them. I navigate conversations with both conservative oil and gas workers and liberal theatre artists. I feel the chasm of understanding between them reflected in my own attempts to grapple for an elusive ultimate truth: How do we stop what’s coming? What will the cost be?
What Point In Process Is Your Piece At? (What stage of growth is your piece at, sapling, sprout, tree, shrub, whatever you feel)
It is a fully developed shrub that could use a fresh haircut
Approximate or Estimated Duration:
70 minutes
Warnings or Content Advisories:
Colonialism, Environmental Apocalypse, Cancer
Artist Credits (Whole Team Involved):
Creator, Performer, Co-Director, Projection Designer: Claren Grosz
Co-Director, Production Dramaturge: William Dao
Production Stage Manager: Taylor Young
Projectionists: Elyse Waugh, Caleigh Adams and Liz Der
Original Set and Lighting Design: Echo Zhou
Set Installation Artist: Jessica Hiemstra
Set and Lighting Associate: Alison Yanota
Composer: Christopher-
Dramaturgical Support/Consultancy: Cherish Violet Blood
Consultant: Michelle Robinson
Special thanks: Thank you to Theo Belc for technical support. The production features projected drawings courtesy of the talented Emily Jung. The performer has been styled by Ami Blaxland. I love the smell of gasoline has been developed with dramaturgical support from Andrea Donaldson, Cherish Violet Blood, and Keshia Palm. Premiered in 2023 with Elyse Waugh, Jesse Wabegijig and Stephanie Zeit as projectionists and collaborators and their participation helped shape the visual score of the piece. It was also influenced by the participation of Jay Northcott, Emily Jung, Taylor Young and Lu Linares as projectionists and collaborators during workshopping in 2021.
INSTAGRAM: @pencilkitproductions
FACEBOOK: /PencilKit
TWITTER: @PencilKitProd
All tickets are Pay What You Will (PWYW). Described Performances and ASL Available for select performances
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