Rio Island Theatre Video Event April 1987

 
19 views Jan 29, 2026
RIO ISLAND

STARRING
(In order of Appearance)

DENISE BRILLION
COLIN MACPHERSON
THE LATE DEBORAH CHARLIE
WAYNE LARIVERE
RONAYE TOWN
The Late WARREN ARCAND
JOHN JEWELL"S DAUGHTER Serena Jewell
PIET Van DUGTEREN

Apologies on audio deterioration over the years

Well Good Evening All, After close to forty years since Colin MacPherson let me use his video camera to record the three day performance event of RIO ISLAND. I finally redid the hybrid video edit of Rio Island I did in the 90s, but the beginning of it was recorded over to my dismay. It sat there for years until sadly the passing of two of the actors from this show. Warren Arcand and Deborah Charlies, May they rest in peace. Love to all. It is being uploaded to my You tube channel now. SO this edit has some colour footage from a VHS copy of the original 3/4 inch performance tape. Video Camera Man was a SFU Film Student, whose Name I can not remember., Sorry buddy

I wrote Rio Island after having a dream about seeing God on an Island. I was taking my second video production semester at The SFU Film Workshop
Location avec Professor Al Razutis, who taught 16mm filmmaking , experimental filmmaking, use of the optical printer.

Having done a solo performance theatre video event, the previous semester, I decided to expand this existential script to include archetype characters
with actors from Spirit Song, A Native Theatre Company at 454 C West Broadway, Vancouver BC.

Good Morning Holy Father, What was Rio Island About Lord, The Dream you gave me 1987 thirty -eight years ago. The words you gave me as I wrote this play. Then creating a similar Desktop Video Edit of this show early 1992 when I had that genlock and Amiga Commodore system, Yet, I taped over the beginning of the show for another Performance Stream which was an early beginning of NDNs & DOGs, but Stopped at at 16 minutes before I realized I was taping over that work. Yet it is through your hands that all comes together. To export 16 minutes of what I did yesterday, and to find that original VHS edit the day before was not coincidence.
There it was as I check out that damaged edit....I push play on the VHS deck, I stopped the accidental recording just before sixteen minutes. And there was the theatre edit of the documentation footage edited with the colour footage of the performance piece. So thank you Father for Al Razutis for being the excellent experimental filmmaker who taught me, Thank you for the late Kenny Bishoff , who introduced me to Emile Daley who painted the acrylic painting of the blond head avec heart and Indian head, I copied over the killing of the two witnesses, as the false Jesus was painted tainted by the minions of The Devil. The Archetype couple WOMAN I & WOMAN II continue life in the passive active space of flesh in God's time. Yes Father , I hear you, protect me, teach me, I feel you appointing and positioning of my journey. Miigweech Thank you for the late Warren Arcand ,brought class to this play avec his portrayal of MAN III, a minion of the Devil. And thank you for his critique an early writing after this play, to keep my vision clear and concise, Another re-write to do, Stories of Redemption of what greed destroyed. Thank you for the late Deborah Charlie, who brough life to the words I shared, as she lived and survived the evils of man. God bless her Father. she told me her stories of abuse and hate against her because of her skin, just like my other friend, an indigenous visual artist, performer and producer in community works for her people and all. Thank you for Colin MacPherson, who brought me into his free acting /directing workshop to work with the people of the DTES then, helping Colin as he gave a voice of the people through his theatre directing and teaching. Thank you for Denis Brillion , who brought the FIRST WOMAN to life, Thank you for Wayne LaRivere , who helped me through Spirit Song Theatre to bring on the talented actors in this Performance Piece. Thankyou for Royhaten Town who brought a unique perspective of WOMAN III, a minion of the antichrist. Thank you to Piet van Dugteren who portrayed the Christ figure, who was, is and will be, even when he is portrayed as a lie. Lies today, so many father.
And now as I see when I created this pieces as a student artist, I did not understand why there is this religiosity that is in my work at times, but it is through your hands I work, live and wil return to you in your time. Thank you for RIO ISLAND being reborn today, after ala the attacks, and days of surviving this world we wake and and live each day you decide to gift us daily Amen.
Good morning all , finally, RIO ISLAND is ONLINE And ready for the digital world in a time of prophecies, false prophets, evil and good pushing people through a mad world of journeys, rests, and pleasure. Love to all, I do not know what I was thinking back then, but it was what it was XOXO to all. Be kind, have courage amen