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February 28, 2003

WHAT EXACTLY IS A BUZ'GEM -- or WHAT BECOMES A BUZ'GEM MOST?

Who ARE those people in the photo? It's the cast and crew of "The Buz'Gem Blues!" Top Row (L-R): John Litten (kneeling), Nick Spear, Mary Cordova, Sandra Horse, Arigon, Jean Bruce Scott, Michael Horse, Bottom Row (L-R): Robert Vestal, Rebecca Spear, Randy Reinholz, Yvonne Fisher, Timothy Glenn.

Arigon Starr has been busy cutting up with the cast of "The Buz'Gem Blues" over at the Autry Museum in Griffith Park. It's only a few days til' opening night -- and the cast and crew have come up with some really great comedy that is sure to thrill both Indians and non-Indians alike. "I don't think you have to be Indian to get the humor in this show, " laughs Arigon. This is her first big acting gig and you can believe she's taking it seriously! "Yeh, it's a comedy, but I know if I don't do the work there will be a bunch of Indian elder women who might well beat me to death with their Bingo Bags if I get it wrong!" said Arigon. Miss Starr (call her Miss Starr) will be portraying the friskyw elder Martha Kakina, the would-be love interest of Amos (Michael Horse), a feisty Mohawk cook.

There will be real, actual Spam in the play! In fact, you might even call Spam the "silent partner" during some of goings-on at the fictional elders' conference. Native Voices' Randy Reinholz and Jean Bruce Scott [Did you know she's a regular character on the ABC Soap "Port Charles?"] are a wonderful couple and seem especially adept at bringing out the best in the cast and crew. "I am having so much fun, I can hardly even believe they are paying me for his. Not that I don't mind getting paid, though -- AAAY!," smirked Arigon.

She might have said "Neeeeeeesh," which is the Canadian version of AAAAY, however. "I'm glad I had the opportunity to speak with playwright Drew Hayden Taylor and his mom Fritzie [pictured at left, somewhere on the Curve Lake Reserve in Ontario.] They gave me good insight into what it's like to be a Canadian Indian -- and their accents and sense of humor are priceless!!" For those of you wondering, Fritzie is NOT a Bingo Lady. She prefers the slots at Casino Rama! AAAAY -- uh, NEEESH! The Bingo habits of Drew Hayden Taylor are unknown. He probably SHOULD make more room on his mantle for writing awards, though. "Buz'Gem" has some classic lines that you might want to add to the ones you've learned from "Pow-Wow Highway" and "Smoke Signals."

Michael Horse, who's no stranger to the acting world created a terrific poster for the play. [Did you know he was in the classic series "Twin Peaks?" He even made the Log Lady mad by picking off a piece of bark from her log!] In addition to his cool ledger drawings, he is an amazing silversmith...AND was once a friend of Arigon's fave Gram Parsons. "That guy has some great stories about Gram, the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers and Poco. Michael about made me bust a gut when he described the Eagles as 'the Monkees of country music.'" smiled Arigon. Michael's wife Sandra Horse (our current cover girl!) does a knock-out imitation of actress Jennifer Tilly, who's a friend of hers. Sandra will be portraying Marianne Kakina, the wacky daughter of Martha. Did you know that Michael and Sandra did background voices in the film "Smoke Signals??" Yep, that's Sandra doing the voice of the announcer during the famous bus station scene that also features director Chris Eyre. Who knew??

If you haven't made plans to see the play -- come and see the previews next week on Thursday, March 6th and Friday, March 7th. The play officially opens on SATURDAY, MARCH 8TH. We hear that Drew Hayden Taylor is going to be there, too -- and lots of the Indian community in Los Angeles. Heck, even red-hot actress Alex Rice ("Skinwalkers") has been helping out -- teaching the cast how to do the Alligator Dance that's so popular in the Mohawk community. Don't miss out! It's gonna be a *GOOT* one!

February 6, 2003

"THE BUZ'GEM BLUES"

On a side note -- Arigon just interviewed Drew's mom, the lovely Fritzie Taylor via telephone from her home on the Curve Lake Reserve in Northern Ontario, Canada. Look for Arigon's article on Drew and his mom to appear in an upcoming edition of THE NATIVE VOICE!

THOSE FOLKS AT NATIVE AMERICA CALLING ARE NUTS -- AND WE HAVE THE TAPE TO PROVE IT! AAAAAY! -- Early on the morning of February 6th, Native America Calling producer Susan Braine called Arigon to be a part of a "spoof" show about Lactose Intolerance and the debut of a "Lactose Patch" that was set to make Indians in North America rejoice! Finally! The end of the bloating and the gas! BUH! [Or as Fritzie would say up in Canada -- "Neeeeeee!"] Arigon was game -- and actually ended up being a major part of the giggles. Arigon took to the airwaves as "Rachel Stands Alone," an attorney based in Chicago. "Stands Alone" was fighting a legal battle to regain her crown as "Miss Native American College Co-Ed" from angry judges who deposed her because of her extreme "Lactose Intolerance." "Some callers got the joke -- some folks took it really seriously," said Arigon. Arigon was joined by a certain Dr. Josh Fumes, creator of the "Lactose Patch." Even spiritual leader "Groping Bear" called in on the subject. It was a darn funny show -- and if you missed it, I think you should bug "Native America Calling" to air the show again, and again, and again......AAAAAY!