Jackpine Fire
(formerly known as Fireproof, this is a drastically changing work in progress)
Production/reading/workshop history:
Stratford, December 2026
Alright, so much like the Maidenwar, this one is a prime example of how much a living piece can change dramatically during its developmental process. As far back as 2012, Robin always wanted to write a play about firefighters. Of course, there's an element of trauma in his life - yes, he's related to those Wrights, particularly his auntie Susan who died in a house fire, let's get that out of the way. But like most of his pieces, he wants to explore those demons through a fun and compelling narrative, and leave the rest for his overworked therapist. Around that time, Robin pitched the idea of a firefighter play to then Blyth Festival artistic director Eric Coates who advised "write what you know". We will circle back to this.
So when his writing re-awakening happened in late 2024, he had the firefighter play in the back of his brain. Once the other plays were in the works, he started up with just the name - Fireproof. Reflecting on his time as a Torontonian implant in a tiny community and all the culture shock that it entails, he wanted to tell a story about an underdog with something to prove. Maybe throw in a little sexism and ableism (she should be tiny). Maybe throw in a bit of that survivor guilt too, and why she's so overzealous. After a chat with Fort Frances Fire Chief Dave Robertson, Robin gained a great inside knowledge, and a blunt but amazing blueprint for what would become the supporting characters: much like a Goldilocks situation, Dave said that volunteer firefighters are hard to come by because many are
A) too drunk
B) too overweight
C) too old.
The new girl in my story, despite her overzealous shortcomings, was closest to 'just right' and exactly what the fire chief in my story needed for fresh blood.
So Robin took to the drawing board, booked the reading ahead of time, and got to work. Fort Frances was the first stop.
His contact at the Tea Room came through again, just like she did with Home for Boys and the Maidenwar. He cobbled together a first draft that combined some very different stories in one, as he struggled with a cohesive theming.
* Sam is a rookie who is dodging a past life. She faked her death after failing to rescue her family from a house fire and started over with a new identity. She explains her secrecy as 'hiding from a stalker ex', and the plan pans out until her surviving sister Emily finds her. Ooh! Mystery!
* A ragtag group of bumbling volunteer firefighters struggling to raise funds and keep their team organized until an actual fire tests their mettle. Ooh! Comedy!
* Bar owner Astrid struggles with her alcoholic firefighter boyfriend and her failing business. She decides to torch the place, although the fire itself causes more damage than expected. Ooh! Saw that coming!
But what a hell of a cast: Chelsea Carlson crushed it as Sam, and our usual collaborator Brittany Hayes (Home for Boys, the Maidenwar) donned a pot belly channeling her best past-his-prime fire chief Papa. Duane Hicks (the Maidenwar) played the hard drinking Dave, Ken Kellar (the Maidenwar) played the sexist twerp Kelly, Johnathan Price played the should-be-retiring Gary, Joanna Empey (the Maidenwar), and Cynthia Vanuden played Astrid, the bar owner. Inno Laur (you guessed it - Maidenwar) came back to narrate the stage directions.
And of course, it was a first draft. Too long, some threads weren't threading. But it gave Robin some perspective. He was taking this to Toronto in a couple weeks, so a lot had to be cut. His instincts were telling him something wasn't right. He wasn't crazy about the scenes with Dave and Astrid. Maybe the Emily plot was too much. But a second time around with more cuts could probably help cement things.
It was still a fun night. Much of the play requires pre-recorded things like voice over, etc. Robin pulled some willing audience members to play 911 dispatchers, news reporters, and even bored children at a community event.
L to R: Inno Laur, Joanna Empey, Brittany Hayes, Ken Kellar, Chelsea Carlson, Cynthia Vanuden, Duane Hicks, Johnathan Price, hey look Brittany again.
Fort Frances February Fireproof (too many Fs)
Toronto in March of 2026!
Ah, the first mini tour of 2026. Stop one before heading to Stratford for Don't You Dare Run Away and then London for the Maidenwar. But it's been a hot minute since he's been in the Toronto scene. Luckily, his friend Megan (check out her kick ass music) had a list of potential venues to contact. Robin settled on a groovy Irish themed pub near High Park called Whalen's Gate. Robin learned two very important lessons this night. Let's start with the show itself and the first lesson it brought.
First of all, what a stacked cast. What the hell were they doing with a runt like Wright? Nevertheless, Robin cobbled them all together with a slightly edited draft, but still a problematic structure that was nipping at the writer's brain. But tally ho, let's do it anyway. What a great turn out, and it was wonderful to see some old friends in the fray.
Robin went to his Toronto reliables: Tim Walker, who appeared in a very early version of Ruby in the Dust, played Papa. Caitlin Driscoll took on the role of Sam, and she too was in Ruby although at different stages. Frequent collaborator Jane Alexys played Astrid Liu (yes, the surname indicates somebody else in mind when writing it. Oops, whatever). Dave Mackett was also in Ruby, this time bringing a gentle pathos to Gary. Chai Valladares worked with Robin on his translation of the Czech play R.U.R. and was happy to return to read for Kelly.
And of course, it was cold and flu season. In one fell swoop, he lost original readers Matt Fonte, Sarah Rodricks (Home for Boys), and writer Rebecca Ostroff. Jumping in last minute were the heroic Zach Parsons playing Dave, the electric Victoria McEwen playing Emily and the Reporter, and the extraordinary Nicole Carcasole reading stage directions.
They nailed it for a cold read. The funny was brought, and the heart was given. But it was still too bloody long. And from that moment that night, Robin learned two important lessons:
1. Fireproof is a comedy. The heart can still exist through Papa's longing to keep his team together as a makeshift comedy as well as Sam's longing to succeed in a world that doesn't believe in her.
2. People are embracing less alcohol these days, or at the very least, the drinking is better suited to more 'party like' things like dances or trivia and the like. Fireproof had a great turnout, but there wasn't a lot being ordered at the bar and rightly so: they were there to hear a story. Robin underestimated his ability to pay the minimum spend and was owing a couple hundred at the end of the night. But he bought shots for the lovely bartender, also named Sam, and waddled home in a bibulous stupor that night.
more to come - watch this space
Photos by Raphael Guesdon at Production Rousse
So remember earlier on when we'd circle back to what Eric said? "Write what you know". Robin time travelled back to the Sears Drama Festival in high school where he took an improvisation with Eric himself. Singling Robin out in front of the class, Eric praised him for having 'comedic timing'. This was probably the most flattering thing ever said about him and still thinks on it when he's trying to cheer someone up. Then, years later, receiving that email, Robin was baffled. What do you mean 'write what you know?' I'll research everything.
Eric meant cut the mauldin shit. You're good at comedy. When he saw what shone and what didn't during Fireproof, he realized that he can still touch hearts and make them laugh. In fact, Robin is more likely to cry with a character once he's shared a few laughs with them.
He hopes that he will do the next draft justice based on what he's learned, and eternally grateful to those who helped him see that along the way.
Fireproof is going to resurface as a comedy this December in Stratford renamed Jackpine Fire. Why? Fireproof indicated Sam's facing of her guilt and traumatic past. Sam is coming back, but this time, she's a young recruit with a lot of hopes and a chip on her shoulder; her family is just fine. It will focus on the Jackpine volunteers and how Papa fights to keep his team together at a sudden crisis of low morale. Worry not, there will still be a kick ass firefighting scene.