Beverley Elliott literally didn鈥檛 see it coming.
In September 2014, actress and singer-songwriter Elliott produced a one-woman show (aptly called Didn鈥檛 See That Coming) that ended up earning the coveted Pick of the Fringe designation.
鈥淚t was very surprising,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut all six shows were complete sell-outs. In fact, I had good friends calling me wanting tickets, but unfortunately it was sold out.鈥�
The show is a collection of eight semi-autobiographical stories and five songs, which Elliott will again perform at the Brackendale Art Gallery on Feb. 28 at 8 p.m.
鈥淎lthough the stories are autobiographical, they are relevant to us all,鈥� Elliott said. 鈥淭hey all relate different scenarios of when you run into a stranger and it changes your life completely鈥� whether it be at a yoga class, wedding, funeral or through Internet dating.鈥�
Born in Listowel, Ontario, Elliott has graced the small and silver screens over her long career, playing roles on TV shows like the Beachcombers, Bordertown and X-Files, as well as in films like Who鈥檚 Harry Crumb? and the multi-Academy Award winning Clint Eastwood western Unforgiven. She played the role of Silky, a prostitute, in the film.
Eastwood even thanked Elliott by name on stage when accepting the Oscar for Best Director that year.
鈥淚t was the Year of the Woman, and when he was on stage making his acceptance speech he thanked all the 鈥榞irls from the Big Whiskey鈥� which were the actresses who played the women working in the saloon, and he named us all,鈥� Elliott said. 鈥淚t was quite something.鈥�
Elliott said working with the legendary Eastwood was unlike anything she had experienced before in her career.
鈥淲hile most directors say 鈥榓ction鈥� at the start of filming a scene, he would just say 鈥榞o ahead鈥� 鈥� which took some getting used to,鈥� she said, doing her best imitation of Eastwood鈥檚 gravely and gruff voice. 鈥淎nd at the end of the scene, instead of 鈥榗ut,鈥� he would say 鈥極K, that鈥檚 enough.鈥欌��
Elliott said Eastwood would even roll the cameras when the actors were rehearsing a scene.
鈥淪ometimes he鈥檇 get what he needed from filming the rehearsal and say 鈥極K, let鈥檚 move on,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淗e was just incredible to work with, and the set was always so quiet, not out of fear, but out of respect.鈥�
Despite the respect and accolades Elliott herself has received for her Fringe show, she said she doesn鈥檛 plan to produce another one-woman show anytime soon.
鈥淚t鈥檚 quite a lot of work to produce a show on your own for The Fringe,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, this year I will be part of another show鈥� one of eight people. I think that will be a lot of fun, and a lot less work.鈥�
Catch Elliott鈥檚 acclaimed show Didn鈥檛 See That Coming on Saturday (Feb 28) at the BAG at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available at Xocolatl and the BAG.
