With galleries locked, concert halls closed and theatres dark Postmedia has reached out to B.C. artists of all types to find out what they are doing during these trying COVID-19 times. Vancouver actor/director/writer/producer/teacher Benjamin Ratner has taken some time to answer our isolation questionnaire.
Q: Where are you spending most of your time?
A: At home in The West End, at my acting studio in Mount Pleasant, and on the Stanley Park seawall — in that order.
Q: Who are you with?
A: At home I am with the best COVID-companions I could ever wish for: my wife Jen (actor Jennifer Spence) and our two cats, Mao and Aki.
At my studio I am by myself in a 2,000 square foot space, blasting music, finishing long procrastinated-over scripts, painting abstract oils, pounding punching bags and very much missing the presence of my acting students. It has been a creative, productive time for me, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong or shameful with hitting the pause button and doing nothing. Whatever feels good, do it.
On the seawall I am with other walkers and joggers, and the occasional mouth-breathing superstar who huffs and puffs as they weave around people on the pathway. Hey, you with the red headband and the explosive nostril clearing technique, I’m talking to you.
Q: Where are you getting your information?
A: It’s all over the map. Basically, I Google, “what the f— is happening?” and hope some good news comes in. I often check up on what Dr. Bonnie Henry has to say, and she is always a bit of a calm in the storm. Also, my father emails me articles telling me what to do and I email him articles telling him what to do and then we send each other emails saying, “stop telling me what to do, I’m not an idiot.”
Q: What is something you are doing that you don’t normally do?
A: I have started poking around on Instagram, (@havenstudio_acting and @benjaminratner) seeing what my friends, colleagues and acting students are up to, and sharing little snippets that I hope people might enjoy. Turns out there is lots of fun content on Instagram, like videos from @aronthebassist, a mind-blowingly funky 9-year-old bass player from Slovakia, and @nandi_bushell, a 10-year-old girl from Ipswich, Suffolk, who plays the drums like Keith Moon. If they “virtually” get together and jam, it will be my musical highlight of 2020.
Q: What do you have lots of in your cupboards?
A: Carbs! We have been consuming mass quantities of rice and pasta in our home, and I have recently discovered the joys of homemade risotto. Due to quarantine, I have not been wearing a belt or pants with a button on them, but that day will come, and I fear the truth that awaits me.
Q: What have you been reading?
A: The Beautiful Ones by Prince with Dan Piepenbring, So, Anyway by John Cleese, and the play The Starry Messenger by one of my favourite playwrights, Kenneth Lonergan. I also subscribe to The New Yorker, but I find it overwhelming to keep up with it, especially these days. Good cartoons, though.
Q: What have you been watching?
A: Me and Jen have discovered a couple more shows we both enjoy, so that’s always like a second honeymoon. High Maintenance is an insightfully comedic slice of modern urbanity, and the drama Unorthodox stars Shira Haas, who is truly a revelation. I have also re-watched the whole season of the excellent show Jen is on, Traces, now on BBC Canada.
Q: What are you doing for exercise?
A: In addition to occasionally whacking the punching bags at the studio and getting out on the seawall, I am doing 100 pushups every day. I spread them out, but I get them done. I tally them on a counter app and the sound of each “click” gives me a teeny endorphin rush.
Q: What worries you?
A: Everything worries me about the current state of the world. It’s a day-by-day lesson in controlling what we can, letting go of the rest, and keeping the faith. I feel very fortunate to live in Vancouver, I have positive, funny people in my life who make it all less scary and I truly believe if we’re smart and lucky enough to stay healthy, the best is yet to come.
Q: When this ends what will be different?
A: More patience. More gratitude. Less risotto.
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