GOLDEN LAKE — The creative team behind Stone Fence Theatre has produced a cycling advocacy music video called Critical Mass and put it online as part of a crowdfunding campaign raising money for a full-length free online musical comedy.
Critical Mass features Sprocketman, a cycling super-hero with a powerful message — that cycling is good for health, the environment and the economy. The video is a personal project of Stone Fence Theatre’s producer Ish Theilheimer of Golden Lake, directed by the company’s creative director, Chantal Elie-Sernoskie of Barry’s Bay, and produced by the company. Sprocketman is played by Schroder Nordholt of Killaloe, who sings the song in the recording and co-wrote the music. The video was shot in Petawawa in the parking lot at Valour School, featuring a “peleton” of cyclists young and old from the community.
“We want to inspire cyclists, to inspire people to become cyclists, and to make the case that cycling and cycling infrastructure is in the public interest,” said Mr. Theilheimer. “We hope the online video will help us deliver that message widely.”
The crowdfunding campaign on the website Indiegogo went live on May 2. It can be seen at http://igg.me/at/Sprocketman .
The show is a spoof of Superman, featuring the super-hero Sprocketman, his alter-ego, the mild-mannered reporter Mark Rent, and a cast of characters familiar to anyone who has ever loved Superman. Sprocketman has a mission to promote cycling and protect cyclists. When cyclists are in trouble, he appears, using his super power to magically fly in on his bike.
The script deals with the hot-button issues cycling advocates contend with — the “war on cars,” irresponsible cyclists, the economics of cycling vs. road infrastructure, the public health benefits of cycling, and more — in an entertaining and fun way.
The high-energy, contemporary music for the show is by Schroeder Nordholt and Eganville’s Robin Pinkerton. The video was shot in Petawawa with cyclists from the community volunteering. The audio was produced by Damon Criger of Pembroke and video production is by Space Camp Collective, of Ottawa.
