Tales from the Road
- 2013-02-12 07:34:57
- Moncton HubCap Comedy Fest
- Marshall Button lives his life always saying ‘yes’ by linda hersey Times & TRANSCRIPT STAFF 11 Feb 2013 04:09PM Main story image Marshall Button of Moncton has made an interesting career out of saying “yes.” “I\’ve adopted the mantra to say yes first, and then think about it after,” he laughs. “There is a sense that you may never work again, because you do this one job ... well that\’s tonight. What am I going to do next week?” It seems to have turned out pretty well for Marshall who has worked exclusively in show business, including TV and film, his entire adult life. Very versatile, he\’s certainly well known for his comedic alter ego, Lucien, but in addition to being a comedian he’s the Capitol Theatre\’s artist-in-residence, the founder of the HubCap Comedy Festival (now in partnership with Juste Pour Rire), an actor, playwright, director, a very much in demand MC, and has twice served as moderator in federal leadership debates. Originally from Dalhousie he recalls that humour served him well growing up, and his Newfoundland-born father and French Acadian (Gaspé Peninsula) mother helped provide the underpinning of both his comedic timing and storytelling ability. “It seemed growing up in that atmosphere I was probably only the third or fourth funniest person just in my immediate family,” says Marshall, “but I had a lot of very humourous aunts and uncles and grandparents and such. “I sort of come by it honestly and naturally, and the notion that one could make a living from doing this wasn\’t in my head as a young person — but that\’s evolved over the years as a possibility.” Not only has it been a wise decision professionally to never say no, that mindset also extends to charitable work, as Marshall loves to give back to the community. A Paul Harris Fellowship Award recipient as well as being honoured with the Order of Moncton, he has lent his time and talent to a number of charitable efforts — including literacy for the past “11 or 12 years”; serving as co-chair for this year\’s United Way Campaign as well as chairing the New Brunswick Adoption Foundation fall event. “I\’m a Libra, and I always look at two sides. I\’m almost more interested in charities that don\’t affect me personally, and when you take time to actually read and see what the organization is doing and speak to people, you go wow! This is so important, and then all of a sudden you become almost a champion for a cause you were unaware of.” In the business of “selling good feelings,” he loves it when people are carried away with laughter at events such as the HubCap Comedy Festival — definitely a win/win in the feel good department. Conversely, despite his passion for the arts, he\’s also a bona fide “sporting type” — a marathoner, golfer “and things like that.” That\’s why he not only feels content with life, but very “well-rounded.” Above all, he\’s thankful. “I’m very happy to be in good health — good mental health being paramount,” he says. “I think that everything else stems from that.”
- 2012-11-01 09:15:19
- Moncton
- Sneak preview of my poem "The Order of Moncton" that will serve as my acceptance speech at the award ceremony tonight. The Order of Moncton Open the Floodgates: An Order of Moncton Your tide is really rising now We watch with wonder as you grow wider, expanding your banks Reclaiming Riverview and Dieppe Maybe that was the Idea in the first place. The Order of Moncton For many, every day is the Order of Moncton It is palpable, we are drawn to this place despite its dodgy architecture and less- than-stunning scenery. There is indeed an Order we know and have known. Walking down Main St on a bright weekday afternoon Stories of Eddie the Bum: turning in a wallet he finds on the street, he is a bum after all, not a thief. Watching Larry Nelson work a room Larry, neither bum nor thief Le début d’une nouvelle année scolaire a U de M Les artistes du Centre Aberdeen A Hug from Claudette Bradshaw The Order Of Moncton. Parked at the Canadian Tire on Mountain Road watching traffic- un bon passe-temps. A packed house at the Capitol, sharing the same air as Leonard Cohen Running along the river trail and trying to beat the Tidal Bore, no contest. A hair cut at Dads and Lads Breakfast at Hynes, Lunch with your buddies at Jean’s, dinner in Osaka Hundreds of charity golf tournaments each summer, all for the good cause. Waiting for a bus that never comes It’s the order of Moncton Trying to find someone named Steeves or LeBlanc Friendly folk, like your friend Steve LeBlanc Sharing the same air with thousands at Magnetic Hill, Marvelling at the energy and chutzpah of Jagger and Springsteen. Saturday Mornings chez Marché Moncton Market Mud Double-Double The Order of Frenchy’s Parks Centennial, Mapleton, Irishtown, Vicky, and Bore White Cab that still is and the Blue Circle that’s no more. Wildcats, hoping for Miracles of a different sort, we’ll get ‘em next year. Santa’s on his way to the parade in a black SUV Bye-Bye Eaton’s, Bye-Bye Bay, CN you later Highfield Square. The train still comes by, or maybe it will the day after tomorrow? Frack off Gas Holes. Bonspiels, Charity, Characters, people from the North, we got it all. La chance a learner le Chiac. Quoi’est tu parle about? La ville qu’est so good de mixer-up les langues—pourquoi on veut breaker-apart les services? Hey, je croix que j’ai eu un friggen heart-attack-peux-tu me helper out? Le Congrês, la francophonie, ECMA, world championships , can we throw a party or what? Sitting with Norrie down by the Blue Cross. What will he write about all those hot rods in July? Laughing away the winter at the HubCap. Drinking away November at the Wine festival, Pumping the house, Jamming the Wind, Planning to B, the Order of Moncton. Living in the biggest city but somehow feeling you are in the smallest of towns You’ve opened your gates to all of us, your tide is rising It’s the Order of Moncton.
- 2012-06-06 08:32:23
- Moncton
- Lots of shows coming up. Traveling to Windsor On for a one-nighter at the Chrysler Theatre July 5. . then gearing up for a run of the entire Tetralogy at the Capitol in Moncton (July 18 - August 18) Come and laugh this summer. . as LUCIEN says "take a break"
- 2012-04-23 11:20:12
- Moncton
- Saltscapes interview now online: http://www.saltscapes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1454:blue-collar-philosopher-getting-to-know-marshall-button&catid=34:people&Itemid=154
- 2012-04-17 13:43:49
- Moncton
- Crazy week with ECMA, writing the script for the awards gala. Nice time working with Roch Voisine and the terrific team at Corkscrew Media. Now getting ready for big summer project. Watch for big announcement soon
- 2012-03-12 14:11:01
- Fredericton
- Photo from TNB's The Dollar Woman, by Alden Nowlan and Walter Learning--a show in which I had the great pleasure to play a small role
- 2012-01-03 10:19:08
- Moncton
- Be sure to check out the 2011 year-end commentary by going to my youtube channel. This was the piece that was performed live on CBC radio the morning of December 30 (last year)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-Nwwdvx6KI&feature=youtu.be
- 2011-10-13 12:00:12
- Morrisburg On
- Well you can fool some of the people some of the time. . . 8 sold out shows over the next 5 days. I really do like being here, in the old stompin' grounds, so to speak. Hat's off to Donnie Bowes and his terrific team @ UCP
- 2011-09-22 11:59:41
- Moncton
- Coming around to the idea of working with other actors
- 2011-01-04 21:32:58
- St John's United Church
- One of the my most unique weekends in show business--I went from a show for the first nations' community of Elsipogtog, to hosting The Greater Moncton Chorale/Neil Michaud Choir Christmas Concert (Photo above), to hitting the road as Narrator with Symphony NB. . proving that if you hang around this business long enough, you will get to do just about everything.
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