Rhymer was fascinated with hidden histories and gravitated toward dark, difficult subjects, as in the satirical fantasy Ilsa, Queen of the Nazi Love Camp, which made the news when the show was temporarily shut down by a court
Calgary-based writer and composer David Rhymer never met a topic that he couldn’t put a tune to. His musical subjects included unrepentant old Nazis, Holocaust deniers, Bible-thumping eco-terrorists, Regency prostitutes, West Coast nudists, Mata Hari, William S. Burroughs , Freud and Jung.
“I learned a lot from David,” said singer-songwriter Kris Demeanor, Calgary’s former poet laureate, with whom he co-wrote the 2017 noir thriller. “Writing with him was such a weird, wonderful process. It was the best musical education I’ve ever had.” In his 20s, Mr. Rhymer began working in local theatre – first with community groups and later professionally – with his girlfriend Susan Savage. He directed and composed music, while she designed sets. The two were married in 1974. Before long, he was making an impact on Montreal’s English-language theatre scene as both a playwright and a director.
Although the Rabbits had never done a musical, Mr. Brooker sat down with Mr. Rhymer and began knocking out songs. The result was, a wicked satirical fantasy that imagined Mr. Keegstra being schooled by two evil remnants of the Third Reich. The show, with actor-puppeteer Ronnie Burkett in drag in the title role, made its debut in 1987 and was a big hit. It would later tour across Canada, to the U.K. and Australia.
After Ms. Thompson’s family got wind of the show, they angrily complained that they hadn’t been approached by its creators. The theatres – Axis in Vancouver and Northern Light in Edmonton – apologized but argued that the piece was fictional. Mr. Rhymer, however, was upset that he had caused the family distress. Marijke Rimmer said it reflected a certain naiveté in her father’s nature. “He was confused by it, he felt he’d poured his soul into honouring her.
Noastack Theatre Rhymer Time Mr Rhymer Mr Rhymer Family Rimmer Father William S. Burroughs RAF Jonathan Lewis
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