The Playwright's Voice (Working In The Theatre #407)

BBS Exclusive Interview - David Henry Hwang on Chinglish

Out of the Mouths of...

I have seen young people performing in WFT shows since I was a kid myself. The day I walked onto Wheelock's campus as a prospective student, I had an immediate flash of having come to WFT as a little girl. My grandmother had taken me to see The Sound of Music years before and it was a show I had never forgotten.

Years after that performance of The Sound of Music, as I was myself wrangling the child actors in Aladdin as part of my Human Growth and Development practicum, I still marveled at the way the young performers handled themselves as part of a professional production. Typically, children are not the main characters (with some exceptions, of course) and thus, there is often a lot of down time. Hanging out in the green room, killing time in the wings, sitting under the steps in the lobby, waiting for the second act. Despite this, though, for the most part, these young actors are amazingly professional and I have always wondered what it was about their experience that made it worth it for them. Why, despite the long rehearsals, the waiting, the rigorous auditions, did they love what they did at WFT?

Enter Gamalia! Gamalia Pharms is a longtime actor at WFT and she has worked with zillion of young actors. Her cheerful and approachable demeanor made her the perfect interviewer and so I set her to the task of asking some of the young people in Anne of Green Gables what it was that they loved about WFT. I loved hearing what they had to say. Here are some of their answers (and thanks, Gamalia!)


What is your favorite thing about working at WFT?

• How the cast and crew become a giant family!  Great learning experience!
  Sirena, 15 (Ruby Gillis)
• Working with amazing people, and the experience you get.
  Trey, 14 (Malcolm Andrews)
• All the people are fabulous!  Everyone has been so welcoming and so nice – I feel at home here.  Especially since this is my first show here!
  Bernie, 16 (Gerry Buote)
• The people I get to work with.  The atmosphere is very welcoming.  Every show I do here is better than the last!
  Emily, 14 (Molly Spencer)
• Getting to know new people, and the theater team is really good at what they do!
  Joseph, 12 (Moody MacPherson)
• It’s insanely professional – the directing, choreography, sets, everyone is so good at what they do. Plus, it’s fun to see a show come together.   I enjoy the new experiences!
  Ryan, 14 (Tommy Sloane)
• Making many friends!  The shows are very good, the acting, sets…
  Cassie, 13 (Swing)
• People are welcoming and friendly – fun to be around!
  Tory, 12 (Tillie Boulter)

Why should kids get to act in professional theater?

• It provides a lot of different skills you can use in real life and career, and surround you with brilliant people who know what they are doing.
  Sirena, 15 (Ruby Gillis)
• It’s a great opportunity to learn a lot about theater.  Exposure.  Helps you grow as an actor.
  Trey, 14 (Malcolm Andrews)
• If you want to pursue this as a career, this gives you exposure to what theater in “real life” is like.
  Bernie, 16 (Gerry Buote)
• Experience for the future, if they do plan to go into it professionally.  It helps them be better prepared.
  Emily, 14 (Molly Spencer)
• It opens up a new door into seeing what fun can come from this!
  Joseph, 12 (Moody MacPherson)
• It opens them up to a career path – to a new world if they want to work in professional theater.
  Ryan, 14 (Tommy Sloane)
• Experience.
  Cassie, 13 (Swing)
• You get to work with adults that are used to it – they are role models!
  Tory, 12 (Tillie Boulter)

Kids.

I've been wondering lately about when the best time is to start bringing my kid to live shows. I remember working at the WFT Box Office back in the day and telling patrons that we didn't recommend anyone under five for most shows. (Is my memory serving me?) But when I think about my own nearly- four-year-old and think about how much he loves movies like Mary Poppins I wonder if perhaps he might be ready now.

WFT is famously welcoming of small children. And not just in the audience either. I have seen kids ripping tickets, kids showing patrons to their seats, and kids selling concessions. (But wait--before you report us for child labor law violations, I should tell you that these kids were all eager volunteers, most of them having grown up at WFT as either the child of a staff member or a longtime Education Program participant.) But those are not the only places kids are at WFT. Nearly every show at Wheelock Family Theatre casts children--sometimes (as in the case of Charlotte's babies in Charlotte's Web) as young as three and four years old.

Kids adore seeing themselves reflected in live theatre, especially when those young actors are interacting and working right alongside older children and adults. Perhaps my focused 4-year-old would love a show that casts kids his age.

Ah, now if only there were a Wheelock Family Theatre in every city across the country!

Last Weekend!

Did you get this email today?

"Order your tickets today for the final weekend of performances and save up to 50% on your purchase. Regular ticket prices are $30, $25, or $20 - but for today only, use the online discount code veteran and your tickets will be $20, $15, or $10.

This ticket deal is available for one day only, Monday November 12 and is available through online purchases only.

Anne of Green Gables has 4 remaining performances: Friday November 16* at 7:30, Saturday November 17 at 3:00 and 7:30, and Sunday November 18* at 3:00."

This is a good deal, you guys. And, y'know, sometimes last-minute theatre tickets is just the -- well, just the ticket. (Sorry. I couldn't resist.) But, seriously. You should think about giving the gift of live theatre to someone in your life. How awesome would it be to be just hanging out on the couch with your kids or grabbing a cup of coffee with your bestie and be like, "Hey! Lets go to the theatre! I got tickets!"

Pretty awesome, right?

https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/177

Drumroll Please.....

Congratulations to K Murphy, the winner** of our "Vote and Win" giveaway! You voted (go, you!) and then you let us know!

If you are K Murphy, shoot an email to cbaldwin@wheelock.edu to claim your 4 free tickets to Anne of Green Gables at WFT! Act fast; there are only two weekends left!

Thanks for playing, everyone, and stay tuned for more exciting contests and giveaways -- sandwiched in between, of course, the theatre content you know and love!

**The winning comment was randomly drawn using random.org.

Anne of Green Gables - review by Sheila Barth

Ever since the 1908 publication of Lucy Maud (L.M.) Montgomery’s beloved novel about lonely, imaginative orphan, “Anne of Green Gables,” and its subsequent series spanning to 1939, readers internationally have fallen in love with her and the local characters of the small, verdant village of Avonlea, Prince Edward Island (PEI).

Montgomery’s red-haired, freckle-faced heroine inspired movies and, most especially, Donald Harron’s 1965 musical adaptation, with its 26 hummable songs, performed internationally, and is an annual staple at the Charlottetown, PEI festival. Tourists also visit the original Green Gables house (which Montgomery’s elderly cousins owned), and the surrounding lands, a preservation of PEI National Park. Montgomery was raised nearby, in her strict grandparents’ home in Cavendish.

Besides individual differences, the play tackles small-town gossip, jealousy, friendship, loyalty, and more.

The author’s high-spirited Anne – spelled with a final e – possesses a dramatic, runaway imagination and a feisty temper that, along with her red hair and abundance of freckles, sets her apart.

To soothe Anne’s loneliness and pain of feeling “ugly” looking, the child pretends she’s Lady Cordelia of Montmorency, a princess, whom nobody can demean.

At Wheelock Family Theatre’s production, helmed by Director Jane Staab, talented actress Jennifer Beth Glick portrays the talkative, sensitive Anne with youthful spunkiness, curiosity, and a desire for love and acceptance.

Although the orphanage in Halifax was supposed to send a boy to help aging Matthew Cuthbert with farm chores, they mistakenly sent this small chatterbox of a girl, whom Matthew loves instantly. However, his sister, Marilla, wants to send Anne back right away.

When Anne colors her sad chronicle as an abused orphan in two previous homes, Marilla reluctantly relents.

Robert Saoud as the stammering, kindly Matthew is wonderfully loving and tender here, while Jacqui Parker delivers her usual outstanding performance. Marilla is shocked when Anne loses her temper with adult friend Rachel (Boston’s acclaimed Maureen Keiller), who offhandedly calls Anne homely, but Anne’s melodramatic apology in her outstanding solo, “Oh, Mrs. Lynde,” wins them over.

There’s happiness, too. When Anne meets her new, and only friend, giggly, exuberant Diana Barry, the two little girls frolic about in the song, “Kindred Spirits.” Jenna Lea Scott beams as Diana, spreading joy in every scene she appears. Anne’s also inspired by her new teacher, Miss Stacey (Ceit Zweil), who teacher the children to “Open the Windows” and learn about the world around them.

The upbeat 32-member cast, garbed in Lisa Simpson’s charming 1800’s costumes, are lively and harmonious, prancing, dancing, and singing on stage, up and down theatre aisles, and in the main aisle, delighting wide-eyed, excited children. Matthew Lazure’s set, with its period school desks, chalkboard, slates, small general store and farmhouse, lends historic, charming touches.

Music Director Robert Rucinski on keyboard and his six merry musicians nicely accompany all numbers, while choreographer Laurel Conrad capitalizes on picnic games, such as the three-legged race and egg-and-spoon race, and energetic folk dances.

Audiences of all ages are enjoying this timeless, family-friendly production.

Anne to the Rescue!

ANNE TO THE RESCUE!

by Janine de Souza

Ah!  I love Nickelodeon, especially Nick at Nite. It’s a quirky kind of TV twilight zone that time travels back electronically to all the old shows that you grew up with and loved.  No one ages. That ‘70s hair style still looks “Welcome Back Kotter” fresh. Every show is tied up with a pink bow of happiness and there’s a Snuggie-like comfort around you as you indulge. Way back when, there used to an old show on TV called Underdog.  It was a cartoon parody of Superman as a dog.  Whenever the lovely Sweet Polly Purebred was in trouble, Underdog flew to the rescue shouting, “There's no need to fear-- Underdog is here!” Okay, so what does this have to do with ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, the newest musical production at the Wheelock Family Theatre?  Everything! You see, Anne, (don’t even think about forgetting the e) is the adorable and enthusiastic Underdog of this musical story.

Adapted by Donald Harron and based on the autobiography of Canadian author, Lucy Maud Montgomery, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES is the musical journey of an orphan named Anne Shirley (Jennifer Beth Glick) who comes to live with Marilla (Jacqui Parker) and Matthew Cuthbert (Robert Saoud) on their farm.  Once Anne arrives, Matthew immediately bonds to the overly dramatic and linguistically gifted youngster. His sister, Marilla, however, needs much more convincing, but she too soon falls under Anne’s spell. Under the skillful direction of Jane Staab, this show seamlessly glides from one side of the stage to the other and even spills into the aisles of the theater.  A bicycle rides down the center aisle while turn-of-the-century school girls and boys frolic, run, and sing within inches of amazed audience members. It’s distinctly Wheelock and it’s also Wheelock at its best! One of those school girls is Josie Pye (Kaitee Tredway) who becomes jealous of Anne when her beau, Gilbert Blythe (Bradley Jensen), falls in love with the feisty redhead.  Josie bullies, intimidates, lies, and spreads rumors to poison the minds of those around her. But Josie and all the other adults behaving badly in her life have no idea what they are in for.  Anne stands up for herself using her talented sliver tongue and her street wits.  I guess it’s true…“The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Even though, the story takes place in the early 1900s, kids these days still navigate and face the same challenges. Bullies still thrive and exist, except now they have expanded their arsenal to cyberspace via Facebook, email, and cell phones.  This is an empowering and uplifting show for kids, especially young girls, who feel peer pressure and the need to fit in on a daily basis.  Additionally, all of the songs in this delightful musical take the audience to a simpler time with their joyful and exuberant melodies under the musical direction of Robert L. Rucinski.  Finally, the main characters in this musical are played brilliantly by Jennifer Glick, Jacqui Parker, and Robert Saoud who pull out all the stops in their performances and pull a mesmerized audience in.

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES represents the Underdog in all of us. It’s that part of you that’s tucked away in a dusty place and that won’t give up and won’t back down. She’s the part of us (even adults) that still thinks the brass ring exists and that if we just stretch a little bit further, maybe we really can reach up and grab it.

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES is running until November 18.

VOTE

There's a lot at stake tomorrow. I hope you know this. I trust that our readership is of the educated, aware sort and that no matter whom you hope will win, that you will actually find your way to a polling place to pull the lever (or push the button or check the box or connect the line--whatever the case may be.)

Personally, I love voting. I look forward to it. Even the smallest elections thrill me. I love it even more now that I have a kid. I have such fond memories of being a kid and voting with my mom--knowing from an early age that it was just something you do. You have an opinion; you let it be known.

Party affiliations aside, we all want the same thing. We all want the best possible world for ourselves and our families. And it is our right and duty to take the steps to make that happen. Please vote tomorrow. Bring your ID if you need to. Bring your kids to show them how important it is. Remind your friends. Give someone a ride. Brag about voting on social media once you've done it. In fact, even though just exercising your rights is reward enough, WFT would like to offer you something more. After you vote tomorrow, come back here and comment to let us know you did. Wednesday morning, I will choose one commenter at random to receive a complimentary four-pack of tickets to Anne of Green Gables at WFT for an upcoming performance of your choice. 

Rev your engines, voters! I can't wait to hear how it went for you!