Class SPOTLIGHT. Stagecraft with Marge Lusignan

Wheelock Family Theatre works with some amazing artists, and one of the artists we are blessed to work with is Props Master Marge Lusignan. Marge creates objects beyond our wildest expectations, her manipulation of simple materials along with her technical prowess has made her invaluable during productions. She will share her skills and talents with students over the course of two classes during the 2013 Summer Program: the June Intensive (June 29 - July 3; 9:00 am to 3:30 pm) and a July Specialty Workshop (July 15 - 19; 9:00 am to 12 noon).

Marge Lusignan with students, Summer Program 2011.

Dorothy's ruby slippers, the Tin Woodsman costume, and the Heart from "The Wizard of Oz".

The two Aladdin puppets from "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp".



The ventriloquist's dummy and the vintage microphone from "Annie".

The Crab costumes from "The Little Mermaid".

Marge Lusignan center with her family at the "Artists of Wheelock Family Theatre" exhibit, Brickbottom Gallery Autumn 2012.

A Shimmering Water World

Reviews by Beverly Creasey

In my theater rounds of late, I’ve seen some delightful shows---with some standout performances I’d like to trumpet before they disappear: James Tallach is supplying plenty of suspense and sex appeal as the charismatic villain in the Concord Players’ THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL Timothy John Smith in Stoneham Theatre’s MY FAIR LADY gives a powerful, visceral performance as an unconventional Henry Higgins. Eric Hamel, in the same show, fiddles and whistles his way around Covent Garden, making the chorus numbers pop…And Ricardo Engermann adds hilarious pratfalls to the Wheelock Family Theatre’s energetic THE LITTLE MERMAID.

A fairy tale about humans and sea creatures living in harmony could not be more timely, given the current British Petroleum disaster which threatens the Gulf Coast. Linda Daugherty has fashioned the Hans Christian Anderson tale of THE LITTLE MERMAID into a sweet love story in a Shimmering Water World, and Wheelock makes the production kid friendly with lots of puppet fish and tiny lobster children to flesh out the story. (The Wheelock Family Theatre production swims through May 16th.)

Director/ set designer James P. Byrne’s clever ocean ripples with gossamer silk waves and billowing winds through which sail schools of silvery fish and a colony of mer-people. One particular mermaid dreams of becoming human and experiencing life “above.” Wheelock’s inventive production stars the charming Andrea Ross as the adventurous girl who saves a Prince from drowning and then makes a bargain with a witch to join him on land.

What makes WFT’s version work is the humor. The wee audience loved the sillier elements (like Ross splashing the humans or Ricardo Engermann’s spectacular pratfalls) and the older crowd giggled with admiration for Margaret Ann Brady’s spot on whale sounds. Jane Staab supplies the emotional heart of the story as the Great Sea Mother and Johnny Lee Davenport cuts quite a swath as the powerful King. Stacey Stephens’ imaginative costumes seem to flutter and float as the little mermaid and her sisters cavort in the water.

"The Little Mermaid" (16 April - 16 May)
WHEELOCK FAMILY THEATRE
@ 200 The Riverway, BOSTON MA
1(617)879-2300

Letters to WFT

Mr. Baldwin,

I want to let you know what a fantastic experience my family had at The Little Mermaid last Friday, April 23 at the 1pm show. We bought our tickets through a silent auction benefitting the Pakachoag Music School of Greater Worcester. We were driving in from Auburn during school vacation week, and I did not know what to expect for traffic, parking, etc. Further, having attended numerous theatrical productions with my kids (I have 6 year old triplets) including at the Foothills Theater, Hanover Theater and the Wang Center, my kids have sat through everything from really bad Cinderella to really great Annie.

I had prepped my children that the WFT show was not the Disney Little Mermaid (you know how kids today are!), and they understood, but you never know. They absolutely loved the show. LOVED it. Absolutely everything about the experience from getting downtown to the easy parking and a short walk to WFT, to the refreshment setup, the comfort of the theater itself and the staging of the play far exceeded my expectations. Not least importantly, it was all exceedingly affordable. This is important for a family of 6!

I am looking forward to returning next season, especially for the Urban Nutcracker and the Secret Garden. I am so happy that I was introduced to WFT, and I now know that the drive from Auburn is a small price to pay for the experience.

Best Regards,
Jeff LaBonte

An old friend responds to The Little Mermaid

Hi Jane and Sue!

I don't know if you remember me, Darcy Long, but I worked in the box office from 1989-1993. I still have such dear and fond memories of the both of you as well as everyone else in the theatre. Working at WFT was one of the best parts of being at Wheelock!

On Friday, I brought my children (plus parents and husband!) to the matinee of The Little Mermaid. I just wanted to tell you how much we all LOVED it. My kids were mesmerized by the costumes, the set, the sea creatures, the mermaids, well, just about everything, and especially your character, Jane! It truly was the best performance they have ever seen! I loved how you have stayed true to your philosophy of diversity and offering theatre to everyone.

It made me so proud to have been a part of WFT at one point in my life! You both are amazing and should be so very proud. I wished I could have seen you both. I still think of you and hope you are well! I hope life has been very good to you over these past years.

I hope to come back to WFT soon!
With love,
Darcy Long (now Darcy Scholz) :)

ERTE MERMAID

The Boy and the Mermaid by Bernhard Ingemann (1789-1862)

'Twas on a summer's evening late,
The far moon shone so clear
When a young, a fair-hair'd boy there sate
In a boat his father near.

He heard a distant voice that sung,
"Fair child, come where I live,
For bright gold stars there are among
The treasures I can give.

"These sparkling stars I'll give to thee,
If thou wilt come, fair boy,
And dwell for ever here with me
In these blue realms of joy."

"List, father! Dost thou hear that song?
See's thou yon girl?" "Be still!
See! the boat rocks, the wind is strong;
Let any sing who will."

And the voice sweetly sang again:
"Come, lovely boy, to me;
The moon shines on the crystal main,
Joy waits thee in the sea.

"Oh! thou shalt dance on the moonbeams bright,
And the glittering stars among;
Come sport with me, fair boy, this night.
List, list, what I have sung."

"Hark, father, hark! what her words tell,
She comes for me, oh, see!"
"Be still, be still, the billows swell.
"My boy, hold fast to me!"

'Tis middle night, the moon's rays float
Far o'er the waters wide,
The boy hath glided from the boat
And from his father's side.

translated by Anne S. Bushby

The Mermaid by Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892)

The Mermaid
by: Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892)

1
Who would be
A mermaid fair,
Singing alone,
Combing her hair
Under the sea,
In a golden curl
With a comb of pearl,
On a throne?

2
I would be a mermaid fair;
I would sing to myself the whole of the day;
With a comb of pearl I would comb my hair;
And still as I comb'd I would sing and say,
"Who is it loves me? who loves not me?"
I would comb my hair till my ringlets would fall,
Low adown, low adown,
From under my starry sea-bud crown
Low adown and around,
And I should look like a fountain of gold
Springing alone
With a shrill inner sound,
Over the throne
In the midst of the hall;
Till that great sea-snake under the sea
From his coiled sleeps in the central deeps
Would slowly trail himself sevenfold
Round the hall where I sate, and look in at the gate
With his large calm eyes for the love of me.
And all the mermen under the sea
Would feel their immortality
Die in their hearts for the love of me.

3
But at night I would wander away, away,
I would fling on each side my low-flowing locks,
And lightly vault from the throne and play
With the mermen in and out of the rocks;
We would run to and fro, and hide and seek,
On the broad sea-wolds in the crimson shells,
Whose silvery spikes are nighest the sea.
But if any came near I would call, and shriek,
And adown the steep like a wave I would leap
From the diamond-ledges that jut from the dells;
For I would not be kiss'd by all who would list,
Of the bold merry mermen under the sea;
They would sue me, and woo me, and flatter me,
In the purple twilights under the sea;
But the king of them all would carry me,
Woo me, and win me, and marry me,
In the branching jaspers under the sea;
Then all the dry pied things that be
In the hueless mosses under the sea
Would curl round my silver feet silently,
All looking up for the love of me.
And if I should carol aloud, from aloft
All things that are forked, and horned, and soft
Would lean out from the hollow sphere of the sea,
All looking down for the love of me.

Fuzzy Rehearsal Shots: The Little Mermaid

All photos by Padraig Sullivan.

Andrea Ross responds to Explore Boston Theatre

What is your definition of misery?
Alarm clocks...
What is your greatest fear?
To lose the people closest to me.
What was your first "real" job working in theatre?
Playing Winnie Foster in Tuck Everlasting
Are you a good at waiting tables?
Hopefully, I won't have to find out!
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Susan B. Anthony- gotta love those suffragettes.
Who are your favorite heroes of theatre?
Bernadette Peters, Kristen Chenoweth, and Andrew Lloyd Webber
Who are your favorite heroes in real life?
Our troops, victims of genocide, and doctors.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Orderliness...I'm not into systems and methods; I like to be spontaneous and just do what feels right.
What do you consider the most underrated virtue?
Curiosity- at least, with people my own age, it can be disregarded and looked at as being ignorant or intrusive.
Your favorite painter?
Thomas Kinkade/ Norman Rockwell
Your favorite musician?
Van Morrison/ The Script
Your favorite playwright?
Neil Simon/ Arthur Miller
When and where were you happiest?
In my living room when I was 10 years old after I got the news that I was cast in my first professional show as the lead. I was on top of the world!!!
What do you most value in colleagues?
Dedication...it creates a positive atmosphere and pushes everyone to do better.
Is there a class in which you wish you had paid more attention?
Math...not because I need it on a daily basis, but just to feel more confident when I do need to use it.
If you didn't work in theatre, what would you do?
I'd want to either be a surgeon or maybe a stylist- two complete extremes, right?!
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
So far, singing for Prince William and Prince Harry at Princess Diana's memorial concert.
What you'd like to be the world's best at?
Being the best surfer would be rad...
What book would you read more than once?
The Odyssey....I never get sick of it. And, of course, any Harry Potter book.
Who would play you in a movie of your life? Why?
Miley Cyrus....NOT!! I would like to see Anne Hathaway play me; I think she is brilliant.
What sports teams do you follow?
The Sox and the Celtics...always.
Where would you like to spend a vacation?
Honduras. I was supposed to go on a scuba trip there last year, but I got mono and couldn't go :(
What car would you like to be seen driving around in?
Either one of the mini coopers from the original "Italian Job" or a big Range Rover.
What book is currently on your nightstand?
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
If you could see a great production of a classic play, what would it be?
Othello
If you could travel back in time to visit or live in any time in history, when would it be?
I used to say the Industrial Revolution era, but I've realized that it must have been horrible working in those mills! So I am actually going to say the 1920's...the women were so confident and progressive. I think it would be a fun time. As long as I could skip the Depression in the 30's.
What actor will you see in any project they do?
I respect and learn from all actors, but I especially follow the works of Kate Winslet and Tom Hanks.