What excites you about working on this play?
It just won the Tony Award for Best Play!
The pacing is sharp, the characters are vibrant. It is modern, old-fashioned, and topsy-turvy. Great comedy. Durang walks the fine line between seriousness and comedy with this play in particular. It is at once over-the-top, and also extremely real. A true delight.
What is your favorite line in the show?
"Beware Hootie Pie." - Cassandra
Is there anything about playing this role that intimidates you? Why?
Nina is a young, idealistic, bright eyed young woman who dreams of being an actress. She is absolutely sincere in her eagerness and her interest. The challenge is to bring that level of impressionability and awe to the stage without creating a caricature for comedy. In my past, I've been pegged as an ingénue (as is true for many performers, and young enthusiasts in general), and I aim to bring a depth to Nina's sweet wonder.
What would you like the audience to be thinking about after the show?
Hmm...Hopefully they have laughed and guffawed and grinned and felt yearning and acceptance and love... I suppose a question that could arise is: "What barriers have I built that prevent me from taking risks toward further joy?" That seems really heavy right now. Here's where I'm coming from: Several characters in the play are suspended from action within their own lives, and suddenly there is a ball of chaos that barrels through the living room and disrupts that suspension...Yes, so, it'd be lovely to hear that the play sparked a conversation around how we protect ourselves from our own bliss or contentment.
What made you want to work with Vermont Stage?
It is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with Vermont Stage's actors, directors and designers. They are a company taking risks and bringing new kinds of material to the Burlington and Vermont area! It's a thrill.
It just won the Tony Award for Best Play!
The pacing is sharp, the characters are vibrant. It is modern, old-fashioned, and topsy-turvy. Great comedy. Durang walks the fine line between seriousness and comedy with this play in particular. It is at once over-the-top, and also extremely real. A true delight.
What is your favorite line in the show?
"Beware Hootie Pie." - Cassandra
Is there anything about playing this role that intimidates you? Why?
Nina is a young, idealistic, bright eyed young woman who dreams of being an actress. She is absolutely sincere in her eagerness and her interest. The challenge is to bring that level of impressionability and awe to the stage without creating a caricature for comedy. In my past, I've been pegged as an ingénue (as is true for many performers, and young enthusiasts in general), and I aim to bring a depth to Nina's sweet wonder.
What would you like the audience to be thinking about after the show?
Hmm...Hopefully they have laughed and guffawed and grinned and felt yearning and acceptance and love... I suppose a question that could arise is: "What barriers have I built that prevent me from taking risks toward further joy?" That seems really heavy right now. Here's where I'm coming from: Several characters in the play are suspended from action within their own lives, and suddenly there is a ball of chaos that barrels through the living room and disrupts that suspension...Yes, so, it'd be lovely to hear that the play sparked a conversation around how we protect ourselves from our own bliss or contentment.
What made you want to work with Vermont Stage?
It is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with Vermont Stage's actors, directors and designers. They are a company taking risks and bringing new kinds of material to the Burlington and Vermont area! It's a thrill.
