Northern Vermont's home for contemporary theater
Vermont Stage
  • Shows & Events
    • The American Dream Project
  • Donate
  • About
    • Past Productions >
      • A Christmas Carol
      • Winter Tales 2020
    • Board of Directors
  • Where
    • Accessibility
    • Info about Covid-19 Coronavirus
  • Contact
    • Get Involved

Jammie Patton on playing 'Drea' in THE CALL

4/17/2017

 
Jammie PattonJammie Patton. Lindsay Raymondjack Photography.
How would you describe your character?
Drea is like a ball park frank but with Grey Poupon artisanal cheese on top.

Are there any connections that you see between you and your character?
Absolutely! Drea's an artist. I'm an artist. She likes sophisticated women. I love sophisticated women. Drea also seems to have a natural curiosity about the world and people around her and isn't afraid to ask questions. I value this quality in others as well as myself. What would this world be if we lost our curiosity... our desire to investigate? Pretty boring if you ask me!

What do you like most about this play? Do you have a favorite line?
I like the fact that there are no easy answers in The Call. Tanya Barfield doesn't allow the conflict to be packaged nicely and wrapped up with a pretty bow. The characters are messy, vulnerable and complex. Sometimes contradictory. I also appreciate that the dialogue is written in a way that we actually speak in "real life". In the real world we don't always finish our sentences. Sometimes we use our hands, face or body language in lieu of actual words. We also don't always politely wait for others to stop speaking before we chime in with our own thoughts. The playwright has made a clear point of writing in an overlapping rhythm with regards to the dialogue and it's also very clear in those moments when the dialogue does not overlap. Tanya's like a jazz musician in this way. Guiding our attention with rhythm. This technique, coupled with the unconventional alleyway staging will help create an intimacy that will bring the audience into the milieu of these characters' story in a way that feels real and voyeuristic.

Favorite line is when Alemu says with regards to Africa, "The continent, not the country. (He laughs) Humor: it doesn't translate."

And then again later when Alemu says, "Ah. It's 'for Africa,' the entire continent." These lines are brilliant and Tino delivers them brilliantly!

How would you describe the play to our audience?
The Call is an honest glimpse into a couple's journey through the not so warm and fuzzy process of adoption and what happens when people stop being polite and start confronting their own desires, insecurities and basic need to contribute SOMETHING good to the world.

What would you like them to leave thinking or talking about?
It would just be nice if folks are talking and or thinking. I believe that's the responsibility of storytelling. Not to tell the audience WHAT to think about or how to think about it. Just to get them thinking. Maybe spark new dialogue that they didn't have the desire or even courage to have before. I also hope they leave the theater thinking "Boy, that Jammie Patton was really good!" That is my hope for the entire production. I feel pretty good about my hopes. This team is rocking! 😊


Comments are closed.

    Archives

    January 2019
    September 2018
    April 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013

    Categories

    All
    Acting
    A Doll's House
    American Hero
    A.R. Gurney
    Art
    Bess Wohl
    Beyond Therapy
    Blackberry Winter
    Christopher Durang
    Costuming
    Curious Incident
    Dancing Lessons
    David Ives
    Designing
    Directing
    Dramaturgy
    Fun Home
    Greg Pierce
    I And You
    Jon Robin Baitz
    Karen Zacarias
    Katori Hall
    Lauren Gunderson
    Liz Duffy Adams
    Mark St. Germain
    Mothers And Sons
    Native Gardens
    News
    Nina Raine
    Or
    Other Desert Cities
    Part 2
    Playwriting
    Q&A
    Slowgirl
    Steve Yockey
    Terrence McNally
    The Bake Off
    The Call
    The Dining Room
    The Mountaintop
    The Quarry
    Tigers Be Still
    Tribes
    Vanya And Sonia And Masha And Spike
    Venus In Fur
    Yasmina Reza

Season Sponsors
Picture
Picture
Join our mailing list