Theatre Thursday- The Curious Savage

The Curious Savage by John Patrick was the last show that I performed at the Hale Center Theatre before I took a long hiatus from the theatre scene.  It was directed by Mark S.P. Turvin, who also happened to be a theatre critic in AZ at the time.  When I first read the script, I was immediately drawn to the character of Fairy May and I was lucky enough to have landed the role. J1 also got to be in the show as John Thomas. He was just in a short scene at the end and just had to look cute. He was brilliant.

J1 backstage

I got to wear several wigs and had some amazing costumes.  Originally, my hair was going to be messy/ratty and then we were going to try to make it look nice for the end scene, but my hair didn't allow that to be a possibility so we went with the wigs.  Fairy May was a resident at a mental facility.

The wigs and my makeup station

She was fun on the outside but had a lot of pain on the inside.  I found the book, Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls by Mary Pipher to be insightful regarding Fairy May's psyche. When I played Ophelia, I had used this book for a reference into mental illnesses in young women and also the societal pressures that they face.

Actually, this show is a comedy. I promise. You can read the synopsis here. I again got to play with my dear friends, Jere, and Alaina. The lead in this show was played by Jacqueline Gaston, she was amazing.  The pictures I do have are mostly backstage and a few press shots. I don't have any of me as Fairy May. I had tried to track some down before I wrote this post but had no luck.

Jere

The set

Alaina

Theatre Thursday- Hale Centre Theater, AZ, The Hasty Heart

It seems serendipitous that with Friday being Veteran's day that the next show I did took place during WWII.

The show is The Hasty Heart by John Patrick.  If it sounds familiar, it is probably because it was one of the movies that Ronald Reagan played in before he became president.  Another fun fact is that James Earl Jones played one of the roles originally on Broadway.

It takes place in an Allied mobile surgery unit toward the end of the war and centers around a group of wounded soldiers from various countries.  The cast is predominantly male. In fact, there is only one woman in the show, my character Margaret, who is a nurse from England.  The unit is a peaceful and enjoyable place to be until a surly Scotsman is admitted.  Unbeknownst to him, he is only expected to live a couple weeks due to having only one barely functioning kidney.  All the other soldiers know about his condition and try their best to  make his last days as best as possible.  Of course, the nurse and the surly Scot fall in love. But the truth has to come out about his fate and conflict arises.

Publicity shot by D. Dietlein

The cast was so much fun.  It reminded me a bit of my childhood and growing up with five brothers, very entertaining and rambunctious.  The show is filled with the harmonies of many different accents and it was fun speaking with a British dialect. Eric who played the "Lachie" the Scotsman just nailed the accent and was great in the role, all the critics loved him.  The show was directed by Charlie L. and stage managed by our mother bear Siobhan.

Besides, the accent, Margaret was a challenging role.  She must try to remain detached and despite knowing what she knows about his condition and his inevitable death, she can't help falling for Lachie.  We had some  emotionally charged scenes that challenged me, but I like to think I did well. I received good reviews from the show.  Chris Page from the East Valley Tribune said I was:

A splendid actress and a crush-worthy cutie, Mathias is used to playing wooers to difficult men at the Hale, in both the comedy "The Man With the Pointed Toes" (which will come back to open the theater’s next season) and as Scrooge’s young flame in "A Christmas Carol."

Later the show won an Honorable Mention for Best Drama in the Tribune's Spotlight awards.  I also got an Honorable Mention for Best Dramatic Actress that year for my role in this play along with Man with The Pointed Toes.  Funny enough the woman who won the actual award was at the time married to the man who played Hamlet to my original Ophelia.  She made an incredible Maggie in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and I was honored just to be mentioned as being in her company for the award.

Here are some more backstage pictures from the show:

I forgot to mention that Eric was gone for a couple shows and we had Carson S. fill in.  I was his first stage kiss, if I remember correctly. He was so nervous but did a good job in the role. I remember overhearing some old ladies leaving that said they thought he did great and they wouldn't have known he was an understudy. He is the one in the black shirt.

I also just recalled that it was the first time I got to have a dressing room all to myself and so I put up a gold star on it just for fun.

Theatre Thursday- The Second Conservatory Year

I knew that the Conservatory would offer me an opportunity to dust my talents off and reuse them again.  I was scared but knew that I was in good hands with the faculty. I felt safer there than just plunging headlong into auditioning for shows after such a long break.

They had changed the format a bit and decided that instead of just doing scenes for the final performance that we would do a full blown production. So, despite not having to audition to get into the conservatory I did have to audition for a part in Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale.


It was intimidating once again to be surrounded by my friends as instructors and strangers as classmates.  I couldn't help but feel that I had betrayed my friends in some way by running away to join the Army. I mean who does that?  I tried desperately to win their support once again and put my heart into my audition.  I performed Ophelia's "Affrighted" monologue in front of everyone.  Mr. G (who was once an upperclassmen of mine in HS) said that he never wanted to see that monologue again.  I think he meant it as a compliment, in that it disturbed him somehow.

And did I forget to mention,  my Hamlet was directing this show.  Gah! I was so nervous.  To round out our instructors, I had the amazing TH as the director of the whole conservatory program (who played Gertrude in Hamlet).  Her marvelous brother MH who was also in Hamlet.  DG also in Hamlet. CW who was in Hamlet and H on T.  The director of Hamlet came back to teach Restoration Comedy to the Track Two students and there was one instructor that I did not know who came from California, Mr. E who taught Comedy. Also, the unforgettable LW who helped me find my singing voice.

As I said, friends as my instructors.  I was so blessed.  All the roles were double/triple cast to accommodate everyone.  I got cast as Hermione, Time.  I was the second Hermione when Leontes first accuses her, and at the end when they are reunited.  Time is a narrator of sorts that comes in the middle of the play to say that time has passed and they are in a different place.  We did a dance with sand.  DH still likes to tease me about the sand dance. It was done with a bit of an Oriental twist.  We also had half masks.  We all wore black with fabric that draped over us in various ways depending on our character. I also ended up sewing the edges of all that fabric with my serger.

Leontes and me as older Hermione.

It was a great summer. I met some wonderful people whom I still consider friends, even if I only "see" them on FB.  We also remounted the show in the Fall for the college, with a slightly different cast and I got to play my same roles with a bit more in the beginning for Hermione and I also played Old Shepard but as Old Shepardess instead.

Amazingly tired cast. Try to find me.

Once again, a great experience for me. It was my first time on a thrust stage.  We also had a white scrim behind us where there were sometimes shadows of the action happening behind it such as the famous "Exit, pursued by a bear" scene. It was the most artistic show that I have ever been involved with but it was a blast.

JK with Bear that kills him. Audience only saw the bear in profile.
I'm  in the back putting on my makeup

After this, I was asked to come back to the conservatory the next summer to help assist Mr. E in teaching.  This was in order for me to learn more by teaching and hopefully help some people on the way.  It was a generous offer and I gladly accepted.

I can't begin to tell you how these wonderful people affected my life.  They helped bring me out of the pit of my despair and accepted me even though I had abandoned the theatre for several years.  They were a second family to me and I still love them and appreciate all that I learned about myself and the theatre.  I will never forget them.

Friends on Friday- Renee

Renee is one of my dear friends.  She knows some of my darkest secrets and still likes me.  Besides being an amazing friend, some of her other titles are wife, mother, teacher, runner, director and actress.  She recently moved to NC and while that is closer it is still not close enough to me.  I am grateful to have her as a friend.  So here goes...

N: Tell me about yourself.

R: I'm a 34 year old high school English teacher, mom of 3 year old G and wife of 5 years to L. I grew up in Vermont where I attended the University of Vermont for undergrad (Major in English, double minors in Theater and Art History) and for grad school (a Master's in English Lit). I have been teaching since 2001. Although I would rather be an actress anyday, other than acting, there is no other profession that I would consider doing besides being a teacher.

N: What are you passionate about?

R: My daughter. Being outside. Being active. Acting.

She ran a marathon very shortly after giving birth to G.

N: What was one of the defining moments in your life?

R: My first defining moment is when my father put my master's hood on me. (He's a professor at UVM, so he was allowed to hood me). The next is the moment I heard G's little voice right after birth. The final defining moment was when I performed in a play in which I stripped down to a bra and fell on a couch kissing my co-star. I was terrified of what my parents would think of me after this, but, rather than feeling embarrassed, they were enthralled by my performance and the show itself. This made me realize I had some talent. 


N: What is the most favorite role that you have ever performed?

R: Let me see... My favorite role would be Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. It is one that I had always wanted to play. She is smart, witty and one of Shakespeare's most well written female characters. Also, one of my favorite actors played opposite me as Benedick. Shakespeare in the Park in Nashua, New Hampshire is where we performed the play. It was also done in the same time period as Kenneth Branagh's film, late 18th century.

Renee as Beatrice along with the cast of Much Ado 

Another favorite was Truvy in Steel Magnolias. She is loud and boisterous. I got to wear gaudy jewelry and awful 80's clothes.

Beatrice was more of a complex challenge and Truvy was just a blast.

Renee as Truvy

N: What role would you like to play that you would never be cast in? For instance, because of gender, body type, etc.

R: I would love to play Richard III and Hamlet as a close second.

N: What role would you love to play but haven't had the opportunity to perform:

R: Oh, that's a hard question... There was a role in the play Reckless that I really wanted (Rachel). It is about a woman who walks out on her husband and child on Christmas day. Actually Mary-Louise Parker played the role on Broadway. I loved the role but I didn't get the part. I did take a secondary role in the production. I wanted to dislike the woman who got cast, but I couldn't. She was so nice and talented. She was amazing in the role. She actually even ended up coming to my wedding. I would joke with her that I wanted to be her when I grew up, even though we were the same age.

N: What would you say to your daughter if she decided she wanted to be an
actress?

R: I would support her. If she said that she wanted to be a professional, I would support her but caution her about the Hollywood scene. I guess I'm a bit prejudiced against Hollywood. I would tell her to stick to the stage. I thing stage acting is more challenging. There is a newness with every performance on the stage. It seems that screen actors get bogged down with the media and pressures to be thin and look a certain way. I wouldn't want her to have to deal with those issues.

Renee and G at rehearsal

What Renee looks like at rehearsals more recently.

N: Because you are an actress, I am going to harass you with these question that James Lipton adapted for Inside the Actor's studio.

-What is your favorite word?

R: Mulch

N: What is your least favorite word?

R: Faggot (I even have a hard time writing this word)

N: What turns you on?

R: Sculpted arms.

L's sculpted arms.

N: What turns you off?

R: Discrimination.

N: What sound or noise do you love?

R: My daughter's voice.

N: What sound or noise do you hate?

R: The fire alarm at school.

N: What is your favorite curse word?

R: Shit

N: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

R: Stage actress

N: What profession would you not like to do?

R: Anything in a cubicle.

N: If Heaven exists what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

R: Nice work.

N: And now since you have been so gracious as to answer all my questions, you get to ask me any question you would like.

R: Oh, hmm... What role would you like to play that you haven't had the opportunity to play?

N: Hmm, that really is a hard question. I would actually love to play Evita. I don't know that I'll ever have the opportunity. I just love the songs and the original cast version with Patti LuPone. I know it would be a huge challenge. The bug to play that role was actually placed when the Set Builder for Hamlet said that I looked like I could play Evita.

Thanks, Renee for letting me pester you and for being my friend. I am blessed to have you in my life.

Theatre Thursday- Private Benjamin or The First Detour

Biology is driving me crazy right now and I had my first test yesterday. I am scared of the results of that test but for now some reminiscing of the theatre.

During rehearsals for Hamlet, I had gotten a call from an Army recruiter and basically told him there was no chance I was joining the military.  Fast forward several weeks,  I had finished up Hamlet and H on T and then didn't have anything lined up.  Southwest Shakespeare Company's next show was the musical A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum.  At that time, I was not a singer and so didn't even bother auditioning.

So, I tried to attend Scottsdale Community College, but I couldn't really afford to go and didn't really know about financial aid or how to get it.  I didn't like my acting class because it was full of students who had no experience and let's face it, I thought I was better than them.  It wasn't challenging and so I wasn't doing very well.  It never occurred to me to ask my instructors or even the director of Hamlet (Lynda Linford) who was actually a part of the theatre program at the University of Utah for help on navigating the college world. 

I was sitting at home and I got a call from the recruiter again.  This time I wasn't doing anything and wanted a way to pay for college.  So, I dropped out of my classes and joined the Army.  (I actually didn't drop out of one of my classes correctly so I have an F on my record for Acting. Ooops!)

I learned a lot in the Army.  I felt a bit like Private Benjamin in some ways. I got in great shape. I got a free trip to Germany.  I studied Computers, had a Top Secret clearance and graduated top of my class.  Fun stuff.  

I also met my first husband in the Army. I got pregnant. I got out of the Army. I got married to my first husband and then gave birth to my first son. J1 was born premature and was in the hospital for a month and then came home.  

When J1 was about 6 months old or so I discovered that my first husband was cheating on me. I then divorced from him as he had no intention of leaving his mistress.

I moved back to AZ.  Met DH, got married, had A1. My X signed away his rights and DH adopted J1.  

After I had A1, I was struggling a bit with PPD that turned into full blown depression for a couple of years. I felt like I needed to get back into the theatre and that is when I decided to take Track 2 of the Conservatory.  But that will be for the next post.

Theatre Thursday- The First Conservatory Year

My senior year of HS I was awarded two awards: Best Supporting Actress and Best Overall Thespian.  Which basically means I worked my butt off and never got a major part.

After HS however, I got accepted into the Southwest Shakespeare Conservatory which was run by my former HS teacher's wife at the time. It is a summer program, that is similar to boot camp but for actors.  These days it is called The Scottsdale Conservatory Theater as it is now more closely associated with Scottsdale Community College as opposed to the Southwest Shakespeare Company.  Track One of the Conservatory involves movement classes, voice classes, improv, text analysis, scene study and other fun stuff like mask work.  We got 12 college credits for attending and passing.  I actually got a C from one of my instructors.

It was really a lot of work but it was exceptionally fun too.  I got to play Joan of Arc, which ended up giving me a great monologue for auditions.  Which brings me to the first time I auditioned for The Southwest Shakespeare Company.

The show they produced first that season was none other than Hamlet.  When I read Hamlet in HS, I promised myself that one day I would play Ophelia.  Let's just admit that I'm a bit crazy and I identified a bit with the character.  I was auditioning with all my classmates and all my instructors because Hamlet is a show that every classical actor wants to be involved with.  I auditioned with my Joan monologue and the Julia letter monologue.  I saw the director sit up and take notice and the other people behind the table whispering to her.

I was called back for the part of Ophelia along with one other girl who had not been in the conservatory.  I read sides along with three of my male instructors for the conservatory who had been called back for the part of Hamlet.  The man who eventually got the part of Hamlet thought he was too old and that the director might be looking at him for Polonius and me for Ophelia.  I just inwardly shook my head because I felt he would make an amazing Hamlet.  It turns out I was right.  He was also the instructor who gave me a C.

I'm the one in front in the nightgown.

Nunnery scene

I got cast in the role and got the confirmation call from none other than my HS Drama teacher.  Let me tell you, that was really cool.  Rehearsals were grueling and it was difficult to get into the crazy mind set and make it believable but with the support of an amazing cast and great director, I somehow pulled it off.  My Jr. High English teacher even came to see the show.

During one of the rehearsals (which was held in a VFW hall)  a producer came to watch us.  He was casting a show called Hamlet on Trial for the UK/AZ festival.  I got called in to audition formally.  Only two people from our cast were chosen to participate and I was one of them.  The other actors that they got for the show were all equity (Actor's union).  They also brought in Billy Connolly as a guest artist.  They originally tried to get Vanessa Redgrave but she had scheduling conflicts so they brought him in instead.

He played a role in "Muppet Treasure Island."

 We only had one week to rehearse. The show had three different endings, and the ending was chosen based on what the guest jury decided.  It was held at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix. It is a really beautiful theatre that has a ceiling that lights up to look like the sky and as the time gets closer to curtain time it turns it to look like the night sky.  It was incredible.

OrpheumTheatre-Phoenix

I had made cards for all the cast members the day of our one performance of Hamlet on Trial. The day of the performance was spent rehearsing because that was the only time Mr. Connolly could come.  I had left a card in his dressing room and noticed that it had been tossed aside later.  He was very stand offish towards everyone.  I was not impressed.

That night, I found out the mayor of London was in the audience and we had a full house.  Normally, the costumer would wait back stage for me to help me put on my robe.  My costume was a sheer nightgown (I had a flesh toned body suit underneath) that was bright white and we didn't want people seeing me backstage.  After, I did the "I have been so affrighted." bit, I came off stage hearing the deafening roar of the audience.  There standing in the shadows was not the costumer but Mr. Connolly with my robe over his arm clapping. He then helped me put on my robe and approvingly said, "Bravo. That was very well done." in his thick Scottish accent.  It is a moment I will never forget.

Me as Ophelia and M. as Hamlet

After the show, there was a champagne reception.  I was the only minor there and no, I didn't drink.  However, Mr. Connolly pulled me near him and somehow we started bantering back and forth and became the center of the party.  Later the director pulled me aside and confided in me that she was very concerned when she found out the producer had cast an 18 year old in the part of Ophelia.  She told me that he had assured her that if she didn't like me during the first rehearsal that I Could be re-cast.  I had no idea.  She said that I was wonderful in the role.  She also offered me a chance to move to NY and stay with her and her husband, if I wanted to try to make it in the Big Apple.  I politely declined for several reasons, mostly because I was terrified.

And that is just part of the story.

Friends on Friday- Jamie

Fridays are dedicated to my friends!  I plan on interviewing one a week to get to know them better and celebrate their awesomeness.


I have a fantastic friend that I met in high school.  The only other time I was kind of homeless, she somehow convinced her mother let me stay in their house for a while.  She is wacky and fun.  Some of our fondeset memories are of a large box that we referred to as the transmogrifier or some such thing and terrorizing the theatre department.  We also worked at the Arizona Renaissance Festival. I was on the bad guy side and she was on the good guy side.  We sewed the Knights some boxers together and other cool things.  We also designed the senior T-shirt for our HS. She still resides in the Phoenix area and from what I gather takes amazing photos, makes great art, knits and is just downright awesome.

Jamie is also the one who inspired Friends on Fridays with her own interview section on her website. I haven't been able to finish my interview with her yet but will post it here when it is complete. But for know, check out the interview section on her site: http://www.jamiemulhern.com/blog/category/interviews/

Theatre Thursday - My introduction to theatre

Thursdays are going to be dedicated to my first love: theatre.  Spell check does not like to spell it that way, but I like to think of theater as going to the movies and theatre as live theatre.  There is something about living and breathing the same air as someone creating art.

Since I am working on eventually getting a BFA in Theatre Arts. I thought I would use this day to chronicle what I am doing to improve and what is inspiring me.  As I start though, I would like you to reminisce with me on how I got to this point.

I got into the theatre during junior high.  I wasn't successful in elementary school at an instrument and since I wanted a fun elective theatre seemed like it would be fill that category.  I loved it.  Unfortunately, I was very shy and very quiet.  My teacher told me I was good but that it was too hard to hear me.  So the next summer I spent the whole summer in my back yard practicing "projecting."  My parents worked during the week so they never knew what I was up to and  since it was scorching hot in AZ during the summer my brothers left me alone. My mother did discover I really did love the theatre and took me to see my first professional show, Fiddler on the Roof which was put on my the Arizona Jewish Theatre Company. I loved it!

The next school year I was still not cast in any of the big shows but I still helped back stage.  My ninth grade year I got some smaller roles but nothing huge.  The biggest thing that happened to me that year was an introduction to Shakespeare.  It wasn't in my Theatre class but rather my English class that I discovered a knack for understanding the Bards works.

We even got to take a trip to see The Southwest Shakespeare Company's Romeo and Juliet.  They kept it in the era it was written for and it was captivating despite some teenage rascals throwing Skittles at Juliet during her drinking of the sleeping potion monologue.  Juliet didn't miss a beat. I was entranced and vowed to work for the company eventually.

In high school, I continued with my endeavors. As fate would have it the drama teacher at my HS was also the co-founder for the Southwest Shakespeare Company.  As such, the company provided opportunities for HS students to act as "Wenches and Knaves" aka ushers for their shows.  I jumped at the chance and got to see many wonderful shows as a result.  I developed a keen love for Shakespeare during this time.

I kept getting cast in smaller roles along with backstage work in HS. I worked hard in order to try to improve my skills.  My senior year, the drama department put on The Tempest and The Matchmaker (the show Hello, Dolly came from).  In The Tempest, I played Trinculo, a clown and originally a part for a boy.

It was so much fun!  One of my good friends at the time, designed and made all the costumes.  My costumes had bells sewn all over it. So, backstage I had to wear a black robe and shuffle along so as not to create any noise as I walked.

The director of the Southwest Shakespeare Conservatory (an actor training program) was in the audience for one of the shows and told me I was just darling in the role.  But alas, this post is getting way too wordy. What came after is long enough for it's own story. So I will continue on next week.  

Exeunt Omnes