Knowing His Role
As
one of four actors performing in Neptune Theatre’s minimalist production of
Robert Chafe’s Tempting Providence, Robert
Wyatt Thorne has learned to do more with less on stage. Recently the
Newfoundland-born thespian spoke with AE about his personal and professional
life.
What inspired you to
start acting?
When
I was in Grade 10 I followed an older more attractive girl into the school
library, turns out she was going to a drama club meeting. So I decided to stick
around and see what it was all about. I was in 4 shows that year and continued
on with it next year as well; once I finished high school I couldn’t picture
myself doing anything else. Then I made my choice to go to theatre school at
Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, in Corner Brook, NL.
Are they the same
reasons that you do it today?
Somewhat
of the same reasons. I still can’t picture myself doing anything else at the
moment - if I could I would probably be off doing them.
What are the biggest
challenges of the profession?
I would have to say constantly finding work and trying to make a living out of
it. I have been very lucky so far to have been a part of Tempting Providence,
which has done some extensive touring over the last 9 years - it has kept me
quite busy.
What are the rewards?
Traveling
is a big reward. I have gotten to see places I never thought I would get a
chance to see. I spent an entire month in Edinburgh performing in the fringe
festival, spent 2 weeks in Belfast, Ireland, a month touring and doing the show
around rural England, 2 weeks in Tasmania, a week in L.A., and I have seen
almost all of Canada. I also get to do
all of that with 4 of my best friends in the world. That something special to
me.
How did you get involved
with Tempting Providence?
I
was part of the first workshop of the script, about a little more than a year
before it was opened officially. We talked a lot about how it would be staged
and the order of the different scenes, and then when the play opened in June
2002 I was not a part of the cast. A year later one of the other actors decided
not to return and I was given the chance to step into the show, and I have been
with it ever since.
What do you enjoy about
the role?
I
enjoy playing all the different characters, from the 14 year old to the 65 year
old man. It’s really nice to be part of this production, it tells the story of
an amazing woman, and we are all very proud to be telling her story the way we
do.
What can audiences
expect during the run?
That
kind of a hard one to answer. I still remember when I saw the show for the
first time. I was floored by the staging of the show, but what got me most was
the honesty in the simple telling of Nurse Bennett’s story. I walked away from the theatre that night and
wanted to make the world around me a little better. This story affects people
that way. It’s nice.
Whets next for you
onstage?
I
don’t know that far ahead yet. We have been on the road with Tempting since Jan
24th and when we finish here in Halifax we go back to Newfoundland and do a 60
date tour which will take us up to August 5th. After that I have 4 shows I am
doing in Cow Head as part of the Gros Morne Theatre Festival in Sept. Then in
October we have more dates for Tempting Providence at 1000 Islands Theatre. After
that I may just take a couple of weeks to relax - that is unless someone offers
me a show, in which case rest will have to wait.
Tempting Providence at
Neptune Theatre in Halifax until May 6
www.neptunetheatre.com
