She Stoops to Conquer
Starting
June 18, Halifax’s Theatre Arts Guild tickles the funny bone with She Stoops to Conquer, the story of a wealthy English countryman who arranges
for his daughter to meet the son of a wealthy Londoner, hoping the pair will
marry. Director Jolene Pattison gives us the details.
How did you get involved
with this production?
I
got involved in this production though a series of happy accidents. I was
approached by TAG to direct a different show but circumstances made the rights
to that show unavailable. When we started exploring alternatives, I kept coming
back to She Stoops to Conquer – it is funny, it is a classic, it is a relatable
story for all ages. The TAG board agreed it was a good choice and we were
“off to the races”.
Why the choice do do
this particular piece?
As
a director, She Stoops to Conquer is an exciting mix of new and familiar
territory. The basic story is about young lovers (two sets of them!) finding
each other; most of my directorial experience is in musical theatre so this is
one of my favorite themes to explore. All of the characters are richly drawn
and the show is well balanced in telling their stories. Part of the appeal
for me in any show is the challenges. This play, written in 1773, does not use
the vernacular; we have all been using our dictionaries and pronunciation
guides! I love the wonderful vocabulary and beautiful phrasing though - almost
everything sounds elegant. However, here are some words and phrases that are
jarring to a modern ear; we want to keep our audience in the story so we have
fine-tuned the script when appropriate to make sure we are faithful to the
intent of the show.
What are the challenges
in putting this work together?
I
have enjoyed the challenge of telling this story without music; musicals have
the luxury of telling us about the action through this added dimension.
Here, we are adding the extra dimension through costumes, props, set, and
movement. It is amazing how differently a modern young person moves! I am
taking a bit of pity on the actors and we have moved the story a few decades
ahead to we can be in more comfortable costumes….the fact that I love Regency
period settings has (almost) nothing to do with it.
What are the rewards?
The
biggest reward in doing this kind of production is the opportunity to work with
a talented team. I have a fabulous cast, most of whom I am working with for the
first time. It is just a delight to see them discover all the nooks and
crannies of the characters and of the dialogue. The production team is
wonderful – creative, inspiring, reliable. I have acted with some before,
crewed with others, and taught the remaining team members. Yes, I teach
Office Administration at the Community College; the graduates of the program
have the best skill set for any project you might have on the go. I have one
graduate on stage and three in my crew. It is great when all the facets
of life complement each other like this.
What's next on your own
theatrical agenda?
What
am I doing next? Very good question. I know we are planning a fundraising
concert at St Matt’s in the fall. After that I think I will be ready for a
musical. Something fun, something good for all ages, something with an
uplifting ending…
She Stoops to Conquer
June
18-July 4
Pond
Playhouse, Halifax
