THE FULL MONTY
Halifax’s
Theatre Arts Guild closes its 2013-2014 season with Terrence McNally’s
hilarious comedy The Full Monty, the story of six
unemployed steel workers who form a male
striptease act. Director Rebecca Humphreys gives us the details.
When and why did you
first become interested in theatre?
I
have always been an actor ever since I first dressed up in my mother’s clothes
and put on shows for her and anyone else who would watch. I continued to do theatre in school and then
in University. I have a BA in Drama from
the University of Saskatchewan and studied Musical Theatre at Grant McEwan
College in Edmonton. I love live theatre
because you get the immediate response from the audience – you build a relationship
with them that is special and unique every night. It is a great rush to hear their reactions
and receive their applause at the end of the show.
Are they the same
reasons that you continue to be involved today?
Yes
– I knew coming out of University that I probably couldn’t make a living in the
theatre but I knew that I would always be interested in theatre so when I moved
back from Edmonton in 1996 I got involved in TAG. It is the people that keep me coming back. The people who volunteer at TAG are amazing
and very dedicated to what they do – it is a common passion that drives
everyone to give their hearts and soul to a production.
What inspired you to put
this particular production together?
The
Artistic Committee actually chose the show and then approached me to direct
it. WE all love the movie and I had seen
the show in Seattle and remembered how much I enjoyed it. So I read the script and listened to the
music and decided that it would be a great project to work on.
What are the challenges
involved?
The
main challenge that we always face at TAG (and many other community theatres)
is finding men. As a volunteer
organization we tend to get a lot more female actors that come out to
audition. This show had an extra layer of difficulty
because we needed at least 8 men who were willing to strip on stage and 6 that
were willing to go “The Full Monty”. On
top of all that they also had to be able to sing and dance. We also had to cast a young male to play the
lead characters son. So all in all
casting was a challenge. The original
script calls for at least 14 males (some playing multiple roles) and we have 8
in total plus two young men sharing the young male role, which means some of
the other roles have gone to women in the cast. Time is a huge challenge. As volunteers we are taking time out of our
already busy lives to rehearse and do the run.
On average I would say I spend at least 20 – 25 hours a week on the show
so it is really like having a part time job.
When the actors are not at rehearsal they are memorizing lines and
working on their songs and choreography.
It is a huge commitment. And with
a large cast it becomes even harder to get everyone together for rehearsal. We
also had to make sure that we made it clear in the advertising that this show
is meant for adult audiences – there is course language, graphic content and of
course the nudity at the end which is not suitable for children. This is no Mary Poppins!!
What are the rewards?
Seeing
the cast grow and become the characters is great. Opening night is always a bit nerve wracking
but once the show is up and running, as the Director, I just get to sit back
and relax. The positive reaction of the
audience and the applause is the ultimate reward.
What can audiences
expect during the run?
Lot
of laughs – the script and some of the songs are really funny – in fact the
audience may miss some of the words in the songs because they will be laughing
so hard!! It is also quite touching in
other parts and of course everyone will be waiting for the ending – whether it
is with anticipation or with dread. We
also have a 4 piece band on stage playing the music for the show which is a
first for a TAG show – our stage is not very big so we don’t often get a chance
to incorporate more than a piano and maybe drums so this is a great treat for
the performers and the audience.
What are your thoughts
on the current state of theatre in Halifax and Atlantic Canada?
I
think that the Theatre scene in Halifax and Nova Scotia is pretty vibrant. Many of the people who have done shows at TAG
in the past are working this summer in professional shows in and around the
region. This means that the pool of
people that we had to draw on was smaller but it means more great theatre for
audiences to go and see.
What can we be doing
better?
Use
local talent and have a pay what you can night or a preview night that is less
expensive. This allows those who are
passionate about theatre but may not be able to afford the regular ticket price
to see the shows. They are often your
most appreciative audience. TAG’s prices
are really reasonable $16 for adults and $13 for seniors/students and members
so for the price of a movie you can go see a live show. What’s not to like?
What's next on your
creative agenda?
In
addition to my full time job with the Government of Nova Scotia and I am also
an artisan. So my next 6 months will be
spent at my sewing machine making fabric bowls for the busy Christmas season
(Come visit me at the Dalplex Craft Show Nov 28-29 and 30). I have not been on stage for a while so I
may audition for a show sometime soon as well.
The Full Monty
June
26-July 13
Pond
Playhouse, Halifax
