Take 5: Faux Food Kitchen – Chicken Legs
Learn how to turn an old dog toy into a realistic chicken leg for the stage!
Tag: drama
Crew Spotlight – Fight Director Siobhan Richardson
Siobhan Richardson is the Fight Director for Wait Until Dark.
BIO: Siobhan Richardson is a fight director and actor/fighter/singer/dancer. Fight Direction credits includeThe Trial of Judith K (Thought For Food Productions), A Christmas Story and The Hobbit (The Grand Theatre, London), White Biting Dog (Soulpepper), Such Creatures (Nightswimming and Theatre Passe Muraille), Death of a Chief (Native Earth), James and the Giant Peach and To Kill a Mockingbird (Young Peoples’ Theatre) and Frankenstein’s Boy (Eldritch Theatre). She has taught stage combat across Canada and Europe, including London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Munich, Brittany, Norway, Finland, Estonia, and Sweden, and will be teaching at the upcoming World Stage Combat Conference. Acting credits include And Then The Lights Went Out (Stage West, Calgary), Mo and Jess Kill Susie (Harley Dog Productions), and Hogtown. For further acting credits, please go to www.SiobhanRichardson.com/actor. When not pursuing her performance career, she and her partner run Burning Mountain, dedicated to the growth and development of stage combat for the art form and for the artists.
Check out the upcoming workshop on Intimacy For The Stage: www.BurningMountain.ca/connect/StageIntimacy
Cast Spotlight: Dave Walpole
Dave Walpole plays the thick-headed con man, Carlino, in Wait Until Dark.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself, what do you do when you’re not rehearsing for Wait Until Dark?
I’m a commuter. Coming from Hamilton, Ontario, and outside of rehearsing for Wait Until Dark, I am a host on several Youtube shows called on Informoverload, FTD Facts and my own show called The Ivy Show, really funny check it out. I come to work in Toronto every day. I work in the industry, and act. I’m spending time at the gym prepping for a role with Livingston Studios for a film called The Weekend. Other then that I’m a humble dude, waiting for my brother to return from teaching English in China in order to party. Outside of this industry I write working on two screen plays. And besides working kicking back and playing a good online xbox game is always fun.
2. How did you hear about the show? What made you want to get involved?
I heard about the show through a casting website called Mandy. I wanted to do this because I’m a fan of the film, and my mom once told me she saw a play version of it and it scared her to death, even after seeing the film. So I just wanted to be apart of that same magic my mom experienced. And I like the classical stuff, or retro what ever we would call a play form the 60’s. Always had a desire to do Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore, or Shot in the Dark.
3. What has been your most rewarding moment in rehearsal so far?
My most rewarding part of rehearsing has been playing a character I didn’t initially see myself playing, but that’s the industry and you work with it. Carlino is a fun character, and getting into the way he thinks is fun. I’m enjoying my cast they are all really talented and cool people. And seeing Abby who is playing Gloria throwing pans around the rehearsal set. Also hearing Shannon say “Mike, Sam, Gloria” is hilarious. But over all love working with Emily, she’s a good director that is very constructive and gives great suggestions and actions to expand our scene work.
4. How do you prepare for playing a role like Carlino?
How do I prepare for Carlino. Well first know your lines, but don’t just know them study them. It is a big challenge with the amount of work I am doing at the same time of prepping for this play. But when it comes to studying lines I ask myself, “why do I, as Carlino, basically do and say what I say, how do I feel, why do I walk over in this direction?” You have to think a bit about that to understand the character and then feel the character. Carlino is an interesting character as in he’s a bit childish, with muscle. He’s impulsive and not to bright. He uses his words to keep people way from him ever having to use his brass knuckles cause the truth is he’s never used them. He’s lying to himself and I love it, because Carlino has to believe his own lies.
5. Why should everyone come see the show?
Well first of all it’s a classic or like I said Retro. Great time out. Bygone is fun indie theatre, where it’s a little more intimate, and down to earth then your bigger productions. The cast is fantastic, and the story is great. The ending is one that you will definitely remember. We have some amazing actors, and even some great young talent.
6. Anything else you want to add?
Follow me on my Youtube channel and tune in to the Ivy show. It’s a show that features me and a foul mouth long haired Chihuahua named Ivy.
Catch Dave onstage from April 14-16th in the rehearsal hall of Tarragon Theatre. Tickets available online.
Cast Spotlight – Mark Nocent
Mark Nocent plays the con man Mike in our upcoming production of Wait Until Dark. Mark and director Emily Dix had first worked together back in 2012 on a short play titled Noble Savages for the Newborn Theatre Odds & Ends Festival.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself, what do you do when you’re not rehearsing for Wait Until Dark?
I hold a position with an escape game company, which runs games out of Casa Loma. I’ve been performing within games for a number of rewarding months, and recently became a puzzle fabricator for their newest game, Station M, a spy themed game set in the tunnels of the castle. I’m building a board game currently, and just generally enjoying life!
2. How did you hear about the show? What made you want to get involved?
Emily reached out to me, and I had wanted to work with her again after doing a short one act a number of years ago. She sent me the script for WUD and I loved it, so I had to audition.
3. What has been your favourite moment in rehearsal so far?
Jeeeze, so many. Cynical life lessons for Abby, terrific Italian accents, 1950’s radio shows, discussions about dead bodies. Plus the process itself is a pleasure with such a great group of humans.
4. How do you prepare for playing a role like Mike?
Mike is certainly in my wheelshouse, but there’s a lot of tension going on in every scene, and prepping for it has involved combing the scenes looking for moments to de-stress, and how Mike can do that.
5. Why should everyone come see the show?
This show is fun. The audience is immediately let in on the plan, and gets to watch it unfold, and watch the characters sweat when things go wrong. It’s a thriller, who wouldn’t want to see it?
See Mark in this captivating thriller April 14-16th in the rehearsal hall at Tarragon Theatre. Tickets on sale now.
Earlybird Discount for WAIT UNTIL DARK
Tickets are now available for next month’s production of Wait Until Dark, and we have a special Earlybird Discount running from now until April 1st; buy your ticket now and pay only $20, 20% off of the regular ticket price! Limited quantities available, so get yours soon at waituntildarkto.bpt.me or by using the widget below.
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Click Here to visit the Brown Paper Tickets event page.
CASTING CALL – Audition Submissions Now Open for “WAIT UNTIL DARK”
SHOW INFO
Bygone Theatre is looking to cast the 60’s thriller, Wait Until Dark.
Non-union, profit-share production.
Show runs from April 14-16th, 2016 in the rehearsal hall at Tarragon Theatre. 5 performances.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWNS
ROAT: Lead, mid 30s – 50s, murderer & theif, intelligent, actor must be able to do a few distinct voices.
SUSY: Lead, mid 20s – early 30s, blind, a housewife (married to Sam).
MIKE: Supporting, mid 20s – early 30s, con artist recently released from jail. Not a totally bad guy, but very manipulative.
CARLINO: Supporting, mid 20s – early 30s, con artist.
SAM: Supporting, mid 20s – mid 30s, photographer, ex-marine, Susy’s husband.
GLORIA: Supporting, young girl, around 10 (**open to casting a child or a young looking woman, children under 18 must have parental consent). Stubborn & strong-willed.
POLICE OFFICERS (2): Minor, 25+
SYNOPSIS
A sinister con man, Roat, and two ex-convicts, Mike and Carlino, are about to meet their match. They have traced the location of a mysterious doll, which they are much interested in, to the Greenwich Village apartment of Sam Hendrix and his blind wife, Susy. Sam had apparently been persuaded by a strange woman to transport the doll across the Canadian border, not knowing that sewn inside were several grams of heroin. When the woman is murdered the situation becomes more urgent. The con man and his ex-convicts, through a cleverly constructed deception, convince Susy that the police have implicated Sam in the woman’s murder, and the doll, which she believes is the key to his innocence, is evidence. She refuses to reveal its location, and with the help of a young neighbor, figures out she is the victim of a bizarre charade. But when Roat kills his associates, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues between the two. Susy knows the only way to play fair is by her rules, so when darkness falls she turns off all the lights leaving both of them to maneuver in the dark until the game ends. (from Dramatist Play Service website).
AUDITIONS
To apply for an audition, send a recent headshot & artistic resume to director Emily Dix at emily@bygonetheatre.com, with the subject line: “Wait Until Dark Auditions”, no later than 5:00PM ON MONDAY FEBRUARY 1ST, 2016. Those selected to audition will be contacted via email to arrange a time.
Rope: Opening Weekend
On Friday Rope opened to a packed audience; our Opening Night Gala was a hit and the show was a smashing success. I’m so proud of all those who have been involved and it was wonderful to finally see everything fall into place onstage. This Saturday November 22nd we have two performances; a 2:00pm matinee, which as of late Friday night is 78% sold out and a 7:30pm evening show, which is currently 93% sold out. It’s great to have such full houses and we open the show is received well!
If you would like to get tickets to this weekend’s performance, check out TOtix.ca. Tickets can be purchased online up to 2 hours before the event. After that, tickets can only be purchased at the door; cash only, please.
If you are unable to join us for opening weekend, not to fear! Next Friday November 28th we have a 2:00pm PWYC matinee for Arts Workers and a 7:30pm performance. On Saturday November 29th we have a 2:00pm matinee and we close that evening at 7:30pm.
Caitlin Robson in Bygone Theatre’s Rope.
Elizabeth Rose Morriss and Ian McGarrett in Bygone Theatre’s Rope
All photos courtesy of the talented Danielle Son; check out her website here: http://www.logosphotography.org/.
To see the rest of the production stills check out our facebook page.
More updates coming soon!
-E
“Rope” Opens in One Week!
On September 15, 2014, the cast of Rope met for our first read-through. After a single reading, I knew I had made the right casting choices. We had an incredibly talented group of actors, and thankfully, everyone got along from the start.
We got into rehearsals right away, and quickly started making interesting discoveries about the text. The onstage chemistry grew fast, and offstage new friendships started to form.
We put together an awesome fundraiser, Retro Radio Hour – Suspense! and got to see everyone’s comic side.
And a glamourous side as well.
As the show progressed, and intensity grew, I started to get really pumped about the show. Despite seeing scenes over a dozen times, these guys were giving me chills. I knew we had something great.
In one week we will open at the Gibson House Museum. It has been 2 months of hard work but it has certainly been worth it. Don’t miss your chance to see this amazingly talented cast; Leete Stetson, Nicholas Arnold, Jamieson Child, Chelsey MacLean, Matt McGrath, Ian McGarrett, Elizabeth Rose Morriss and Caitlin Robson.
Join us for our opening night gala at 7:00pm on Friday November 21; show starts at 7:30pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance through TO Tix.
-E.
Rope – Cast Spotlight – Jamieson Child
Our next cast spotlight is on the talented Jamieson Child who plays the lame poet, Rupert Cadell in Rope.
1. What first attracted you to Bygone Theatre and this production of Rope?
The social traffic we commute, our relationships and head games we as people play on an everyday basis give me reason enough to stay interested in living sometimes. Its even more intriguing when you look at individuals who are capable of murder. What we think about in private and what we do in public… Rope is a play surrounding these topics; it provides a looking glass into the anatomy of the act of killing with full conscious realization and it’s downfall. What is not to like?
2. What challenges have you faced working on a site-specific play that runs in real time?
It’s challenging to be so confined to your play space with the other actors and drama of the story as it unfolds being in one room. There isn’t much breathing room. However this only later adds to the suffocating tension, which is the perfect mood to be in for this story.
3. What have you done to prepare for your role?
To prepare for playing Rupert I:
– Started walking with a limp.
– Keep repeating my lines in an attempt to find my own characters articulate and uncomfortable 1930’s dialect.
– Take a supply of vitamins and ‘brain foods’ to enhance my otherwise dull cognition
– Drink a lot of coffee.
– Try not to look at myself in the mirror.
– Have been trying to find the comfort zone in being a complete inappropriate ass to everyone in the play.
4. What has been your favourite part of the rehearsal process so far?
I have most enjoyed building up a new foundation around myself based on the character I’m playing, and uncovering his own traits within myself. All of which are a little too revealing the more I go on. Also this is a great cast and crew truly, so loosening up and bonding with them is an experience I traditionally loath going into but have started to cherish 🙂
5. Why should everyone come and see Rope?
Why should YOU come out to see real humans acting up in stimulating theatre at your very feet, with your hard earned movie/ beer/ Tigerbeat magazine/ McD’s dollars in a play called Rope? Read all the above, or watch the Alfred Hitchcock film and honestly say you aren’t a little tickled.
Want to check out Jamieson on stage? Get your tickets now through TO Tix.
Bygone Theatre 