The challenges of bringing multiple characters and time periods to life in Loveplay
There is something special about the energy in the lobby after a great performance. You have to be there to experience the animated chatter and provocative discussion of the play. That experience is what sets live theatre apart from television or movies. The players are all in the same room with the audience.
This Thursday, Oct. 30 the opening night of Loveplay at U of A Studio Theatre was certainly filled with that energy. The performance was funny, smart & poignant throughout and the cast and crew pulled it off beautifully. It helps that Moira Buffini is an extremely smart feminist with a crackling wit that she threads throughout the play.
Earlier in the week, Angelique and I spoke with Jan Selman and Morgan Yamada asking them why they enjoy Buffini’s work, and what sort of learning experiences were gleaned from putting multiple characters up on stage throughout an extensive array of time periods.
Presenter: U of A Studio Theatre
Event Title: Moira Buffini Festival
Featuring: Loveplay by Moira Buffini, on now until November 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Matinee November 6 at 12:30 p.m.
No shows on Sunday.
Venue: Timms Centre for the Arts, University of Alberta
Single show tickets: $11 student, $22 adult, $20 senior available online now at TIX on the Square and at the Timms Centre box office one hour before each performance.
Directed by Arts faculty member Jan Selman and designed by faculty member Robert Shannon (sets and costumes) with MFA theatre design candidate Zsófia Opra Szabó (lights), Loveplay features UAlberta BFA Acting students from the graduating class of 2015: Nikki Hulowski, Maxwell Theodore Lebeuf, Kabriel Lilly, Dylan Parsons, Zvonimir Rac and Morgan Yamada.