What is your role in this production? I am playing Solange Lafitte, a chic French woman, who has been running a successful business since leaving the Follies. I play one of the mature characters – possibly the most mature!What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I have been around Walterdale longer than I care to remember! In that time, I have stage managed, done lights, props, written the newsletter, production managed, done Front of House and acted. The last time I performed was in Black Hearts in the Green Room. (Jackie is the Jack Wilson Award Recipient for 2013-14)
Follies is all about nostalgia and the theatre… got any good theatre stories? My best theatre story was when I played the front end of Pedro the pony in the pantomime. At the beginning of Act 2, when we were supposed to be going on, my “back end” was in the “loo” and I had to enter as half a horse! My other end came running in just in time for us to do”Tea for Two” to the roars of the audience!
Growing up in England, my father took the family to see musicals at a very young age, which certainly led to my passion for musical theatre. So to be in a show like this is like a dream come true!
What is the most challenging this about doing this show? The most challenging thing is the dancing but I am certainly enjoying the ride!
What is the best thing about doing the show? The best thing about being in the show is working with such a large cast of very talented young and “old” people, the atmosphere, the buzz – you name it!!
Follies runs July 5- 15! Call 780.420.1757 or go to www.tixonthesquare.ca for tickets!