Member Profile – Page 9 – Walterdale Theatre

Meet the Cast of THE WOMEN – Trish Van Doornum is the Countess de Lage!

What is your role in The Women? In The Women, I play the Countess de Lage – a lady of leisure and many former husbands. She loves to see & be seen and host fabulous parties at The Casino Roof. She never knows who will be there but everyone has clamoured to come!

What is your background in theatre? In Edmonton? At Walterdale? I started doing theatre in my teens and then went on to pursue a drama performance diploma from Keyano College & my BFA from the University of Lethbridge. I’ve lived in Edmonton for 15 years and have done lots of shows with many groups, mostly musicals. This is my 6th Walterdale show – my last one was directing Jesus Master Builder at From Cradle To Stage in 2015.

What brought you out for The Women? Originally I hadn’t planned on auditioning but the lure of doing a show with an all female cast & artistic team was too great. I had just done an all female show at the Fringe and was directing Little Women The Musical at the time. With such great experiences from strong female driven shows I thought, “what the heck” and when I was offered the role of the Countess I just couldn’t say no.

What do you think audiences will take away from the show? Why do you think they should come and see it? We as women can have really intense and really strange relationships with the other women in our lives. We are given mixed messages of showing empathy and being nurturing while viewing other women as competition. This show holds the mirror up to that part of us. Clare Booth Luce really understood the complexity of these relationships and the characters are all at various levels on the spectrum of empathy to outright ice cold competitive.

What do you think is the most important issue facing women today (in North America? Globally?)? Why? There are so many issues facing women today that no one takes precedence over another. My awesome cast mates have mentioned having total agency over our bodies in our reproductive health, pay equality and equal representation. In our current vitriolic political climate, my one hope is that those of us who have been lucky to be born into or worked our asses off to earn these kinds of freedoms can learn to overcome the impulse judge or oppress women who have not been as fortunate. We have the opportunity to use our privilege to help those women who are under-represented. Taking time to mentor a young woman, supporting a small business led by women or even learning to be conscientious in how we engage in discussions about other women are small, incremental things that we can do to build change around us and lead the way for others.

Meet the Director of THE WOMEN – Catherine Wenschlag!

What is your role on The Women? What does that entail? I’m the director – a statement that fills me with equal parts joy and anxiety. As the director, I chose the play, put together a design team, auditioned and cast the actors, and am now working with everyone to put it all together.

What is your background in theatre? In Edmonton? At Walterdale? Since getting involved with theatre at the young age of 8, I’ve been an actor, stage manager, lighting operator, production manager, administrator, box office manager, and – most recently – a director. I’ve been with Walterdale since 2009 and am truly thrilled to be directing my second show here, following The Sunset Syndrome in 2016.

Why did you choose this script for Walterdale? There are three main things that led me to choose The Women. First, the sheer number of women involved – I have 17 actors playing 39 characters and it’s been a joy going on this adventure with them. I feel it really serves the Walterdale community to have a large female cast. Second, the humour – it’s biting and witty and dark and physical and so fun to play with! And third, the chance to tell an 80 year old story and show how it’s still relevant today.

What do you think audiences will take away from the show? Why do you think they should come and see it? My hope is that people will have a wonderful time watching the show, and then, perhaps they will have a conversation with their friends about the characters, their choices, even the role women play in the world today – and how they can grow and change that role in their own circle of influence.

What is the most challenging obstacle that you think women have overcome in the last century? In many ways, I think the biggest obstacles we’ve overcome are the ones we’re still jumping the hurdles of to get even further ahead. To have the vote, birth control, the freedom to leave an abusive partner – these were amazing accomplishments. But we have so far to go – in getting more women voted in to positions of power, stopping men (or anyone) from deciding what a woman can do with her body, and ending all domestic violence are still a ways off – but not impossible. Especially if we can see and treat other women as our allies, not enemies, and work together.

Meet the Cast of THE WOMEN – Lilianna Coyes-Loiselle is Little Mary

What is your role in The Women? I play Little Mary, Mary’s daughter. Little Mary is a smart, sensitive little girl who’s got an attitude. She wants nothing to with being a girl and loathes the fact that she is turning into a woman.

What is your background in theatre? In Edmonton? At Walterdale? This is my first show at the Walterale!! I graduated from JH Picard High School last year where I was involved in several shows including Othello, Amadeus, and Alice.

What brought you out for The Women? I wanted to continue doing theatre after high school and auditioning for The Women at the Walterdale was the perfect opportunity! Plus… an all female cast!? I was totally in after that. 🙂

What do you think audiences will take away from the show? Why do you think they should come and see it? That all men cheat on their wives and women can’t trust each other. Just kidding. After seeing the show, I think audiences will be much more grateful for the supportive friends they have who they can confide and trust in.

What is the most challenging obstacle that you think women have overcome in the last century? What a hard question! Women have overcome so much in the last century it’s hard to pick one single obstacle. I would say though that the biggest obstacle women have faced in the last century is shifting from being confined to the private sphere of the home to the public sphere. One hundred years ago, women were trapped in their own homes as well as their role of taking care of her husband, kids, and the house. Breaking free from this role and becoming a part of the public sphere was extremely challenging and took a lot of courage and determination. I think that when women overcame this, the wheels were set in motion for the rest of the changes towards women’s rights and empowerment that happened and continue to happen throughout history. Based on the news and what everyone is talking about today, I think the sexual abuse problem that has blown up around the world is the most important issue facing women today. We’ve come a long way, but issues like this remind us that we are still a very long way off.

Meet the Cast of THE WOMEN – Jenn Robinson is Edith Potter!

What is your role in The Women? I am playing Edith Potter. She is new money and doesn’t quite fit in with her high society friends. She is often saying or doing the wrong things, but it doesn’t phase her at all. She is perpetually pregnant, always eating, and a total blast to play.

What is your background in theatre? In Edmonton? At Walterdale? I took drama classes in school but haven’t really done much since. A few years ago I started taking vocal lessons with Edmonton Vocal Arts. That inspired me to get involved with acting again and since then I’ve taken courses at the Foote Theatre and became involved with Actor’s Gym. I worked as assistant stage manager on Boeing Boeing at the Walterdale a few years ago and I loved it. I am very excited to be working with Walterdale again, this time in front of the curtain.

What brought you out for The Women? I had a great time working on the last show I was involved with at the Walterdale, and I thought it would be the perfect place to get back into theatre. I was also very interested in being a part of an all female production, and have had an amazing time working with all of these hilarious and incredibly talented women.

What do you think audiences will take away from the show? Why do you think they should come and see it? I hope they laugh their asses off but then go home afterwards and think ‘damn that’s real’. Our director Catherine Wenschlag has done an incredible job of bringing this show into our century and creating situations and relationships that are still relevant and real in our current society. I think on the surface our show is very funny and will have audiences laughing, but at the core it is a very insightful glimpse into women’s roles in society and the complexities of female friendships. Other women can be our best friends and our greatest enemies.

What do you think is the most important issue facing women today (in North America? Globally?)? Why? I think one of the biggest obstacles women continue to face today is sexual harassment, especially in the work place. We have witnessed the downfall of many powerful male celebrities over the past few months due to sexual harassment claims and charges. Sadly this is not new, it’s just finally being talked about by the media. Women have been dealing with this for decades, forced to remain silent for fear of losing their jobs, being judged, or worse not being believed. It’s about time people are finally talking about it, and taking steps to fight it. It’s beautiful the way women are banding together to support each other. But this fight is not over, and it won’t be until women are in a place where they feel safe and comfortable to come forward about sexual harassment in their work place, or god forbid when we live in a time where women no longer have to face that abuse at all.

Meet the Cast of THE WOMEN – Katelyn Arthurs is Miriam Aarons!

What is your role in The Women? I play Miriam Aarons, an ex-chorus girl turned musical theatre star. She’s a scrappy, sassy, witty character who is no stranger to doing what she has to do to survive in a man’s world.

What is your background in theatre? In Edmonton? At Walterdale? I’ve done a few shows at the Walterdale and around Edmonton, and before that some community theatre as I nomaded around the country. Walterdale keeps having me, so I keep coming back!

What brought you out for The Women? I’ve always wanted to work with Catherine (our director), and when she had mentioned this show a while back, I already dibs-ed an audition slot! The script is also fascinating, being that it was written in 1936, and a lot of it still rings true. It’s still a very timely piece that takes a look at relationships, social climates, and the importance of thinking for yourself.

What do you think audiences will take away from the show? Why do you think they should come and see it? First of all, the set and the costumes are gorgeous. Secondly, Clare Boothe Luce was a fantastic writer who produced a fantastic, biting script that is peppered with humour, sincerity, and brutal honesty. Last but not least, the incredible amount of talent in the show. The cast is incredible and it’s been really great working alongside this many talented women… not to mention the best rehearsal conversations EVER. I foresee a great talk-back on the talk-back evening during the run!

What do you think is the most important issue facing women today (in North America? Globally?)? Why? The ability to have total agency over their bodies. Women’s health issues and decisions concerning them are too often made in rooms where there are no women present, or even consulted. In 2018, it is frightening to be able to say that in certain areas of first world countries, it is easier for a woman to buy a gun than to access birth control. Women face a tremendous amount of scrutiny in regards to their reproductive health, when it should be no one’s business but theirs and their doctor… who may or may not respect their wishes as well. While we are fortunate to live somewhere with more progressive laws, it seems that every time someone makes some progress, someone else takes two steps back. Women have a powerful voice and I’m proud to be part of a generation that is using it for change.

Meet the Team of THE WOMEN – Brooke Emberly is the Master Painter!

What is your role on The Women? My name is Brooke Emberly, and I am the Master Painter on The Women coming up next at Walterdale Theatre. Being Master Painter means I am directly in charge of making sure the Designers and Directors dream of the set comes to life, in the form of paint. I am in charge of acquiring the appropriate paints for the palette of the show, applying the techniques and textures required, and overseeing all those who help with this process to be sure everything looks uniform. In the paint department, we are the last ones to work but the first thing you see when entering the theatre!

What is your background in theatre? In Edmonton? At Walterdale? I graduated from the Theatre Production course at Grant MacEwan University in May of 2015. Before that, my experience with theatre was the acting I did in high school. I was always interested in the ‘behind the stage’ magic, and wanted a job that would always bring new and exciting challenges. Since graduating, I’ve had the good fortune to stay active by volunteering with Walterdale Theatre, light-walking at the Citadel Theatre, working concerts with our local IATSE 210, as well as my festival work with The Works during the summer months. Through these connections, I had the opportunity to work on the props for the music video Second Attack by Striker. Although it was volunteer work, it was an amazing experience that I’m so grateful to have been able to learn from.

What brought you out for The Women? I was actually head-hunted for this position, which is an extraordinarily humbling experience. After working on the paint crew for Othello, another show put on by The Walterdale, I was asked to come back in a leadership position for this show. I am so excited to be working with the people I do, and equally as excited to see how this all comes together!

What do you think audiences will take away from the show? Although The Women was created in the 1930’s, many of the issues it revolves around are very relevant today. At its core, this show is about stability, respect, trust, and feeling honoured and wanted. These are all things that anyone, of any gender, can relate to. Through its zany scenes juxtaposed against its serious ones, this slice of life play works through many of the truly human issues we still face. I honestly believe that there are so many ways to interpret this play, that you just have to some see it for itself to see what it says to YOU!

What do you think is the most important issue facing women today? Why? We currently live in an amazing era where information (and inevitably, misinformation) can be shared globally at the click of a button. This means, issues that were never being addressed before on large scale levels are being recognized and sought out. Unfortunately, we also live in an age where it is easier, and ‘trendy,’ to pretend that legitimate issues that plague thousands are just cases of people being ‘too sensitive’ or ‘too pc.’ There is an awkward tug-of-war happening where the newer generation see’s these issues and wishes to take the reins and fix them, yet the older generation is not ready to give up control or change old ‘bad habits’ for the better. This has always been the case as one generation gets ready to overtake the other, (i.e. the ‘Greatest Generation’ verses the ‘Baby Boomers’ in the hippie movements, rock and roll movements, etc…) however there is the added complexity of technology that spreads these debates quicker, more aggressively and more anonymously. Of course, it is not all as cut and dry as all of that, as there are people from each generation that go against the grain of the masses in either positive or negative ways; but it still stands to show that the most challenging obstacle facing women today is the ability to legitimately be heard, recognized, trusted and understood above the roar of nay-sayers and the cloud of misinformation and abuse. After all, those who are in the wrong are often the loudest of them all.

Meet the Cast of THE WOMEN – Julie Whelan is Crystal!

What is your role in The Women? I play Crystal Allen, one of the more obvious antagonists of the play. She is a lower class woman who uses cunning strategy and sexuality to climb the social ladder.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I have no background in theatre! I’m the newest member of the Walterdale family and The Women is my theatrical debut.

What brought you out for the show? I have a client who is a talented musical theatre actress and she suggested that I give the Walterdale a try. Honestly, I was looking for a new hobby since my children are school aged and I finally have some time for myself. When Catherine sent me the script, I knew immediately that this was a project I wanted to be a part of.

Why do you think audiences should come and see the show? The play is hilarious on the surface but also provokes some serious thought on the obstacles women have overcome since 1936 and the challenges we are still faced with today. People who want a good laugh and some serious food for thought need to come see this play. The cast is also made up entirely of incredibly talented women who bring so much color to the play.

What do you think is the most important issue facing women today (in North America? Globally?)? Why? Access to birth control and safe abortions. This is an obstacle for women worldwide. While we have much better access here in North America vs. many other parts of the globe, we still aren’t free from the judgment, harassment and lack of privacy when it comes to our right to choose. In this political climate it seems we’ve taken two steps back in this category- and that’s frightening!

Meet the Team of SHATTER – Savanna Harvey is the Lighting and Sound Designer

What is your role on this production? Light and sound designer.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I started with Walterdale as Assistant Director for Jennie’s Story (2014). I was also Associate Dramaturg for the Cradle to Stage play Bottled Up (2016).

What brought you out for this show? I’m an independent creator-performer, and I’ve wanted to learn more about light and sound design for ages. What better way to learn than by doing?!

What do you think audiences will take away from this show? Why should they come and see it? I may be a little biased, but I think the lighting design for Shatter is really cool. I tried to design a unique aesthetic (flashlights and shadow puppetry) on top of stage lighting that would compliment the themes in the text. Watch out for shadows, suspicion, and fragmentation!

Shatter deals with a major event in Canadian history that Canadians today might not know too much about. Are there any other major events in Canadian history that you feel we should know more about that we do? I don’t know much about Canadian history, but I am involved in its present. I participated in the Edmonton Women’s March on Washington last January. Collectively, these marches were the largest civil rights march in history. The event aimed to be intersectional, inclusive, and international, supporting of the rights of all women and femmes. It was an incredible experience – it’s not often you have the opportunity to actively participate in history! I ended up making an art exhibit about the experience called ARTifacts of Protest. If you’re interested in learning more about the march, I’m presenting the exhibit and a lecture at the University of Alberta for International Week (January 2018).

Meet the Team of SHATTER – Rebecca Collins is the ASM!

What is your role in/on this production? I am the Assistant Stage Manager for Walterdale’s production of Shatter. I communicate between creative departments and help keep track of the actors during performance. The Shatter creative team has been incredibly collaborative, and I feel privileged to have analyzed the play with the performers in rehearsal. My favorite part of being the Assistant Stage Manager is bringing Jordan Campion coffee.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? My first acting role was tree 1 of 3, in my grade three class production of Hansel and Gretel. However, it was my fifth grade after school drama class production of A Christmas Carol and my role as Ghost of Christmas Past that truly inspired my love of theatre. I have since grown to become a theatre and humanities educator with Edmonton Public Schools. I have worked creatively in theatre as an actor, designer, director, and now assistant stage manager! Shatter is my first Walterdale production and I have loved exploring the space and getting to know the wonderful group of people who make theatre magic happen!

What brought you out for this show? I attended the University of Alberta with the director of Shatter, Josh Languedoc. Over our time in university, Josh and I collaborated on many artistic projects, including attending the Indra Congress in Derry/Londonderry Northern Ireland. When Josh expressed that he was looking to build his creative team for this production I jumped at the opportunity to work with him again. I have wanted to work on a play with Walterdale for many years and I had a chance to finally bring my dream to fruition.

What do you think audiences will take away from this show? Why should they come and see it? Shatter is a poignant and relatable story to our current socio-political climate. Opening on the 100^th anniversary of this major Canadian tragedy, Shatter reminds audiences that we haven’t come quite as far as we would like to think we have. In the face of danger and disaster, fear can still blind us and make us distrust our neighbors. As a social studies teacher, I believe that we study the past to find connections between the past and our present while making predication about our future. I hope that audiences will reflect on the mistakes Canadians have made before and think about how they as individuals can influence our future. I think audiences should come and see Shatter because Trina Davies’ story is truly captivating and will deepen their understanding of a terrible Canadian tragedy.

I think that a lot of young Canadians don’t know a lot about the 1970 October Crisis. The Front de liberation du Québec (FLQ) kidnapped British diplomat James Cross and provincial cabinet Minister of Labour Pierre Laporte, declaring them political prisoners. The FLQ forced CBC to broadcast their manifesto, and a letter of captivity from Pierre Laporte. Laporte was eventually executed by the FLQ, his body found strangled in the trunk of a car.

There were multiple bombings through out Quebec, primarily in Montreal, detonated by FLQ members. Pierre Elliot Trudeau invoked the War Measure Act and had military enforcement patrolling the streets of Quebec. The October Crisis is the only time in Canadian history the War Measures Act has been invoked during peace times.

I think it is important that Canadians understand the October Crisis for a number reasons. One good reason to know about this part of Canadian history is to know how our fellow Canadians have responded to political unrest. The October Crisis is a bloody, vulgar, and shocking part of our not so distant past.

Meet the Team of SHATTER – Austin Lohouse is the Props Master!

What is your role on this production? I am the one the Props Masters for this show and that involves created and altering all sorts of props and set decorations

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I went the MacEwan University for theatre production for 2 years and worked with Mile Zero Dance on their show Anything Goes A Dance in 17 Parts. This is my first show with Walterdale.

What brought you out for this production? As I was chatting with Rachel (the other props master for this show) over coffee she invited me to the first production meeting where I introduced myself and the rest is history

What do you think audiences will take away from this production? Audiences should take away a sense of astonishment for the subject matter. The cultural climate of this show mirrors that of today eerily. I’m certain many people will see the parallels.

Shatter deals with a major event in Canadian history that Canadians today might not know too much about. Are there any other major events in Canadian history that you feel we should know more about that we do? Until I joined onto this show I didn’t know of this event either so it’s been very interesting and exciting learning about the times as we go into this more. There is a lot of Canadian history that gets glossed over and that we forget as we get out of school, an event that I have been attracted recently is the creation and spread of the Canadian Pacific Railway until 1885.