An Interview with Darcy Ferrier

Darcy Ferrier on playing Charlie

in On Golden Pond

Darcy, you play the role of Charlie in On Golden Pond.  Tell us about your character.

 Charlie is the postman who delivers the mail on Golden Pond.  He has spent his entire life living there.  I would describe him as a simple individual; he is a happy go lucky guy.  He’s 44 and has been enamored with Chelsea since they  were kids.

The other characters in the play are very deep, very complex, with lots going on under the surface, but Charlie is uncomplicated.  With Charlie, what you see is what you get.  He provides a lot of comic relief in the play.

How many Guild shows have you been in?  And what do you like about being part of community theatre?

 I have been in 13 shows with the Guild, I think.  I love theatre.  It’s so much fun to escape into another character.  There’s this world that’s been created by the playwright…the director refines it…and then the actors breathe life into the parts.  Every production is unique.  It’s fun and exciting to get to create a world for the audience to experience. 

 

Darcy in Leading Ladies.

Tell us about your acting background…

 Well, I started acting in high school, but took a long break, so I didn’t get back into it until my forties.  My first role with the Guild was in Office Hours, also directed by Clint Hames.  My absolute favourite role so far has to be Freddy in Noises Off.  Even the rehearsals were hilariously funny! 

Most people dread having to perform or speak  in front of others.  As an experienced actor, do you ever get stage fright? 

 Yup, just before I go on stage, I feel nervous and a certain amount of apprehension.  I think it must be the adrenalin kicking in.  I think acting is similar to doing extreme sports:  it’s this weird combination of fear and exhiliration. 

What do you like about being a member of The Chilliwack Players Guild?

 It’s so comfortable!  It’s easy to get to know people, and there is a really high level of professionalism.  Everyone is doing his or her best.  The expectations are high and people live up to them. 

You’ve been directed by Clint before.  Tell us about him as a director.

 This is the fourth time I have been directed by Clint.  He is a great director, very meticulous, and so good to work with.  He is very open to allowing the actors to create their own versions of the characters.  And Becky, our stage manager, is very attentive to the needs of the actors.  This creates tremendous confidence for the actors.  We are lucky to be supported by really great and talented people. 

 

Darcy in rehearsals for On Golden Pond alongside cast member Joan.

Why should folks come to see On Golden Pond?

 Because it’s a lovely story!  It’s one of those scripts that makes you think about your own life and your own relationships.  It’s touching and very beautiful.  I know audiences will love it. 

An Interview with Jeff Hanson

Jeff Hanson on playing Bill Ray

in On Golden Pond

Jeff, is this your first Guild production?

Yes, it is.  I play the role of Bill Ray, Chelsea’s boyfriend.  Bill has a son from a previous marriage named, Billy.  In the play, Chelsea, Bill and Billy come to Golden Pond so that  Ethel and Norman can meet Bill and Billy Ray.

Have you acted before?

 Yes… I was involved in theatre in high school.  I originally thought of going into radio broadcasting, a so I went to university to study communication arts and theatre.  During my time at university, I worked on productions.  I also taught drama in high school in Alberta.  I have always wanted to get back into theatre;  here I am, 21 years later, returning to the stage!

 

Jeff's headshot for On Golden Pond

You have a bit of a theatrical family, don’t you?

 Yes, my daughters, Hailey and Malone, are involved with the Chilliwack School of Performing Arts, as is my son, Billy.    I worked backstage in several of the SCOPA productions.  My wife and kids were the ones who encouraged me to audition for On Golden Pond. 

Did you know the play?

 Yes, I love the  play and know it quite well.  I love the story and how the playwright explores the relationships between the characters.   I am also a fan of the movie.  The play really speaks to me! 

Were you surprised when you got the part of Bill Ray, Chelsea’s love interest in the play?

 Totally!  I went to the audition, just for the experience, not expecting to get a part.  There were lots of people there, and it was kind of nerve-wracking.  I read with Graham Archer and I thought to myself that he would make a great Norman.  I never imagined I’d get cast.  

How did you feel when you got the part?

 I thought to myself, now what do I do?!  I mean, how did I learn lines way back then?  I felt a little rusty!  But all the Guild folks made me feel so welcome.  I love going to rehearsals, and I have been learning so much watching Joan and Graham.  I have the perfect role to get myself back into theatre.   It’s not too big, but it’s an important role for the story. 

How would you describe your character, Bill?

 Bill is a city guy, a dentist, who is in love with Chelsea.  In the play, Bill is being introduced to the family for the first time, so there is a lot on the line for him.  He wants to make a good impression.  Chelsea has warned  him that her father is a crotchety old bugger, so he’s a bit nervous to meet Norman.  Bill has a son, Billy Ray, who he trying to straighten out.  So, Bill has a lot on his mind.

 

Jeff in rehearsals for On Golden Pond.

You said that the script really speaks to you.  How so?

 I think because it’s so well written.  The story is timeless, endearing; it touches your heart, and it’s relatable.  So many families struggle with dysfunction, but they love each other, and they try to make the relationships work.  The story is still relevant, and the cast is wonderful, so talented.  It’s dramatic, yes, but there is so much humour in the story.

 And you will be performing on the Chilliwack Cultural Centre stage…

 I have worked backstage, and I’ve been to many productions at the Cultural Centre, and I think it’s an absolute jewel..  We are so lucky to have such a beautiful space in Chilliwack. 

What do you like about acting?

 I think it’s good for the soul to make believe, to pretend.  It’s so rewarding to tell a story.  That’s what acting is:  you make a commitment to tell a story so that the audience can see the playwright’s vision come to life. 

Are you hoping to act in future Guild productions?

 Well, let’s see how this one goes!

An Interview with Joan Hogan

Joan Hogan – Ethel

Joan, how many Guild shows have you been in? 

 Oh, probably 55 or 56, I think! 

Wow!  With so many acting roles to your credit, what are your all-time favourite roles? 

 I would have to say Liza Doolittle in the Guild’s production of Pygmalion, directed by Christine Newsome.  I loved playing the transition from a cockney flower girl to a high class lady.  It was very challenging.  Another of my favourite roles was actually very similar to Liza Doolittle -  I played Rita in Educating Rita,  a story about a woman who is transformed when she goges back to school as an adult and discovers that she is actually very intelligent.  I also loved playing the Reverend Mother in Nunsense; I got to dance, act, sing and do an Irish accent! 

 

Joan as Rita in our 1986 production of Educating Rita with cast mate Alan Davis.

How would you describe Ethel, the character you play in On Golden Pond?

 Well, Ethel is a dramatic role, I would say, even though the play has lots of humour.  Ethel and Norman, her husband, have been together for 48 years, and his health is starting to decline.  Ethel tries to keep his spirits up, and keep peace in the family.  She ties to keep Norman and their daughter, Chelsea, from fighting; she loves them both but like lots of mothers, she finds herself caught in the middle.    Ethel is  very supportive of her husband, but worried about him.  Norman is turning 80; suddenly Ethel  is faced with the possibility that he won’t always be there.  So, she tries to be upbeat, to keep things light.  She’s in a bit in denial, I think. 

Sounds like a story we can all relate to in some way or another…

 Absolutely!  It’s a lovely mix of comedy and drama, very heart warming, with emotional peaks and valleys.  I can really relate to the story because I have gone though similar issues with my own family.  At my age, you start to think about the reality of being in the latter part of your life.  Sometimes in rehearsals, I get goosebumps.  The writing is so beautiful…the characters are so real…

It’s a story about a marriage, a family.  Norman is in a dark place and Ethel is trying to lift him back up.  He is estranged from their daughter, and Ethel sees that time is running out for the two of them to reconcile.  It’s a lovely story, and very hopeful. 

 

Joan and Graham rehearse for On Golden Pond.

Graham Archer is playing the role of Norman.  What’s he like to act with?

 I have known Graham for 30 years, so there is a level of comfort and trust already there.  He is a wonderful actor.  We have a rapport, a connection, to build on.  Because we have connection, each rehearsal allows us to get deeper into the characters.  When you feel comfortable with someone on stage, you can really let go and explore the character.  I am lucky to have that with Graham. 

Joan, you have been a long time Guild member.  What keeps you involved in the Guild?

 The Guild is like a family.  I am from England, where my family still lives, so the friends I have made in the Guild have become my family.  We have grown up together, raised our kids together, been involved with shows together.  I feel very close to the people in the Guild. They are so creative, so hard working.  Being in a show with them is a team effort. 

How many people are involved in a show like On Golden Pond?

 Aside from the actors and the director, Clint Hames, we have a huge crew working on the show:  stage manager, assistant stage manager, backstage crew, props , advertising, producer, make up,  hair, costumes, set construction, set painting, opening night reception…there are a lot of people involved in mounting a show!

Who do you think would enjoy the show?

 Oh, I think the show would appeal to people of all generations.  Everyone will see themselves in the characters and the situation. 

Tell us about being directed by veteran Guild member Clint Hames…

 I love working with Clint!  He is knowledgable; he researches the play; he has a deep understanding of the characters.  He may have different ideas of my character that I do, but he makes suggestions that help me explore the character.  I love his viewpoint.  He listens to what you have to say, is respectful of what you think…he allows you to develop your own interpretation of the character.  I feel so confident in his abilities as a director.  With Clint directing, I know we will have an excellent show. 

An Interview with Miles Merry

Miles Merry on playing Billy Ray Junior

in On Golden Pond

 Tell me a bit about yourself, Miles.

 I am 11 years old in grade six at McCammon Elementary.  I have one older brother...I was born in Chilliwack...I love to sing, play video games, stuff like that.

Is this your first production with the Guild?

 No, I was in Tis the Season and Anne of Green Gables. 

 

Miles on stage in Anne of Green Gables the Musical with cast members Abigail and Kathryn.

How old were you when you were in your first show?

 That was Tis the Season...I was 7 or 8, I think.

You like to sing.  Who is your favourite singing group?

 One Direction.  They are really talented.

Tell me about the character you play in On Golden Pond. 

 I play Billy Ray Junior.  He's thirteen, from California, kind of a "too cool for school" kind of kid.

Miles plays it cool in rehearsals for On Golden Pond.

 Doesn't sound like you.

 No!  He's quite different from me.  I mean, physically we're the same, but he has a bit of an attitude, so thats kind of a stretch.  He tries to hide that he likes to do the things Norman likes to do, like fishing and stuff. 

Norman is his grandpa?

 Right.  Most of my scenes are with Norman (Graham Archer), Ethel (Joan Hogan), and Chelsea (Katy Lowe).

What's it like to be the only kid in the production?

 I'm kind of used to it.  It feels really comfortable.  I like being around adults.  I didn't know the cast when I first came on set, but they are really nice. 

What is the play about?

 I think it's about change, people changing when change is difficult.  It's about a family, and if  you are like one of the characters, you might want to change, too.

How are the rehearsals going?

 Really well.  People are so nice, and I am having fun.  It's a bit of a challenge 'cause it's the biggest role I have ever had.  Lots of lines, but it's exciting. 

Do you get nervous before you perform?  The stage you will be performing on is pretty big! 

 Not really.  I just put myself in the other person's head and then I'm not nervous.  I just kind of pretend I'm in my living room.

Do the kids at school know you are in a play?

 The kids know I'm in theatre...I think there's a rumour that I'm in a TV show! 

What would you like to tell people who are thinking of coming to see the show?

 They should come see it!  They will laugh at parts, and maybe feel a bit nervous at other parts.  I think people will be really into it.  It's a good story. 

Is your family coming to see the show?

 Oh, yeah!  Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa...the whole family. 

Good luck, Miles!

 Thanks. 

Oh, and one more question:  If you could be in any production of a movie or a play, what would it be?

 An action movie, for sure! 

An Interview with Katy Lowe

Katy Lowe on playing Chelsea

in On Golden Pond

 Is On Golden Pond your first show with the Guild?

 Oh, no!  I first became involved with the Guild in 1979, when I was in grade 10!  I was cast in the chorus of Mother Goose.

So you've been acting for awhile? 

 On and off over the years, yes.  I was involved in the Theatre Department at UFV, as well.  I took theatre courses and acted in various plays.

What are some of the roles you've played?

 At UFV, I played Gertrude in Hamlet, the Angel Gabriel in The Mysteries...I was in The Road to Mecca...

Great roles!

 Yes, I've been very lucky.  I was in the Guild's production of Witness for the Prosecution...

Katy as Christine Vole in our 2011 production of Witness for the Prosecution 
along with Ross Biondolillo and Larry Hamm.

And you won the Best Actress Award at the Theatre BC Zone Festival in the spring, is that correct?

 That's right...I actually shared the Best Actress Award with an actress from another group.  I played the part of Claire in an original play by Rick Mawson called Caliban:  Housesitter.  It was a great role. 

What did you do with your Best Actress award?

 It sits on my mantle, and when we have guests, my husband shows it off! 

You play the role of Chelsea in the upcoming production of On Golden Pond.  Describe her for us. 

 Well, she is witty, very smart -- sometimes smart-alecky.  Chelsea is a very no-nonsense kind of woman.  I think she hides a lot of anger and hurt, especially around her relationship with her father, Norman. 

Played by Graham Archer...

 That's right.  Chelsea is trying to change, trying to grow up, but she can't let go of her childhood.  She is successful in her professional life, but she can't seem to sustain relationships.  She hasn't resolved her issues with her father, so she can't move on.  In the play, she's newly married and eager to settle her relationship with her father so she can be happy. 

 In the play, Graham plays a much older man that he is in real life.  What's that like for you acting with a man who isn't really old enough to be your father?

 Graham is absolutely amazing!  When I act with him, I don't see Graham, I see Norman.  He just IS Norman.  He moves like an old man.  He talks like an old man. 

 What do you like about the script? 

 It's a great story about a family relationships.  People will recognize themselves in the characters.  In the play, Chelsea's family does what many families do:  chat superficially about this and that, while lots of things remain unsaid.  Chelsea wants to get the real issues out on the table.  She comes home to face her father and say the things that have remained unsaid between them. 

 

Katy in rehearsals for On Golden Pond with cast member Jeff Hanson.

Sounds very dramatic!

 Oh, it is, but it's also really funny!  And very touching...it's the perfect balance between the two.  The play is very well-written, and all the characters are very rich and realistic.  It will lift an audience up because it's a very hopeful play. 

Who will the play appeal to?

 Everyone!  People with aging parents, people in relationships, people with complicated families.   Bring your tissues, for sure, but be prepared to laugh...a lot! 

What do you enjoy about being involved in Guild shows?

 So many things:  all the people involved are so organized and dependable...and they are all volunteers.  There are so many people involved in this production, so many people building sets, and working on props, costumes, publicity.  As an actor, you feel so supported.  All you have to do is focus on acting.  You feel like you're in good hands.

What is Clint Hames like to work with as a director?

 He's amazing.  I think he has studied every single line of this play...he brings so much humour to the production...it's a great feeling to work with someone who is so capable. 

An Interview with Graham Archer

 Graham Archer on playing Norman

 How long have you been involved with the Guild?

 I joined the Guild in 1979.  At that time, I was working with Clint Hames, and he suggested I help out with the Guild's production of Fiddler on the Roof...

As an actor?

 No, I worked backstage and helped build the set.  I've been involved ever since!

Graham as Freddy in our 1987 production of Noises Off

And you played Tevye, the lead in the 2012 remount of the Guild's production of Fiddler on the Roof.  That must have been very special.

 It was.  The audiences loved the show...it was very gratifying to play such a beloved character.

 

Graham as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (with co-star Linda MacRae)

And now you have been cast as Norman in the upcoming production of On Golden Pond.  Tell us about the role.

 Norman, the patriarch of the family, is 80.  He is a very complex character, as are all the characters in the play.  Norman seems old and crotchety, at times, sharp and with-it at other times.  He can be quite blunt, particularly with his daughter, Chelsea, with whom he has never been close.  His wife, Ethel, is the peacemaker of the family; she tires to smooth the waters between Norman and Chelsea.  But, what makes Norman so interesting to play is that he is extremely intelligent, well educated...the audience can't quite tell if he is merely grumpy or if he  is starting to decline mentally.

Sounds like an acting challenge...

 Yes, it's a very interesting and very challenging role, and quite a journey for an actor to play someone who may be starting to decline mentally, but who is still very sharp in many ways.

So the play revolves around the theme of family relationships?

 That's right.  We see Norman getting closer to his grandson during the course of the play.  He was never a very good father to his own daughter, but he connects with his teenage grandson.  His daughter, Chelsea, is trying to get close to him, but it's hard for him to change how he has interacted with her over the years.  His wife, Ethel, tries to keep the peace. 

What do you like about the play?

 It's very well written, funny, but very touching, too.  Very heartwarming.  The characters are very well drawn, and the relationships among them are rich and complex.  Audience members will recognize themselves in the story.  The play was nominated for many awards when it played on Broadway in the early 80's.  Audience members may remember the movie version which starred Henry and Jane Fonda, and Katherine Hepburn.  It's a play that has stood the test of time.  It's still relevant. 

How are you preparing to play a character who is much older than you are?

 Watching how older people move, their physicality.  Norman is still spry and active, even though he is 80.  It's his mind that is starting to fail him...he is becoming forgetful, so the challenge is to figure out how to play the character so he seems like a real person and not a caricature of an old man.  It's about making choices that show his struggle.  Norman is a man facing a huge challenge.  It's important to keep it emotionally real.

Is Clint Hames, your director, helping with that?

 Yes, as a director, Clint doesn't "tell"...he guides and suggests.  Clint lets the actors find their way through experimentation.  The play is dramatic, yes, but also full of humour, so the actors rely on Clint to help keep the balance between the drama and the comedy.

Graham hard at work on a set while
Guild Member Keith looks on.

What do you like about being a member of the Chilliwack Players Guild?

 The people.  It's a wonderful group of people, very creative and like-minded.  It's really exciting to be involved in a production with so many talented individuals working towards a common artistic goal.  It's the teamwork that I love about theatre. 

An Interview with Clint Hames

Director of On Golden Pond

November 20th - 29th at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre

© Jenna Hauck, The Chilliwack Progress 
Clint, sitting in the Chilliwack Arts Centre theatre seats.

 Clint, you have directed many shows for the Guild.  What is it about On Golden Pond that captured your imagination?

I have always loved the script.  I saw it years ago on stage, and loved it. It’s very well written…great dialogue…very well-crafted…and the story is becoming more real to me at this stage in my life having watched people I really care about go through the changes and stages that happen in the play.  The play is about change and aging…those themes really resonate with me, and I think it’s important to talk about these things.

I am drawn to plays that are well written because they are so  easy to direct!  It’s hard to make a bad play good, even with good actors.  But a play like On Golden Pond, which is so beautifully written, is very hard to mess up. 

What do you look for when you are casting a play?

When I cast any show, I am on the lookout for the person during the audition who can make the person they are acting with better.  At times, when you ask two people to read together, there is an unevenness.  I look for actors who have the ability to elevate the people around them…it’s about interacting and creating energy.  Acting is all about what you give, not what you take. I look for actors who give energy to others. 

 

Here's Clint working with some actors at UFV!

What happens during a typical rehearsal of On Golden Pond?

Well, before rehearsals even start, I prepare by reading and re-reading the script until I have it almost memorized.  Then I start creating pictures in my mind…a series of pictures…almost like a storyboard…of the key moments in the play that tell the story of the play.  Plays have moments when the action rises and ebbs…I try to picture those moments and then, during rehearsals, I try to move the actors from picture to picture. The feedback that I get is that the plays I direct have lovely tableaus in them…

How much do the actors contribute?

Tons!  The actors create the characters, bring the characters to life.  I don’t tell an actor how to do something; instead I will ask questions like, “How do you think your character would be feeling right now, and how could you portray that feeling?”  I direct by asking a lot of questions and then encourage the actors to make the strongest, the most dramatic choices. It’s important that each actor knows what his or her character is doing and why. 

  

What’s a metaphor that would describe the process of directing a show?

It’s like a painting…I imagine directing is like creating a watercolour painting.  First you create the background, and  then add on the next layers... shapes and colours…a tree here…a colour there.  You start with the broad strokes and then eventually you are adding all the little details.  I like to work from the large to the small, adding more and more layers of complexity.  The final phase is to work on the tempo of the play.  One way I do that is to run and re-run the play until the actors feel really confident. 

Which do you prefer,  acting or directing?

I would much rather direct!  I get so much more satisfaction from directing.  Some people love the applause, being on stage.  I would much rather do my bit and then watch what we’ve created together from the audience.  

How many shows have your directed? 

30 or 40, I think. 

And you are a long time Guild member?

I have been in the Guild since 1971. 

Clint in our 1977 Production of Arsenic and Old Lace

Why has the Guild endured and been successful?

Because there is a group of people who are really committed to keeping it going.  I am in the Guild because it provides a creative outlet, for sure, but there is a social aspect to the group, an educational aspect.  The people who are member of the Guild understand it’s bigger than just being in a play…it’s about creating community. 

Why should people come and see On Golden Pond?

Well...it’s a very funny play…extremely entertaining.  They will enjoy the lovely, poignant moments that will bring tears to their eyes…it’s very touching.  I think we can all see ourselves in this play, in these characters.  Norman is the central character and all the action revolves around Norman.  There are many magical moments of transformation in the play, and all of them have something to do with the character of Norman. 

What’s the theme of the play?

Transformation....aging and the impact of aging, I think.  The  play is about how the process of growing up and changing never stop.  Ethel and Norman have to come to terms with the fact that Norman is aging.  Their daughter, Chelsea, has to come to terms with the fact that if she is going to reconcile with her father, then she needs to do it so or it might never happen.  All the characters are running out of time, in one way or another.

One last question:  What does the director do after the show goes up?

Well, I watch every show.  Some directors so their thing and then off they go, but I always feel an intense connection to the show.  I just enjoy the show.  After opening night, I become an interested observer.