FEELS COLDER THAN LOVE Opens Tonight

Threatening weather forecasts of freezing rain, snow and otherwise wintry conditions notwithstanding, Nashville's White Orchard Theatre tonight debuts Feels Colder Than Love, premiering Thursday, January 21, at the Ensworth School Auditorium Black Box Theater, running through January 29.

"The show is a series of vignettes that focus on the psychology of the ultimate decision [as viewed] through the prism of five classical plays," explains director Irina Sundukova. The plays? Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet, Sarah Kane's 4:48 Psychosis, Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler and Anton Chekhov's The Seagull.

"These vignettes will be supported by film and video effects and stylized graphics," Sundukova says.

According to Sundukova, White Orchard Theater has translated these traditional plays to reflect posh present-day situations. The result is a dark, minimalist, introspective satire that aims to reflect new social trends. The cast for Feels Colder Than Love features Nashville stage veterans Molly Breen, Pat Reilly, Megan Blevins, Jonah Kraut, Angela Gimlin, Jaymes Campbell and Jessica Theiss.

Why should audiences see the show? According to Jessica Theiss, "You should come see this show because it's new. We're not just doing Shakespeare, it's not a musical, it's not Tennessee Williams. I love all of those things, but this is a truly unique form of art. It's refreshing. These actors have poured their souls into these roles, some days I've left rehearsal just needing to burst into tears because of the amount of emotion and work this role demands.

"In short, you'll have fun, you'll feel all the feels, you'll laugh and cry and get angry and ride this awesome theatrical roller coaster and see life a little different for just a moment. There's an important message on suicide weaved throughout that I'm honored to bring to life."

Gimlin agrees: "People should come see this show because it is like nothing you have seen before. This show is unusual, unique and energetic. It applies multimedia with live theater to combine something visually, emotionally and intellectually devastating and remarkable. People shouldn't come just to see me, though. We are a team and are all important cogs in this innovative machine. It even includes music and the whole cast singing."

"I wouldn't necessarily say anything has 'surprised' me in this show," Theiss muses. "But it's definitely a unique and different type of performance. The complexity of my particular character and the use of multi-media has left me mesmerized and intrigued during our rehearsal process. Irina is such an artist and working with her has been a lovely adventure!"

Gimlin says that working with Sundukova - whose approach is both new and inventive, while drawing upon her Russian theater heritage - has made the process of developing Feels Colder Than Love more of an adventure than a challenge.

"I have enjoyed the process because Irina comes from such a different acting school of thought," Gimlin suggests. "She certainly challenges you to step outside your comfort zone and look at everything from voice to movement to emotion in a contrasting way. It might sound cliche, but I will take what I have learned and apply it to future acting projects."

What's been the most surprising element of the production thus far? "I believe it is how well the whole cast and crew has adapted to Irina's vision while making it our own at the same time," Gimlin says. "It has been a very rich and, at times, hairy, process, but art takes time, patience and love. I think we have created something vivid while addressing the very raw and heartbreaking topic of suicide."

The production's costume design is by Sundukova, graphic effects by Jennifer Deafenbaugh and video production by Lance Ogren and Sundukova.

Tickets are available at whiteorchardtheater.com, or by calling (305) 331-1233. Ensworth High School is located at 7401 Highway 100, Nashville.

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