Interview: The Cast of Martin Crimp's 'The City'

The Canadian Premiere of Martin Crimp's The City began its run on March 19th, 2010 at The Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs. The show runs until April 3rd, 2010. This celebrated work features a Dora Award winning company and is being directed by Award winning Romanian Director Cristian Popescu.

Described as a "fierce and penetrating vision of modern life", The City examines society through the eyes of three key players. The three characters in the play interact with eachother in a dynamic way to raise various key questions about life and morality and society in general. BWW sat down with Deb Drakeford, Peter James Haworth and Janet Porter to talk about the show, and how they feel being part of the Canadian premiere of this acclaimed work:

What has been your favourite part of being involved in this production?

Peter: There are a few favourites. This is a marvelous play that creates a new kind of reality; it's a lot of fun to work with the realities involved. We are having a blast working with Cristian, the director. Everything is very positive, loving, friendly, & clear. We all explore and look for the truth of the play, all together. And the cast is all in sync with each other. It has been a dream working with everyone.

Deb: I've loved trying to figure out Crimp's world and the levels of reality that exist in that world. His language is musical and precise. Cristian has been great and I'm enjoying all the folks involved. Nothing like diving into a weird and wonderful world!

 

Janet: Walking into the first day of rehearsal knowing that the script was brilliant and then finding out that it is even better than I'd thought.

Do you feel any sort of pressure or pride being the first to put the production on in Canada?

Peter: No pressure. I feel we are lucky to be the first here in Canada; I'm very glad about that. But once I start working on the play, it is the inner reality which takes hold for me.

Deb: I don't feel any pressure either. To be honest, I haven't even thought about that. I'm excited that we get to do this piece, that we have Cristian leading us, and that I'm a lucky gal who gets to play Clair.

Janet: There's an immense pride and honour. We have an incredibly talented and knowledgeable director, glorious designers and a fantastic cast.

In your opinion, what is the main reason people should come out to see this production?

Peter: To see Martin Crimp's play. To see something that creates a new theatrical reality. This is very appealing & exciting.

Deb: Ditto what Peter said. We should all be lucky enough to have a chance to be challenged by Martin Crimp.

Janet: This production is unlike anything being done in Toronto right now. It's something different, it's brave and it pushes boundaries. To me, that is exhilarating theatre.

Finally, if you could offer one piece of advice to aspiring Canadian actors, what would it be?

Peter: Oh God. Well, my daughter Imogen Haworth is starting out in the business. As a person, I think it is good to have something else that you love to do. As an actor, to keep pushing at what is true in life, not to be satisfied that you have learned everything you can about acting, but keep asking of yourself to find what is true. Be a student of acting all the time.

Deb: Huh. I dunno. Seek the truth always. Scare yourself. Don't be afraid of taking big risks. Don't be afraid of making huge mistakes - there is always something to be learned and gained. Enjoy it always. Have a back up ('cause as beautiful as it is, a backup comes in handy between gigs).

Janet: Don't give up. It may be a hard journey for many but if it's your passion, it's worth it.

The City stars Deb Drakeford (Soulpepper's A Chirstmas Carol, Studio 180's The Laramie Project, LKTYP's Number One and Jamie and Pobby and Dingan, Mirvish Produection's Zadie's Shoes, Other Places with ARC), Peter James Haworth (The Stratford Festival, Soulpepper's The Misanthrope, Manitoba Theatre Centre's The Tempest, The Blyth Theatre's Stolen Lives), and Janet Porter (ARC's The Sea and Family Stories: Belgrade, Pilot Group's Orson's Shadow, Birdland Theatre's The Last Days of Judas Iscariot). Rounding out the artistic team is set and costume designer Gillian Gallow (two time Dora Award Winner, Soulpepper's Awake and Sing!, Volcano/TPM's Appetite, and CanSatge's The Pillowman, ARC's ‘Other Places').

Internationally acclaimed and award winning Director Cristian Popescu has worked extensively in Romania, Canada, The U.S. and across Europe. In Romania he staged works that had never before been seen on Romanian stages, such as Crimp's Play With Repeats, Barker's Scenes From An Execution, Kushner's Angels In America and Walker's Criminal Genius. In Canada, Popescu's directing credits include Biljana Srblijanovic's Family Stories, Marius Von Mayenburg's Fireface, and Hanoch Levin's Krum. He now divides his time between Canadian and Romanian stages.

Martin Crimp was born in 1956 and began writing for theatre in the 1980's. His plays include The City (2008), Fewer Emergencies (2005), Cruel and Tender (2004), Face to the Wall (2002), The Country (2000), Attempts On Her Life (1997), The Treatment (1993), Getting Attention (1992), No One Sees the Video (1991), Play with Repeats (1989), Dealing with Clair (1988), and Definitely the Bahamas (1987). He has close relationships with The Royal Court Theatre, where he was writer-in-residence in 1997, The Young Vic, and the National Theatre, which in 2007 produced the UK's first major revival of Attempts on her Life. His work is widely translated and has been seen on numerous European stages. The Treatment (winner of the John Whiting award) was produced by New York's Public Theater in the same year as the Royal Court premiere, and in 1998 his translation of Ionesco's The Chairs won a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. He has also translated works by Koltès, Genet, Marivaux, Chekhov and Molière including The Misanthrope currently playing in London'd West End.

ARC is a two time Dora Award Winning company whose mission is to present exciting, provocative theatre from an international repertoire that has rarely, if ever, been produced in Canada. Previous productions include the Canadian première Naomi Iizuka's 36 Views, the critically acclaimed Family Stories: Belgrade and Auguste Strindberg's Creditors. ARC is an artist-run, co-operative theatre company that has become known for creating world class theatre that is accessible for everyone.

When and Where?
Martin Crimp's The City
The Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs - 26 Berkeley St, Toronto

Performance Schedule:
Friday March 19th - Saturday April 3rd, 2010

Monday - Saturday at 8PM
Saturday at 2PM

Tickets are $25 General Admission with $15 tickets for Students/Seniors and Artists and special Pay What You Can Performances on Mondays

Tickets are available by phone at 416-368-3110, online at www.canstage.com, in person at the Berkeley Street Box Office, or at the door.

For more information please visit www.arcstage.com.

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