{"id":15129,"date":"2015-10-16T00:12:29","date_gmt":"2015-10-16T07:12:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/?p=15129"},"modified":"2015-10-14T19:49:24","modified_gmt":"2015-10-15T02:49:24","slug":"a-sentimental-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/2015\/10\/16\/a-sentimental-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"A sentimental journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stephen Aberle as Dan and Annabel Kershaw as Sue reflect on their life together in Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook<\/em>, at Presentation House Theatre Oct. 28-Nov. 8. (photo by Megan Verhey, Megan Verhey Photography)<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Theatre often allows us, the audience, a safe place in which to experience feelings that we are more guarded about showing in daily life. It can offer a way in which to reflect on our own lives and actions without the vulnerability that such introspection usually entails in \u201creal life.\u201d We can learn from what we witness on stage, whether a comedy, a drama or something in between. At the least, we can escape from our own cares for a time, immersing ourselves in someone else\u2019s joys and pains. A perfect example? Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook<\/em>.<\/p>\n

So popular was last year\u2019s Canadian premi\u00e8re of the show in Vancouver at Studio 1398, that WRS Productions \u2013 Ron and Wendy Stuart \u2013 is bringing it back for 12-day run at North Vancouver\u2019s Presentation House Theatre, Oct. 28-Nov. 8.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe response was amazing,\u201d Wendy Bross Stuart told the Independent<\/em> about last year\u2019s production. \u201cPeople laughed. People wept. Tissues were in short supply. The actors were very moved by the content and the music of Snapshots<\/em>. The last five shows were completely sold out; people were turned away at the door. It was at that point that Ron and I decided we would seek the opportunity to remount the show.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Snapshots<\/em>, Sue is set to leave her husband Dan after 30 years of marriage. While she is going through the attic, Dan comes home. A box of photographs (snapshots) falls open, leading the couple to reflect on their life together.<\/p>\n

Conceived by Michael Scheman and David Stern, composer\/lyricist Stephen Schwartz adapted music from his stage shows, feature films and original CDs to mesh with the book by Stern, which takes the audience back to Dan and Sue\u2019s earlier days.<\/p>\n

In the WRS Productions\u2019 show, Dan and Sue are portrayed by Stephen Aberle and Annabel Kershaw; Daniel and Susan, by Steve Maddock and Jocelyn Gauthier; Danny and Susie, by Daniel Johnston and Georgia Swinton.<\/p>\n

About the ways in which he personally related \u2013 or not \u2013 to Dan throughout the character\u2019s life, Aberle said, \u201cHmm, well, younger Danny\/Daniel has a winning way with women. Many, many women. I was definitely not like that growing up; I was shy and repressed and a bit of a goob, I guess.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the other hand, when Dan truly falls in love, he falls hard and he stays fallen. I identify with that. While he has this playboy past, he\u2019s careful about where he really gives his heart, and he finds it hard to put the truth of his love into words. I think that\u2019s the central struggle in the play for him. Casual physical intimacy comes easily to him (unlike me!), but he\u2019s scared by commitment and emotional intimacy. He\u2019s experienced deep hurt in the past, and he fears opening up too far because he doesn\u2019t want to get hurt like that again. I get that.<\/p>\n

\u201cDetails from the past \u2013 talismans, little triggers for powerful memories \u2013 really get to him. I guess they get to all of us one way or another, so it\u2019s not necessarily a specific character thing, but it resonates for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like Aberle, most of the actors are reprising their roles, but there have been changes, and not only in casting.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year\u2019s Snapshots<\/em> was in a \u2018black box\u2019 theatre,\u201d explained Stuart. \u201cThis gave us the opportunity to configure the show \u2018in the round.\u2019 The set design was done by Jessica Oostergo.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year, we are working in partnership with Presentation House Theatre in North Vancouver. We are in a traditional theatre space. This meant the show needed to be completely reconfigured. With the experienced hand of Pam Johnson, we have a brilliant set \u2013 full of secret entrances and exits. This design is in conjunction with our new director and choreographer, one of Canada\u2019s most sought-after and experienced, Max Reimer, former artistic director at the Vancouver Playhouse. The show will look very different.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition, we have two new cast members: Daniel is played by Steve Maddock and Susie is played by Georgia Swinton. The rehearsals are very exciting; we have a chance, now, to add new interpretation and shape to the music. The sound of the ensemble is thrilling!\u201d<\/p>\n

Aberle spoke about the ensemble and what it feels like to have different actors \u201call playing aspects of the same role.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe other performers playing Danny and Daniel \u2013 my character\u2019s younger selves \u2013 give me ideas about Dan that I wouldn\u2019t necessarily have come up with on my own,\u201d he explained. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of give and take. We have an opportunity to develop a shared physical vocabulary, for example: postural or gestural or vocal details that stay with the character as he grows older. That\u2019s a lot of fun to explore.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all, all six of us \u2013 along with the band and the creative team \u2013 sharing the task of bringing this decades-long, deep relationship to life. One intriguing consequence is that I get to fall in love on stage with not just one woman but three. I have a lot of interplay with all three of Sue, Susan and Susie. When I\u2019m watching them, the younger selves of the love of my life, remembering how we met as kids and how much we meant and gave to each other, it\u2019s profoundly moving.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s interesting,\u201d he continued, \u201cto relate on stage to my character\u2019s younger selves. We don\u2019t get a lot of direct connection but there are important moments, of both frustration and understanding. In real life, we don\u2019t get to say to our younger self, \u2018You idiot! Not that way, this way!\u2019 It\u2019s refreshing. It\u2019s also illuminating to see how patterns set in youth change, or don\u2019t change, in later life.\u201d<\/p>\n

And what is it about Schwartz\u2019s music that touches people so much?<\/p>\n

\u201cI will speak more specifically about the music in Snapshots<\/em>,\u201d said Stuart, who also wears the music director and pianist hats in this production. \u201cHere, we have examples of Stephen Schwartz\u2019s music from as early as 1971 (Godspell<\/em>) and as recently as Wicked<\/em> (2003)\u2026. Schwartz chose the songs to move the new story (book by David Stern) forward in the most compelling way. About 85% of the story is told in music.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis plot line allows two characters to each communicate with themselves at different stages of their lives. Stated differently, we have a story that takes place 1) in the present, 2) in the past and 3) in one\u2019s interior life. The music is not simply one song after another, it is multi-layered, with (formerly unrelated) songs performed simultaneously in gorgeous counterpoint with one another.<\/p>\n

\u201cI truly feel that the music and lyrics (often changed by Schwartz himself to fit the arc of the new story) can simply be enjoyed for their depth of meaning, their melodic interest and their beautiful harmonies. However, for those who know Stephen Schwartz\u2019s music, the complexity and brilliance of the multi-layered nature of this work are simply breathtaking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stuart added, \u201cYesterday at rehearsal, we had many moments when we simply had to stop. The actors were so ferklempt <\/em>(choked up with emotion), they were unable to continue. I feel the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n

For tickets to Snapshots<\/em>, visit phtheatre.org<\/a>, call 604-990-3474 or drop by Presentation House Theatre, at 333 Chesterfield Ave.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Stephen Aberle as Dan and Annabel Kershaw as Sue reflect on their life together in Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook, at Presentation House Theatre Oct. 28-Nov. 8. (photo by Megan Verhey, Megan Verhey Photography) Theatre often allows us, the audience, a safe place in which to experience feelings that we are more guarded about showing in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15115,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[785],"tags":[4659,4656,1555,4660,4657,4658],"class_list":["post-15129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-performing-arts","tag-presentation-house","tag-snapshots","tag-stephen-aberle","tag-stephen-schwartz","tag-wendy-stuart","tag-wrs-productions"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15129","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15129"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15129\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}