{"id":36343,"date":"2021-02-26T03:58:38","date_gmt":"2021-02-26T11:58:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/?p=36343"},"modified":"2021-02-24T21:11:27","modified_gmt":"2021-02-25T05:11:27","slug":"plays-explore-future-of-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/2021\/02\/26\/plays-explore-future-of-love\/","title":{"rendered":"Plays explore future of love"},"content":{"rendered":"

Katherine Matlashewski and Tanner Zerr in Fast Foward<\/em>. (photo by Emily Cooper)<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Since COVID-19, we have been learning how to relate to one another from a distance, as well as how to use the technologies, like Zoom, that have allowed us to retain a more personal connection than we could have if we had experienced the pandemic even a handful of years ago. While our reality seems stolen from the script of a futuristic sci-fi horror film, playwright Rosamund Small\u2019s visions of love in the future and how technology affects it, TomorrowLove<\/em>, are \u201chilarious, snappy, moving and refreshingly fun in these times,\u201d according to Shekhar Paleja and Lauren Taylor, co-directors of Studio 58\u2019s production of Small\u2019s playlet collection.<\/p>\n

Jewish community members Samantha Levy and Katherine Matlashewski are among the cast members of the production, which will be released online on Feb. 28 and available to watch individually or collectively until March 7.<\/p>\n

Studio 58 is Langara College\u2019s professional theatre training program, and this spring\u2019s lineup \u2013 which TomorrowLove<\/em> launches \u2013 is the first under the direction of Courtenay Dobbie. Both Levy and Matlashewski are in their second year of study.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was finishing up my first year when the pandemic began in earnest here,\u201d Levy told the Independent<\/em>. \u201cCOVID-19 has forced me to be more isolated from my school community through Zoom classes, but it has not taken away the care and dedication of my professors, or the support of my peers. We are still a family, even though we are distanced or online.\u201d<\/p>\n

It has become a hybrid program since the pandemic, with some classes online and others held in person with social distancing, said Matlashewski. \u201cSince Studio 58 is a hands-on conservatory program, the transition to online studies was challenging at first,\u201d she admitted. \u201cThe faculty and staff, however, have been extremely supportive during these uncertain times. They have all worked tirelessly to adapt our training while also prioritizing our safety.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat being said,\u201d she added, \u201cas a result of COVID, students are now required to commute to and from the college quite a bit \u2026 [and] the hours of online Zoom classes are exhausting. Despite these challenges, I appreciate the continuation of our small in-person classes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prior to her post-secondary training at Studio 58, Matlashewski appeared as Mopsy in King Arthur\u2019s Court<\/em> (Metro Theatre), where she received the Community Theatre Coalition Award for best supporting actress. Other select credits include Alana in Dear Evan Hansen<\/em> (Laughing Matters), Luisa in The Fantasticks<\/em> (Stage 43) and Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods: In Concert<\/em> (Royal City Musical Theatre). Most recently, she was awarded the 2021 Cheryl Hutcherson Award by Applause! Musicals Society.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have been a part of the Vancouver theatre and dance community from a very young age,\u201d said Matlashewski. \u201cI feel incredibly blessed to live, create and play on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.\u201d<\/p>\n

In TomorrowLove<\/em>, Matlashewski said, \u201cI have the pleasure of acting in the playlet called Fast Forward<\/em>, alongside Tanner Zerr. This playlet explores themes of love, abandonment, age difference, time travel and the consequences that come with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Levy plays the role of Jessie in the short play Take This Soul<\/em>. \u201cIn Take This Soul<\/em>, Jessie\u2019s ex-partner, Rylan, shows up at her doorstep after having disappeared for four days,\u201d explained Levy. \u201cHe tells an outlandish tale of an experiment in a distant country that has allowed him to return and present her with his literal soul.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Samantha<\/a>
Samantha Levy and Riley Hardwick co-star in Take This Soul. (photo by Emily Cooper)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In addition to this Studio 58 production, Levy\u2019s acting credits include Love, Loss and What I Wore<\/em> (Centaur Theatre), Fancy Nancy: The Musical<\/em> (C\u00f4te Saint-Luc Dramatic Society, Segal Centre) and It Shoulda Been You<\/em> (Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre, Segal Centre). Her TV and film credits include Annedroids<\/em> and 18 To Life<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been performing since the age of 5, when my parents signed me up for an extracurricular theatre troupe in my hometown, Montreal,\u201d said Levy. \u201cLittle did they know that I would fall in love with performing! Since then, I\u2019ve acted on stage and on screen, trained at the Stratford Festival\u2019s Theatre Arts Camp, and dabbled in directing both plays and musicals. Now, I am so thrilled my love of acting has led me to Studio 58!\u201d<\/p>\n

But the experience is not what it normally would be, of course.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring the pandemic, the lovely production team has been working extra hard to keep us all safe,\u201d said Levy, \u201cand that includes managing our schedules closely to avoid contact between folks. So, I have come to value the time I have with others in person even more. When we are in person, we are also wearing masks and social distancing at all times. This often means coming up with innovative new ways to express ourselves without proximity or touch on stage, which has been a wonderful challenge. It is incredibly uplifting for me to have the privilege to be able to continue to create with others, be vulnerable and connect.\u201d<\/p>\n

Acknowledging that the \u201cpandemic has been an emotional rollercoaster for everyone,\u201d Matlashewski said, \u201cOne of the challenges that I have faced is navigating acting while wearing a mask. Prior to COVID, I did not realize how much I relied on the non-verbal cues and facial expressions of my scene partners. However, now that two-thirds of the human face is covered by a mask, I find that I have to listen more closely to fully understand my scene partner. With that in mind, we all have had to adjust and be patient with ourselves and others.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy biggest take away from acting during COVID is the importance of human connection,\u201d she continued. \u201cWe have had to find new ways to connect and communicate while maintaining physical distancing. During the rehearsal process of Fast Forward<\/em>, I discovered how social distancing impacted my acting choices. Since I had to maintain a two-metre distance from my scene partner, each movement that I made on stage had to be carefully considered. Our fantastic director, Lauren Taylor, guided us through this process and helped specify our blocking.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough we are required to maintain physical distance and wear masks while we are acting, I am thankful that I get to act in person for my first mainstage show at Studio 58.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reflecting on her connections to Jewish community and culture, Matlashewski said, \u201cWithin Judaism, community is a value that is held with the highest importance. Although we cannot gather in person, I invite you all to find the light where you can and share it with those around you.\u201d<\/p>\n

For her part, Levy said, \u201cAs my parents are across the country in Montreal and my brother (he\u2019s a doctor!) is in St. John\u2019s, Jewish culture and art are an anchor to the family who love me. Seeing Jewish representation in art is healing and beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n

She then added a \u201cnon-performance-related anecdote.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI walked into a Jewish bakery during Chanukah to get a few latkes,\u201d said Levy, \u201cand I left with tears in my eyes and a bag full of items I had not planned to buy.\u201d<\/p>\n

To see one or all 13 of the TomorrowLove<\/em> playlets, visit studio58.ca<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Katherine Matlashewski and Tanner Zerr in Fast Foward. (photo by Emily Cooper) Since COVID-19, we have been learning how to relate to one another from a distance, as well as how to use the technologies, like Zoom, that have allowed us to retain a more personal connection than we could have if we had experienced […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":36344,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[785],"tags":[20057,9717,9784,20297,3370,20296,3527,6208],"class_list":["post-36343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-performing-arts","tag-acting","tag-coronavirus","tag-covid-19","tag-katherine-matlashewski","tag-langara-college","tag-samantha-levy","tag-studio-58","tag-theatre"],"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\/36343","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=36343"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36343\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}