Alumnae Theatre Company member (and newsletter editor!) Andrea Irwin is performing in Panfish Productions’ presentation of award-winning Canadian playwright Joan MacLeod’s drama Toronto, Mississippi. It will be staged October 20 – November 6, 2016 at The Box (89 Niagara Street, Toronto), directed by Kitty Laki.
Panfish Productions present Joan MacLeod’s “Toronto, Mississippi” (Oct 20 – Nov 6, 2016)
Bloggergal asked Andrea a few questions…
Q: How did you get involved with this show and Panfish Productions?
A: Quite simply, I saw the posting on the CAEA [Canadian Actors Equity Association] e-drive and submitted right away. A strong role for a woman over 30? I’m on it! The show also spoke to me as it deals in part with an individual who is developmentally delayed. I have a family member who happens to be developmentally delayed and can relate to many of the challenges and rewards faced by the characters in the show.
Q: Tell me about the character you play in Toronto, Mississippi.
A: Maddie is real. She purports to being solid as a rock; she has to be as a working single mom to a teenager with special needs, BUT she’s inextricably drawn to King…yes, her boozing, womanizing, Peter-Pan of an ex-husband. At the same time, she’s best friends with her boarder, Bill; ostensibly the “perfect” match for Maddie and a dedicated father-figure to Jhana. I think she’s at her wit’s end with her life as she knows it…it’s a helluva challenge being the Responsible Adult and it has worn her down.
Q: Who are your co-stars and their characters?
A: Peter Nelson plays King, Maddie’s ex-husband, father of Jhana. A touring Elvis impersonator…he loves the ladies and they love him. He’s a part-time dad, but he truly does love his daughter.
Kayla Whalen plays Jhana, 18-year-old daughter of King and Maddie, struggling to be an independent young woman (establishing a work-life and love-life) but with the added challenge of achieving independence with special needs.
Yehuda Fisher plays Bill, boarder in Maddie and Jhana’s home. He connects with Jhana in ways that Maddie can’t. He’s become family…but he doesn’t want to “play” Dad, he wants to be dad to Jhana and a romantic partner to Maddie.
Thanks, Andrea!
For some background info, here’s a link to playwright Joan MacLeod’s website: http://www.joanmacleod.com/index.html
And this is the link to Facebook event for Panfish Productions’ presentation of Toronto, Mississippi at The Box:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1259743034036507/
Tickets: $25 reg (Tue – Sun); $20 students/seniors/artsworkers.
Monday tickets: PWYC. Purchase tickets via Panfish Productions website http://www.panfishproductions.ca/
Showtimes: Oct 20, 21, 22, 24, 27, 28, 29, 31, Nov 3, 4, 5 @ 8:00pm.
Sundays – Oct 23, 30, Nov 6 @ 2:00pm.
FYI – This is a full 2-act play – running time approximately 1.5 hrs including a 15-minute intermission. The Box (89 Niagara St.) is a small venue with limited seating.
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