Stage Door News
Stage Door News
There’s more to Something-Something Productions’ latest show than just its name.
Audiences need to look beneath the surface when the Niagara-on-the-Lake theatre company stages the return of The Vagina Monologues this month. Co-producers Dina Mavridis and Rob Burke say it’s so much more than a production with a daring title that may offend some people — it’s an eye-opening, emotional production with raw, real-life stories.
“It’s really an amazing show. The real stories that come out of it, there’s a real emotion to it at times, but there are also many laughs,” said Burke.
“People hear the name and don’t know what the show is about,” adds Mavridis. “Last year, though, we really amazed people. They were talking about the great performances and not about its name.”
The production is scheduled to hit the stage four times this month, with shots on Friday and Saturday, July 8-9 and 15-16, at 8 p.m. at Corks’ Playhouse Theatre. A portion of the proceeds from each ticket, and sales of raffles, will support Women’s Place of South Niagara.
Mavridis herself is part of the cast this year, who delivers monologues on real-life issues such as love, sex, rape, abuse, birth and more. This year they’ve changed things up to deliver another engaging show to audiences.
“This is a show that is inspiring. It’s something that features life-changing content and I feel really good about putting it back on again for audiences,” she said. “It is just filled with truth and with great messages.”
Mavridis, who is also directing the show, admits there is a real raw side to it as well. One monologue delivered by Wendy Mackie, she said, brought the group of women delivering the monologues to tears during a rehearsal.
“It’s just so real, it’s about life and experiences people have dealt with,” she said.
Each woman — Mackie, Stacie Primeau, Ann-Marie B. Zammit and Liliana DeAngelis — has been hand picked to perform, and have gone through the material one-on-one in rehearsals with Mavridis at her home to allow them truly immerse themselves in the material and identify any potential connections.
Burke said it really brings out the performance of each woman delivering the monologues. He said they truly embrace each reading, delivering it in a way that makes you truly feel like the write is bringing it to life on stage. He adds that the group of women delivering the monologues, which are based on a series of interviews with women of all ages, races and ethnicity, help make the message accessible to both men and women.
“This is a show for everyone, it will resonate with them in some way,” added Mavridis.
Mackie said even being part of the group of women delivering the monologues had an impact on her.
“I found it really connected with me more than any other show I have done,” said Mackie. “I think the nature of the message and the stories, it really is a powerful opportunity and makes you think. It’s really refreshing.”
By memorizing the monologues instead of reading them from a book, Mackie said it really forces an actress to step into the shoes of the writer.
“It just comes out. You get into the feel of the story and bring it to life,” she said.
And the venue upstairs at Corks, 19 Queen St. in Niagara-on-the-Lake, gives the audience the feeling they’re standing right beside each writer living through their experiences, she said.
“It’s such an intimate venue. You’re really feeling like you’re in someone’s room hearing these stories,” said Mackie.
For information on Vagina Monlogues, or for tickets, visit http://somethingsomethingproductions.ca. Tickets are $25 plus HST. You can also call 289-668-0482.
By Scott Rosts for www.niagarathisweek.com.
Photo: Ann-Marie B. Zammit, Dina Mavridis, stage manager Tresa Rees, Stacie Primeau and Wendy Mackie.
2016-07-06
Niagara-on-the-Lake: Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues" to play Corks Theatre July 8-16