John Walski as Davis and Mary Nigohosian as Joan
Playwright Darren Callahan conducted interviews and filed this report:
What is it like to act in a stage production that centers around a tough topic, yet present that topic with enough shades that an audience will respond, not just to the central theme, but to each character’s point-of-view? For Polarity Ensemble Theatre’s World Premiere production of Lisa Rosenthal’s original work The Good Harvest, the cast doesn’t aim for a bulls-eye – it’s more of an explosion that scatters in unexpected directions.
In a pre-show chat with actors Mary Nigohosian (“Joan”) and John Walski (“Davis”) both were candid how the material has played with audiences in the show’s early performances.
“There’s so much drama in the script,” says Ms. Nigohosian, “if the crowd is quiet, you know they’re engaged. There’s not a lot of shuffling in seats. They’re trying to figure out these people.” In a play that, in summary, sounds like a very simple story (woman tries to carry a successful pregnancy after her ideal adoption candidate is killed), there is an immensely complex set of relationships between Joan, Davis, and their triplets.
Continues Mr. Walski, “Davis’s relationship with the triplets is more a part of the story than fertility, or selective reduction, or any of the other controversial topics. Just as with the characters, five different perspectives can bring out five different connections with the audience. One audience member would pick up on a line or an emotion and think, rightly so, that this was the meaning of the scene, whereas for someone who identifies with another perspective would see the outcome completely differently. Lisa’s script is rare in that way.”
When asked about choosing a point of view, an important part of the actor constructing the character, Ms. Nigohosian adds, “Marriage, abandonment, birth – these concepts are so different for people, all depending on where they’re coming from. Our experience has to be the experience of our character. What people have told me about the show, or written about the show, can be very striking, very insightful. But it’s also just as surprising, because sometimes it reflects more of their worldview than the worldview of my character.”
Mr. Walski adds, “Even the funny moments – and there are many good ones – get a different reaction every night. Each audience has its own experience, but what’s important is that they’re paying attention to all the information in the play.”
“There’s no roadmap in the program,” says Ms. Nigohosian. “They have to figure out the story’s backward and forward in time, the ‘who is who’ of it, and it’s our job, along with Richard and Lisa’s, to keep things in place.”
When director Richard Engling’s name is raised, it gives the two actors a chance to comment on his style. “He’s very different from other directors – very positive, but always pushing,” observes Ms. Nigohosian. “He’s made a safe place for us to open our hearts, be vulnerable.” Mr. Walski agrees, “He’s firm with his own choices. He’s known from Day One how to tell this story. It’s the most ‘framed’ script I’ve ever worked with. Lisa’s been working alongside us the entire eight weeks of rehearsals. That’s a testimony to how well this cast and crew works together.”
Performances of The Good Harvest take place at the Polarity Ensemble Theatre in Wicker Park at the Josephinum Academy, 1500 N Bell, Chicago, through May 2, 2010. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm. Regular performances: $19. $15 seniors over 65. $10 students with ID. All tickets are general admission. Tickets may be purchased by calling 1-800-838-3006 or visiting BrownPaperTickets.com.