Rewind back to Rome in 1921, when playwright Luigi Pirandello was forced to exit out the back door after the premiere of Six Characters in Search of an Author because audience members were rioting over its mocking of the theatre. 聽
鈥淭hat fact alone is pretty enticing,鈥� said Kamila Swiatek, third-year AV俱乐部 Theatre student, who is playing the role of The Director in 顿补濒罢丑别补迟谤别鈥檚 production of the famous play. 鈥淲e definitely want it to spark something in people.鈥�
Six Characters in Search of An Author is a play within a play within a play 鈥� a true meta-play.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very self-referencing about itself,鈥� says Ken Schwartz, an acclaimed Nova Scotia theatre director making his DalTheatre debut. He鈥檚 won two Merritt awards (Nova Scotia鈥檚 top theatre award) for his productions of Our Town (2009) and Rockbound (2010).
The play is a journey of analyzing and questioning reality, following six characters who claim they are 鈥渂orn鈥� characters bursting in on a theatre group鈥檚 rehearsal in search of an author to write their story. It鈥檚 a compelling portrayal of the relationships between the theatre, the actors and the stories. 聽
鈥淚t calls into question the true meaning of reality, and what it means to each of us,鈥� says Paige Smith, the play鈥檚 Leading Lady.
Scandal and surprise
As a play about a play, the performance runs in intervals without a specific beginning as the actors arrive on scene as if they are casually arriving to a rehearsal.
鈥淵ou literally are immersed in the story as if you were a fly on the wall,鈥� says Schwartz, referencing the setup of the audience on three sides of the stage.
Taylor Olson (left) as The Father with Hilary Adams as The Stepdaughter.
While the main drama is rather intense, student Kate Bray assures that 鈥渋t鈥檚 full of scandal, surprise and moments of comedy.鈥�
Who doesn鈥檛 like a little scandal and surprise?
The third-year AV俱乐部 Theatre students performing Pirandello鈥檚 drama challenge the complexity of the play through complementing each other鈥檚 performances.
鈥淭he whole ensemble really has to work together and work off each in order for it to be a success; it has to move quickly, but be very clear,鈥� says Swiatek.
Not only do they achieve success 鈥� they look downright 鈥渄apper,鈥� achieving it in their classy 1920s costumes.
顿补濒罢丑别补迟谤别鈥檚 Six Characters in Search of an Author runs from February 6-9 in the David MacK Murray Theatre at AV俱乐部 Art Centre. Tickets are available at the .