a play

[low_delta]

Cyn reminded me I wanted to mention the play we saw the other night, The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Readhead. It was a one-woman play starring Deborah Staples. I liked it a lot, but I was mostly impressed by Staples. Simply by changing her makeup and the expressions on her face, she made herself look like a completely different person. She played the redhead (the central character), her brunette neighbor, a blonde store clerk, characters of the title, and also a doctor, a 4-1/2 year old boy, an elderly woman and the husband of the readhead. All of the characters were completely believable (with the possible exception of the little boy). I was really impressed by her turn as the elderly woman.

In between scenes, she opened up a closet at the back of the stage and changed her clothes and makeup. You could see her changing characters even as she was changing clothes. The costuming was done very well. When she was dressed as the man, she had the old woman's housecoat under the man's costume, and it made him look a little overweight. The blonde's tight outfit was under the housecoat.

I've seen Staples several times in the last year and a half, but I'm sure I wouldn't have recognized her if some of these characters had just walked onstage.

Comments

[mummm.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a play that I would enjoy. What a talented actress!

[ethora.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a great show!

[emschin.livejournal.com]

It's plays like this one that make me regret I can't do the Rep anymore.
My thirty years of season's tickets were a great joy while I could manage.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

No kidding. And she doesn't have any other actors with their lines to lead her on. It's total monologue. Seven different characters, eight scenes, two hours.

I forgot to mention the different voices that helped differentiate the characters. The non-descript midwestern or eastern accent. New York, English, 4-year-old with a speech impediment, Russian, Californian, and the voice of the elderly woman was really good.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Actually, there was an understudy. But Staples started preparing for this role months ago. I don't know how an understudy would do. I wouldn't want to be in her shoes!