After the Circuit
nytheatre.com q&a preview by Polly McKie
July 12, 2012
What is your job on this show?
Actress.
What was the last show you saw that really excited you, and why?
I went to see "Cock" at the Duke on 42nd Street. It is a fresh, witty and thought provoking play. There has been much controversy over being able to put the name in print! It is unusual in that there is no real set and no props. Just actors in a space saying Mike Bartlett's brilliant dialogue. I love plays that make me think and make me want to talk about them for hours after I leave the theatre. I saw it in May and I am still talking about it. The cast is wonderful and, of course, I was particularly proud of my friend, Amanda Quaid. If you haven't seen "Cock" yet, you should! Well, after you see "After the Circuit", of course!
If you're a New Yorker: why is FringeNYC an important part of the summer theater scene?
The Fringe is such a wonderful part of the New York theatre scene. It is an opportunity for great plays to be produced which might otherwise struggle to find a space and time. There is so much new and exciting writing happening all the time but the opportunity for many of these great plays to be seen are few. Financial restrictions are often a problem and it is so sad to see talented writers not being produced because making money has become more important than the quality of the art. The Fringe gives the artist a chance to be heard and seen. Summer can be a quiet time in the city in terms of theatre so it is so exciting to feel the buzz surrounding the festival. I was raised in Scotland and saw many great productions at the Edinburgh Fringe. Now that I am a New Yorker, I am proud and excited to be part of the FringeNYC.
Why did you want to write/direct/produce/act in/work on this show?
I was approached about "After the Circuit" because Kathryn Kates (a wonderful actress I have worked with in the past) recommended me. The rest of the cast was in place but my role had not been cast. Matt Singletary, the director, sent me Josh Billig's script and I loved it immediately. I loved the play and could immediately hear myself saying my character's lines as I read the script. When I met the rest of the cast, I was even more excited to be a part of it. Everyone is so talented and dedicated. There is a clear shared love of the piece.
Groucho, Chico, Harpo, or Zeppo?
Harpo! I love the Marx Brothers. I used to watch the films as a child and I always loved Harpo. And funnily enough, the Marx Brothers are mentioned in "After the Circuit"!
Why should people come to FringeNYC this summer, rather than the beach, mountains, or the latest movie blockbuster?
The beach and the mountains are always there. The latest movie can be seen any time. Theatre is the most exciting thing! Seeing live theatre will always be special. There is something magical about that fact that each performance is different. That new things can happen right in front of you. As an audience member you are a part of the whole experience.
