The Citizen, 2003-06-25, Page 34BLYTH FESTIVAL SALUTE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2003. PAGE 9.
Caroline Gillis feels at home in Newfoundland play
By Sarah Mann
Citizen staff
Caroline Gillis has always wanted
to act in a David French play and
now she is, in Leaving Home.
Gillis, who was born in Cape
Breton, received her Bachelor of
Arts and Theatre at Dalhousie
University and moved to Toronto
about 15 years ago.
She had done a lot of work with
director/actor/playwright Daniel
Maclvor, who wrote a lot of his
work for Gillis.
She also spent a lot of time doing
small independent theatre in Toronto
as well as acting in Stratford and
across Canada.
Now in her fourth season in Blyth,
Gillis is “excited to come back
Blyth”.
Gillis is taking on the role
Minnie whose daughter Cassie
marrying into the Mercer family.
Gillis describes her character as a
Newfoundland woman who likes to
drink and have a good time and is
also wild and unpredictable.
“She’s a fun character who is a bit
of a drinker and likes to flirt with
men no
looking
places.”
Gillis
role because there is a little bit of the
woman inside her.
“I’m a Maritimer and I understand
the sense of wanting to have a good
time and brush bad things under the
carpet.”
What Gillis likes the most about
her character is that Minnie is “so
much fun”.
“I love Newfoundlanders,
especially their spirit and their drive.
It’s a great thing for me. . . I have a
kinship with Newfoundland and the
idea of playing someone from there
is very exciting.”
When it comes to preparing for
the roles she plays, Gillis says it’s
different every time but because of
her connection with the east coast,
she feels like she has a leg up.
“I’ve seen and worked with east
coast women so I know what they’re
like.”
One thing Gillis likes to do when
preparing for a role is to read other
work by the playwright.
“I understand that this play is part
of a series so I will be reading
those.”
matter what age. . . She’s
for love in all the wrong
Caroline Gillis loves working in Blyth. “I love the people and
how everyone talks to each other.”
feels she can relate to the
A summer place
Other than that, Gillis says, “I will
just trust in our fabulous director
John Jarvis to have all the answers.”
Gillis has worked with Jarvis
before as an actor, not a director, and
has also worked with castmate Jerry
Franken as a director, “so production
wise, that excites me very much.”
As mentioned previously, Gillis
has worked in many different types
of theatre and has played many
different types of roles and thinks
it’s fun that everything is “slightly
different, a little wonky.”
“I’ve been lucky because I’ve
tended to do a mix of independent
Canadian plays, classical pieces, and
I’ve also acted in Stratford.”
Every role is different, Gillis says,
and the trick is to find something
real in the character.
“No matter how fun, boozy, and
sexual [Minnie] is, below the
surface there is still something true
and real.”
“To play a character, you have to
love them. You have to find out what
you really like about them and you
have to be real and true to whatever
character you are playing.”
I asked Gillis if she feels she has a
lot to live up to because there have
been over 300 productions of
Leaving Home. Her answer?
“Wow. I had no idea there had
been that many.”
Gillis says when she does plays
that have been done before, she tries
not to think about the other
productions and feels she’s at a point
in her life where she is confident
enough.
“It is a different person doing the
part so it will be different.”
When Gillis did Cat on a Hot Tin
Roof, she had never seen the movie
and didn’t watch it beforehand
because “then I feel like I can’t get
the performance out of my head.”
What Gillis really likes about the
story of Leaving Home is how
beautiful the love story between
Jacob and Mary Mercer is.
“In Canadian theatre we know
£1 a
• Vitamins
• Herbal Remedies • Organic Food
• Sports Supplements
• Healthy Snacks • Bulk Food
• Body Care • Books
• Children’s Play Area
Congratulations Blyth Festival
on your 29th Season!
k.
120 Inkerman St. E.
Listowel
291-4920
222 Josephine St.
Wingham
357-3466 J
play that shows the good and bad
side in the characters, “so you can
learn that nothing is black and
white.”
“You see that you can love
someone but just not like them for a
while because of different view
points.”
Gillis loves coming to Blyth and
getting out of Toronto for the
summer.
“I love the people and how
everyone talks to each other and
says hi. I love the air - I feel like 1
can breathe again. . . I/love that
Blyth always puts together a great
company. I love that people live just
around the corner and you can walk
there for dinner.”
these characters. We want to follow
their paths and see them with
children.”
Gillis finds the story “quite
touching.”
“The heartbreak of breaking apart
from a family. It’s the classic
father/son tug-of-war.”
Gillis says the audience can
expect to see a play that they can
relate to, and thinks it will really
speak to people.
“I think Blyth is the perfect place
to see this. It will be a beautiful
production and a lot of people will
see themselves and’ relate to the
battle that goes on. . . the audience
will really enjoy this play.”
The audience can also expect a
'!<
'!<
Shrtcfi, Sio-te
Ton & Nies van de Vusse
Fashion Yarns-largest selection in Huron County
Knitting & Needlecraft Supplies
Brand name health supplements
Herbal Teas
Books, Tapes, CDs, Videos
Traditional Imported Dutch food products
Gift certificates available
55 Albert St., Clinton 482-7302
i
I
•i
!•
I
—
to the Blyth Festival on your 29th Season
<
Your local office product specialist
• Computers • Stationery • Photocopiers
• Cellular Phones • Furniture (Home & office design available)
• Phone Systems & Voice mail
• Network & IT Solutions • Fax Machines
• Service Dept, for printers, copiers, fax machines &
computers--------------------------------------x
A+ Certified Technicians
—
Upgrade Installations
3 On-Site and
Carry-In Services
"\
J
^6
/JTTTT
223 Huron Rd., Goderich Ae* ^.214 Josephine St., Wingham
Tel. (519) 524-9863 Tel. (519) 357-1554
www.microagebasics.com
7
•reater
•lection