Post-Haste Presence: Dorian in the Lion’s Den

Happy Tuesday!  Welcome to the first Post-Haste Presence.  That’s post-haste – with all possible speed. These are short q&a’s with artists to promote their fast-approaching  projects.

Through the wonders of technology (and a small history of eating potato chips together), the delightful Katie Dorian took some time to talk to me about her upcoming acting endeavor.  Winner of the Best of Fringe: solo show this year for her supremely touching How Often Do I Dream?, Dorian stars in Lion Den Theatre’s production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard opening this Wednesday.

1. In five sentences or less, describe the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead:
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is essentially the story of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern from Hamlet, from their side of the stage, so to speak.  It follows the time passed by these two characters during Shakespeare’s Hamlet when they are not seen in the play – though Hamlet comes to them with guest appearances from the Royal Family.  It’s an existential tragic-comedy that follows their confusion about the events in Hamlet and their roles in it.

2. What is your role in the production?
I play Guildenstern — Intelligent, status-seeking and more dependent on Rosencrantz than he wants to admit.

3. Someone says to you, “But I don’t like Shakespeare.” Should they still check the show out?
YES.  It’s a play featuring Shakespeare: Hamlet shows up a few times, some Shakespearean words are said, yadda yadda, but it’s more about these two guys trying to figure out what’s going on and chasing their own tails in circles of logic and reasoning in the most hilarious way.  The way the English language is used is incredible: the clever use of ambiguity, repetition, and the structure of logic is brilliant.  It’s like Monty Python meets the Marx Brothers and they decide to re-enact Shakespeare.  It is truly funny.  I’m not saying I’m funny, it’s all Tom Stoppard.  (Well, Ira (Rosencrantz) and I might also be funny).  GUESS YOU’LL HAVE TO COME SEE IT!

4. How can R&G Are Dead speak to the Halifax community?
The Halifax community, like any other, is filled with people trying to find their own way in the world.  It can speak to anyone now, here, or anywhere, on the topic of finding one’s purpose.  It’s existential, and we all want to know why we’re here and what we’re doing, right?  Although with changes happening in Halifax, like the Khyber situation, all sorts of local stores moving, Barrington becoming an increasingly empty strip – I think the play asks questions that Halifax and its arts community need answered.  What are we doing here?  What’s it all for?  What’s the logic in it?

5. Why is it important for independent theatres to mount classic plays?
Classic plays live on for a reason: they speak to the essence of what it’s like to be a human.  Love, anger, death, jealousy, searching for meaning – the human experience.  Independent theatre companies are often left with little to work with but a script – we’ve got to get creative, but keep it simple…and if you’re really going to explore the most base and basic human qualities, leave it at that.  It’s a good reminder that age doesn’t make irrelevance, irrelevance does.  But that’s irrelevant.  Tom Stoppard took a classic work and made it new, in an amazing and innovative way – it makes you rethink what classical really means.  THAT is important.

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead plays at The Bus Stop Theatre at the following times;
October 1st -3rd
at 8pm, October 4th at 2pm and 8pm, and October 5th at 4pm.
Tickets are $20 General, $15 Students/Seniors/Artists/Military.
October 1st Preview tickets are $10.
http://www.lionsdentheatre.com/Katie Dorian is a contributor to the super rad blog New Favourite Everything; http://www.newfavouriteeverything.com/

About the author

Meghan Hubley

Meghan Hubley is a playwright, poet, sometimes student, and brand new mama

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