Prague-gressive play goes abroad
Meg Gennings, a third-year theatre performance acting student, is ready to take her skills to Prague. This Still Night is a play written and co-directed by Gennings, which will be showcased at the Fringe Festival from May 22-30.
The play will be the only Canadian act at the event. “It’s my goal to go there and really perform,” Gennings said. “Theatre scouts from across the world will be there.”
What started as one scene, turned into a series of monologues and is now a 60-page play about a lesbian relationship in a small, religious town in Canada. It deals with tolerance, women’s rights and the current economic situation.
“People will be able to connect with it,” said Gennings, who also acts as two of the characters in the play.
After filling out a lengthy application online, Gennings was granted a spot in the festival and was excited to take her play to a different country.
“I wanted to take it to an international audience,” she said.
“Once it’s established across the world, Canadians will be interested in it.”
Peter Fleming, Ryerson theatre professor, believes congratulations are in order. “Taking something to another country is quite rare event,” he said.
“Faculty and staff are 100% behind the project.”
Acting alongside Gennings is Taryn Jorgenson, who is also a third-year theatre performance acting student. “We see the art that we can achieve when together and we both have the determination and heart to pursue it,” she said.
Jorgenson is interested in educating herself about the international theatre scene.
“It is other artists that I learn about the true nature of theatre and how to execute myself,” she says.
Gennings and Jorgenson will begin to rehearse this week for their performance. Rehearsals are scheduled to take place every day.
“It’s such a small cast, we can get a lot done quickly,” Gennings said. Her cast and crew total four students.
Although the cast and crew are small, they trip is still costly.
“We have been putting in a lot of work outside of class to make this trip possible,” said Gennings. “It’s really important for us to go because we will be representing Ryerson on an international level.”
Current sponsors include PFAX, the Faculty of Communication and Design at Ryerson and Ryerson’s Theatre School. “We still have a long way to go,” she says.
Gennings and her crew are holding a fundraising gala on April 11 at the Whippersnapper. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $15. Food and entertainment will be included.
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