They're singing. That's the first thing the actors do at rehearsal. For their "warmup song," the stage manager sounds a percussion soundtrack from his computer and one actor leads the rest in a responsive Spanish work song. It takes a few bars to make sure everyone is in the same key, but once they get there, it sounds cohesive and the harmonies beautifully blend together. So of course I'm wondering why the actors have spontaneously broken into song. With my history as an acting student, I just assume it's a vocal warm-up they've worked on. So I was surprised when I heard the song again a little while later as part of the show. As impecunious citizens labored under the blazing sun, their song poured out over the hot, Cuban fields, bringing their culture directly to the stage.
Music is just one of the unique elements of the upcoming Parkville Project. Movement sequences and animal puppets also add style to the performance, in addition to flying typewriters and unconventional staging techniques. This show is something else.
A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to sit down with the director and the writer of the show: Helene Kvale and Michael Bradford. Both work at UConn and head the Bated Breath Theatre Company, the group presenting Parkville here at the Playhouse. During my interviews, I got to hear all about Helene and Michael, as well as their inspirations and processes for creating the show. Here's some of what they had to say:
A word with Helene Kvale...
This European director is tall, refined and elegant. Born in Norway and raised in England, she was introduced to theatre at a young age in the dramatic hotbed of London. She began the Bated Breath Theatre Company a little over two years ago, a group whose goal is to bring a slightly different flavor of theatre to this part of the world. So, speaking of this part of the world...
How did you get the idea for this project?
After a visit to Real Art Ways, Helene was fascinated by the warehouses and architecture of the area. She knew there were stories attached to these buildings and she wanted to find them.
To unearth the stories, Helene conducted numerous interviews with the people of Parkville. When I asked her what kind of people she interviewed, she said she talked to a lot of seniors at the senior center, people on the street, business owners, politicians, and policemen. She conducted most of her interviews in Spanish and chose not to record them. Helene explained to me that she didn't want to intimidate, because many of these people are illegal immigrants themselves.
Were there any specific interviews that stood out?
Helene highlighted her interview with Norbert, a man born in 1917 who she found at the senior center. He lived in Parkville all his life. She was also especially moved by her interviews with two young men from El Salvador whom she spoke with at a literary volunteer agency. They had been separated from their families a few years ago and were doing their best to learn English.
How much were you involved involved in the writing process?
Overall, the writing of Parkville was a very collaborative process. Helene was very instrumental in deciding on the focus and structure of the piece, as well as the dramaturgical aspects. She worked closely with Michael Bradford, who created the actual dialogue and scenes.
What is the main point you want to get across with The Parkville Project?
Helene said she jumped into this project without the desire for it to go in any particular direction. She called the process "organic," letting it take her wherever it wanted to. Immigration is a fascinating issue, she said, and she found herself focusing on the idea of the government preventing people from moving when that is really their only option. She also wants to showcase the resiliency of a community and echoes of stories over the decades. But most importantly, she said, "it all comes down to family." This is a local story and the main point is to engage the audience. She's not trying to make a political statement, she's just trying to raise some questions and make people realize that immigration issues are present right here, right down the street.
Next post: A conversation with writer Michael Bradford!
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