It’s hard at times to see what the drama department’s productions are all about. As a school, we don’t celebrate their work like we should. They often spend their times locked in the depths of Craigie Hall and then mount their shows to little campus fanfare, an example of campus apathy in action. As we enter the other side of Mar., the drama department swings open its doors to present the year-end celebration of student work, Taking Flight.
The festival, entering its fourth year, will take place Apr. 1�14 in venues throughout campus. Graduate and undergraduate students alike are taking to the stage to show off their latest creative work.
“It’s a festival situation, so each of us [directors] comes up with our
own projects,” explains graduate student Jamie Dunston. “Since we’re also part of the Taking Flight machine, we work on our own but also have each other as a support system. So all the designers and directors are helping each other out to make top-quality works. I’m working with a graduate lighting, set and costume designer. My sound designer is an undergrad student and my cast has several undergrad students
and the play that I’m directing is written by a grad student.”
Only in a festival situation like Taking Flight can you see a collective piece showing off movement work by a clown or a piece by a graduate student featuring male convicts and a female playwright working together in prison. Because of the disparate nature involved in the productions, there’s a wide variety of learning experiences for students. Instead of doing the traditional scriptwork, they
can use their body to create an entirely new character.
“I teach a workshop titled ‘From Mask to Clown’ and what they’ve been doing so far is just the training for the show,” explains visiting artist John Turner. “There’s been a lot of intensive mask-making-the students have already made
six masks which are the guidepost to the clown. They’ve sort of just been born as clowns now.”
These aren’t the kind of clowns you’d take to birthday parties. People are usually acquainted with the Bozo-style of clowning: seltzer bottles, a red skullet and funny shoes. Turner clears up some of the common misconceptions inherent in the public’s ideas about the supposedly floppy-shoed rapscallions-you don’t get your
red nose immediately, you have to earn it by making masks.
“Most people who have done mask and clown work won’t recognize this style,” says Turner. “This is all internal work. The masks are created by the student where they don’t even get to see as they’re creating the
mold and the clay. The masks are created out the feeling inside the body and [with] body, mind and image work. Each mask represents the six directions of the self.”
Not only are the plays being produced by students, but student actors also get to take to the stage to show off their skills. Unlike traditional expectations of flat dialogue and wooden expressions,
these student actors are able to emote so fantastically without chewing the scenery.
“I’ve been so amazed at how skilled the undergrad actors are,” says Dunston. “During the auditions, I was amazed at the turnout and [that] there were so many phenomenal actors out there. I
was also a little sad because they weren’t all used in the festival.”
Even in the clowning workshop, the students are able to take the high-concept workload and rise to the challenge. Turner was suitably impressed
with his young charges.
“They’re having a blast,” says Turner. “It generally is a pretty high fun-rating workshop. They’ve done really well too. There’s real enthusiasm and they show such talent in what they do. The students are putting a lot of enthusiasm and energy into the work, which makes
my job so pleasurable.”
Although this is a drama department talent showcase, the actors come from all across campus. Students in all faculties can participate in the festival, providing an opportunity for curious folks to see just what those mysterious kids in the drama program are doing.
“We have quite a few non-drama students taking part,” explains Dunston. “In fact, the male actor in my play is a non-drama student. There tends to be a bit of a vocabulary difference, but I love
working with these drama students as well as the non-drama ones. [Outsiders bring] a really fresh perspective to acting that you wouldn’t get otherwise when you take acting classes.”
Fresh perspective is what the Taking Flight festival is really about. These students are beginning to leave the nest of their comforts and spread their wings creatively. With that in mind, it’s an opportunity for everyone to discover something a little more exciting in the Apr. buildup to finals.
Taking Flight flies into campus Apr. 1�14. Tickets are available at Campus Ticket Centre.