Interview by Jennifer Mustoe, Front Row Reviewers
Jennifer Mustoe (FRR): So Kathy, tell us about your upcoming summer shows.
Kathy Curtiss (KC): We are putting on William Shakespeare‘s The Tempest and Measure for Measure.
FRR: That sounds wonderful. Please tell us more.
KC: The Tempest: Imagine being marooned on an Island in the Mediterranean sea, suddenly surrounded by magical spirits and beasts, and become a sorcerer to interact with power over the magical spirits and beasts and the elements. Imagine your enemies pass by on a tall ship, and you are able to raise a storm that causes them to wreck and throws them ashore, where the son of your enemy falls in love with your daughter. Imagine the fathers forgive each other, unifying the family not only through the marriage of these young prince and princess. And in this process, these two enemies find forgiveness for the other.
Measure for Measure: Imagine you are the Duchess of a prosperous modern city, but concerned that your people are in trouble. Imagine that you give your deputy control in order to go into hiding and watch the people more closely. Imagine that the Deputy, in trying to be exact with the law, compromises his morals, risking lives and imprisonment. Imagine a beautiful young nun helps you to figure a plot that brings everyone to justice and to their senses about a rule of law that includes compassion and understanding. Lives are saved.
FRR: You always perform such amazing Shakespeare plays every summer. If you had to describe the process of putting on this show with one word, what would it be and why?
KC: INSPIRING. Outdoor theatre, especially Shakespeare, is inspiring–and difficult. The elements in Utah are spectacular but also take a certain courage to brave. The Castle Theatre takes careful preparation and all hands on deck while setting to perform outdoors, getting lines memorized early, enduring heat until the cool evening performance time. These hardy actors have also spent long hours getting classical Shakespeare to feel modern and clear so the audience can relate.
FRR: Your ability to succeed in that outdoor theatre is astounding, but not surprising. What is the most interesting thing you’ve learned while working on this production?
KC: Both plays have sooooo much humor in them. While they address important issues that concerned us now, such as “rule of law” in our time, we also get to know a loving but slightly dysfunctional family. I have loved working with the wonderful comic actors who have found all those “golden” moments of humor in these rich pieces.
FRR: What do you do right before each performance to get ready?
KC: Vocal exercises and physical exercises unify the cast. The cast does “flocking”, where they follow each other’s creative movement to music. It’s meditative and unifies them. Then we have about a 15-minute Fight Call for the sword work in the show.
FRR: That sounds like excellent preparation. What is your favorite inside-joke from the show? Quote/line? Costume? Set piece? Etc.
KC: In The Tempest, there is a cave formed by erosion cloth. It has to be replaced every night. We call it “the beast.” But perhaps our favorite set piece is a giant iron gate that forms the jail in Measure for Measure. And Magical beast Caliban has a costume that looks like a dragon. Very wonderful.
FRR: How thrilling! What is your favorite aspect of this production?
KC: Wonderful humor and hilarious tricks and movement accompanied by clear story and language.
FRR: Tell us about your cast.
KC: A number of professionals, including Marvin Payne and Joel Applegate, join the BFA students and graduates who excel in comedy, movement and vocal technique led by Steven Rimke of Utah Valley University.
FRR: What is your background and training as a director?
KC: 25 years in New York directing Off-Broadway, and a BFA instructor at 10 universities including the University of Utah, Utah Valley University, The New York Film Academy, and University of California, Santa Barbara.
FRR: That’s a vast amount of experience. What is the biggest challenge of directing in general?
KC: Keeping up creatively with ideas that will enable the creative skills of the actors and designers.
FRR: What is the biggest challenge of directing this show?
KC: There is a great theme about our contact with an unseen world.
FRR: What are the surprises and delights you’re finding in directing this show?
KC: The comedians that also do amazing Shakespeare text.
We want to thank Kathy for taking the time to tell us about her season this year and let them know that Front Row Reviewers hope they have a fulfilling time, for audiences and actors and production team. Break a leg, all!
This festival follows the former seasons which toured New York after the Provo Castle Theatre
run, including Hamlet and Midsummer Night’s Dream at the NYC Chain Theatre, and MacBeth
ReDux at Off-Broadway’s Theatre Row and The Diaries of Romeo & Juliet at New Perspectives
Theatre Company venue. This summer’s festival will play at the Chain Theatre as well as the
Castle Amphitheatre in Provo from June 18-28.
The Castle Amphitheater is located at 1300 E Center street, above the State Hospital. Parking
available off the pavement on the upper level green, or in the parking lot below. Being outdoor
chairs or blankets, picnicking. Water available for $1.
PRESS Previews: June 18 & 19
Performances: June 18-28
Measure for Measure: 7:30 pm Monday, Wednesday, Fridays
The Tempest: 7:30 pm Tuesday, Thursday, Saturdays
Ticket prices: $15 General admission, $10 Student/Senior
$5 Previews/Groups over 4
Info at https://renaissancenow.com Tickets on sale after June 1.
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