Interview by Jennifer Mustoe, Front Row Reviewers
We’re chatting with Ellie Otis about her upcoming production The Moors.
Plot: Two sisters and a dog live out their lives on the bleak English moors, dreaming of love and power. The arrival of a hapless governess and a moor-hen set all three on a strange and dangerous path. The Moors is a dark comedy about love, desperation, and visibility.
Contains mature content, simulated violence.
Run time: 90 minutes, no intermission.
Recommended for mature audiences ages 18+. No infants being held. All patrons require a ticket regardless of age.
The Moors is about a young governess who is enticed to move to an old manor in the moors of England, thinking a handsome lord and young child await her. But when she gets there, neither the lord nor the child are present, only two strange spinster sisters, a maid with split personalities, and a dog whose awful treatment from the sisters has him praying for companionship, and his prayer is answered in the form of a small moorhen.
JM: If you had to describe the process of putting on this show with one word, what would it be and why?
ELLIE: Bloody
JM: What is the most interesting, funny, wonderful thing you’ve learned while working on this production?
ELLIE: I’ve learned that my car isn’t big enough to hold two chairs, two full storage containers, two full buckets, a suitcase, a guitar case, a mop, and an axe. But I made it work anyway.
JM: What do you do right before each performance to get ready? Right after each performance?
ELLIE: Before a performance, I’m typically mixing a big vat of blood (really!). After, I immediately clean up all the blood (consequences).
JM: What is your favorite inside-joke from the show?
ELLIE: One actor accidentally said “thong” instead of “speedo” while referencing comfort zones for intimacy coordination, and we refuse to let him live it down.
JM: What is your favorite aspect of this production?
ELLIE: All the bloody scenes mwahahaha.
ELLIE: My cast has been wonderfully collaborative and eager to go along with all my bits I insist on adding into the show. Alvaro Cortez has been an incredible part of the cast, as I didn’t know how I’d cast such a complicated role as the Mastiff until he stepped into the audition room and brought an incredible fluctuation of humor and gravitas to the part. Jessica Graham balances brilliantly the naivete and cunning of Emilie, while Viviane Turman brings the boldness to Agatha while also showing us beautiful moments of vulnerability. Addilynn Bowler is both charming and terrifying as Huldey, and Nicole Finney has such a unique and funny take on the Maid, bringing a sharply funny difference between her two personalities. Ryeleigh Eliza brings a phenomenal contrast to Alvaro’s Mastiff, showing a lightness that brings him hope. Our unbelievably talented swing Merry Magee has been the backbone of this production, jumping in as needed and nailing any role we throw at her.
JM: What is your background and training as a director?
ELLIE: I’ve been directing since my time at the University of Utah, when I received the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program grant to produce a successful production of King Lear. Since then, I’ve assistant directed for The Grand Theatre multiple times in addition to AnOther Theatre Company and the SLC Fringe Festival. My first experience with Voodoo Theatre Company was assistant directing Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.
JM: What is the biggest challenge of directing in general? The biggest challenge is figuring out how all the different groups (cast, sound, lights, set, and costume) can best collaborate into telling the story clearly to the audience.
What are the surprises and delights you’re finding in directing this show?
ELLIE: I’ve found that I have skills in both set and costume design, and am eager to bring those forward with me in future shows.
JM: Is there anything else you would like to tell us about this project?
ELLIE: Everyone on this show has worked with such passion to bring this weird, slightly disturbing show to life. The collaboration is resulting in a really exciting production that I’m thrilled for audiences across the Salt Lake Valley to see!
Voodoo Theatre Company presents The Moors
November 14th – 23rd, 2025
Studio 5400, Mid Valley Performing Arts Center, Taylorsville, Utah 84129
Tickets: $12.50-$25
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