HOME
About Us!
Archives
Links
Contact Us

Circle Mirror Transformation

December 1-3, 2016

Written by Annie Baker
Directed by Amanda Schroeder


Cast

Marty Kristen Glowa
James Ike Dimayuga
Schultz Ryan Gale
Theresa Emily Selander
Lauren Terryn Philatzke


Summary and Broadway Reviews

When four lost New Englanders who enrol in Marty's six-week-long community-center drama class begin to experiment with harmless games, hearts are quietly torn apart, and tiny wars of epic proportions are waged and won. A beautifully crafted diorama, a petri dish in which we see, with hilarious detail and clarity, the antic sadness of a motley quintet.

"Annie Baker's play is an absolute feast. CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION is the kind of unheralded gem that sends people into the streets babbling and bright-eyed with the desire to spread the word. The play traces the lives of a handful of small-town Vermont residents who gather each week for an acting class taught at the local community center. By the play's end we seem to see to the very bottom of these souls, and feel how the artificial intimacy of the acting class has shaped their lives in substantial ways.” - The New York Times.

"…orchestrated with a subtlety and unfailing naturalness that make the play's small revelations disarming and unexpected. The characterizations display a miniaturist attention to detail that goes down to the bone…Baker is never blind to their weaknesses and faults, yet regards them all with a warm, empathetic eye." - Variety.

"Smartly, sneakily, Baker gives us the rare theatercentric play that's not self-obsessed. [CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION] is about real people exploring their lives through tiny leaps of faith and creativity." -BackStage.

"Baker develops her characters slowly through their interactions each week in class, which is the only place we see them. Naturally, their real, offstage lives gradually infiltrate the classroom, revealing insights and transformations both humorous and heartbreaking." - Associated Press.

"Reverberates with seduction and sorrow…the play's final scene is devastatingly gentle." - Village Voice.


Review by North Renfrew Times, January 25, 2017

Cast shines in “Circle”

by ArgusS

“Circle Mirror Transformation,” written by award winning playwright Annie Baker, follows the journey of four acting students and their teacher as they bare their souls over the course of a six-week drama class in Shirley, Vermont. Over the weekend of December 1-3, Deep River Players presented a beautiful study of character and relationships in this creative production.

First time director, Amanda Schroeder, skillfully weaved intriguing directorial choices with in-depth character work to tell this quirky and endearing story. We see the characters at the outset uncertain and struggling to fully commit to the acting class, which is the setting throughout. As the play moves from scene to scene (week to week) they evolve in both their study of drama and character by exposing each of their personal struggles. Kristen Glowa skillfully played the role of Marty, the drama teacher to four local community members who sign up for acting classes.

Marty is a driving force in the story; her teaching style and calm demeanour help to create the necessary relaxed and trusting atmosphere. Glowa’s strength as a performer helps to maintain the depth of character required to lead each character through their respective transformation.

James (Ike Dimayuga) is Marty’s husband, and we are able to see the struggle he has with his identity as he explores the class and gets to know the others in the group.

Ike successfully portrayed James’ struggles with his relationship with his wife and his unexpected display of feelings for Theresa.

Theresa (Emily Selander) is a former actress who struggles over a broken relationship. Selander established her character clearly with her bubbly and flirtatious nature, and then slowly exposed the audience to Theresa’s deeper struggles.

The character of Schultz, (Ryan Gale) is an angst ridden man in search of companionship and healing. We see the character open up as he gets to know others in the class and we witness the struggle he has to apply himself in the class while not wanting to reveal too much of himself.

Gale was brilliant in his portrayal as he slowly introduced us to the character and to his inner struggles as the scenes move along. Lauren (Terryn Philatzke) is the angst ridden teenager looking to take acting lessons but instead finds frustration in the minutiae of the exercises and role playing.

Philatzke effectively explored the layers of her character, portraying the character as hesitant and shy at first but eventually determined to express herself and be heard.

As an ensemble performance, the actors effectively ran the gamut of emotions, from hope and amusement, to shame and indignation.

Schroeder’s choice to stage the production in a studio setting, on the stage itself in Childs Auditorium, helped to establish the intimacy that permitted the audience to observe such subtleties. Each expression, hand movement, and eye contact could be not only perceived by the audience but intimately felt.

Although there were times that I wished the pacing could have been a little tighter, the intentional use of long pauses and awkward silences helped to build the dramatic tension.

From the simplicity of Baker’s story of ordinary human drama, to Schroeder’s well thought-out staging, the well-suited acoustic guitar music performed by Greg Hersak, and the strong ensemble performance, I felt that Deep River Players’ performance of “Circle Mirror Transformation” was a resounding success.

Bravo!


Article from North Renfrew Times, Nov.23

"Circle" Director Wants to Try Something New

On Dec. 1-3 the Deep River Players present a play unlike anything they’ve done before (at least in the last 20 years). “Circle Mirror Transformation” is intimate and funny, introspective and in-your-face – and takes place entirely in a drama studio over a period of six weeks. Five adults learning about acting end up learning more about themselves, and each other.

Since this is director Amanda Schroeder’s first time at the helm of a local show, and being relatively new to Deep River, we thought it would be interesting to learn more about whom she is and what attracted her to this show. The following is our “sit down” with Amanda.

Q: Tell us what brought you to Deep River.

“I moved to the Ottawa Valley two years ago to begin a new job with the school board. It allowed to travel to different schools and towns around the valley, getting a taste for each community. I quickly fell in love with Deep River, especially the arts community, and was very happy when I discovered the Deep River Players. I have always loved live theatre, and after an amazing experience working on ‘Pink Panther’ last fall, I finally moved to Deep River. I could not be happier with my new home.”

Q: Why did you choose to direct this play?

“When I began reading it, I was struck by the natural sounding dialogue. I appreciated the rephrasing, lack of fluency and the free flow of thought depicted by Annie Baker. I then fell in love with the five characters and their very real struggles, triumphs, humour and emotions. I liked how they were only seen during their time in that room, yet the rest of their lives were slowly revealed as their comfort grew with each other and themselves. Once I read one of the quite profound final lines of the play, I knew I needed to see it on stage. I couldn't wait to bring these characters to Deep River.”

Q: Why the studio format of the stage?

“What I want most is for the audience to have an intimate theatre experience. I felt the best way was to have a smaller audience, seated on the same level as the actors, surrounding the acting space. This absorbs you fully in the experience. I hope the audience walks away reflecting upon the way our lives become entwined with others in such happenstance ways, but this connection, however brief it, stays with us even after it seems to end and we start all over again.”

Q: What’s your favourite part of the play?

“I love how you inadvertently get a window into the acting process. An audience is often unaware of what goes on in the rehearsal process prior to a show – especially things like acting games and warm-up exercises – but with this show, you learn about the characters through the often hilarious antics of these exercises. You first see them nervous and uncomfortable but then you witness them coming out of their shells, showing their quirky personalities and unique skills. You will even quite literally witness explosions of confidence on stage!”

Q: How are rehearsals going?

“Very well. I could not be happier with our little group! Kristen Glowa, a seasoned Players actress, has completely embraced a new kind of character to her in Marty. Ike Dimayuga, another dedicated Player, has also stepped out of his comfort zone to bring charismatic James to life. Emily Selander is playing her first lead role as Theresa, and exudes all of the required confidence and sex-appeal for the role. Terryn Philatzke, also playing her first lead as Lauren, may be the youngest but she approaches her role with an impressive maturity and an openness to try anything! Ryan Gale, is making his Players debut, taking on the challenging role of Schultz. I was very lucky to come across the perfect Schultz one day at the pharmacy.”

Q: Anything else to add for our readers?

“I hope to see you at one of our shows Dec 1, 2 or 3! If you love live theatre as I do, or would like to experience something new, creative, witty, intimate and unlike anything the Players have done before, then you will not want to miss Circle Mirror Transformation.”

Tickets are available in advance at Pinecrest Florist for $20, and at the door


Article from North Renfrew Times, Nov.2

Tickets on sale for "Circle Mirror Transformation" by the Players

Tickets are now on sale for the Deep River Players’ production of “Circle Mirror Transformation”, by Annie Baker.

The play runs Dec.1 to 3 at Childs Auditorium, with tickets available at Pinecrest Florist.

Winner of the 2010 Obie Award for Best New American Play, the story follows five adults – mostly strangers – who meet for a weekly theatre class that turns into a life-changing experience for all.

See the play that the New York Times calls “absorbing, unblinking and sharply funny”, and “the kind of gem that sends people into the streets babbling and bright-eyed with the desire to spread the word”.

Presented in the “in-the-round” format, the audience will feel like it’s sitting in the theatre class itself.

Director Amanda Schroeder chose this approach to suit the intimacy of the script.

Relationships develop and fall apart, woven through a catalyst of seemingly benign drama games and exercises.

The dialogue is witty and realistic, the play filled with ample amounts of physical comedy and pathos.

As has been the case for past Players productions, the cast of five includes some familiar faces and some newcomers:

Kristen Glowa is “Marty”, the spirited and outgoing drama teacher, and Ike Dimayuga is her more reserved husband, James.

Emily Selander is Theresa, a former actress, and Terryn Philatzke is Lauren, a high-school student yearning to be an actress.

Ryan Gale, in his Deep River debut, is recently divorced, lonely, vulnerable Schultz.

Patrons should be warned that this play contains some adult themes and language.

In addition, the “studio theatre” seating arrangement requires some climbing of stairs and thus will not be wheelchair accessible.

For more information, contact the director Amanda at 613-585-3226 or aa-schroeder@hotmail.com – or visit the Players website at www.DeepRiverPlayers.ca.

 


Photos from Rehearsals