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LIVING SHADOWS A STORY OF MARY PICKFORD Living Shadows A Story of Mary Pickford, a powerful play written and performed by the multi-talented Tracey Power, is being presented by the Firehall Arts Centre and Ruby Slippers Theatre at the Firehall Arts Centre which previews on October 24 and plays from October 25 – November 4. The play tells a story of Canadian fireball, Mary Pickford, who was not only the world’s most celebrated actress of her time but the most well known and idolized woman in the world. Becoming “America’s Sweetheart”, the world’s first star, she pioneered the craft of theatrical self-reinvention and elevated it to a fine art. She became early cinema’s richest female mogul, and was shrewdly aware that her innocent aura endeared her to her global fan base. After leaving the silver screen for 12 years, she is presented with an opportunity to return. How could she refuse? The lead role in Sunset Boulevard, a new movie by up and coming director Billy Wilder, about a faded silent move star awaiting her comeback. He thinks she is perfect. But what will her fans think? She's no longer the sweet “Little Mary”, the young girl her audience was unwilling to let grow up. And now that image that had brought her such success, that icon she had taken such care to create and nurture, threatened to destroy her. Trapped in an image she has long outgrown, Mary struggles to hold on to a lifetime of monumental achievements. Directed by Brian Dooley, the play uses the formula of silent film with musical accompanist Bill Costin. Tracey Power has penned a powerful play, and gives a luminous portrayal, not to be missed. Show Times: Tues – Sat. 8pm, Weds. Sat & Sun. 2pm matinees
What People are Saying… POWERFUL PICKFORD, A Stellar One Woman Show! What a story and what a storyteller Power is. The audience is mesmerized” There's something winning about this sepia portrait of a woman who gave up everything for a 2-D image of herself. Tracey Power is a delight as she conjures up Pickford to offer a retrospective of “America’s Sweetheart.” Her performance is multi-dimensional and powerful as she entreats us to remember Pickford’s story. Already a hit on the Fringe circuit this year, Living Shadows deserves a main season performance and is a play worth every dollar. 4.5/5 As author and performer, Power goes beyond the boundaries of a biography, expanding her subjects story into an examination of Art and the tragedy of said Art becoming obsolete within it's creators lifetime. Power nails the many phases of Pickford's life and the entire production is a testament to what passion can accomplish - Pickford's for film and Power's for Theatre. 4.5/5 “Edmonton writer and performer Tracey Power sharpens the focus on Pickford’s bittersweet story in her engaging one-woman biographical drama. Power's drama is structured like a silent movie with title cards. Power gives a beautifully nuanced performance that offers a glimpse of a woman who became America's little girl but never had a childhood of her own.” “The production is smoothly directed by Brian Dooley. You won't want to miss a moment of Power's performance. She plays Mary with a wide-eyed innocence and enthusiasm that is simultaneously evocative of silent film acting and entirely natural - and completely engrossing. Her performance is bound to be one of the standouts of the festival, so do yourself the favour of checking out this lovely story of one of Canada's first great cultural exports.” “The Best Show of The Montreal Fringe” “It’s a bravura performance of a fascinating tale.” “An A+ for Power’s Living Shadows.” ** Winner of the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding Production and Performance **
The Company
Acting Credits include: The One that Got Away for The Electric Company/Only Animal, Little Sally (Jessie Nomination) in Urinetown the Musical, for The Firehall Arts Centre, A Midsummer Nights Dream and Henry V for The River City Shakespeare Festival, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change! And The Back Kitchen Release Party (Jessie Award) for the Arts Club Theatre, Other Freds, The Only Animal, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Fringe Theatre Adventures, Jeepers Creepers, Leave it to Jane Theatre, The Underpants, Quickchange Productions, The Wizard of Oz (choreographer) and Carousel for The Mayfield Theatre and Anne Frank in Yours, Anne at the Kassa Theatre. As a playwright If Romance is Dead… Who Killed it? was recently commissioned and developed for Lunchbox Theatre in Calgary and her adaptation of The Jungle Book will premiere in Montreal, April 2008 with Geordie Productions.
He has maintained a long-standing relationship with the National Theatre School having been involved as an instructor and coordinator for many years. His passion for mask work led him to direct the acclaimed NFB film: Pierre Lefebvre: On Acting. The film profiles Brian’s legendary and inspiring instructor and mentor, Pierre Lefebvre. Brian has conducted many masks workshops in both neutral and character mask and returns annually to the National Theatre School to teach mask. He recently received Betty Mitchell Award nominations for his performances in The December Man and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf at Alberta Theatre Projects in Calgary and has been honoured with two AMPIA (Alberta Motion Picture Industry Awards) awards, one for best performer and another for best production under 60 minutes, both celebrating work on a drama pilot entitled The Beat. Upcoming he will direct August for Alberta Theatre Projects and will perform in The December Man at CanStage and The Citadel Theatre. |
Tracey Power - Writer, Performer
Brian Dooley - Director, Dramaturge
