Guest Artist "Snapshot" - Judith Buchan

Judith Buchan is delighted to be back in Rosebud, previously appearing on our stage as Miss Helen in The Road to Mecca, Marilla in Anne of Green Gables, and The Stage Manager in Our Town. She danced (!) in the tour of New Blood last fall, played Irene in Fire Exit’s Nativity in the City, and has over 30 film and TV credits including Hell on Wheels, Heartland, Another Woman, Lost Holiday and Passchendaele. Favorite roles in hometown Lethbridge include Countess Malcolm in A Little Night Music.

Judith Buchan & Paul Muir in Outside Mullingar. Photo by Morris Ertman.

Lethbridge is home?  How long have you been there?

18 years. My husband, James, is a priest at St. Augustine’s Anglican church.

What's the best kept Lethbridge secret?

It is a small city with amazing music. The music program at the U of L is excellent, and many graduates want to stay (because of all the other best kept secrets). Consequently, we have a thriving symphony orchestra, terrific opera productions, many concerts, superb high school music programs, wonderful choirs, folk singers and many other categories of modern music, too. (OK, we could have more jazz…) You can get to any venue in under 15 minutes and there is free parking.

Is there a role you'e always dreamed of tackling?

Wit (by Margaret Edson) has been on my bedside table for a few years now.

  

You're currently playing Aoife in 'Outside Mullingar'. (How do you pronounce that, anyway?) Do you have other Irish connections?  

Aoife is pronounced Eefa. Like the end of Latifah.  I DO have Irish roots! But I’ll have to tell a story… 

     My mother is a “Dingle”, and it was assumed to be an Irish name. The women in our family get together for a weekend every year. My cousin Cheryl went to {the town of} Dingle (in Western Ireland) to search for our roots and discovered there were no Dingles in the phone book. She asked around and was told there were no Dingles in Dingle. So, she headed to the oldest pub to talk to Seamus O’Connell (a 7^th generation farmer) who demanded to see Cheryl’s birth certificate and passed it down the bar. He got a twinkle in his eye and said, “If your name be Dingle, you’re a Hussey!” It seems that Norman royalty invaded and conquered Dingle, built a wall and ruled for centuries. They were the Husseys. Ultimately, they chose to leave (or were chased away), went to Wales and named themselves “En Dingle” – From Dingle. “So,” Seamus concluded, “You’re a Hussey, but with royal blood!” The aunts and cousins all love that, and we have dubbed our yearly meeting place “The Hussey-enda”. 

Coffee or Tea, and how do you take it?

Yes please! Between acting jobs one year, I taught in a one-room school in Brazil (as one does!) and became addicted to strong coffee with hot milk. In the dressing room I have a container of green tea with cinnamon, orange peel, and hot chilis. So good!

Are you Outside, or Inside?

Anthony {from the play} says “Pushed out? When was I in? Among people?”
As I get older, I start to understand that I don’t need to figure out if I’m Outside or Inside. It’s not an easy thing to figure out. Jesus twists it around and upside down in his parables and in his life. Who is Inside and who is Outside? Probably the opposite to what the world tells us. How about if I say that on the inside I desire a rich inner life and relationship with Jesus Christ and on the outside I desire to live out that faith in a life of healthy relationships and community.

What's something inspiring you lately?

Many women and men in the Celtic Church inspire me. James and I are going on a pilgrimage this summer, and will walk The Way of St. Cuthbert from Melrose, Scotland to Holy Island (Lindesfarne) in England. So I am reading about St. Cuthbert, a monk and bishop who worked as a pastoral missionary in 7^th century Northumbria. So far, he reminds me of St. Francis, but Cuthbert didn’t get a religious order named after him. Utter self-denial. Consecration to God. Integrity. A wonderful sympathy with all humanity. And animals responded to Cuthbert as they did to Francis. Yup. St. Cuthbert’s Way, here we come.

Lastly, 'Outside Mullingar' is largely about Family / Home / Legacy... Are there any words of wisdom your parents imparted that have always stuck? 

When we got married, my mother-in-law’s advice to James and me was to “Be kind to each other.” Kindness. Be kind. And there is kindness to be found Outside Mullingar. 

There’s only a few more weeks to catch Judith’s wise and mischievous portrayal of Aoife Muldoon in our current spring presentation of ‘Outside Mullingar’. As always, she's a performer and presence you don't want to miss. For tickets and information, visit www.rosebudtheatre.com

The Legacy of the Land - Thoughts on 'Outside Mullingar'

Rosebud landscape looking a lot like Ireland - Photo courtesy of Byron Linsey

At our Engage talkback last Friday evening, an audience member highlighted the importance of land in Outside Mullingar. John Innes (the actor playing Tony) shared his experience visiting the geographical Mullingar (in Ireland) and his revelation that passing the land within his family was critical to his character’s journey. I waded into the fray to talk about growing up in rural Alberta on land homesteaded by my Grandfather – land passed on - now owned in-part by my son and daughter-in-law. Their daughter will be the 4th generation to plant vegetables in a garden first tilled by her great-grandfather.

I read an article in Macleans this morning about the troubled First Nations souls that live in Attawapiskat, whose youth live on the brink of suicide - a direct result of residential school practices that tore generations from their families and homelands.  And many other stories on the news illustrate our connection to the past, families, and the legacy of land that sustained them.

 In Outside Mullingar, Tony talks about “standing on the earth and drawing strength from it.”  On my own father’s tombstone (split and polished from a stone he pulled out of the earth) are these words: “I reach into the earth and touch my father’s hand.”  My mother’s says, “Together we sit on a stone in a field.”  It is likely she sat on that very stone with cows milling and bawling all around her.  Genesis says humankind was created from the dust of the earth.  First Nations' healing is rooted in an understanding of the land that sustains life. And the words spoken over my parents, and many others at the end of their lives, is simply “ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”  From the land we were created, we live, and return.  

A few years ago, we produced a play called The Quarrel, by David Brandes.  David himself came to see the production and we spent a day together talking and exploring the landscape around Drumheller.  He also believes his children receive something from an ancient place where generations share a collective history.  Identifying as a secular Jew, he celebrates the fact his children spent extended periods of time in their homeland, Israel.  How can a place thousands of years old tug at the heart of descendents who didn’t grow up on it?  What is it that calls so many to return?

The journey to Rosebud involves travelling across rolling prairies that inevitably connect many to their roots.  Family and place are critical to emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being.  And so is the tradition of Storytelling.  First Nations communities winter-camped in the valley.  Farmers abide close by.  And the artists involved with our production serve the theatre the same way so many others served the land – passing the art of storytelling on to those that come after.  With Outside Mullingar, we connect people to the idea of family and legacy through a roller coaster ride of romance, revelation and laughs.  It’s worth the trek.  This play is likely to be produced time and again in a host of theatres, but Rosebud’s rural setting makes our “Mullingar” something very special indeed.  

Morris Ertman - Artistic Director

Guest Artist "Snapshot" - John Innes

A National Theatre School graduate with an MA in Cross-Cultural Spirituality from Regis College, John has over 45 years as a working actor—including 12 seasons with the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Since first appearing on our stage in 2015's Mass Appeal, he's made appearances on two Hallmark TV series: When Calls the Heart and Garage Sale Mystery, as well as lending his voice to the animation series Superbook. Bonus? A recent two-week visit to Ireland. “You gotta love research!” 

John Innes as Tony Reilly in Outside Mullingar. Photo by Dale Marushy.

Where do you call home?

"Most of my adult life I have been a gypsy, but currently I call Vancouver home."

What's your 'must-have' morning ritual?

"For a number of years now I have been an admirer of the contemporary Franciscan monk, Richard Rhor. He has a meditation on-line which I start my day with, reading and meditating on."

Favourite (theatre) shows you've been a part of?

"When asked what is my favourite role or show, I tend to say, "The one I'm working on." However, two of my most terrifying, but proudest experiences were: Stepping in for Brian Bedford as King Lear on the Stratford Shakespeare Festival stage, & playing Horst in the Canadian premiere of Bent at Manitoba Theatre Centre."

Favorite TV/Film experience?  (You were on AirWolf AND 21 Jump Street!  Pretty sweet...)

"My proudest moment in TV/Film was when a Hallmark TV movie which I had a major role in Christmas Lodge, won a Dove award (2013) as best family Christmas video of the year."

So you went to Ireland... you method actor, you.  What did you learn about the land you'd like to share? Any pleasant surprises?

"What can I say? I made a similar excursion to Ireland two years ago before I did a production of The Seafarer at Pacific Theatre in Vancouver - to soak up the distinctively Irish atmosphere and to become acquainted, first hand, with the various local dialects... I'm not a very good researcher when it comes to book or picture learning. Experience, for better or worse, has generally been my teacher. I needed to feel the land, breathe the air, listen to the local dialects, observe their dress, eat their food, etc...  Plus, for me, as a passionate traveller and an actor, any trip that I can call research is tax deductible. I fell in love with the people, especially the country folk, their earthiness and generosity of spirit. I was pleasantly surprised to be made aware of their connection with the Spanish, historically. (Another passion of mine.)" 

Do you have a favourite Irish saying?

"My current favourite Irish saying comes from W.B. Yeats 'There are no strangers here.  Only friends you haven't met.'"

Are you Outside or Inside? 

"Being adopted and of unknown blood-line, I have always considered and experienced myself as being Outside. However, as a rehearsing Christian, I have always found myself, my True Self, Inside... in the ever-embracing arms of the lover of my life.  And in reference to the first question [where do you call home], that has always been my True Home."  

Coffee or Tea, and how do you take it?

"One cup of coffee in the morning, black - except in Ireland where I can't, and don't want to, resist True-Steeped-Irish-Breakfast-Tea, clear. But no caffeine for the rest of the day or I don't sleep. Herbal tea? Yes - peppermint or ginger-lemon-honey.  

What are some of your non-theatre related interests? 

"Travel - my passion. Tennis - until the balls of my feet started saying no. Exploring my faith in a non-institutionally defined manner.  And being a face and a reminder of where we've come from and how far we have to go, in the Christian LGBT youth community as they struggle to receive full recognition, acceptance, and participation within the family, the Church and the broader community, in accordance with Christ's teaching, 'Love one another as I have loved you.'"  

John appeared as Father Farley in last season's 'Mass Appeal' and is currently playing the cantankerous Tony Reilly in 'Outside Mullingar'.  Don't miss the opportunity to see this extraordinary actor share his comedic gifts on our stage.  For tickets and information, visit rosebudtheatre.com

Setting the Stage. . . In Process with Designer Dale Marushy

Set Designer Dale Marushy shared his creative process on his design for Outside Mullingar - a modern day romantic comedy set in rural Ireland.

"The world of the play takes place in a landscape not so different from ours.  I spent many hours 'Google mapping' my way around County Westmeath, where the town of Mullingar (and our characters) reside.  The land is central to the story of this play, as are the social dynamics of an Irish home.

Marushy's set design for Outside Mullingar, in miniature.

Within that broader setting, we needed a house.  "Confines" of a kitchen serve as a central meeting place, and also, a battleground.  The interior (minimalist, hard angles) needed to contrast the open landscape (wild abundance), which became a metaphor for the show itself: characters wrestling to find congruity with their place in life.   There's freedom, but servitude.  To the land and each other.  

One panel of the giant landscape, graphic designed by Dale Marushy.

Early on, Morris and I brainstormed the idea of "outside" always being present.  Or how the kitchen could feel part of the land, while still an outsider on it.  This evolved into the house as an open structure with giant upstage scrim portraying an inescapably beautiful landscape.  The house still feels like a house, but we're always faced with the land, the struggles, and question of ownership.  Does the land belong to them, or do they belong to the land?

The set under construction in the shop.  Photo by Dale Marushy

It's a riff on exposure, which for me, is the journey of the play. Vulnerability, transparency, exposure: the invisible walls that support a true home. 

The set starts taking shape on stage.  Photo by Dale Marushy

To see the final product of Marushy's set design, and the beautiful story it participates in, come experience Outside Mullingar, presented by Rosebud Theatre.  www.rosebudtheatre.com

John Patrick Shanley on Outside Mullingar

Outside Mullingar is a relational comedy about love, death, home and hope: fulfillment of promises and the places we find reconciliation.

One of America's most celebrated playwrights, John Patrick Shanley writes characters with grace, humour and complexity.  With Outside Mullingar he set out to explore unknown (but personal) territory.

Judith Buchan, Heather Pattengale, & John Innes in Outside Mullingar.
Photo by Morris Ertman

"I always knew I'd have to come home eventually.  I'm Irish as hell: Kelly on one side, Shanley on the other.  My father had been born on a farm in the Irish Midlands.  He and his brothers had been shepherds there, cattle and sheep, back in the early 1920s.  I grew up surrounded by brogues and Irish music, but stayed away from the old country till I was over 40. I just couldn't own being Irish...

"When I finally went to Ireland, I had to go.  It was 1993.  My father was finally too old to travel alone, and he asked me to take him home.  When an old man asks you to take him home, you have to do it.

"When I sat with my father in that farm kitchen, the one that he had grown up in, and listened to my Irish family talk, I recognized that this was my Atlantis, the lost and beautiful world of my poet's heart.  There was no way to write about the farm, yet I had to write about it.  I listened to this amazing language these folks were speaking as if it were normal conversation, and I knew this was my territory..."
  Continue reading the main story
Read the rest of John Patrick Shanley on his Irishness and Outside Mullingar in the New York Times.


And come see Outside Mullingar, the opening show of our 2016 season.  For tickets visit Rosebud Theatre.com

An Actor's Diary: Outside Mullingar

Did you know we had a YouTube Channel?  Click on the link and subscribe to keep yourself updated on goings on in video land.

And check out our insider's video on the acting process.  Heather Pattengale is preparing for her role in our upcoming Outside Mullingar, by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, John Patrick Shanley.

This all adds up to a romantic comedy you won't want to miss.  Visit www.rosebudtheatre.com for ticket information and show details.

Something to Think On...