by Kirby Lindsay, posted 27 September 2013
For four weeks starting Oct 4th Playwrights’ Theatre will stage the world premiere of ‘Mirror Images’ by local playwright Scott Timmons, at the DownStage Theater (4029 Stone Way N) in Fremont. Directed by Zachariah Robinson, this production features a cast of four that includes Maureen Hawkins. For Stone Soup Theatre fans (and regular readers of Fremocentrist.com) Hawkins and Robinson may be familiar – as both have appeared in past Stone Soup productions.
For ‘Mirror Images,’ however, they’ve reversed their roles.
‘Timeless’
For this insightful drama, Robinson is directing Hawkins, rather than the other way around. For Hawkins, her first interest in taking this role came from Robinson. “It was Zach,” she said. However, she acknowledged that the subject matter of Timmons’ play, and playing Anna, kept her involved.
‘Mirror Images’ has an all-female cast (the cast also features the considerable talents of Margaret Bicknell, Caitlin Frances, and Erin Ison,) but Robinson still found the story it tells personally identifiable, particularly in its subtext. “I think it’s timeless,” he said, “with really interesting characters on top of that subtext.”
Robinson and Hawkins described the play as being about the characteristics we inherit – consciously and unconsciously – from our parents. The sins of the father, visited on the son, leave the characters finding themselves following paths trod by that of their parents.
“We have to have a good cast,” Robinson said, “to bring out that subtext, or it doesn’t work.” He’s very satisfied by the work of his cast. “Being a character-driven piece,” he said, “getting the characters right and making sure it stays true to that person,” has been central to rehearsals and the work done by the cast.
‘Quality People’
Robinson deliberately assembled people he knows, and can trust, for this production of ‘Mirror Images’. When asked, both Hawkins and Robinson acknowledged that, as directors, they generally read a play with ideas about who they’d like to cast – but “I don’t pre-cast anything,” Robinson said. “What I do when I read a script,” he said, “people come to mind. I invite them to call backs,” and for this production, he invited Hawkins.
As a known quantity, Hawkins didn’t have to try-out, but she attended call-backs where actors can be paired to discover chemistry and complimentary styles. For ‘Mirror Images’, the cast need to play versions of women closely related, and Robinson wanted actresses that could look and act related.
Robinson held auditions, and call backs, for ‘Mirror Images’ in July. “To get the quality people,” he said, “you want to have them locked in early.” Hawkins also follows this rule – in February she direct ‘Doubt’ at Stone Soup Theatre, and she already has her cast list set.
“This is a very small community,” Robinson said about cast selection, and to get people who will commit – and show up – for a production months out, “you do your homework.” When she first started acting, Hawkins reported, “I was in a show, and it kept getting the run extended.” This wonderful news was bittersweet for Hawkins, as she’d already been cast in another show. However, when she went to her producer and explained her conflict, he sent her along with his blessing. Rather than demanding she stay, the producer understood – as Robinson and Hawkins have when it’s happened on one of their shows. “We’re happy for people,” she said about cast or crew members who get higher paying/more prestigious jobs in the meantime.
‘Very Collaborative’
As the more senior of the two, Hawkins might have stepped into rehearsals for ‘Mirror Images’ ready to mentor Robinson as a director – but that hasn’t happened, the two reported. “I’m happy to be a team player,” she said about performing, “It’s not my job. I’m an actor in his show. This is Zach’s show, not my show.”
“We’re both very collaborative,” Hawkins said. Instead, this show was an opportunity for both to relax and enjoy the work. “We didn’t have to spend that time, on that dance that you do with a new director,” Hawkins explained. As for directing versus acting, Hawkins doesn’t necessarily prefer one over the other. “They’re just different,” she said, “the skills involved, the work involved.”
“For me, it is like an orchestra,” Hawkins said, “the conductor has to know all the pieces involved, while the players just have to know their piece.”
‘Ebb And Flow’
For Robinson, this production has provided more than an opportunity to direct a character-driven, compelling drama. With ‘Mirror Images,’ he’s helping Timmons launch a second show for his new production company, Playwrights’ Theatre.
Timmons launched Playwrights’ Theatre as a platform for innovative works by new playwrights, including himself. After reading ‘Mirror Images’, Robinson asked to direct it – and help produce the work. As an advisory artistic director, Robinson has developed his skills as a producer. “With this particular show,” he said of ‘Mirror Images’, “I have done more to brand this company than ever before.”
This furthers Robinson’s interest in launching his own high-quality theater company. “Everything I have done since moving to Seattle, everything has led me to it,” he said, of producing. Since coming to Seattle in 2005, Robinson has felt an ebb and flow slowly moving him towards his own production company. As another of those slow nudges, he’s been in discussions with playwright/actor James Lyle about producing an evening of Lyle’s short plays for the spring or early summer of 2014. Perhaps even at a venue in Fremont…
For this fall, see Robinson – and Hawkins – at work by attending an upcoming performance of Timmon’s ‘Mirror Images’ at the DownStage, Friday, Saturdays, or Sunday matinees, October 4th – 26th. Purchase tickets, for $16 advance/$20 door, through Brown Paper Tickets or the Playwrights Theater website.
This will be a short run, so purchase tickets today to guarantee a seat – and a chance to see this compelling drama, brought to Fremont by familiar friends…
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©2013 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.