After a sold-out success with Sweeny Todd, the Williams Lake Studio Theatre (WLST) continues their 70th season with The Great Gatsby.
Directed by Stacey Poirier, the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel has been adapted for the stage by Simon Levy, but with some written additions by WLST as well and lots of familiar faces, plus some new ones.
Narrator Flossy, played by Keegan Follack, was written into the play. Follack's charismatic introduction helps lead the audience into the Roaring Twenties period piece, set on Long Island, with a few forays into New York City.
This will be Follack's third year with the WLST, who first took the stage in Buying the Moose.
"I just love the theatre," said Follack, who said she had always wanted to do theatre but hadn't gotten into it until returning to Williams Lake after living in Prince George.
While she had auditioned for a part while in Prince George, she didn't get the role and never heard from the group again about any off-stage roles.
But when she moved back to Williams Lake, where she spent most of her high school years, she got involved with the WLST.
"I felt very welcomed," she said.
"I love this theatre, I love this play," said Follack, who also expressed how much she enjoys working with Poirier as a director.
"She's so creative," said Follack.
A more familiar face for the audience will be Mimi Searles, who takes the stage as the feisty Myrtle Wilson, a hot-blooded and hot-bodied redhead who happens to be having an affair with Tom Buchanan. Searles was in Mama Mia! as Rosie.
"I've never done this type of role before," said Searles of Myrtle, who she describes as both desperate and different, a challenge she said she loves.
As Searles prepped for a rehearsal, Poirier styled Myrtle's red wig. Poirier said she chooses plays to direct based on being able to see it coming together in her head. She said a key part is building a team and proper preparation, a process she has now done three times as a director with WLST.
Becky Strickland, stage manager and "left hand of the director" has worked with Poirier before and said she's excited about bringing the classic novel to life.
"I'm a lover of classic literature," said Strickland, who used to run a musical theatre program at Maranatha Christian School and said the biggest challenge in stage managing comes in quick scene and costume changes, which Gatsby has.
"It's all about timing, it's all about practicing," she said, which the cast and crew were hard at work on Feb. 2, when the Tribune stopped by to catch a rehearsal.
Strickland said the team for this production has been "phenomenal."
"It's a great group of people," she said of her fellow theatre members.
The Great Gatsby is perhaps not the most uplifting story, but it is timely, and the 1920s provide a great opportunity for some fabulous costuming.
An examination of class, with themes of misogyny and racism, seeing how much has or maybe hasn't changed, the play is a time-travel adventure for the audience.
"Such a time of change, just like today," said Strickland.
The Great Gatsby will be on stage at the Williams Lake Studio Theatre's Michael Rawluk stage Feb. 26 - Mar. 15. For showtimes and to purchase tickets, go to: https://www.wlstudiotheatre.ca/profile/248