Taking a chance
Jigs & Reels-The Express Newspaper (2002)
By: Stephanie Porter
Taking a chance
Paul Power wrote himself a lead role - and there's no mention of disabilities
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Audition after audition, actor Paul Power found himself cast in minor or supporting roles. he enjoyed them, but he wasn't getting the leading man part he craved.
So he wrote himself one. He's done this before. But that script (1995's Roomies) was largely autobiographical, and Power's turn as a young adult dealing with a disability came easily to him. This time, he's setting himself more of a challenge. The script of the romantic comedy/drama Last Chance, produced by MUN Drama, makes no mention of any character having a disability. Well into descriping his new play, Power pauses to make one thing clear; he's not pointing a bitter finger at any director he's worked for. He knows he has sometimes auditioned against stronger actors. Sometimes the successful lead was just better suited to the role. "I understand where (the directors) are coming from," says Power. "People have a certain image in their minds when they're casting - and it's not usually Romeo on crutches." |
 Writer and actor Paul Power
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Power smiles as he says this, without a trace of self consciousness. He has a physical disability since birth and requires crutches and leg braces to move about. It hasn't stopped him from working backstage or performing regularly in front of an audience. In fact the communications director (by day) has a lengthy list of stage credits to his name.
While writing Last Chance over the past couple of years, Power found himself eyeing the main character, Josh Costello, for himself.
In a play about approaching live and love as if it were a series of last chances - "We often wish we'd done something, or wonder about it. Well what if we went ahead and did it?" asks Power - the playwright decided to take on the challenge of Josh.
Two months into the rehearsal process, Power is enjoying the experience. "It's nice to have more meat to act around," he says, smiling.
He is also enjoying the chace to be involved in the first stage production of his script - and to be part of its evolution.
"When I write the play, I'm very much writing as a writer," Power says. "When I hear it coming from people...it doesn't always sound the way you think it will."
He's been around to tweak the line, with the input of the other actors and director.
Working with MUN Dram is familiar territory for Power. He has acted with much of the cast before. That familiarity created a comfortable atmosphere for workshopping. "There were some dialogue problems," Power says. "We've got an open concept here. They're free to criticize dialogue, character, motivation, whatever needs to happen for it to be right for them."
Director Steve O'Connell says having the playwright in the play has more advantages than disadvantages. "It's a challenge working with the playwright, especially when they're acting in it too," he begins. "They labour over every work, every sentence they write down, and sometimes you're not sure they're going to want to change them."
On the other hand, "in Paul's head, he knows exactly what is going on. That doesn't always get written down, but he's right here to answer all our questions."
O'Connell attributes the level of fun and productivity of the rehearsals to the working relationship the two friends have cultivated.
"Paul was in my first show (as a director), Macbeth, and I cast him as Malcolm, and I sent him up on the Juliet balcony in the dark with no rail and told him to do a monologue."
"We trust each other."
Last Chance opens at the LSPU Hall on April 17 and runs to the 20.
While writing Last Chance over the past couple of years, Power found himself eyeing the main character, Josh Costello, for himself.
In a play about approaching live and love as if it were a series of last chances - "We often wish we'd done something, or wonder about it. Well what if we went ahead and did it?" asks Power - the playwright decided to take on the challenge of Josh.
Two months into the rehearsal process, Power is enjoying the experience. "It's nice to have more meat to act around," he says, smiling.
He is also enjoying the chace to be involved in the first stage production of his script - and to be part of its evolution.
"When I write the play, I'm very much writing as a writer," Power says. "When I hear it coming from people...it doesn't always sound the way you think it will."
He's been around to tweak the line, with the input of the other actors and director.
Working with MUN Dram is familiar territory for Power. He has acted with much of the cast before. That familiarity created a comfortable atmosphere for workshopping. "There were some dialogue problems," Power says. "We've got an open concept here. They're free to criticize dialogue, character, motivation, whatever needs to happen for it to be right for them."
Director Steve O'Connell says having the playwright in the play has more advantages than disadvantages. "It's a challenge working with the playwright, especially when they're acting in it too," he begins. "They labour over every work, every sentence they write down, and sometimes you're not sure they're going to want to change them."
On the other hand, "in Paul's head, he knows exactly what is going on. That doesn't always get written down, but he's right here to answer all our questions."
O'Connell attributes the level of fun and productivity of the rehearsals to the working relationship the two friends have cultivated.
"Paul was in my first show (as a director), Macbeth, and I cast him as Malcolm, and I sent him up on the Juliet balcony in the dark with no rail and told him to do a monologue."
"We trust each other."
Last Chance opens at the LSPU Hall on April 17 and runs to the 20.