For Niki Tally, it’s a big leap from dancing as a cute cheerleader in Grease to drowning herself in despair as the scheming stepmother in The Ash Girl, the Concordia University College drama department season opener.
“Playing the evil stepmother appeals to me more. It is more of a challenge. I’ve never played a nasty character before and this is fun to do,” says the 2006 Morinville Community High School graduate with a dash of fiendish glee in her voice.
In this surrealistic Cinderella adaptation conceived by British playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker, Tally was originally cast as Greedmonkey, one of the Seven Deadly Sins. But in one of those theatrical flukes, she was handed the stepmother’s role on a platter when the original actress bowed out.
Despite the stepmother’s callous personality, the second year drama major is more than sympathetic with the older woman’s predicament. And no, it’s not justifying her character’s actions. It’s the way social roles are structured.
“Her husband has disappeared. She’s poor. There’s no food on the table and she has to care for three daughters. And she’s trying to do what’s best but in an awkward way. Back then it was hard for women. To survive, they had to marry for power and wealth.”
Directed by Pat Darbasie (Henry V/Domino Heart), The Ash Girl opens tomorrow at Concordia for a four-day run. A sessional instructor at the university college, Darbasie had been introduced to this updated fairytale while studying for a master’s degree in fine arts at the University of Alberta in 2006.
“The dark themes have a fantasy relevance as we look for ourselves and see ourselves in it, and there’s an aspect we can identify in ourselves whether we look for love, or are bullied or feel inadequate.”
In this dark, edgy tale Ashgirl’s father has some serious issues and abandons his family. Ashgirl lives with a stepmother and two stepsisters she doesn’t get along with. “She’s depressed and Timberlake Wertenbaker puts in a hint of an eating disorder. She’s trying to cope, but doesn’t see a way out,” explains Darbasie.
The women’s fortunes are seriously declining and they desperately need to hook a meal ticket. When Prince Amir’s mother, a royal from the foreign land of Araby hosts a ball for her son, Ashgirl’s family falls over itself to attend.
The upcoming ball gives Ashgirl hope, but the Seven Deadly Sins — some of which are Slothworm, Pridefly and Envysnake — seek to push the cinder girl back into misery. “The sins are personifications of character and Timberlake puts them outside so we can see them. She’s basically saying, until you know yourself, you can be easily manipulated by outside forces.”
Darbasie goes on to say, “For each of the characters it’s a path of self-discovery and embracing who they are. Society may not accept all parts of you, but you need to find the courage and faith to do what you want.”
