The goal of most people studying theatre is to land a part where they are guaranteed to bathe in the thunderous applause of an appreciative audience. Not Isabelle Hebert, a third-year bachelor of fine arts technical theatre student majoring in stage management.
“I love theatre, but I’m not a limelight kind of girl. I’m organized, punctual and I stay on top of things. I went into this program in the dark and now that I’m in my third year, it’s a perfect fit for me,” says the 2008 Ă©cole Secondaire Sainte Marguerite d’Youville graduate.
Hebert, 20, is the assistant stage manager for Eurydice opening at the University of Alberta’s Studio Theatre on Sept. 23 for a 10-day run.
With barely two years experience, Hebert already has seven shows listed on her resume including three productions for Opera Nuova. “I like to see everything unfold. Right now we’re in tech week and there’s so many things happening.”
In Eurydice, Hebert’s backstage responsibilities range from organizing props and costumes to overseeing the crew’s work and giving actors calls. “One of my biggest challenges is figuring out the logistics of how to get a wedding dress off and a suit on in 90 seconds.”
Directed by Bruce Horak, this updated Greek tragedy of the Orpheus myth looks at love and grief, life and death, and how both are fixed yet fluid. In legend, Orpheus is the sweet singer who braved the terrors of the Underworld to rescue Eurydice, the wife he loved deeply.
However, playwright Sarah Ruhl stands the old tale on its ear by giving us Eurydice’s point of view. Although she loves her husband deeply, maybe, just maybe the most important man in her life is her father.
In this quirky production Eurydice’s and Orpheus’ happiness is cut short when she dies and descends to the Underworld in an elevator. She has lost her memory and forgotten her life. She meets an older man, her father, who she can’t remember. While the grief-stricken Orpheus searches for his bride, the father takes Eurydice under his wing and re-teaches her about life.
Set designer Jennifer Goodman has designed a visual treat with an Alice in Wonderland aura. “This play tugs at your heartstrings. One minute you think you know what happens and the next you are sad. It makes you think, and honestly, the best thing about theatre is the conversations afterwards.”
