INTERVIEW: New play on difficulties of parenthood comes to Dorset Theatre Festival
Photo: Cry It Out, starring Clea Alsip and Andrew Syglowski, plays the Dorset Theatre Festival through July 14. Photo courtesy of Dorset Theatre Festival / Provided by Matt Ross PR with permission.
The Dorset Theatre Festival serves as a presenter of new, exciting theatrical work. Based at the Dorset Playhouse in Dorset, Vermont, the festival has a summer chockfull of events, including the local premiere of Molly Smith Metzler’s new play, Cry It Out.
The play, directed by Marc Masterson and starring Clea Alsip of Broadway’s M. Butterfly, follows Jessie, who can’t seem to find any new friends in her Long Island neighborhood. She is so busy with parenting that there’s not enough time to connect with others in the local area. That is, until she meets Lina and a wealthy neighbor who stops by while all of the parents’ children are napping.
Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Alsip about her new role. Audiences can catch her performance through July 14. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What first attracted you to the play Cry It Out?
I was lucky enough to be doing a play at the Humana Festival last year in Louisville, Kentucky, when this play first premiered, so I got to see it there several times. I was immediately drawn in by the story of friendship between this unlikely pair of women, and the pains and beauty of new motherhood.
What do you like about the role of Jessie?
Jessie is going through so much — so much that is so universal to new motherhood, but that so few people talk about. That isolation in those first months, feeling like you’re so alone and completely overwhelmed by the task at hand, is something that all women struggle with. Yet often we are made to feel that something is ‘wrong’ with us for having these feelings. Jessie takes that on, with joy and humor and anxiety, and we get to see her expand emotionally with the help of friendship. The bond between new mothers, coming out of a need for shared experience and community, is so strong, and getting to go on her journey every night is an absolute dream.
What was the experience like being on Broadway in M. Butterfly?
M. Butterfly was such a special project. Working alongside Julie Taymor and David Henry Hwang was an incredible learning experience. They are masters of their fields and wonderful humans to boot. And then getting to go toe to toe with Clive Owen every night was other-worldly. I often had to pinch myself to make sure it was all really happening. The piece itself was so poignant and important in these politicized times, touching on the idea of western male dominance over a submissive eastern ‘feminine’ culture. I loved every day of it.
What’s special about bringing theater to Dorset, Vermont?
Dorset itself is such a heaven on earth; it’s a gift for me to be here! But I also think it is so important for communities outside of New York City to see great new works of theater. And Dorset Theater Festival is taking that head on. Dina Janis is the ideal helms-woman. She has such an incredible eye for good new material. She knows what her audiences will want to see and also knows what will help expand their minds and take them on a human journey. Theater breeds empathy, across the board, and we need to spread empathy far and wide more than ever right now.
When did you first get into acting?
I began acting in the second grade. I went in for Caroler Number 2 in my local production of A Christmas Carol (in Tulsa, Oklahoma), and I booked it! And the rest is history.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Cry It Out, starring Clea Alsip, continues through July 14 at the Dorset Theatre Festival in Dorset, Vermont. Click here for more information and tickets.
