Shetiquea Davis plays Mrs. Dickson, who gives Esther plenty of advice in "Intimate Apparel"!
GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character.
SD: My character is Mrs. Dickson. In a story of women who are constrained by societal expectations and standards, Mrs. Dickson is the only woman in this story who is rather free in the way that she lives her life from an external view, although her constraints come more from a place within as she fulfills her mother's hopes for her life. Mrs. Dickson is jovial and possesses wisdom, confidence and a to-the-point attitude.
GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows.
SD: This is only the third production I've performed in. My acting experience started in a one-act play titled "At the Punch Bowl" in the role of Idamae. It was directed by Natasha Lee, a local zumba instructor, and marked her directing debut. That experience is priceless to me as it gave me the encouragement to continue acting, which has both enriched my life and propelled personal growth.
GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "Intimate Apparel"?
SD: Well, I had never worked with Rhonda Wilson, our director, before, and I was seeing her everywhere around Gainesville when I would attend different events/shows in the theatre community. It seemed that she was affiliated with every theatre venue in town, and I knew she had done many good shows here, so I welcomed the opportunity to get to work with her. As auditions approached, I read the script to familiarize myself with the play and thought it was a wonderful story that people could see themselves in and/or others they knew. I personally identified with the lead character in a lot of ways. So all of that shaped my desire to audition.
GCP Girl: What is your favorite scene in the show?
SD: Wow, there are several moments I like in the show. When Mr. Marks asks Esther to have tea with him, that scene always makes me smile. The way they smile at each other and the sweetness of it. When he allows her to fix the smoking jacket made of Japanese silk on him, that's a touching moment. I also actually like to see George go in and steal the smoking jacket while Esther is out and he's on his way over to Mayme's. Not that I' m for infidelity, LOL -- I hate George -- but I love the way that Troy McCray has embodied the character as I watch him stop in the mirror on his way out with the cigarette in his mouth, check his look in the mirror and then strut off like a pimp. :-) Great job, Troy!
GCP Girl: What has been your favorite part of this experience so far?
SD: This is a play by a talented African-American playwright, and I am honored to be playing a role in one of her productions. It's been great meeting new people. I pretty much had never worked with anyone involved in this project before, and all have been great to work with. Madeleine Escarne and I have some tennis coming up after the show. (I'll try to go easy on you, Madeleine. :-) It's been a huge time commitment, and has meant giving up certain joyful pastimes of mine for now, but seeing a great production come together that exceeds people's expectations and that they truly enjoy is so worth it. I'd do it all over again!
GCP Girl: What have you learned during the show about life in 1905?
SD: None of the issues that we deal with in relationships are new -- or old, for that matter. Some of the same things that are portrayed in this play based in 1905 are still very relevant today. And I learned what a smoking jacket was. Men actually wore them to smoke in so that the smell wouldn't get into their regular clothing. We need to bring this one back. :-)
GCP Girl: What do you hope audiences take away from "Intimate Apparel"?
SD: Well, you can never say what an audience will take away from a production, as it depends on what they bring to it, but I hope that they will identify with some of the characters and perhaps see that we all as humans share the same emotions, experiences and obstacles regardless of race, age, social status, etc. None of those things make you or anyone else exempt.
GCP Girl: What plays or musicals would you like to see GCP produce in an upcoming season?
SD: "The Color Purple."
GCP Girl: Tell me something you'd like everyone to know!
SD: Despite what some may tell you, I'm actually shy. But don't get my timing wrong, though! :-) Enjoy the show!
Thanks, Shetiquea! She's the quite the philosopher, isn't she -- not unlike her character! Come see for yourself!
xo xo GCP Girl
"Intimate Apparel" takes place in New York City in 1905, a time when the world was rapidly changing. Here's a look at some of the important events going on around the world at the time we meet Esther and her friends:
