Susan Christophy returns to the GCP Stage as Dotty and Mrs. Clackett in 'Noises Off!'
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Character(s): Dotty/Mrs. Clackett
GCP Girl: Tell me a little about yourself.
Susan: I'm currently working in Data entry at Davis Gas and will begin my own business soon hosting private acting lessons. I've been a part of the GCP for almost 20 years and have performed/choreographed/ or directed in well 40 GCP productions. I just finished a run as Amnerias is GCP's production of Aida, directed by the Golden Apple award winning director Dan Christophy.
GCP Girl: Tell me about your character(s). What makes her/him fun or rewarding to play?
Susan: Dotty/Clackett is a laugh riot to play. Dotty the actress has a very dry wit and is the "seasoned" actress..... By seasoned I mean old. She has money in the play that's being produced so she possibly a little difficult to direct. The character she plays, Mrs. Clackett, says what she thinks and can't keep up with her damn sardines. The physical comedy for both character is something you'll have to see.
GCP Girl:What is your favorite scene in 'Noises Off'
Susan: Act 3 when everything "goes to hell." I love performing the meltdown that happens on stage. As an "seasoned" actress, (yep, I still mean old) I've been in such mayhem on stage when it's has happened for real; so being able to share in it knowing it's supposed to happen is almost like getting to laugh along with the audience.
GCP Girl: Madness ensues and jeopardizes the play within a play in 'Noises Off'. Think about a time when things started to go really wrong during a performance of a pervious show. What happened and how did you overcome the mayhem to finish the show?
Susan: I've been in plenty of unexpected mayhem on stage. In White Christmas it was actually pouring rain on the stage, while I was singing about rain, in Thoroughly Modern Millie, a very important character forgot to come on stage for almost 2 minutes (a life time in stage time), and in Skin of our Teeth, my skirt was unexpectedly pulled down to my ankles, ( defiantly not something my character would have happen); but you just keep going. You gesture to the rain as you sing about it, you make up dialogue which includes hoping the missing person will show up and you pull your skirt up and just keep going, mildly reprimanding the maid whom pulled it down about its lack of appropriateness.... That's why we all love live theater, you never know what will happen.
GCP Girl: Why did you decide to audition for Noises Off?
Susan: It is one of my all time favorite shows and movies. I am the biggest Carol Burnett and Christopher Reeve fan so I wore my VHS out as a teenager. The show is an actors gift, it allows you to be Zany, play 2 characters as well as share the insight of "what goes on backstage" with the general audience.
GCP Girl: Why should everyone see this production?
Susan: You'll laugh out loud almost non-stop, it will be a relief to catch your breath. The cast stellar!!!! You may want to see it twice just to catch all the zaniness on stage!
GCP Girl: Talk about one of your most memorable theatrical experiences ever, either as a performer or audience member.
Susan: In honor of this show, I'll look back on a zany experience of my own... The year was 1990 and I was but a sophomore in high school at Chiefland High in Levy County. I had participated in an all county productions the summer before so when the drama teacher from Williston High called to ask if I could fill in for a student who had been pulled from the show, I said yes. This was a Tuesday and they opened on Friday. The role was the lead of Florence in the female version of the Odd Couple. After only 9 hours of rehearsal, opening night went of with out a hitch!! We were so proud and celebrated it up that night. I wake up for the Saturday performance only to find the stress and overtaxation on my voice had left me with complete laryngitis. I had no voice.... It was a "on your toes kinda performance." Sometimes I could croak out lines, sometimes not...line were made up, abbreviated and sometime simply acted out in pantomime, needless to say, it was a crazy night.
What a story! Thanks, Susan!
This is the last weekend to witness the madness in 'Noises Off!'. Please visit the GCP Website or the Event on Facebook for ticket and showtime information.
xoxo GCP Girl
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