A roaring production

The Fountain School of Performing Arts’ latest theatre production is a homecoming of sorts for its director, Mitchell Cushman.

The play, Lion in the Streets, centres on the ghost of a murdered child, Isobel, and her attempt to save the humans that surround her from the corruption in their lives. Written by Toronto playwright Judith Thompson, the play takes place in the city and is a spiritual quest from earthly horrors to the reaching of salvation.

Cushman is a Dal/King’s grad who also has an MFA in Directing from University of Alberta. He’s won many awards for his theatre work including the Toronto Theatre Critics’ Award for Best Production and Best Director, and later this year he will direct a production of Possible World at the Stratford Festival.

Fiona Kidd as Jill and Chloe Forrest as Laura.

The student performers express great affection for Cushman.

“It’s been a really wonderful experience,” says third-year student Celestia Kalau-Tavormina. “He has really pushed all of us to take risks and really be the best that we can be. He has really helped us come together as an acting company.”

Ivy Charles, who plays Isobel in the play, says working on this production has been the most challenging and thrilling theatrical experience of her life.

“What I’m most excited about right now regarding the show is the audience’s reaction to it,” she explains. “So far, we’ve gotten such a range of responses. It’s a show that really makes people think — both about the play itself and about the society we live in, the ways we as humans interact and treat each other. Compassion being mixed with cruelty is a big theme in this show.”



Another third-year acting student, Chloe Forrest, spoke about the amazing set that was created for the show.

“We have a climbing frame that’s fully functional. We have ladders, a seesaw and even a tire swing. It’s amazing to see all of the exploring that can be done with an interactive set like ours and I really think it helped with the shaping of our show.”
 
If you’re lookingto make it out to see these wonderful actors take the stage under Cushman’s direction, be sure to get to the David Mack Murray Theatre this week. Lion in the Streets runs from Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. with an additional 2:30 p.m. matinee. Tickets are available from the Dalhousie Arts Centre box office.