Walking a Tight Rope

An interview with Noelle Hardy, who plays part of the ghost chorus in Hungry Ghosts.


How do you choose the roles you play, and why did you choose to participate in this project?
Why Hungry Ghosts? M.E.H. Lewis - Working with on something by her is almost always guaranteed to be not only interesting but fun. I look forward to any opportunity I have to jump in on a project involving her. Choosing roles is a lot in timing and luck. I try to hold out for roles that are a challenge; characters that I don't agree with or that I find lots of fault with. The process of understand how they tick and what compels them make those "bad"or "imprudent" choices helps me learn about life, myself, acting, and hopefully that struggle teaches me a bit of humility. When I cannot get that sort of "meat" in a role I go for directors, writers, and colleagues that I enjoy working with.

Can you describe the part you play in Hungry Ghosts?
I play one of the ensemble that surrounds the chief protagonists in the play, Alice and Isabelle. As the ensemble we contribute to the tapestry of foreign flavor and life. We help support, agitate, and in some cases propel their journeys. We use vocal and physicality to help create the mood needed as Alice and Isabelle struggle with the past or the lack of a past.

What was most challenging and/or rewarding for you about that part?
It's always challenging to be part of an ensemble. You walk a tight-rope to stay engaged, especially when you are not being featured in a scene. We run the risk of stealing focus, or totally disengaging and seeming to space out until it's time to talk. Margaret has done a wonderful job of stacking the dialogue in a way that we don't get to space out for too long before we have to chime in behind one of the leads to help a certain emotion or idea resonate. We are always on the stage too so there really is no opportunity relax or get a drink or anything and that can be a bit difficult..

What is your process of preparing for a role?
It's different every time. If I am doing what I call 'heavy lifting" I use photos, and create a sound track that I listen to on the way to the theatre or anytime I'm off stage. So that I stay on the verge of the emotional state of the character. In this particular play I have spent a lot of time creatively riffing with the other talented actors to create the entity of the ensemble that is comfortable going with a choice and experimenting with every riff that is presented. There really is a wonderful trust that has formed and I hope to be so lucky to work with this crew again.

How was that process different in the compressed timeline of LeapFest?
Pain! No. Kidding. It was a challenge because of the time lapses between rehearsals and the demands of the play to have a very strong ensemble, multiple locations and much physical and vocal experimentation. I'm afraid all the layers we would have liked to add were impossible to get, but that type of thing can really take years of a run to fully developer. The brush strokes we do have are extremely beautiful and affecting. But now I"m bragging.

Hungry Ghosts is an intensively ensemble-driven piece. Can you talk about the experience of participating in that?
It has been really incredible. I'm used to being a bit isolated in my acting and focusing on my process totally unless I am directly talking to an actor in a scene. I find such a strong connection to this particular cast that a constant and inexhaustible level of energy flows from and into me. It's an extraordinary sensation to be on stage and loose your identity to a much larger thing. It could be very unnerving with a cast that I don't love and trust to well.

For you, what is this play about?
For me this play is about truth, maturation and resolution. Finding truth is one thing. Accepting truth when you find it is another thing entirely. Alice like a child is unwilling to accept that she cannot find every missing piece, Isabelle is equally unwilling to acknowledge her personal history, both of these blocks are blinding these women to the truth and is staring them in the face so to speak. The journey they have together causes them to mature and see the truths face to face and then resolution follows.

Any other thoughts?
Ya'll come back now. Y'hear?


You can see the final performance of Hungry Ghosts tonight, May 29th at 7:30pm.