By Darren Stewart-Jones
Elley-Ray (Hennessy) is playing Britain's first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, in The Death of Mrs. Gandhi and the Beginning of New Physics (a political fantasy) at the 2017 Next Stage Theatre Festival. In the play, Margaret Thatcher, Benazir Bhutto, Imelda Marcos and a young political novice, Kim Campbell, convene for Indira Gandhi’s funeral. The piece was written and directed by Kawa Ada.
Elley-Ray has portrayed countless real people on stage over the years, including Queen Victoria, Virginia Woolf, Lucille Ball, Bette Davis, Libby Holman and Katherine Hepburn - to name just a few. She has a chameleon-like ability to change her voice, stature and facial expressions to realistically portray politicians, royalty and celebrities alike. This isn't something many actors can do as convincingly as Elley.
I myself had the pleasure of directing Elley-Ray when she appeared as Judy Garland in my production of The Judy Monologues, a multimedia docudrama based on Garland's life. The Hamilton Spectator's theatre critic, not one to dole out compliments undeservedly, called Elley-Ray "Garland reborn". I recently sat down with Elley to chat about her upcoming portrayal of Margaret Thatcher.
Gay Theatre Toronto
You've played a myriad of famous personalities on stage. What have been some specific challenges in regards to portraying Margaret Thatcher?
Elley-Ray
The Death of Mrs. Gandhi and the Beginning of New Physics (a political fantasy) plays the 2017 Next Stage Theatre Festival from January 4 to 15. Tickets are available online at Toronto Fringe Next Stage Festival or call 416-966-1062 between 10am and 5pm.
Elley-Ray (Hennessy) is playing Britain's first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, in The Death of Mrs. Gandhi and the Beginning of New Physics (a political fantasy) at the 2017 Next Stage Theatre Festival. In the play, Margaret Thatcher, Benazir Bhutto, Imelda Marcos and a young political novice, Kim Campbell, convene for Indira Gandhi’s funeral. The piece was written and directed by Kawa Ada.
Elley-Ray has portrayed countless real people on stage over the years, including Queen Victoria, Virginia Woolf, Lucille Ball, Bette Davis, Libby Holman and Katherine Hepburn - to name just a few. She has a chameleon-like ability to change her voice, stature and facial expressions to realistically portray politicians, royalty and celebrities alike. This isn't something many actors can do as convincingly as Elley.
I myself had the pleasure of directing Elley-Ray when she appeared as Judy Garland in my production of The Judy Monologues, a multimedia docudrama based on Garland's life. The Hamilton Spectator's theatre critic, not one to dole out compliments undeservedly, called Elley-Ray "Garland reborn". I recently sat down with Elley to chat about her upcoming portrayal of Margaret Thatcher.
Gay Theatre Toronto
You've played a myriad of famous personalities on stage. What have been some specific challenges in regards to portraying Margaret Thatcher?
Elley-Ray
Time. Margaret Thatcher and her Iron Lady persona is not
a small impulse. One of the joys of working within a short timeline,
like in a festival climate, is about the character discovery. Taking on
Kawa Ada's ever changing satirical script is a roller coaster, it's wild
and adventurous, because it's changing daily. It still is! Once we are up on our feet, in rehearsals, we tweak and do these little
adjustments. Margaret Thatcher's mannerisms are so specific and I'm thriving on the pressure to get it right - and it's not
an impression but finding the joyfulness and, in particular, what's best for the play. They even gave me prop teeth to play with!
GTT
Besides Thatcher, who has been your favourite person from history to portray on stage?
Elley-Ray
Too hard to choose! Eve (from the Garden), Tatum O'Neal, Virginia Woolf, Libby Holman, Queen Margaret, Judy Garland, Heliogabalus' Mother, God, Elsa Lanchester, Candy Darling, Medea, Salvador Dali's sister, Queen Elizabeth, Cher - Shit, that's just a few famous people I've played that I can remember - I'm forgetting some. They're all pretty great. Fuck - can I swear? Sorry.
GTT
Is there an icon that you haven't yet portrayed that you'd really like to sink your teeth into?
Elley-Ray
Me. Myself. And I! - I have literally voiced thousands of T.V. and radio commercials and voiced many animated series and films. So you can't blame me for being interested in exploring and portraying a character closer to myself!
GTT
You've appeared in several Fringe productions over the years. What attracts you to independent theatre?
Elley-Ray
The rawness. I'm always up for being ridiculous and having fun with a new script or a young writer because there is hopefully a bit of unconventionality. I'm attracted to the comradery of a team working together, building that momentum, like that roller coaster climbing to the top. Chuga-chuga-chuga! I'm giving you my blood, sweat, chuga-chuga, soul, sex, body. There's no air conditioning? No heating? Chuga-chuga-chuga. I'm hoping that my cast mates are ready to get ridiculous, experiment, see themselves in a whole new way and develop skills that translate far beyond the stage! In the age of technology you better be giving the audience something to think about or else they're going to go home to Netflix and never watch theatre again! Not on my watch!
GTT
Finally, any thoughts on what Thatcher might think of Donald Trump's presidential win?
Elley-Ray
In the words of Margaret Thatcher, "I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left." And in this case... perhaps not a single political position to begin with!
The rawness. I'm always up for being ridiculous and having fun with a new script or a young writer because there is hopefully a bit of unconventionality. I'm attracted to the comradery of a team working together, building that momentum, like that roller coaster climbing to the top. Chuga-chuga-chuga! I'm giving you my blood, sweat, chuga-chuga, soul, sex, body. There's no air conditioning? No heating? Chuga-chuga-chuga. I'm hoping that my cast mates are ready to get ridiculous, experiment, see themselves in a whole new way and develop skills that translate far beyond the stage! In the age of technology you better be giving the audience something to think about or else they're going to go home to Netflix and never watch theatre again! Not on my watch!
GTT
Finally, any thoughts on what Thatcher might think of Donald Trump's presidential win?
Elley-Ray
In the words of Margaret Thatcher, "I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left." And in this case... perhaps not a single political position to begin with!
The Death of Mrs. Gandhi and the Beginning of New Physics (a political fantasy) plays the 2017 Next Stage Theatre Festival from January 4 to 15. Tickets are available online at Toronto Fringe Next Stage Festival or call 416-966-1062 between 10am and 5pm.
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