BWW Interviews: Devon Hales of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA at Theatrical Outfit

Devon Hales stepped into the role of a lifetime when she was cast as Clara in Theatrical Outfit's production of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. A recent graduate of Kennesaw State University's Theatre and Performance Studies program, she tells how this role is the perfect culmination to her first year in Atlanta's professional theatre scene.

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What did you draw from to do your character work for Clara?

The biggest question that Richard Garner, our director, and I had to answer about the character was: What is really wrong with her? From day one Richard said that it's the Naccarelli family that's the most correct about her, that, really, there's not a whole lot wrong with her. As soon as she walks on stage, the audience shouldn't immediately know that there is something wrong with this girl. You should discover it slowly, and it really shouldn't be until Margaret, Clara's mother, says it finally outright and explains the full idea. So it was playing up her charm and, just, this innocence of her that she still sees all of the beauty in the world. She should just be warm and funny and, yes, very quirky. We wanted to stage the moments where she does freak out more like a panic or anxiety disorder, something that is recognizable to the audience. It was really playing up the human nature of her more than her illness.

What is one of your favorite rehearsal memories from the show?

In "The Beauty Is" reprise that Margaret sings right after we fill out the forms in the church and then Senior Naccarelli sees something, don't want to give it away, but the whole family leaves. It's where Margaret tells the most detailed version of what happened to Clara. Richard had this idea from an image of a girl in a field, and she is splayed to one side and looking up at a house. The lighting designer made these bold, beautiful choices with dramatic uplighting. We physicalize the moment of Clara getting kicked down and then Margaret holding me. Christy Baggett, who plays Margaret, and I were in tears that day. It was wonderful to get to tackle.

How do you feel this role has stretched you, helped you become a better actor?

This piece, even though it is a musical, is very Shakespearean in nature in that it hits the highs and lows of every emotion. I, and so many characters in the show, get to run the entire emotional spectrum, and it is an absolute dream. This is the kind of part that, in my opinion, actresses dream about getting to play. One where you get to use every tool in your toolbox, and you come out of it exhausted. I get to sing gorgeous music but then act an entire play.

Which scene was the most challenging for you and why?

It is such a short scene, and there is not a song in it. It is only a couple of lines. It's just two of us on stage. It's the scene right before Margaret sings "The Beauty Is" reprise. It's where she and I are left alone in the church. She's trying to convince me that, "Oh, honey, they just forgot something." It's the first time, I think, Clara, says out loud, "Something is wrong with me." Not just something is wrong, but it's me. I'm the problem. And she's lived such a sheltered life that I think her parents have been able to guard her from that. It's not just that moment where she realizes it. It's the flooding back of probably all the moments throughout her life where people have looked at her funny or treated her funny. It's in this moment where we think this marriage is going to happen right now. It looks great. You are almost reaching the top of the mountain and then falling all the way back down. It's so simple, and it has to hold so much. I just looked at Richard, "I don't know what to do with this." He walked me through it, and I think what we ended up that she takes it as it is. It's not until the very end of the scene where she cries. I didn't want it to be hysterical. I didn't want the audience to roll their eyes. We wanted it to be very real. So, it was hard.

What is your favorite part of this play?

The song "The Beauty Is" because it's Clara's introduction to the audience. She is talking directly to the audience. She needs their help to figure something out. She starts in one place, and at the end of the song, she is in a different place. She sings "when you realize someone could be looking for a someone". She figures it out at the end. I hope, that's where she seems the most warm and charming and is just able to invite them into their world.

My other favorite is obviously "Tirade". This is the first time the audience realizes there's really something wrong with this girl. The thing with Clara is that she is having all of these new emotions in Italy. She doesn't even know what to call them because she's just never had them before. That first time you experience jealousy and you're just physically ill. She has no idea what to do with herself, and it's amazing. I get to throw the wine which I feel bad about sometimes, but, also, it's a lot of fun to see the audience's reaction.

Do you have anything to add?

Our cast is great, the whole team. We have ended up this perfect cast. It's unbelievable how well we all work together, and how, I like to think, perfectly cast it is. It's a dream to go to work. The team at Theatrical Outfit has been nothing but supportive for this show that a lot of theatres don't do because it's hard. It's hard to get people to come see it, but if you can get people into the seats, it's absolutely worth it. It's such a beautiful show. We have gotten such amazing, generous feedback from people who have seen it.

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Devon Hales is thrilled to be playing Clara in THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. Other credits include: AS YOU LIKE IT (Georgia Shakespeare), PETER PAN (Atlanta Lyric), and RED BADGE OF COURAGE (7 Stages).

Visit www.theatricaloutfit.org for more information on Theatrical Outfit.

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