BWW Interviews: Getting to Know THE WHITE SNAKE's Amy Kim Waschke

Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman brings an ancient and beloved Chinese fable to life in a dazzling new adaptation hailed as "strikingly beautiful" by National Public Radio. Based on a story as popular as Cinderella in China, the play chronicles the tale of a gentle serpent spirit who lives for centuries coiled on a mountaintop. One day, she transforms herself into a beautiful young woman and, with her feisty companion Green Snake, travels down to the world of humans where she unexpectedly finds love and vows to remain a human forever. But when a vengeful monk discovers her true identity, he becomes determined to destroy the life and love that she's built. Actor Amy Kim Waschke plays the lead character and shared some of her thoughts on the show and coming to the Guthrie for the first time after a recent run of the show at the Goodman Theatre.

Q: What character do you play in THE WHITE SNAKE and how would you describe her?

A: My character, White Snake, is a snake spirit who has spent centuries studying the Tao on a lonely mountaintop. However, this ascetic existence leaves her wondering if there is another life for her. So when her friend Green Snake (Greenie) suggests they transform into women and visit earth for a day to see how mortals live, she agrees. On earth, she falls in love with a young pharmacist's assistant. They marry and she spends the rest of the play concealing her true snaky nature from her husband.

White Snake is a terrific character. Although she is a snake spirit, she has incredible humanity. I love her compassion, loyalty, bravery and humor. I wish there were more strong female characters on our stages like her.

Q: What drew you to the play? Is this character anything like you?

A: When I auditioned for the play I did not know anything about the White Snake story. Though it is a hugely popular fairy tale in China and Asia, it is not as prevalent in the States. I did know Mary Zimmerman's work. I had seen Metamorphoses in 2000 and was so moved and changed by it. That experience expanded my idea of what theater could be and I always hoped I would work with Mary someday.

When Mary is adapting a story, she does not begin writing the play until the first day of rehearsal. On our first day, we only had the first three pages of the script. We read them, staged them, and then she sent us home. Each day she would bring in a few more pages of the story. We would stage the new scene then run whatever we had up to that point. Because Mary was writing at the same time she was getting to know us, our individual personalities and strengths became infused in the writing of our characters. So yes, I believe White Snake is very much like me.

Q: What are the particular challenges of THE WHITE SNAKE and/or your character?

A: We use snake puppets in much of the show. Learning how to bring those snakes to life was really challenging. They don't have a hinged jaw like most puppets, so it took us several weeks to figure out that it is the movement of the tail that tells the audience how the snake is feeling. Much in the way a dog shows you he is happy or sad by the wag or droop of his tail, we found the same to be true with our snakes. The early incarnation of our puppets were also quite heavy with operator poles that were at 90-degree angles from the snake's body. With each production, we have modified the puppets for versatility of movement and ease of use. Guthrie audiences will see Snake Version 5.0.

Q: What part of the story resonates most with you?

A: One of the big themes of the play is the desire that we have to reveal ourselves to the person we love in our basest (or snakiest) form and that they in return will still love and accept us. I think we all wish for that kind of unconditional love in our relationships.

I also love the friendship and loyalty between White Snake and Greenie in this story. It seems like today, the relationships we see between women are more often like Mean Girls and less like Lucy and Ethel. It is rare for a play to have two strong female leads who truly trust, love and look out for each other. I wish every pre-teen and teenage girl in America could see THE WHITE SNAKE.

Q: You've just finished doing this production at the Goodman. What kind of experience can Guthrie audiences expect from THE WHITE SNAKE?

A: True to Mary Zimmerman's style, THE WHITE SNAKE is visually stunning, it has great heart and humor, and really speaks to modern audiences. I cannot stress this enough. Do not come to the theater expecting to see an ancient tale from the Far East that needs to be revered as a Chinese cultural treasure. We are using very contemporary language, the story has current and universal themes, and it is incredibly funny. We want the audience to laugh and enjoy themselves as we go on this epic adventure together.

Q: What aspect of the play are you most excited about?

A: I mentioned before that the play is visually stunning. Our brilliant set designer, Dan Ostling, has created some pretty fabulous set surprises for the audience and the costumes by Mara Blumenfeld are so beautiful. TJ Gerckens' intricate lighting design and Shawn Sagady's moving projections complete our world in a lush, gorgeous way. That said, it is the music in our production that excites me the most. Andre Pluess is our composer and we have three amazing musicians - Ronnie Malley (percussion, oud, pipa), Tessa Brinckman (flutes), and Michal Palzewicz (cello) - that perform live every night, underscoring most of the play. The music is integral to the storytelling, it highlights moments, supports the world of the play, and feeds the actors. I can't imagine performing without it.

Q: What do you look forward to most in making your Guthrie debut?

A: The Guthrie is one of the finest theaters in the country and I'm excited to work in your beautiful new space. I'm also a huge fan of "The Splendid Table" and cannot wait to be in the same city as Lynne Rossetto Kasper. Maybe I'll bump into her on the street or at a farmers market. That would make me very happy.

DETAILS

THE WHITE SNAKE officially opens Sept. 12 (currently in previews) and runs through Oct. 19 on the McGuire Proscenium at the Guthrie Theater.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.guthrietheater.org or call the Guthrie Box Office: 612.377.2224 or 877.44.STAGE.

POST-PLAY DISCUSSIONS

• Tuesday, September 16 following the evening performance
• Saturday, September 20 following the matinee performance
• Saturday, September 27 following the matinee performance
• Sunday, September 28 following the matinee performance
• Sunday, October 5 following the matinee performance

HOW'D THEY DO THAT? WORKSHOP

• Saturday, September 13 at 9:00 a.m.

ACCESS PERFORMANCES

Learn more online at http://www.guthrietheater.org/accessibility

OPEN CAPTIONING

Wednesday, September 24 at 1 p.m.

Friday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 11 at 1 p.m.

ASL INTERPRETATION

Saturday, September 27 at 1 p.m.

Friday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m.

AUDIO DESCRIPTION

Saturday, September 27 at 1 p.m.

Friday, October 3 at 7:30 p.m.

If you have specific program questions or need an accommodation, please contact the Accessibility Office by phone at 612.225.6390 (voice) or 612.225.6391 (TTY) or email at accessibility@guthrietheater.org.

Photo: Amy Waschke, courtesy of Guthrie Theater.

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