Interview: The Men of 'CLOUD 9' - Blair Williams

Currently playing at The Panasonic Theatre, CLOUD 9 is an award-winning gender-bending play by Caryl Churchill (Top Girls) that explores political and sexual expression through a strange time-twisted structure. 100 years pass throughout the play, with one act set in British colonial Africa and another in modern-day London, yet recurring characters (often played by different actors in each act) only age 25 years. Sounds confusing, but in reality, what you get is an explosive and fascinating look at issues that resonate just as strongly in society today as they did when the play was first written over thirty years ago.

CLOUD 9 features a star-studded cast tackling difficult and different roles. Over the next week, BWW will be speaking with both the men and the women of CLOUD 9, to get their take on the production and what it is like to be part of something so unique and revolutionary. First up is Blair Williams, who gives us his take on what CLOUD 9 is all about:

How do you handle having to change characters from Act I to Act II? How does the change affect your approach to each character you play?

The analogy I use is this: if one is making a casserole for diner, and a pie for dessert, you don't put ingredients for one into the other. In Act II, the style is more "realistic", and less broad. Martin has an inner life that Harry lacks - and while Harry is great fun to play, Martin is more interesting.

In the show, 100 years pass between Act I and Act II, but the characters only age 25 years. There are many different interpretations of this, what is your take on it?

The first act is symbolic: it is easier to present the world view of the characters as being repressed and small if you set it in a time removed enough from the present for us to see the difference clearly. In reality, society in the fifties wasn't really much less repressed than it was in the 1880's but we wouldn't see the character's growth as clearly if Act I had been set in 1955.

Most of you come from a more classical background (Shaw, Stratford etc), what is it like adapting to being in a much more liberal production?

This play is already thirty years old, and is, I think, addressing many of the issues Shaw would have got around to if he'd lived another twenty or thirty years. Social issues are what all good theatre examines if it's to prove lasting.

Have you had any interesting experiences with the audience since the show opened? Any extreme reactions (either negative or positive) given the adult content of the play?

The response has been pretty good. Occasionally, we will look out and see a face with a most uncomprehending expression... I think some times people come expecting a romp or a panto, and when they realize the play is going to take on some pretty tough subjects, they can get uncomfortable. But People have told me they find it very moving as well, and I think that surprises them. It's interesting as well to realize people are coming great distances to see this show. I spoke to a couple the other day who had flown in from London England for the weekend! We've had a number of Americans come up as well - one girl told me at the stage door "We don't have anything like this in Arkansas!"

CLOUD 9 originaly premiered back in the late 70's and society has evolved a lot since then. Do you think society has become more accepting of pieces like this and does that make your job as a performer any easier?

Well, not only has society become more accepting of pieces like this, it has become more accepting generally. There are some issues addressed in Cloud 9 that are not applicable today - for example a gay man working as a public gardener would not have to fear being fired simply because of his sexuality. That being said, it doesn't make performing this piece any less challenging.

Was there one particular thing that drew you to the role?

No, but I was excited by the opportunity to work with this cast, many of whom I hadn't yet worked with, and all of whom are great.

The website has been running a piece on what makes you feel as though you are on CLOUD 9. Is there one thing specific to being in this production that elicits those same euphoric feelings of being on CLOUD 9?

There are times while acting that your not working to remember your lines, and words and thoughts come to you as they're needed, just like the "brightest heaven of invention" That's pretty sweet. And I love being backstage and seeing Evan as Edward See and recognize his younger self. I find it very moving.

Any plans for what you would like to do after this project?

The night CLOUD 9 closes, i will fly to Calgary to begin rehearsals for Betrayal by Harold Pinter at Theatre Calgary the next morning. I'm looking forward to that.

When and Where?
Cloud 9: A Comedy of Multiple Organisms

The Panasonic Theatre
651 Yonge St (south of Bloor)

Performance Schedule
Plays until February 21st, 2010

TUESDAY 8:00 PM & SUNDAY 7:00 PM
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY 8:00 PM
SATURDAY & SUNDAY 2:00 PM
FRIDAY & SATURDAY 8:00 PM

Tickets can be purchased at the box office, by phone at 416-872-1212 (1-800-461-3333) or online at www.mirvish.com

For more information please visit www.cloud9toronto.com

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