BWW Interviews: Romantic Favourites with the Cast of Angelwalk's ORDINARY DAYS
By: Kelly Cameron Dec. 04, 2012
Angelwalk Theatre is kicking off their 2012-2013 Season with a joint production with The Winnipeg Studio Theatre – the romantic musical Ordinary Days. Hailed by Remotegoat London as ‘one of the best musicals I have seen all year’, Ordinary Days tells the story of Deb, a woman who loses the notes to her graduate thesis and then starts a chain of events that turns the regular lives of four New Yorkers into something completely extraordinary.
The show stars four of Canada’s brightest up and comers, Justin Bott, Jay Davis, Connie Manfredi and Clara Scott as the New York twenty-somethings looking for love in a complicated world. With music and lyrics by Adam Gwon and orchestrations by Joseph Aragon, the show promises to entertain and inspire – while providing the audience with some much needed hope.
BWW took some time to chat with Justin, Clara and Connie about romance in today’s popular culture, and more specifically, what films and musicals most strongly resonate with them (and which ones they think can kill romance altogether). What ensued was a hilarious discussion on the types of material that can help you fall in love, and what to avoid if you want your fairy tale ending:
Connie Manfredi
I think for me the most romantic musical is The Light in the Piazza. I think Italy is the most romantic country in the world. The show is set there, sung in the language and from the moment you enter the theatre you feel the spirit of Florence and the love-filled journey Clara is about to embark on. Plus there’s all those nude male statues…
As for least romantic, I think I would have to go with In My Life. A musician with Tourette’s syndrome and a journalist with obsessive compulsive disorder. Giant lemons? That’s what the show is about. For reals. Cue romance? Not so much…
With regards to movies I love Once, when the piano comes out and the big red bow and he’s not there… If you see Once on a date you will hold hands with the other person and probably have at least three tear filled kisses.
Annie, on the other hand, is not my idea of a romantic movie. No orphan, no matter how cute or full of chutzpah, will get you a second date. All Annie will give you is confusion because you’ll leave the theatre thinking its Christmas.
I think the worst date movie I was ever taken to see was Hotel Rwanda. I got super into it and was uber-devastated by the story line. Remember the part when Don Cheadle tries to defend himself with the shower head? You laugh at how idiotic it is, but then you cry at the hopelessness of it all? Oh my goodness was I ever a mess! My mascara was running and I was embarrassed by how emotional I was. As a result of being so upset, I hogged the popcorn.
I’m also not a fan of the musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. It just isn’t my sense of humour. Bad show for a date, and it’s a very long musical. Great songs though.
The best romantic scene in a movie for me is the love scene in I Am Love. Perfection. Tilda Swinton is so versatile. For a date movie it’s fun to play it safe and go for an action movie or a huge musical, but I think it’s also great to go and see a student flick or a small cast production. I really like verbatim theatre, site-specific and one-to-one performances. It’s all about the cool experiences!
Ordinary Days is a really great date musical that strikes a good balance. It’s a current romantic comedy with enough humanity to bring the whole thing home with heart. I believe in it.
I think the best and worst romantic film is Titanic. It’s such an epic film with an amazing love story; however, after the movie you wonder if true love can only last for three days and if it must end at the bottom of the ocean. What if the only way to get over your past love is to throw a huge diamond in the ocean? I know some people who would have liked that diamond, Rose. Not cool.
The best show for a date is obviously Ordinary Days. At the end of the day life and relationships are about the people you surround yourselves with and being open to the truth that we are all connected in strange and glorious ways. This show makes you laugh, appreciate the simple things in life and awakens a sense within that we are a part of a bigger picture. In the end, people are at peace with where they are right now. They are happy living in the moment they are in.
I think the worst show for a date (even though it’s my favourite) would be The Last Five Years. You talk about filling your head with doubt before you even get the relationship started! Here’s a story about a five year relationship where they meet, date, get married and the relationship ends before your eyes in ninety minutes. Post show conversation could include an awkward…”So…did you want to go out again next week?” Ha.
When and Where?
Ordinary Days
The Toronto Centre for the Arts – Studio Theatre
On Now until Dec 9th, 2012
Tickets can be purchased in person at the box office, by phone at 1-855-985-2787 or online at http://www.angelwalk.ca/TICKETS_performance_calendar.html
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