SANTA MONICA, Calif.—“Garbo was my inspiration,” says stage and film actress Tanna Frederick as she talks about being cast as the lead in Sylvia. Frederick prepared for the role by diligently studying Garbo’s every move and gesture, intending to glean and hone a most honest and nuanced performance. But Garbo is not the legendary star of early films; she is Frederick’s coiffed white Shiba Inu, and the role Sylvia is an adopted pet dog in A.R. Gurney’s 1995 comedy.
This production, directed by Gary Imhoff, currently at Santa Monica’s Edgemar Center for the Arts, is the story of Greg (Stephen Howard) and Kate (Cathy Arden), empty-nesters living in the big city, and how their life gets turned upside-down when Greg brings home Sylvia the dog (Tanna Frederick) from the park.
While Greg suddenly recognizes a need for the joys of canine companionship, Kate clearly wants to keep her tidy empty nest—empty. And so a love triangle begins between the three, yielding much laughter and exposing truths on the nature of intimate relationships of all breeds.
My interview with Frederick began at her kitchen table with her mom and ended up at her usual lunch spot with creative partner, veteran independent filmmaker Henry Jaglom, who offered insights into the rich and complex emotional and artistic lives of all involved.
It seems that the play has affected everyone in surprising ways—unleashing Frederick’s inner puppy, changing Jaglom’s relationship to dogs, and encouraging Garbo (through validation) to connect with her roots.
A close friend, Ron Vignone, notes that as Tanna became more dog-like through communion with Garbo, Garbo, who had previously demonstrated feline tendencies, embraced her true self and became more like a dog! Yet another example of art imitating life, imitating art, imitating pets.
Growing up without animals, Jaglom didn’t have a natural affinity for dogs whatsoever, but Frederick’s buoyant, hilarious, and poignant performance gave him greater insight and empathy for the animal and offered him access to the emotional inner life of ‘man’s best friend,’ making the term more significant to Jaglom as time has gone on.
“It changed my life,” says Jaglom. “I saw the play and saw Garbo in an offbeat way—suddenly I am having a whole complicated relationship, I could care less before. It made me feel for her in a whole new way.”
As far as Frederick’s metamorphosis, Jaglom observes, “Her personality was so suited to it—effusive energy exploding in all directions. The final act of the evening is the refrigerator: She hits the refrigerator and does some amazing animal acts.”
Garnishing rave reviews from critics for her dynamic and exhilarating performance, Frederick has some mixed feelings. She explains her conflicted feelings when she hears that “this part was made for her” and “this is her perfect role,” noting the bittersweet acknowledgement that she is, after all, playing a dog.
But that has not eclipsed the lessons the role has brought to everyone who sees the show, which Jaglom sums up: “Life is about company and companionship.”
Sylvia runs through July 10 at the Edgemar Center For The Arts, Santa Monica, Calif. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.EdgemarCenter.org/events/271/
This production, directed by Gary Imhoff, currently at Santa Monica’s Edgemar Center for the Arts, is the story of Greg (Stephen Howard) and Kate (Cathy Arden), empty-nesters living in the big city, and how their life gets turned upside-down when Greg brings home Sylvia the dog (Tanna Frederick) from the park.
While Greg suddenly recognizes a need for the joys of canine companionship, Kate clearly wants to keep her tidy empty nest—empty. And so a love triangle begins between the three, yielding much laughter and exposing truths on the nature of intimate relationships of all breeds.
My interview with Frederick began at her kitchen table with her mom and ended up at her usual lunch spot with creative partner, veteran independent filmmaker Henry Jaglom, who offered insights into the rich and complex emotional and artistic lives of all involved.
It seems that the play has affected everyone in surprising ways—unleashing Frederick’s inner puppy, changing Jaglom’s relationship to dogs, and encouraging Garbo (through validation) to connect with her roots.
A close friend, Ron Vignone, notes that as Tanna became more dog-like through communion with Garbo, Garbo, who had previously demonstrated feline tendencies, embraced her true self and became more like a dog! Yet another example of art imitating life, imitating art, imitating pets.
Growing up without animals, Jaglom didn’t have a natural affinity for dogs whatsoever, but Frederick’s buoyant, hilarious, and poignant performance gave him greater insight and empathy for the animal and offered him access to the emotional inner life of ‘man’s best friend,’ making the term more significant to Jaglom as time has gone on.
“It changed my life,” says Jaglom. “I saw the play and saw Garbo in an offbeat way—suddenly I am having a whole complicated relationship, I could care less before. It made me feel for her in a whole new way.”
As far as Frederick’s metamorphosis, Jaglom observes, “Her personality was so suited to it—effusive energy exploding in all directions. The final act of the evening is the refrigerator: She hits the refrigerator and does some amazing animal acts.”
Garnishing rave reviews from critics for her dynamic and exhilarating performance, Frederick has some mixed feelings. She explains her conflicted feelings when she hears that “this part was made for her” and “this is her perfect role,” noting the bittersweet acknowledgement that she is, after all, playing a dog.
But that has not eclipsed the lessons the role has brought to everyone who sees the show, which Jaglom sums up: “Life is about company and companionship.”
Sylvia runs through July 10 at the Edgemar Center For The Arts, Santa Monica, Calif. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.EdgemarCenter.org/events/271/
Friends Read Free