The GCTC presents Amelia:
The Girl Who Wants to Fly
THE PRINCE EDWARD County Theatre Company’s production of Amelia: The Girl Who Wants to Fly soars above and beyond a standard retelling of the life and times of Amelia Earhart.
Amelia, performed at the Great Canadian Theatre Company, is a two act jazz musical written and composed by Canadian playwright John Gray, who also wrote Billy Bishop Goes to War, winner of the Governor General’s Award for Drama.
Amelia gives its audience an unconventional glimpse into the personal and public life of Amelia Earhart through effective direction and solid performances.
Audiences are brought into the world of the 1930s as soon as they take their seats in the very intimate Irving Greeberg Theatre Centre as period music fills the small auditorium. Sarah Phillips, the director of Amelia, has triumphed in creating what seems to be a very simple production that allows the audience to use their imagination to full effect.
When Amelia is flying, it rests on the actor’s delivery of Gray’s text, full of vivid imagery and simple lighting changes to recreate her flying experience. The set consists of a small stage area and a riser complete with 1930s furnishings. However, the main attraction of this set is the piano upstage upon which the pianist and musical director Michael Barber accompanies the actors throughout the production on stage.
The cast of three actors have truly created colourful and memorable characters through their energetic and realistic performances. They demonstrate a mastery of their craft through a wide acting and vocal range in a comedic show that also demands moments of intense emotion.
The troupe, Eliza-Jane Scott (Amelia Earhart), Karin Randoja (Midge, Amelia’s Sister), and Steven Gallagher (G.P.), captivates the audience through emotionally versatile performances. They bring Gray’s words to life by presenting the life of Earhart, while discussing the themes of women’s roles in 1930s society, the danger of celebrity, and the harsh realities of America’s most renowned Aviatrix in a highly entertaining production.
Amelia runs until Oct. 2 at the GCTC. To purchase tickets visit Gctc.ca or call the box office at (613) 236-5196.
—Joshua Pride
