A talented ensemble of final-year Fountain School students arrives on stage this week for season closer Three Sisters following a tight and rigorous seven-week production schedule.
Acting student Christian Vallis says working with guest director Diego Matamoros to bring the heartfelt and surprisingly funny play to life in short order has been an invaluable experience.
“I'd argue we're all better actors now than before we started this show,” says Christian, who plays a character named Andrei Prozorov. “Working with Diego, he’s been an amazing teacher through the entire process. He is a master of character embodiment and getting to watch him work every day has been amazing.”
The Fountain School’s final stage production of the 2024-2025 season runs March 25-29 in the Sir James Dunn Theatre. It also features the work of students in the Stage Design and Technical Theatre and Costume Studies programs.
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As relevant today as it was when first performed 125 years ago, Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters serves as a powerful mirror of our human desire to hope, dream, and imagine a better future, even in the face of great disappointment. This moody, heartfelt and surprisingly funny play speaks to the undeniably fickle nature of life, of its constant unpredictability and unknowability, and of our capacity for endurance.
Maude McInnis as Masha with Jake Wilke as Kulygin, both standing.
Acting student Mae Rafuse, who plays Irina, says she’s learned a lot from working on the play.
“Working with Diego has taught me that nothing goes undetected on a stage,” says Mae. “Every movement and intonation must be fuelled by intention and authenticity. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense.”
Working with Diego has taught me that nothing goes undetected on a stage
Fountain School faculty member Tamara Marie Kucheran is set and costume designer for Three Sisters. The play also features the work of students in the Stage Design and Technical Theatre and Costume Studies programs. This creative team ensures Matamoross’ vision and attention to detail come to life.
“I am incredibly proud of the work our students put into our productions, both onstage and behind the scenes,” says Tamara. “The quality of work our students produce here, guided by their highly skilled and talented instructors, is comparable to some of Canada’s most prestigious stages.”
Mae Rafuse, centre, as Irina.
Don’t forget the peasants
Just how detailed is the work? Third-year student Eden Reshef is the productions assistant set and costume designer tasked with making sure that the crew who appear on stage for scene changes were costumed appropriately as Russian peasants.
“I did a lot of historical research, pulled costume pieces from our wardrobe stock here at Dal and ran fittings to make sure all our crew members looked the part,” says Eden. “I'm having a lot of fun with it and so are the crew!”
Dal’s Stage Design and Technical Theatre students are also tasked with things like scenic carpentry, painting, and prop construction.
“One of my favourite things about being the stage manager is seeing the show come together piece by piece,” says Veronica Jollimore, who is graduating this spring. “I always enjoy seeing how these artists can be given a design or an idea and make it into a real-life object.”
One of my favourite things about being the stage manager is seeing the show come together piece by piece
With faculty support for each team on the production, students are put into positions of leadership to grow and enhance their skill sets.
“I really love how our productions are student-led,” says Veronica. “We can actively practice in a hands-on working environment with the grace to make mistakes and learn from them with little pressure.”
The cast of Three Sisters.
Eden also sees the benefit of collaborating with her peers. “We each become mini-experts in our own areas of the show,” says Eden. “It feels great to have confidence in your own role and help create a strong sense of community as we all work to support each other on each production throughout the year.”
Director Diego says working on the production has been rewarding.
“Three Sisters is a beautiful and moving play,” he says. “The actors, crew, and the whole creative team have been working diligently to bring it to life. I hope audiences find the journey of the three sisters as rewarding as our journey of bringing it to the stage has been.”
Three Sisters opens tonight at the Sir James Dunn Theatre. Curtain is at 7:30pm March 25-29 with an additional matinee Saturday March 29th, 2:00pm. Tickets are available at the Dal Arts Centre Box Office.