Wild Society by star star theatre at the Victoria Fringe Festival 2016. Interview.

Wild Society by star star theatre at the Victoria Fringe Festival 2016. Interview.
Also at the Vancouver Fringe September 8-18, 2016.

How long have you been producing work on the Fringe circuit?  As an artist/company?                                                      

star star theatre’s first Fringe Festival production was at the Victoria Fringe with Where Have All the Lightning Bugs Gone? (featuring Mika Laulainen as a performer).  Last year starstar produced the sell-out production of Pornography (directed by Mika) as part of Vancouver Fringe Festival’s Mainstage Dramatic Series.  Melissa Oei first appeared in a Fringe show at the Victoria Fringe way back in 2003 as an actor. She has participated in the Vancouver Fringe festival twice as an actor, once in 2003 and in last year’s production of Pornography with starstar theatre. She also Assistant Directed and Stage Managed a Fringe show and has worked at the Vancouver Fringe Festival in the box office for the past 5 years.

Is your show a new work, or has it been performed elsewhere?  

This is a new work which premiered in this year’s Toronto Fringe Festival and subsequently toured to the Winnipeg and Calgary Fringes. After Victoria, the tour will end in Vancouver.

Significant awards or accolades? (not just on the Fringe circuit)  

Melissa is the recipient of several acting awards including the Antony Holland Scholarship from studio 58, the Aida Broadbent Award from TUTS, the OVATION! Award for most promising Newcomer, and is a Jessie Richardson Theatre Award nominee.

Can you speak to the creation process of this work?

This piece is very West Coast inspired. The writing flourished out of a sense of environmental activism, and there was an organic humour and absurdity that arose from the idea of witnessing the flaws of human behaviour through the eyes of animals.  Having the characters be animals instead of humans is a way of commenting on the importance of the socio/political issues of the play without preaching or moralizing. The script was also written as a way of showcasing strong, talented female performers without it being necessarily a female-centric play.

Who will your show appeal to?

This show is for 14+ as there is some adult language.  This play appeals to those who enjoy comedy, quick-witted dialogue, political & social awareness, the environment, feminism, and adorable animals!

What would you say to entice a potential audience member to come?

Our tag line is “Fancy Animals Fail to Save the Environment” which encompasses the absurdity, political undertone, and dark humour of the piece.  We also have some great surprises that involve props, music, a fun scene change, and physical comedy. The piece is actually two one-act plays, so 2 for the price of 1, and it is a quick 45 minutes!

What do you hope to inspire in your audience?

We hope that the audience leaves talking about the issues addressed in the play: environmentalism, global warming, the housing market crises, the socio-economic class divide. But we also hope to have them talking about art and theatre. That they are inspired to see more love theatre and that they recognize the importance of art as a vehicle for the change they want to see in the world. 

Is there anything I’ve missed asking you, or that you would like to comment on?

Mika is a graduate of UVic’s Phoenix Theatre.  Look out for the gals walking around town with bunny and raccoon ears flyering the crowds, and feel free to say Hi!

Rabbit wants to be the most popular city lady when she moves to the newest development in town. Raccoon couldn’t care less about social politics. Two penguins spice up their time in hiding by getting very drunk, very high, and waxing poetic about climate change. What will the city ladies think of Raccoon? And why are there icebergs in the pool in July?!
http://starstartheatre.wordpress.com

Wild Society by star star theatre, Vancouver BC
Location: Langham Court Theatre (Fringe Venue 5), 805 Langham Court, Victoria BC
Created: Mika Laulainen
Advance price: Regular $11/ St & Sr $9 + s/c*
Door price: Regular $11/ St & Sr $9
Duration: 50 mins
Rating: PG 14+: Coarse Language
Genre: Comedy! Satire! It’s a play!
 
Thu Aug 25 – 5:30pm
Sun Aug 28 – 7:30pm
Wed Aug 31 – 8:45pm
Thu Sep 1 – 5:00pm
Sat Sep 3 – 5:00pm
Sun Sep 4 – 8:45pm