In this episode, we talk with Lindsay Rae Taylor, Assistant Professor of Performance and the director of the first show of our Fall 2022 season, "Into the Breeches!" by George Brant.
In this episode, we talk with Lindsay Rae Taylor, Assistant Professor of Performance and the director of the first show of our Fall 2022 season, "Into the Breeches!" by George Brant.
For more information about Lindsay: http://theatreandfilm.olemiss.edu/LindsayRaeTaylor.html
For more information about the show and to get tickets: https://olemissboxoffice.com/ordering-tickets/
From the Department of Theater and Film at the University of Mississippi, this is stage and screen.
Katherine Stewart
Hi everyone, welcome back to stage and screen. I'm your host, Kathryn Stewart, and my guest today is Lindsey Ray Taylor, assistant professor of performance and the director of the first show of our fall 2022 season into the breaches by George Brandt, which runs September 23rd through October 9th in Meek Audit.
Katherine Stewart
This is a really fun and interesting show, and Lindsey and I had a wonderful conversation about it.
Katherine Stewart
We'll have more info about this production in the show notes, but for now, here's Lindsey.
Katherine Stewart
Good morning, Lindsey. Good.
Katherine Stewart
It's so good to see you. Thank you so much for talking with me today about the show. You were directing our first show of the fall 2022 season into the breaches.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Yes, thank you so much for having.
Katherine Stewart
Me, absolutely, of course, of course.
Katherine Stewart
So First off, I would just love to hear kind of in your own words if you could describe the play.
Katherine Stewart
Tell us what it is and what it's about.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Sure. So, yeah, into the breach is a play by George Brant, and it's a play that takes place in 1942.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So amidst World War Two is our setting, and the play is focused on a theater called the Oberon Theater, which is.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
A theater in Providence, RI. Not an actual theater, but in a theater within the play. And it is.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So the theater has been dark for four months because typically the men.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Run the show, so the artistic director, the director, most of the actors are men and they're all fighting overseas, so it's been dark for four months when the play opens and then we meet the wife of the artistic director, Slash main director and.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Her name is Maggie.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And she and her husband Andrew, have decided that in the men's absence, they want the season to go on to, you know, give people a little bit of hope and to and to not let the theater completely fall apart. So they decide to. She decides she's going to direct.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Their production of the HENRIAD, which is a special version of Shakespeare's Henry the 4th, part one and two and 5th combined.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So, so that's kind of the basis of the place.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So we we we meet Maggie in the very first scene who has not had any experience on stage.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
She mainly serves as Andrew, her husband's assistant, and has a very daunting task because she has to collect some people to help her.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
But of course.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
There aren't meant to be in a play that is mainly about men. Most of Shakespeare's plays are typically more male identifying characters.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
In in in those places so and the Henry's the history plays are have even fewer female roles. So she is going to hold auditions and see who she can get and which is predominantly women.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So that's where we begin and we we watch through the course of the play all of the obstacles that come up in trying to put on a production.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And there's a beautiful parallel between what's happening.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
With the war, with World War Two and also what's happening within the play because of course the Henry's are also based are also war plays.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So there's a beautiful George Brant has done a beautiful job of of combining, doing reflection, as it were, of of what's happening in the real world.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And what's happening in Shakespeare's world? And it kind of wraps together very sweetly with a lot of comedy, a lot of heartwarming moments and and a lot of fun characters.
Katherine Stewart
Yeah, wonderful.
Katherine Stewart
That's a wonderful introduction, Goodsell.
Katherine Stewart
So why?
Katherine Stewart
Why did you choose this play and why is this a good moment for for audiences and also our students and performers to engage?
Katherine Stewart
With it.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Oh, I've I've been thinking about this play as he premiered in 2018 and I had a very close friend of mine was in a production. She played Maggie Dalton at Oslo Rep down in Florida and she was had told me about this play and.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I personally like to direct plays that have a lot of roles for for women and so I was very interested in it because it's a predominantly female cast and I like, I love the mission of it, the women sort of taking it on and if we think about Rosie.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
The riveter.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
We can do it in perseverance.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And I just.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I thought the play had a beautiful message.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And I just also loved that it would give opportunities for a lot of female performers in our department and and I have was hoping to get a chance to see it this production which happened in 2020 and I say March 2020 with a big.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So I was about to buy a plane ticket and go to Florida to see it.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And they were in production and the show was shut down because of COVID.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So I didn't get to see it live, but I was able to watch the performance.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
They they streamed it so that that people could could could view it during the pandemic and I fell in love with it.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I, I really and I.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Was feeling.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Those were early days of pandemic, but I've been thinking about it as theaters started to shut down, as our world started to shut down, and in coming to think about shows that I'd like to direct and things that feel relevant right now.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I just saw a lot of parallels within the pandemic because again, the show when the show opens or all the furniture is covered, it's been very quiet.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
The Ghostlight is there and it has been on since they shut the doors and it got me thinking about what's happened to us recently, having to shut so many theater doors, having to cancel so many productions.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And I know we're, you know, I'm knocking on wood and all of those things, but it seems that we are now emerging from the pandemic and so I feel like it's an appropriate time to put on this play because we're still get that.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And I hope we continue to get that giddy feeling when we return and and watch shows together.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And so I think it's a beautiful season opener because it's an invitation to return to our spaces and to enjoy theater, tell stories together.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So I feel like it's a it's a very appropriate time to do this play.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And again, I.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I've just wanted to do it for a few years now and this seemed like the right place, the right time with the right group of people.
Katherine Stewart
Ah, I love that.
Katherine Stewart
I love that.
Katherine Stewart
So, So what do you think are some of the.
Katherine Stewart
Major themes of this play.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Certainly, perseverance is always the first word that comes to mind, which I know I've mentioned before.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And that the can do spirit of the time and the can do spirit of theater.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
As we know when we're making plays, it feels like there's never enough time you there's a lot of variables that you're dealing with.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So I so I I love that, but there's also.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
There's some deeper themes in the play.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
We deal with some, some.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Homophobia, racism in.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Inequality and so.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
The play is sort of packaged in a very cozy heartwarming.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I had such a warmth about it.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I think that word keeps coming up when in conversation, when when we talk about it in design meetings and such and but there's an undercurrent of something that is is much more serious and it kind of catches you off guard.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Heard a little bit.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So you, I think when you get into the show, you're going, oh, I I got this.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
There's a lot of comedy, and if you've been involved in the theater, there's a lot of references you'll get.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
If you are not involved in the theater, you'll get a little bit of a, uh, I don't know, a crash course.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
In the kind of crazy things that we do and the lingo and the and the jargon.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So there's some inside jokes that come that are will definitely get some winks.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
But but I think if if you're new to the theater, it's, uh, you won't be excluded.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
You'll just go, wow, that's what it's like.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Yeah, that's pretty much what it's like.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So, so yeah, so you kind of think you're.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
In for this very light hearted.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
You know it feels very light in the beginning and then it definitely, there's definitely some some twists and turns and curves and surprises that come that are all character driven so.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So, so yeah, I think that that those themes are also within the play as as well, which is what makes it a strong piece and not as I guess is.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
It could it could come across I think sometimes I.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I don't know.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I guess it's.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
It could sort of just seem like, oh, it's going.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
To be a.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Very light evening and instead it it takes you to some deeper places and and I think.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
The the the layers of it are what make it a very strong piece of theater and sadly relevant piece of theater as well, because we're still dealing with a lot of these same issues today.
Katherine Stewart
Yeah, absolutely.
Katherine Stewart
Uhm, do you have a favorite character in the play, and if so.
Katherine Stewart
So so is it and why?
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Gosh, you know.
Katherine Stewart
I don't know if directors are allowed to have favorite characters.
Katherine Stewart
Well, I'm supposed to.
It's, it's it's kind of.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I I love that you ask that because I do.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And I'm watching these actors and we've been in rehearsal now for a couple of weeks and we're finishing up week two and they are diving so deeply into these characters.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And it really, I think that that's why it is such a gift for actors, because the characters are also well defined and they all have moments.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Even the ones that you think are have them, they all have integrity for sure, but every one of them has a moment that makes you go, oh, I don't know if I agree with that person or, oh, I didn't know that person had that side, but they tend to come, they all come back round, so they're all very well-rounded characters.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And and and I think that all of the actors are doing such a wonderful job.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
They've done a lot of work over the summer, a lot of deep character work and they brought all of that into to the process which has been wonderful to to watch them reveal themselves.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So every night, I guess it's it's a.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Different character that I'm attached to.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
It's a smaller cast and even the ones that I feel I can't necessarily relate to, say Ellsworth for example, he has moments where I go oh.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Oh, sweet.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I yes, yes, yes, Ellsworth, you know, and I think that.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I don't know to have a favorite feels.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I'm I'm not really sure.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I I do have a a small connection to Maggie.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Who is the the character?
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Who is the director and she has a husband named Andrew which I've mentioned, and I also have a husband named Andrew.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So there's a lot of mention in Andrew in the room.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And so we have a.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Lot of jokes about my Andrew birth.
Katherine Stewart
It's fun.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
That her Andrew.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And I'm the director, so, so I think Maggie and I have a lot of.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And Hannah Rose Richards, who's playing Maggie, you know, we kind of give each other a wink every now and.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Again, so yeah.
Katherine Stewart
I love that.
Katherine Stewart
That's fun.
Katherine Stewart
What do you hope audiences will enjoy about or take away from the show?
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I hope.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Is it?
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I hope that they'll fall in love with all of these characters and think about them as they leave the theater.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I also think I also would love for audiences to have a beautiful, wonderful heartwarming.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Thought provoking evening at the theater and enjoyed being in a space with actors.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So I hope to fall in love with this story.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I think it's a beautiful story.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I hope that they'll connect with it, given what the world has been going through.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And and find those parallels and find some comfort in it.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Certainly empathy.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
But mostly I want people to laugh.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
There's so much laughter.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
There's also some things that will tug at your heart, which I think, you know, if we do our job, they'll feel that.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And I was feeling it last night in rehearsal.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So, so I hope that that that comes across.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Uhm, but you know if if it's.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
We say this about a lot of plays.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
I think that they are a love letter to the theater and this play in particular, I think is sort of the the penultimate love letter to to the theater.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Uhm yeah.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
A love letter to the theater.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
It's it feels very.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Celebratory and celebratory of the creative process as well because you watch these actors go through rehearsal.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
So I guess I I want people to celebrate is a great word for that to come in and and and see what we do, see how we work, meet these characters and and have some laughs and and maybe feel a little cozy.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Feel a little love as they as they walk out the door and consider some of the heftier topics that are addressed as well.
Katherine Stewart
Wonderful, wonderful.
Katherine Stewart
I can't wait to.
Katherine Stewart
See it? Yeah.
Katherine Stewart
Me too.
Katherine Stewart
Is there anything else you would like to add about the show that we didn't touch on?
Lindsay Rae Taylor
No, I think that just about covers it without.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Such a ways.
Katherine Stewart
Yeah, I know it's hard 'cause it like, like we were saying at the beginning of this conversation, there are.
Katherine Stewart
A lot of.
Katherine Stewart
Spoilers, so.
Katherine Stewart
It's hard not to get too much into details and give things away.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
And it moves very quickly, you know.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
This stuff is quite.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Short, so it's it kind of trucks along so, so those those surprises when they when they come.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
Are are quite.
Lindsay Rae Taylor
You know it it does change the current quite a bit, so yeah.
Katherine Stewart
That's true.
Katherine Stewart
That's true.
Katherine Stewart
Well, wonderful.
Katherine Stewart
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Katherine Stewart
I appreciate it.
Katherine Stewart
Again, you're talking to me.
Katherine Stewart
I mean, once again that was Lindsey Ray Taylor discussing her production of George Rants into the breach.
Katherine Stewart
The show runs September 23rd through October 9th and Meek Auditorium. The opening night performance on the 23rd will be followed by a reception in the Oxford University Depot, and the matinee on Sunday, September 25th will include ASL interpreting and live captioning services. Please check the show notes For more information and we hope.
Katherine Stewart
To see you there.
Katherine Stewart
Until next time, this is staging screen.