20 - Wednesday, January 15, 1992 — North Shore News S SLY Stone would say, it’s a family af- A fair. And Sarah Rodgers would be the first to agree. The bubbly North Vancouver actor, whose infectious laugh can be heard at the far end of any hallway, is co-starring with her ac- tor-boyfriend, Tim Hyland, in her father, Denis Rodgers's first stage play. No More Marriages opens Friday at North Vancouver's Presentation House, The play follows the personal relationship of Ellen Terry and Henry Irving — acting giants who dominated the 19th century Lon- don and American stage for more than two decades and who were the first man and second woman stage actors ever to be knighted. It’s the third mounting of the play (‘We got it right this time,” jokes Denis), and the third col- laboration between father and daughter. “4 think this is probably the on- ly show where I've really felt a world of magic,” says Sarah, who got the call after being cast ina Grade 7 school play. Her teacher exclaimed, “The hair on the back of your neck is standing up — Sarah you’re an ac- tress!’’ Bright-eyed and loaded with spunk, Sarah has garnered major roles; including the deranged bride in the Arts Club’s production sof Maniac Bride, since graduating from UBC's BFA program in 1987, It was Sarah who dreamed up the idea for No More Marriages. The original version of the play was patched together by her, Hyland and friend Stephanie Berkman as a last-minute 1989 Fr- inge Festival entry. “The three of us were looking [€ this is your year to get in shape, then make one more resolution. To call Jazzercise today. That's hecause Jazzercise is an intensive aerobic workout. Plus, definite muscle toning, too. In fact, Jozzercise is a safe, complete health and fitness program. But the best news is that it’s loads of fun.: Which means you'll stay on ahealth kick afl year long. HiTtercise § There s No Boity ihe tt NEW STUDENTS — BRING IN sf THIS AD AND ba A ARY YNK Evelyn Jacob SPOTLIGHT FEATURE for a two-person play, and we wanted to do something Cana- dian,”’ explains Sarah. ‘But, we couldn't find anything. So we said, ‘why don’t we write something ourselves?’ " They did, almost. Denis, who had written short historical plays for CBC Radio, was dragged in at the end to sew the loose pieces of the play together. “We had several scenes which we dropped on him and,"’ Sarah says smiling, ‘pleaded, ‘please put them together!’ ” Their plan turned out to be a good one. No More Marriages was a smashing success. When Theatre At Large ap- proached them to remount it at Kits House the following year, they knew they had hit on something good. One Globe and Mail critic even suggested the play be mounted on a small stage at Strat- ford. But Denis, who had added more characters and historical facts for the Kits House production, felt it was losing its focus. This time round he’s reworked the script so that it focuses more on Irving and Terry’s intimate rela- tionship and fess on history. It’s closer to the original form, which is what director Michael Fera wanted. “Michael wanted us to go back and rework the play so it was just LOCATIONS: St. Stephens Church Mountain Hwy. & 24 St. Man., Wed. & Fri. 9:30 - 10:300.m. *Child Core Available* Phone: 987-8495 Queen Mary School. 13th & Chesterfield Tues. & Thurs. 6:00 - 7:00p.m. 7 Jowerstep Men. 6:15-7:15p.m, Phone: 984-6536 Lions Gate Hospital Medical Day Centre Saturdays 9:30 - 10:300.m. RECEIVE 10 CLASSES FOR $15.00 the two of them again,” says Denis. “t decided to focus on their relationship and to include the conflicts with critics, contlicts over stage morality, but only where they had an impact on their per- sonal relationship.” Sarah says the changes have made No More Marriages a stronger, more relevant play. Although they were both mar- tied to other people, Terry, who had married and separated three times, and Irving, who was mar- tied but not divorced, maintained a torrid love aifair, an alliance Genis and Sarah liken to Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn’s. Says Sarah: ‘‘They were very dissimilar people, and their acting styles were completely different.” “She was very impulsive where he was always on stage even when he was off stage,’’ says Denis. “He was a blend of Olivier and JFK — that’s the kind of stature he had then. He liked massive spec- tacles and spent large sums of money on production. (irving ran London's famed Lyceum Theatre and signed Terry as his leading lady in 1879. Their partnership raised the standards of stage performance and production to new heights). ~ “He was determined that the aE stage be seen as an honorable and NEWS photo Stuart Gavis respectable career, not as the SARAH AND Denis Rodgers's collaborative work, No More Mar- See Familiarity page26 riages, opens Friday at Presentation House. re INTERLOCK Wall Systems A NEW AIRTIGHT WALL SYSTEM © If you are looking at rebuilding on an existing lot.or.-.. simply renovating, we at Interlock can provide.a.-.. complete building package from Se foundations to roof trusses, or simply supply our high quality pre- insulated wails. Sunday Brunch * Bring in this ad for $1.00 off per person Emerald Park Restaurant 350 €. 2nd St. Nan. 988-8353