In part nine of a series of interviews with the cast of Loves and Hours at Laurel Mill Playhouse, meet Juliet Beach.
Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you perform on the stage before. What roles did you play in these shows?
Juliet: My name is Juliet Beach. Most recently at Laurel Mill Playhouse I played Georgianna Darcy in Pride & Prejudice, as well as Avery Arable in Charlotte’s Web
Why did you want to be part of the cast of Loves and Hours? I have never heard of this play before. Had you known about it before? And what intrigued you about the play?
I had never heard of the play before. I was knee deep in Pride & Prejudice when Maureen (our producer) contacted me and asked if I could come by the theater and audition for Daniel. I didn’t know what to expect going in, but once I read from the script I instantly knew that Loves and Hours wasn’t like anything I had ever done.
Who do you play in the show? How do you relate to him or her? What traits do you share? Does this character remind you of a similar character that you have played before?
I like to think I’m not like my character at all! I play Andrea who’s a young, ditzy, oversexed trophy wife. She’s a very fun character to play and completely different from the sweet, ingenue characters I normally typecast myself as. Unlike Andrea I have a great relationship with my father so I don’t run into the same kind of problems that she does.
What is Loves and Hours about from the point of view of your character?
Andrea is very self-centered so she would really only see it as a peek into the very different world her husband comes from, and how that affects her marriage.
What challenges have you had preparing for the role, and how did Director Daniel Douek help you through these challenges? What was the best advice he gave you on how to play your role?
As I said, Andrea is a very different role for me. I’m used to playing teenagers so I was nervous about playing an actual adult who was someone’s wife. Daniel encouraged us all to create background’s for our characters. He helped me make Andrea real so that she seemed less daunting to me and I could empathize with her.
What is your favorite line or lines that your character says, and what is your favorite line that someone else says in the show?
I absolutely love when Linda asks Andrea about her dating history and she just says point blank “Exclusively dating older men gave me emotional as well as financial security.” It’s very unexpected and a level of self awareness that you don’t expect from Andrea. My favorite moment in the whole show though has got to be when Dan tries to block the door so his daughter Rebecca won’t leave and she just groans, “Daddy would you stop!”
What does Loves and Hours have to say to today’s audiences?
This show is about relationships. Why certain ones start, why other ones end, and why that’s not always a bad thing. There are a lot of different types of relationships and a lot of different types of love showcased in this play and I think people will recognize aspects of their own lives in these characters and situations.
If you could change what happens to your character – what would you like to see happening to your character at the end of the play?
I’d love to see Andrea serving some divorce papers and vowing instead to love and depend on herself.
Why should local theatergoers come and see Loves and Hours?
If I do say so myself: it’s an absolutely fantastic cast working under an absolutely fantastic director! It’s a really a quality production of a fresh show you probably haven’t seen yet.
What’s next for you on the stage?
I’ve recently been accepted into The American Academy of the Dramatic Arts, so after this show wraps I’m taking a work break to gather the funds to go there next Fall. I wouldn’t say no to doing a musical sometime soon though. It’s been too long and my jazz shoes are starting to collect dust!
Running Time: Two hours and 30 minutes, with one intermission.
Loves and Hours plays through February 5, 2017 at Laurel Mill Playhouse – 508 Main Street, in Laurel, MD. For tickets, call (301) 617-9906, or purchase them online.
LINKS:
Review: Loves and Hours at Laurel Mill Playhouse by Ilene Chalmers.
Interview: Meet the Cast of ‘Loves and Hours at Laurel Mill Playhouse Part 1: Alan Barnett.
Interview: Meet the Cast of ‘Loves and Hours’ at Laurel Mill Playhouse. Part 2: Terri Laurino.
Interview: Meet the Cast of ‘Loves and Hours’ at Laurel Mill Playhouse. Part 3: John Dignam.
Interview: Meet the Cast of ‘Loves and Hours’ at Laurel Mill Playhouse. Part 4: Taylor Duvall.
Interview: Meet the Cast of ‘Loves and Hours’ at Laurel Mill Playhouse. Part 5: Heather Warren.
Interview: Meet the Cast of ‘Loves and Hours’ at Laurel Mill Playhouse. Part 6: Jen Sizer.
Interview: Meet the Cast of ‘Loves and Hours’ at Laurel Mill Playhouse. Part 7: Gage Warren.
Interview: Meet the Cast of ‘Loves and Hours’ at Laurel Mill Playhouse. Part 8: Penni Barnett.
