It’s easy to forget that each person has a life just as complex and confusing as our own, with their own set of unique problems, but 7 Stories, the UFV theatre department’s latest production, is going to help remind you.
7 Stories, written by Morris Panych, opens with a man who is standing on the ledge of the seventh storey of a building, ready to jump, until he is interrupted.
“The play is a whirlwind of adventure as this man gets pulled into the insane lives of the people that live on this seventh storey, and their own moments of wondering why they haven’t jumped either,” director Courtney Kelley said. “It is hilarious, heartbreaking, and beautiful all at the same time.”
Kelley is directing the play along with fellow student Natasha Beaumont, who discovered the play in a directing class the two took together in the winter semester.
“She instantly fell in love with the script, and asked me if I was interested in co-directing it,” Kelley explained. “I laughed and said I wish I could, but I had no time to be getting involved with such a big commitment. I knew it would be an amazing opportunity, but I just didn’t have the time to do it.”
However, Kelley changed her mind after reading the script.
“She told me to read the script before I made my decision, and when I did, I was instantly hooked,” she said. “I knew I needed to make time for this — there was no other option. We began planning the show that night.”
Now, seven months later, the play is ready to hit the stage. But there’ve been a few challenges along the way.
UFV’s performance theatre was built with a thrust stage, where the audience is on three sides of the stage rather than just one, and since 7 Stories wasn’t designed for this arrangement, it took the crew a little figuring out to make it work.
“This simple problem has had a huge impact on this show, especially with the design of the set and the added elements of surrealism,” Kelley said. “In the end, this problem was definitely a blessing in disguise, as it resulted in our production being so much more interesting than just having a single flat wall to work with.”
Kelley and Beaumont also chose to incorporate a different style of acting. Rather than sticking with the traditional Stanislavsky method, which requires a natural, realistic approach, they used the Grotowski method, which is more emotionally-based.
“The challenge here is that with most actors being so familiar with the Stanislavski method, it’s always difficult to entirely change directions and try to break some of the habits that automatically come with the former style,” Kelley explained. “It has been so rewarding to watch our actors grow into the characters that we are seeing today, and they really have done so well with the challenges that this style brings.”
It’s these changes and challenges along the way that have shaped the production into what it is now.
“Natasha and I started planning for this production back in April, and it’s amazing to see just how much things have changed since then,” Kelley said. “From the set, to the costumes, to the acting, nothing is quite what we expected it to be, but it is so much better than we could have ever imagined.”
It’s this notion of the unexpected, the way things can work out when you’re sure that they won’t, that 7 Stories is all about.
“This show is relevant in unique ways to every person who comes out and sees it. It addresses questions about the meaning of life, the ridiculousness of life, and the beauty of life,” Kelley said. “If you’ve never seen much theatre, or think you don’t like it, just come see one show. Try something new; broaden your horizons. Let us change your mind.”
7 Stories is showing at the performance theatre at UFV’s Chilliwack North Campus from November 24 to December 4. For tickets and more information visit ufv.ca/theatre.
