Sarah Rodgers - Actor/Director/Mother - Poppy Rodgers-Smith - Daughter
Mothers and daughters
As I am sitting here with my daughter wearing my mother’s dress and Alex Waterhouse-Hayward’s mother’s shawl I can’t help but feel wrapped in mothers' love.
Throughout the years I have often worn my mother’s clothes. She generously passed on her long legs and tall slim figure. On stage I have her mannerisms and lilting voice and off stage her gift of story telling.
My mother, at 89, is still a slim, bright eyed, beautiful woman. I would consider myself pretty but my mother has always been a beautiful English rose to me and to the world.
I am always thrilled and flattered when people say: “Oh, you look just like your mother.”
As I sit with my very own cherished daughter, adopted from Vietnam, with her unique dark straight hair and beautiful brown eyes I wonder if people will ever see us physically as mother and daughter.
My husband and I both come from very tall families but our diminutive daughter comes from a long line of tiny, delicate people. I can see in her stunning genes that she would never have inherited from us: dimples under her eyes as she grins, a huge teethy grin, straight black hair and luscious Angelina Jolie lips. Everyone comments on her lips and certainly The Rodgers and The Smiths are not known for their thick lips.
Yet, everyone who knows Poppy will tell you that her personality and disposition is exactly our families. She is a theatre baby if there ever was one. From the moment we met her she had personality and a sense of humour and even it seems a sense of theatricality. She certainly knew how to be in the limelight. At the very serious giving and receiving ceremony in Vietnam where all other babies were either asleep or crying - our little monkey was climbing onto the centre of the table and blowing spit bubbles. She took centre stage with her lively personality and humour at six months old. We certainly feel that we flew across the world to find the perfect baby for our family.
Recently, she has begun to fling her head back when she laughs - apparently, a trait that I have been unconsciously doing for years. Recently, friends and family have commented: “Oh, Sarah – Poppy is laughing exactly like you.” This warms my heart as I imagine us walking down the street one day when she is a teenager – me with my long red curly hair and Poppy with her straight black hair sharing a giggle and tossing our heads back together in unison. Mother and daughter indeed and perhaps even look-alikes after all.
Timothy Turner - Real Estate Agent
Kiera Hill Dancer
Johnna Wright & Sascha Director/Mother - Son/Dreamer
Decker & Nick Hunt Cat & 19th century amateur
George Bowering Poet
Celia Duthie Gallerist
Linda Lorenzo Mother
Katheryn Petersen Accordionist
Stefanie Denz Artist
Ivette Hernández Actress
Byron Chief-Moon Actor/Dancer
Colin Horricks Doctor
Ian Mulgrew Vancouver Sun Columnist
Jocelyn Morlock Composer
Corinne McConchie Librarian
Rachel Ditor Dramaturg
Patrick Reid Statesman, Flag Designer
Michael Varga CBC Cameraman
Bronwen Marsden Playwright/Actress/Director
David Baines Vancouver Sun Columnist
Alex Waterhouse-Hayward Photographer
Lauren Elizabeth Stewart Student
Sandrine Cassini Dancer/Choreographer
Meredith Kalaman Dancer/Choreographer
Juliya Kate Dominatrix