Friday, October 05, 2012

My Mother's Red Shawl - El Rebozo Colorado
Colleen Wheeler - Actor






Tradition - (Holding on to a previous time)....I often wondered, when rehearsing Macbeth, what it would have viscerally felt like to live in Scotland in the early 1600's. More specifically, how the clothes would have felt on the skin, all that wool – it would have had to have kept them so warm. When Alex gave me his mother's shawl to wear and I felt it next to my skin, it reminded me of the wool sweater my Irish Grandmother made for me to wear as a child. I think of her making it beside her peat fire, her large knobby hands sitting atop her bosom as she knit for me and my sisters. I keep it safe, my daughter will wear it and I hope her children will too. It is the only thing I have in my possession that my Grandmother made with her own hands. Tradition is something that has been on my mind a lot these days as both of my parents are gone now. I wonder how well I have retained the old stories they told me about their heritage. What will I pass on to my daughter? If Lady Macbeth had had children (who lived) would her desire for power subside? So many questions.



Addendum: Where possible I take the photographs for this series at home. The series involve the wearing of my mother's 1952 red Mexican rebozo. Because actors are busy persons I make exceptions to my rule, particularly if they are then willing not only to pose but to eventually write their essay. I went with my equipment and my semi-portable gray background to Bard on the Beach. Publicist Cynnamon Schreinert set it al up and placed me in a corner of the main stage tent. Colleen Wheeler was there in preparation for her day's performance of Lady Macbeth. I had thought of her for weeks after seeing her in the play because my mothers' red shawl seemed to parallel all the blood of Shakespeare's play. When Wheeler faced my camera I simply told her, you are Lady Macbeth. I am delighted that her essay is about that role.  I was lucky that afternoon as when I spotted Christopher Gaze in the wings I asked him to pose, too. He did. Now if he would only write that essay!
Alex W-H


Sarah Rodgers Actor, Director,Mother
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