Issue date: 10/30/08 Section: Arts and Culture

Media Credit: Joshua Freedman Director Nikki McKnight looks on as Jenna Koenig, who plays the stable sister Peggy, works on an emotional scene.

"This is all kinds of awkward," remarks Nikki McKnight, smiling at her actors as the six girls scramble around, finding their places on the darkened stage. Jenna Koenig, who plays Peggy, grins: "This is all kinds of family."

Belles tells the story of six sisters; connecting the theme of family with the unique conception of having a play consist solely of phone conversations. This production is the Victoria College Drama Society's fall piece, to be followed by This is a Show in February and a student submission in March. Director McKnight calls Belles "a dream four years in the making." And after sitting in on a late night rehearsal, it is easy to see why.

McKnight has spent a decade in theatre, beginning with drama class in the third grade. It was in the twelfth grade, during a scene study, that she discovered Belles. She kept the script in mind, always hoping she could someday stage the play, and now everyone at Vic can witness the funny, sad, and bittersweet story of six sisters struggling after a difficult childhood. They all live in different places, but still keep in touch with each other, for better or for worse.

"There's the idea of family over distance," says McKnight, as the Bader lights flicker on and off in the background from the lighting tests before the rehearsal. "I connected with the play because I've moved so much."

The idea of being stuck with the people you're related to, however you feel about them, rings true in this two-act piece.

"They all have issues - alcoholism, men. They all form new bonds of sisterhood. You can't change your family, no matter how much you want to."

Belles holds special weight for McKnight, who is in her fourth year at the University of Toronto and currently finishing up her Japanese specialist. This will be her last production with VCDS. McKnight, however, is looking forward to the non-theatrical aspects of life. "I'm throwing myself a retirement party," she jokes of her plans after the play wraps.

The production is unique in that all six members of the cast live in residence and three even live in the same dorm. Five of the actors are in first year and Belles marks their Victoria College debuts. McKnight mentions that she cancelled rehearsal last Friday because each girl had her high school commencement to attend. This is charming and connects the cast in a way that definitely improves their work on the stage.

The cast is incredibly talented and play their parts so well, one might as well believe that they really are a family. Felicity Justrabo, who decides to call herself "Dust," is quirky and spiritual as the promiscuous Sherri. Alison Malo, who in her fourth year and has worked on three other plays with McKnight, plays Audrey with gusto, a part that requires her to use a ventriloquist doll. Hania Mattoo is perfect as the dramatic and blunt Paige, and Bora Meraj wails, weeps, and hopes as the vulnerable Rosanne; she is able to pull emotion in to her performance on demand. Valerie Martin amazes as the alcoholic Aneece, she also has the best line out of the whole play: "I don't feel the same way about home the rest of you do." Jenna Koenig is perfectly cast as Peggy, the thread holding the family together, while dealing with living with their hypochondriac mother. Their mother appears to be the reason Peggy keeps in constant contact via telephone with her sisters, but it is clear there is much more to the story than that.

Family is, of course, what holds them together and forces them to speak their minds about the issues closest to their hearts. It's not always easy. In fact, more often that not, it's incredibly hard. But that's life, and that's what makes Belles so special. It boldly speaks about how your family can drive you crazier than anyone else, without having to apologize for that fact but makes it seem acceptable. "You're crazy," Aneece tells Audrey, who replies casually, "It's in the genes."

McKnight has clearly taken her time in the theatre and used it well as she directs the girls expertly and offers extremely useful advice: "Always be in character. Move with purpose. Walk onto the stage as the sister you are portraying."

The all-female cast made the creative process a little different. McKnight decided to have fun with the girly potential and made tiny cakes and mocktails for the first cast meeting. Next she worked on the backstory of each character with each actor, and then they focused on natural movement. Belles has gotten a week or so less rehearsal time than a two-act play would normally get, but it doesn't show. The proof is in the play. These Belles may be damsels in distress, but they give it all their all and shine, proving that at Vic, talent is just around the corner.

Don't miss BELLES! The Mark Dunn play will be performed October 30 & 31 and November 1 at 7:30 PM in the Isabel Bader Theatre. Tickets are 4 dollars for Vic students from the VUSAC office.

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