We chatted with Helen about Cinderella – The Panto!, what are the challenges and rewards of live theatre compared to other forms of acting, what drew her to this role in Cinderella, and what she’d do next if she had a magic wand.
Lighthouse Festival (LF): If you had a magic wand, what would you do next after Cinderella?
Helen Belay (HB): There are a variety of pieces I’m interested in, sure, but I’ve also found that the most enticing or special experiences of my career thus far have been the pieces I never saw coming. I think one of the beautiful things about theatre is the work we’ve yet to see or even dream of. That said, I also have a soft spot for the classics, so something in the realm of that would be a real treat!
(LF): What will the audience laugh at most during a performance of Cinderella?
(HB): There’s a buffet of laughs to be had, I think! I’m really enjoying watching the many reworked versions of tunes we all know, and the moments of silliness that run on the ethos of, “More! More! More!”
(LF): What drew you to this role in Cinderella?
(HB): The opportunity to make people laugh. I’ve always loved laughing and making people laugh, and it’s been a hot minute since I’ve had the chance to do so.
(LF): What are the challenges and rewards of live theatre compared to other forms of acting?
(HB): I think the challenge of theatre lies in the essence of it being live — where there are no second takes, where mistakes must not only just be forgiven, but arguably, celebrated and where the pursuit of spontaneity and “aliveness” are perpetual — but that’s also what’s beautiful. I was once told that if we’re all doing our job right, the hearts of everyone onstage and offstage, in the audience, are in sync. Is there anything cooler than that? That has to be one of my favourite parts of the theatre — feeling and hearing the ensemble and audience, and getting to a place of ease where that dynamic is a dance.
(LF): What’s the biggest challenge about taking on this role?
(HB): Not corpsing when receiving the bounty of delightful offers from the rest of the cast, and not judging myself when heaving my own into the mix! P.S. For those who might not know, corpsing isn’t anything serious — it just means bursting into laughter when you shouldn’t! In answering this, I learned that it’s called that because the worst time to burst into laughter is when you’re playing a corpse, hahaha.