Andrea Risk has graced the Lighthouse stage as Sybil/Mable/Duff/Brian/Big/Phylis in Freedom 85! and as Penelope/Mandy/Weever in Something Fishy, which was a world premiere! She’s appeared on stage in productions for Theatre Aquarius, St. Jacobs Schoolhouse, Drayton Entertainment, Victoria Playhouse Petrolia, just to name a few. We chatted with Andrea about what she loves about the character she’s playing, what her next project would be if she had a magic wand, and why she wanted to be involved in The Sweet Delilah Swim Club.
Lighthouse Festival (LF): What do you love about the character you’re playing?
Andrea Risk (AR): I love Vernadette’s resilience and her humour. Her life is incredible and pitiful but despite all the hardships, she has an amazing inner strength
(LF): Why did you want to be involved in this production?
(AR): It’s a great role in a wonderful play. I love the opportunity to play a character who ages over the course of the show as well as the chance to do an accent.
(LF): If you had a magic wand, what show would you do next?
(AR): Any show that would be offered to me! Seriously, I am not even at the point of thinking of anything other than this one.
(LF): How do you see the role of theatre in today’s society?
(AR): It offers the opportunity for the audience to experience emotions and situations covering a wide range of topics. It is a mirror. It is representational. It informs.
(LF): What role did mentors play in your career?
(AR): There were people who taught me about timing , particularly in comedy and farce. My mother taught me how to breathe correctly in order to project. She also taught me how even the smallest gesture can completely transform a character.