Darcy Ferrier on playing Charlie
in On Golden Pond
Darcy, you play the role of Charlie in On Golden
Pond. Tell us about your character.
Charlie is the postman who delivers the
mail on Golden Pond. He has spent his entire
life living there. I would describe him
as a simple individual; he is a happy go lucky guy. He’s 44 and has been enamored with Chelsea
since they were kids.
The other characters in the play are very deep,
very complex, with lots going on under the surface, but Charlie is
uncomplicated. With Charlie, what you
see is what you get. He provides a lot
of comic relief in the play.
How many Guild shows have you been in? And what do you like about being part of
community theatre?
I have been in 13 shows with the Guild, I
think. I love theatre. It’s so much fun to escape into another
character. There’s this world that’s
been created by the playwright…the director refines it…and then the actors
breathe life into the parts. Every
production is unique. It’s fun and
exciting to get to create a world for the audience to experience.
Tell us about your acting background…
Well, I started acting in high school, but
took a long break, so I didn’t get back into it until my forties. My first role with the Guild was in Office Hours, also directed by Clint
Hames. My absolute favourite role so far
has to be Freddy in Noises Off. Even the rehearsals were hilariously
funny!
Most people dread having to perform or speak in front of others. As an experienced actor, do you ever get
stage fright?
Yup, just before I go on stage, I feel
nervous and a certain amount of apprehension.
I think it must be the adrenalin kicking in. I think acting is similar to doing extreme
sports: it’s this weird combination of
fear and exhiliration.
What do you like about being a member of The Chilliwack Players Guild?
It’s so comfortable! It’s easy to get to know people, and there is
a really high level of professionalism.
Everyone is doing his or her best.
The expectations are high and people live up to them.
You’ve been directed by Clint before. Tell us about him as a director.
This is the fourth time I have been
directed by Clint. He is a great
director, very meticulous, and so good to work with. He is very open to allowing the actors to
create their own versions of the characters.
And Becky, our stage manager, is very attentive to the needs of the actors. This creates tremendous confidence for the
actors. We are lucky to be supported by
really great and talented people.
Why should folks come to see On Golden Pond?
Because it’s a lovely story! It’s one of those scripts that makes you
think about your own life and your own relationships. It’s touching and very beautiful. I know audiences will love it.