An Interview with Graham Archer

 Graham Archer on playing Norman

 How long have you been involved with the Guild?

 I joined the Guild in 1979.  At that time, I was working with Clint Hames, and he suggested I help out with the Guild's production of Fiddler on the Roof...

As an actor?

 No, I worked backstage and helped build the set.  I've been involved ever since!

Graham as Freddy in our 1987 production of Noises Off

And you played Tevye, the lead in the 2012 remount of the Guild's production of Fiddler on the Roof.  That must have been very special.

 It was.  The audiences loved the show...it was very gratifying to play such a beloved character.

 

Graham as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (with co-star Linda MacRae)

And now you have been cast as Norman in the upcoming production of On Golden Pond.  Tell us about the role.

 Norman, the patriarch of the family, is 80.  He is a very complex character, as are all the characters in the play.  Norman seems old and crotchety, at times, sharp and with-it at other times.  He can be quite blunt, particularly with his daughter, Chelsea, with whom he has never been close.  His wife, Ethel, is the peacemaker of the family; she tires to smooth the waters between Norman and Chelsea.  But, what makes Norman so interesting to play is that he is extremely intelligent, well educated...the audience can't quite tell if he is merely grumpy or if he  is starting to decline mentally.

Sounds like an acting challenge...

 Yes, it's a very interesting and very challenging role, and quite a journey for an actor to play someone who may be starting to decline mentally, but who is still very sharp in many ways.

So the play revolves around the theme of family relationships?

 That's right.  We see Norman getting closer to his grandson during the course of the play.  He was never a very good father to his own daughter, but he connects with his teenage grandson.  His daughter, Chelsea, is trying to get close to him, but it's hard for him to change how he has interacted with her over the years.  His wife, Ethel, tries to keep the peace. 

What do you like about the play?

 It's very well written, funny, but very touching, too.  Very heartwarming.  The characters are very well drawn, and the relationships among them are rich and complex.  Audience members will recognize themselves in the story.  The play was nominated for many awards when it played on Broadway in the early 80's.  Audience members may remember the movie version which starred Henry and Jane Fonda, and Katherine Hepburn.  It's a play that has stood the test of time.  It's still relevant. 

How are you preparing to play a character who is much older than you are?

 Watching how older people move, their physicality.  Norman is still spry and active, even though he is 80.  It's his mind that is starting to fail him...he is becoming forgetful, so the challenge is to figure out how to play the character so he seems like a real person and not a caricature of an old man.  It's about making choices that show his struggle.  Norman is a man facing a huge challenge.  It's important to keep it emotionally real.

Is Clint Hames, your director, helping with that?

 Yes, as a director, Clint doesn't "tell"...he guides and suggests.  Clint lets the actors find their way through experimentation.  The play is dramatic, yes, but also full of humour, so the actors rely on Clint to help keep the balance between the drama and the comedy.

Graham hard at work on a set while
Guild Member Keith looks on.

What do you like about being a member of the Chilliwack Players Guild?

 The people.  It's a wonderful group of people, very creative and like-minded.  It's really exciting to be involved in a production with so many talented individuals working towards a common artistic goal.  It's the teamwork that I love about theatre.