Gemma Martini is in the glass fabrication business by day, but by night the 39-year-old (true age) North 91原创 resident immerses herself in the world of acting 芒鈧�� both for stage and screen.
If Martini had her druthers, however, she芒鈧劉d opt to dabble more in theatre.
芒鈧揑 love being on set and filming movies, but my passion is for the theatre,芒鈧� she explained to the 91原创 Advance.
芒鈧揑 feel that the two aren芒鈧劉t even comparable in many ways. Theatre allows me to live the life of the character from start to finish and take the audience on a journey,芒鈧� added Martini, who is in rehearsals every night this week in anticipation of Friday芒鈧劉s opening of Shadowlands on the Gallery 7 stage in Abbotsford.
Martini is playing the role of Joy Gresham, a spirited poet from America who pursued her dream of meeting and ultimately winning the heart of Oxford professor and famous children芒鈧劉s author C.S. Lewis.
Shadowlands is a biographical play written by William Nicholson, directed by Trinity Western University professor Dr. Lloyd Arnett, and produced by Gallery 7 Theatre 芒鈧�� an Abbotsford-based theatre company that often draws on a lot of on- and off-stage talent from 91原创.
This is Martini芒鈧劉s first role with Gallery 7, but she doesn芒鈧劉t expect it to be her last.
芒鈧揊rom my experience so far, I hope that I can work with them again in the future. They run their theatre company professionally and are highly invested in producing good quality theatre for their audiences,芒鈧� she said just three sleeps before the curtain goes up on the play.
芒鈧揑 am nervous in anticipation of presenting Joy as the playwright intended... as the vibrant and passionate woman who C.S. Lewis adored.芒鈧�
Martini is on the email list for every possible community theatre audition in the Lower Mainland.
芒鈧揑 am always on the lookout for great roles and this is indeed a 芒鈧済reat芒鈧劉 role,芒鈧� she said, explaining that when she learned last fall that Gallery 7 was producing Shadowlands, she was immediately 芒鈧揺nticed芒鈧� because it tells the story of one of her favourite childhood authors 芒鈧�� C.S. Lewis.
芒鈧揑t gives the audience insight into the man who wrote all those books they loved as children. I have never played a role that was biographical and have really enjoyed researching Joy (my character芒鈧劉s name) and how it is that she came to England to meet and love C.S. Lewis,芒鈧� Martini elaborated.
芒鈧揑t is an incredible and tragic love story of two complicated and intelligent characters. Who doesn芒鈧劉t love those?芒鈧�
Asked if it was tough to prepare for this role, Martini admitted it took a little bit of extra effort, but it was well worth it.
芒鈧揑 love every part of the process芒鈧� the research into the character, the discussions about the script, rehearsing, connecting with the other actors, and most of all, having those 芒鈧撁⑩偓藴yes芒鈧劉 moments when the magic happens,芒鈧� she said.
Asked about similarities between herself and the character she will be portraying, Martini couldn芒鈧劉t provide a simple answer.
芒鈧揊or starters, Joy is an American Jewish Communist Christian. I am none of those.
芒鈧揓oy had a challenging life and struggled with health issues and alienation of her family. I am fortunate to have not experienced those.
芒鈧揓oy was brilliant and graduated university before most others would have graduated high school. Not me either.
芒鈧揓oy knows what she wants and goes after it without worrying about what others think. I am trying to be more like that.
芒鈧揓oy often offends those around her with her strong opinions. Okay, maybe.
芒鈧揓oy is passionate about life. Yes!
芒鈧揑n terms of our 芒鈧渉istory,芒鈧劉 you can see that we have very little in common. However, I admire her passion, her strength and her intelligence. She really did decide what she wanted and went after it, understanding that it would be nearly impossible to achieve, but doing it anyway,芒鈧� Martini explained.
芒鈧揟he story is hard to believe, but true. [Joy] fell in love with C.S. Lewis through reading his books, started writing him letters, and then left her life in America to pursue a relationship with him, knowing that he would not be able to reciprocate her feelings because of his strong Christian beliefs. Over time (many years) and a tragedy, she wins him over.芒鈧�
In addition to a dose of nerves leading into next week芒鈧劉s opening, Martini said she芒鈧劉s also excited.
芒鈧揟his is the largest and most professional venue that I have ever performed in,芒鈧� she explained.
The play opens Friday, Jan. 23, and runs Jan. 24, 29, 30, and 31 at 7:30 p.m., with matinees Jan. 24 and 31 at 2 p.m. at the Abbotsford Arts Centre, 2329 Crescent Way. Tickets are available online at www.gallery7theatre.com or by calling 1-800-665-8828.
