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In August,
our former Artistic Director will be making a guest appearance with Kaleidoscope. Carol Smith, will be playing the part of ‘Disgustia’, one of the silly step sisters, in “Cinderella” starting August 8th at Rhode Island College. She was gracious enough to agree to the following interview: Q: How did you originally become involved with Kaleidoscope Theatre? A: Back in the 1970s, Kaleidoscope Theatre used to perform a half hour musical each Saturday at the Warwick Mall and I used to go every week to see them. I also used to get up very early on weekend mornings to watch the television show they had on Channel 12 – I saw them all! A few years later, when I graduated from high school I auditioned for the company and was hired as the understudy for the character of Annie Brown in “I’m Special”. I played Annie Brown for my first three years as a theatre student at RIC. My first summer musical was the original production of “Mother Goose” at the Warwick Musical Theatre – I was Old Mother Hubbard! I directed “Heidi” and “Hansel & Gretel” in 2000 and then David Payton, Kaleidoscope’s Executive Director, asked me to be Artistic Director and I did that job for 2001. Then I had to give it up because I moved to England to get married and it was just too far to commute! Q: What did you do for Kaleidoscope Theatre in the past? A: What didn’t I do?! I’ve played Annie Brown in both “I’m Special” and “Welcome Home”; and then I got older and played Liza Brown in “I’m Special” – that was great! I’ve been both stepsisters in “Cinderella” (thankfully at different times!), I’ve been the White Rabbit/March Hare and Sister/Cook in “Alice in Wonderland”, I was the first Empress Euphenia in “The Emperor’s New Clothes” (I even played the Minister in that one, once!), Old Mother Hubbard in “Mother Goose”, Jerfis T Jerfis in “Pinocchio”, Mama Bear in “Goldilocks”, I was the original Witch in “Hansel & Gretel”. For one performance only I was Peter’s Grandmother/Miss Rottenmeier in “Heidi”! While I was Artistic Director, I directed “I’m Special – You’re Special”, the new “Bad Company”, “Goldilocks”, “Heidi”, “Cinderella”, “Snow White”, “Beauty & the Beast”, “Snow White”, “Hansel & Gretel”, “Pinocchio” and “Jack & the Beanstalk” and “The Killer Cabaret”, one of Kaleidoscope’s dinner theatre productions. Q: What are you doing now over in England? A: I work now as the Office Manager/PA for a local hospice in Cheshire. I get to do all kinds of computer work and design posters and I administer the hospice’s website. It’s a very cheerful place to work and I love the people I work with. I also get to know some of the patients and their families, which I really enjoy. I live in a Victorian terraced house with my English husband and two cats. We’re in the process of doing some renovations on the house at the moment so that takes up a lot of time! Without theatre to keep me busy (and out of trouble!) I’ve started doing other things – I’ve taken up bird watching and my husband and I have been taking kayaking lessons. I’ve also started growing strawberries. Q: Have you been involved in any theatre since you left Kaleidoscope Theatre? A: I’ve not actually done any theatre here in England yet. I’ve joined a local theatre company but they haven’t done any plays yet that I could fit into – I need to work on my English accent! [grin] I may have to wait until they do some American plays! My husband and I go to see a LOT of theatre, however. We’re only a couple of hours away from London by train and there are some regional theatres here that do fantastic work. It’s lovely to be in the audience for a change! Q: How does it feel to be making a return to the Kaleidoscope stage? I can’t tell you how excited I am to be back doing a show with Kaleidoscope! There are a lot of old friends in the cast of ‘Cinderella’ and I’m already learning my lines and the songs. It would be exciting to be on any stage again for the first time in four years – but working with Kaleidoscope will be even better – it will be coming home to family! And that’s the best. Thanks Carol! We look forward to having you back! |
