There's a one-woman show at Theatre North West called I, Claudia.
The four characters portrayed in the show are between the ages of twelve and three quarters and seventy-something - both male and female.
There is one woman who convincingly represents these diverse characters. Her face is behind a mask and it works.
Michelle Polak is the actor reprising the role she has taken on twice before, five years ago and then again two and a half years ago.
Kristen Thomson wrote the play and originally took on the role herself with Chris Abraham directing. Abraham will be directing Polak in this production for the first time.
"This play will be one of our Canadian classics," Polak stated about the play that has won two Canadian comedy awards, an Actra award, a Gemini, two Dora awards, a Sterling award and most recently two Betty Mitchell awards earlier this month.
One actor transitioning from one character to the next wearing a mask sounds like a difficult task.
"This is our craft," said Polak. "This is what I have dreamt about doing since I was a little girl and so all those little details become little treasures. It is a work in progress and within us all there are many different parts of ourselves so I am 12 and three quarters, I am probably the same age as the step-mom-to-be and with great empathy and compassion you enter each of those characters and look at the world through their eyes without judgment."
The entire play is all about how each character moves through their lives, dealing with the issues they have.
"The underlying themes of this show have to do with transformation so not only for the characters and my own personal journey for an hour and a half straight on through but also for the audience," said Polak. "Most of us know somebody who has gone through a divorce, we all went through puberty or will go through puberty or we've had bad luck so what's beautiful about the piece is it speaks to a humanistic journey for all people and my job will be to create a kind of intimacy and talk to each and every one of you."
Just recently Polak was asked to rehearse the play by just speaking the words and not using the masks.
"Both my stage manager and my director saw how connected I actually am," said Polak. "When you think I am crying I am crying under the mask, when I am laughing I am actually laughing. I am experiencing it as if the masks are not on my face and what's brilliant about those masks and the magic of masks is that the mask begins to look like it changes but it's fixed upon my face. But is it fixed? So yo see the way the light catches or the way intention moves through mask and you see quite a journey going on and that is something else."
Polak is a dedicated theatre actress. She's tried other forms of the art.
"Every time I've done a film gig, I've thrown up afterwards and I realized this is not for me," Polak said. "I grew up loving theatre. My parents brought me to the theatre and my deep passion is the theatre and that's why I am so excited to share this show here - in a Canadian town. You know some people want to take over the world and that's not what it's about."
Polak said she always does her very best when she is on stage.
"You give your best and hopefully the audience will be transformed and never forget this show," said Polak. "I think it's that special. I have had this experience before with this show where each audience was moved beyond most shows I have ever been in. Ultimately, I guess, in being an artist I do want to change the world."
The show is presented at Theatre North West every day except Mondays. Tickets are available at Books & Co., 1685 Third Avenue.
