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Artscene Oakville Beaver · FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2006 By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 41 Actress relishes hanging on By a Thread A pair of 20 year olds are bringing a Canadian, one-woman play to Oakville's West End Studio Theatre (W.E.S.T). Tim Welham, 20 is directing By a Thread, which opens Dec. 14 and stars Hallie Burt, also 20, as the hilarious, paranoid lead character, Rose. "I wouldn't say Rose is crazy or that she has a mental disorder, but she's definitely at a breaking point in this play," said Burt, a Kingston native. By A Thread, written by Canadian actress and playwright Diane Flacks, is a day in the life of this creatively-blocked, paint-flinging artist, who is trying to make sense of her feelings and capture them on canvas. "At one point I'm drawing my irrational fears on an easel, that part is hilarious," said Burt, smiling. "It's a fun and wacky play." "It's basically about a troubled artist living on her own in downtown Toronto and experiencing the fear of living in the big city," added Welham, a graduate of the former Queen Elizabeth Park Secondary School, who has been involved in several W.E.S.T. productions both as an actor and director, and is now in his third year of theatre at Ryerson University. Burt, who has been acting since age 12, came across By a Thread at a Toronto bookstore. "It excited me right off the bat," she said. "I was looking for something fun, but also meaningful. It was the obvious choice. This is something that suits me and also means something." Throughout the play, Rose `astro-projects' to overcome her often irrational fears. "She gets into these situations where she feels scared and alone, like when she's at an ATM machine and she hears a noise behind her," said Welham. "So she astro-projects herself out of her body and kind of floats around above herself as a way to protect herself. Basically her soul and body are attached by a thread." Essentially, Rose is hanging on By a Thread. "She's insane," said Welham, smiling. "Because she keeps leaving her body, she heavy topics, but at the same time, it's fun." Although it's a one-woman play that focuses on Rose, there are other characters in the play, too: Rose's mother, a fairy godmother figure and a close friend, all portrayed by Burt. "I always laugh at her interpretation of the mother, very uptight, sitting there smoking a cigarette," said Welham. "It's hilarious." In the hour-long show, it's all on Burt to make it work. "At first I was thinking, oh my gosh how am I going to do this, it's a one-woman show," she said. "But after doing it, I forget that there are plays where there are other people. You get used to it and you find other supports." The pair has already staged By a Thread at two locations in Toronto, and the response has been positive. At a festival that included two concerts and two plays, some band members approached Burt after her performance. "These guys in the band were not at all into theatre, and they came up to me and said, `I was really entertained and moved,'" she said. "That meant so much to me. That's the kind of theatre I like to do, that will speak to anyone, not just theatre goers." After leaving Ryerson's theatre program after one year, Burt says, "to experience theatre on my own terms," she approached Welham, who she calls "the best director I've ever had," to direct the production. "I just think it's really cool that we're doing this," said Welham smiling, "two young people." "High-five," added Burt, hitting him up top. West End Studio Theatre in association with Ladybird Productions ­ Burt's production company ­ presents By A Thread Thursday, Dec. 14 and Saturday, Dec. 16 at West End Studio Theatre, 1109 North Service Rd. E. Curtain time is at 8 p.m. and refreshments will be served after the show. Tickets, $15 and $10 for students, are available at the door or by calling 905-8459378. -- Krissie Rutherford can be reached at krutherford@oakvillebeaver.com LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER STAR OF THE SHOW: Hallie Burt plays Rose, the hilarious, paranoid lead character in the one-woman play By a Thread opening next week at West End Studio Theatre. doesn't acknowledge the feelings she's feeling, so she can't express them through her art," said Burt. Not only does the play investigate Rose's paranoia and fear in a funny way, but it also tackles some serious topics. "She has an abusive family past," said Burt. "The play deals with some really PREMIUM PRE-OWNED VEHICLES 3000 WOODCHESTER DR. (ERIN MILLS AUTO CENTRE) MISSISSAUGA PRIME RATES PRIME CUSTOMERS CALL FOR DETAILS - CHOOSE FROM OVER 1,000 PREMIUM SELECTED PRE-OWNED VEHICLES