… Someone was actually holding a roll of wallpaper behind the woman. It’s a big monologue.Įrtugrul: We had seen another show’s that had taken it very literally. It’s like journal entries for the stage.Ĭastillo: That would be an easy way out with the story, that it’s one whole monologue, which technically it is. Q: With that work, that isn’t really moving the ball that far. Just what we feel about –Ĭastillo: One woman, one man shows – Įrtugrul: “A tour-de-force!” Of one person. Everyone kind of looked at each other and said, “Yeah, we can do that.” … There have been a lot of people who have done this as a show, but a lot of them do it as a one woman show. And we said, “You know, that story resonates with me.” So we all went back and read it, and it was amazing how concisely and beautifully that story is written. We had done some before and thought, “Well, what else can we do?” I had read this story when I was taking English classes in college, and I believe someone else had read it as well. Įrtugrul: We were trying to look for things to adapt. So what I hoped we could do is talk about how you found that short story, and why you thought that might be material.Įrtugrul: I believe – It was long ago. One of the reasons I talked to you about, which I didn’t know going in, is that I liked The Yellow Wallpaper so much. I thought a lot about it afterward, thought about what you did, why you did it, and I thought it was a lot of strengths you guys have in a really great package. Q: And I’m like, “Oh, I just paid eight dollars.” But I really enjoyed this. I really thought it was – I’d seen a lot of bad local theater when I saw it so – Q: As you guys know, I’ve seen it, and I loved it. FMI click this link or call (757) 627-8551. This conversation has been edited for clarity and length. General admission is $15 or, for season subscribers, $10. 9, at the Little Theater of Norfolk, 801 Claremont Ave. The show runs at 8 p.m., Friday through Sunday, Nov. At the time, we discussed the Suzuki Method of Actor Training and Viewpoints training, CORE’s founding, and some of their adaptations and originals. This talk is with my longtime friends Emel Ertugrul, managing director, artistic associate and actor and Edwin Castillo, Suzuki/Viewpoints training instructor and artistic associate. I talked with members of Core shortly before the first run of 40 Whacks. It has involved casts of varying sizes, and the latest incarnation features all woman in portrayals of the isolated, thwarted heroine at its center and the wallpaper itself.

The show has been performed locally before, as well as being taken on the road. Core is well known for its physical performances, and some of the themes and suggested characters within the story are reflected in the embodiment by actors of the wallpaper. The story is structured as journal entries of Jane, who suffers from the control of her husband, expectations of society, etc., which effectively deny her the ability to think and control her own life. The short story, a late 19th Century exploration of an isolated woman’s deteriorating mental health, is a key work of feminist literature. I’m excited to see it again, and excited to talk to some old friends about how they adapted the Charlotte Perkins Gilman work – and how the show has evolved. CORE Theatre Ensemble revives its excellent The Yellow Wallpaper adaptation at Little Theatre of Norfolk this weekend. Cast members from the CORE Theatre Ensemble adaptation of The Yellow Wallpaper rehearse at the Little Theatre of Norfolk earlier this month.

The little theatre of norfolk