FPCT Spotlight - February 18, 2011

Holly Gibbs

What drew you to the role of Stephany?

Holly:  I'm a fan of LaBute and his writing style, so when the auditions were announced I got my hands on a script right away. I connected immediately with Stephany; there may be others who find her anger unjustified or blown out of proportion, but I understand where she's coming from and why she reacts as she does.  And that is important for this role. Ultimately, it doesn't matter what the audience thinks, but in order to play Stephany I need to feel some empathy for her. Every character in the show, I think people will be able to relate to on some level. They're not always pretty, but they're definitely human.

 

What has been fun about playing Stephany?

Holly:  Stephany has no filter; she says what she wants in the moment and regrets it later (or not). That lack of social decorum makes for some very...colorful exchanges. It's also fun to do such contemporary theater because you can bring so much of yourself to the role - facial expressions, gestures,  and even posture. That's so different from playing a period character and very freeing. I also don't typically get cast in the ingenue role, so this has been really different and exciting. 

 

How are you like Stephany?

Holly: Like Stephany, I have insecurities about my physical "prettiness" and I am very conscious of how society perceives me.  There was a great monologue in the original script right after Scene One, where Stephany talks to the audience about why she found Greg's comments about her so hurtful. She says that she's never been the most gorgeous girl in the room, but that doesn't mean she isn't going to protect what she has and expect the person she's in love with to find her beautiful.  I can certainly relate to that.  Stephany is loud and passionate and she wears her heart on her sleeve - we definitely have that in common.  She also takes things very personally and I tend to do the same. 

 

How are you different from her?

Holly:  Well, I definitely don't have her temper. And I use more foul language in this show than I have in my entire life! I'm also not a physically violent person and Stephany lets her emotions get the best of her to the point that she does get physically violent at points. 

 

What else do you enjoy aside from acting?

Holly:  Reading - I am a big bookworm.  I also like to watch movies and go see local theater. I love to hang out with friends and share a bottle of wine.

 

Do you have any dream roles?

Holly:  I missed out on a chance in high school to play Beatrice from Much Ado about Nothing. And I'm going to make a fabulous Mrs. Lovett one day in Sweeney Todd. But honestly, I enjoy every single role I get and I'm always grateful for the opportunity to do what I love.


What is something that people find surprising about you?

Holly:   I hate having my picture taken. I always seem to be caught with my eyes out of focus or my mouth open, or some horrible expression on my face. It's a vanity thing - now can you see why relating to Stephanie wasn't difficult for me?

 

What is on the horizon?

Holly:  Playing a Stepsister in Cinderella at Dundalk Community Theater in May. And there are other auditions coming up soon, so we'll see.

 

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