4/25/2007 12:11:00 PM Mother, daughter have leading roles
Acting runs in the family for Torrey Berkson (left) and her mother, Denise, who for the first time share a mainstage production in “Tartuffe,” continuing at the Key City Playhouse through May 12. – Photo by Shelly Randall
The teenage years are typically a tumultuous time for family relationships, full of heightened emotions, misunderstandings and impassioned arguments. Mother and daughter acting duo Denise Fleener and Torrey Berkson, however, prefer to keep their drama on the stage.
They'll be doing just that in Key City Players' ongoing production of "Tartuffe," which opened April 20 and closes May 12. Although 18-year-old Torrey describes her character Mariane as "overly dramatic," neither she nor her mom would say that about her - or their relationship - now.
"She's a neat person, my daughter," said Denise. "I really enjoy just watching her work."
Working well together is something they have a knack for. Denise described an early rehearsal in which the directors immediately noticed a different dynamic when Torrey and Denise had a scene together. Their acting "was a whole lot more natural with each other" than when they shared the stage with others.
Even so, it's not always easy being on stage with someone you know so well. "It's still hard for me to act with her," Torrey explained. "I haven't gotten over the barrier of 'that's my mother.'" This doesn't stop her from enjoying the perks of the arrangement, however. "I can always get a ride to rehearsal," she joked.
Working together on "Tartuffe" has been their first "really positive" acting experience, said Denise. "Agnes of God," a Portland production in which Torrey played the title role at age 13, was a good experience but intense. "That's a tough age, even when life is going smoothly," noted Denise. Now, five years later, they seem to be beyond that. "We're able to just kind of relax and have a good time," said Denise.
In "Tartuffe," Denise plays Dorine, nursemaid to Torrey's Mariane, who is being forced to marry a man she does not love. Dorine encourages Mariane to stand up to her father in this classic story that skewers hypocrisy and champions true love. But this "Tartuffe" is neither traditional nor quite like anything Key City Players has produced.
"The audience is going to be blown away by this thing," asserted Denise. "It's a little wild and out there and fun." The play's director, Denise Kenney, has visually reimagined the story so that it is, as Torrey said, "a Tim Burtonesque adult fairy tale." The actors are excited, and shows are already starting to sell out.
Yet acting hasn't always been such a pleasure, especially for Torrey. Even though she's been around theater all her life and had her debut at age 9, her first reaction to being on stage was less than enthusiastic. "I hated it," she admitted. "I never wanted to do it again."
Her first role was as part of the children's chorus in a production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." It wasn't until later, when she landed a part in which she had her own lines, that she decided acting was for her. Ever since, she has sought out ways to stand out.
"I think it's important for Torrey to be liberated from my energy," said Denise, as Torrey nodded her agreement.
For now, Torrey loves being a student at Jefferson Community School in Port Townsend, where she'll soon be co-teaching acting classes. In the future, her passion for acting will likely take her to New York, where she might go to school or simply join a playhouse.
As for Denise, she is happy being a part of Key City Players, her "family away from my family." This doesn't rule out being open to other opportunities, however, such as acting in Seattle or for film.
Whether as mother and daughter in real life or maid and maidservant on stage, these talented women have enough passion, skill and enthusiasm to ensure they'll be making impressions on audiences for a long time.
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