Ottawa-born playwright Douglas Bowie wrote The Noble Pursuit over 30 years ago, but it has never been brought to the stage here until now, with Ottawa Little Theatre’s current production.
Though it’s now three decades old, this farcical comedy’s story will captivate today’s audiences with its suspense. The five cast members offer mesmerizing performances that will stay with theatre-goers long after the curtain falls. Shakespearean influences and throwbacks to the sitcoms of the ‘90s create an immersive, comical atmosphere.
The characters Noble Harmsworth, Abigail Bliss, and Lyle Lemmerman in The Noble Pursuit. Photo: Maria Vartanova.
I spoke with director Stavros Sakiadis, who also plays Percy Fawcett in the show, about The Noble Pursuit. We discussed his background in the theatre and his artistic vision for this spectacular piece of community theatre.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
Apt613: How did your career as a director begin and what is your creative approach to directing?
Stavros Sakiadis: I remember my parents taking me to my first theatre performance, The Phantom of the Opera [in Toronto]. I was in Grade 8 going into Grade 9. I remember how magical it was and asking my parents at the end, ‘Do these people get paid?’ That got me interested in a career in theatre. I attended the University of Windsor in a BFA acting program. I did professional theatre and I started directing. During the day, I’m a high-school drama teacher. I’ve gotten to dabble in directing there. When I direct, I like to break down the script and read it several times… looking at the universal themes that I think an audience can connect with.
How did you decide to direct this stage production?
The Season Planning Committee read many plays and eventually, they condense the plays to create the season. The goal is to find a balance of plays that appeal to a broad audience. They send these chosen plays to the directors; we read them and decide which ones we would most like to direct. I chose The Noble Pursuit. It was written by Canadian playwright Douglas Bowie, and I love the idea of it being a farce because I find farces challenging to direct. I like the idea of physical comedy and the beautifully crafted characters.
Characters Lyle Lemmerman and Percy Fawcett in The Noble Pursuit. Photo: Maria Vartanova.
How did you incorporate sources from Shakespeare, Stratford and other influences to support actors with their character-building?
A lot of my training is in Shakespeare, physical comedy, etc. In Douglas Bowie’s play, there’s a lot of word repetition, the same as in Shakespeare. When directing my cast, I kept reminding them that anytime you have word repetition, stress those. With regards to Stratford, there’s this thing called the “Stratford Banana” that they do in their festival theatre because it’s a thrust stage. They constantly move, and I want my actors to move and use the space. I use a technique from Rudolf Laban called the Eight Efforts, which helps with movement and use of the text.
Can you share your perspective about The Noble Pursuit being produced in Ottawa for the first time at the Ottawa Little Theatre?
The playwright will attend on June 18, where he’ll see his play staged in his hometown for the first time. Mr. Bowie also agreed to do a talkback session after that show, which will give an opportunity for our audience members to ask questions and for the actors and me to get to meet him.
Protagonist Noble Harmsworth. Photo: Maria Vartanova.
Given that the play was written over 30 years ago, what do you hope modern audiences take away with them once they leave the theatre?
This play was updated, as it was written in 1992—31 years ago. But there’s still timely moments and it’s a relevant story that audiences will love. There’s a lot of comedy and there’s a little bit of mystery. Audiences will enjoy the final scene where everything gets wrapped up.
I got influenced by sitcoms, like Frasier and Friends—the idea of entrances and exits. I’m hoping that the audience will find this amusing. One of the characters is a literary critic who reminds me of Caesar Flickerman from The Hunger Games meets Niles Crane from Frasier. That’s quite a change, and the costumes alone will show that character. We have a great crew, a great team of designers that created this show, like Kyle who created the set, Noble Harmsworth’s two-story apartment.
The characters Abigail Bliss, Jasmine Maxwell, and Lyle Lemmerman in The Noble Pursuit. Photo: Maria Vartanova.
Sakiadis provided essential context for appreciating the mechanics of this production. Still, audiences can sit with history at the Ottawa Little Theatre and watch a play that questions the creation of literature worthy of a Nobel Prize. Sakiadis’ directing elevates this play from page to stage, immortalizing Bowie’s writing not as a work of literature but as an act—or even two of them.
The Noble Pursuit continues through June 24 with evening shows at 7:30pm and matinees at 2:30pm on Sundays. Tickets cost $30 for adults. Learn more and purchase tickets at www.ottawalittletheatre.com.
