Grey Gardens: Mentors/Sisters/Friends
Preview: Multiple Roles in Relationship of Actresses
If you’ve been awake and gone to the theatre in Kansas City in the last 15 years, you’ve seen Kathleen Warfel and Cathy Barnett. In commercials, jingles, and the best of KC’s theatres, the pair have played nearly anything imaginable and are now working together at the Unicorn Theatre on their newest show, a musical called Grey Gardens.
Grey Gardens looks into two eras of life for the aunt and cousin of the oh-so-glamorous Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. The title refers to the estate of the Bouvier Beales, a codependent mother and daughter duo, Big Edie and Little Edie. Starting in 1941, the show reveals the family dynamic in its prime that devolves along with the estate as the time period progresses to the early 1970s in the second act.
A documentary of the same name was made in 1975 chronicling the estate and the eccentric lives of the Bouvier Beales as their mansion fell into ruin and their famous cousin came to the rescue, or so it seems. The duo’s penchant for trash and cats gave the world plenty to muse about.
Barnett does double duty, playing the mother, Big Edie, during the first act and switching roles and playing the daughter, Little Edie, in the second half. The development of the relationship in the second half has been the challenge for the two actresses.
Presentmagazine.com sat down with them a few weeks ago to discuss how they’ve tapped into the characters and the relationships.
Kathleen Warfel
Present: How do you think your long-term relationship (with each other) has helped develop the on-stage relationship as mother and daughter?
Kathleen Warfel: It’s funny, because Cathy’s always been so outgoing and I’ve always been very reticent. I remember seeing her in Candide [at KU] and thinking, ‘My god, is she a masters candidate? And they told me she was a freshman.
Cathy Barnett: I was eighteen.
Warfel: So I’ve always really looked up to her and I know she’s sung my praises for umpteen years now. We have a real mutual respect for each other.
Barnett: That’s because, with Kathleen, you’ll never find anyone that’s more focused on you on stage. I’m constantly amazed who when you’re doing your thing on stage, they’re actually listening and then they say something back and you go ‘oh crap, that’s right. There’s a reality here.’ Because I tell you, you learn from actors that listen.
I believe that we’ve come to an understanding about the relationship and what ends up happening, more in a backstage conversation.
Warfel: It’s still a rehearsal.
Barnett: It’s been an incredible experience already.
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