"The Children's Hour"
This was a phenomenal experience for me. I had never been so immersed in a role until I was cast as Karen Wright. When Lillian Hellman wrote the play in the 1930's it was extremely controversial, since it pertains to two female school teachers being accused of sexual relations. I was only 18 at the time and was quite nervous to be playing such a difficult role which required a heavy emotional performance every night. I remember I spent the entire month becoming Karen. I wore knee-length conservative skirts almost every day, listened to old music standards from the 1930's, changed my posture, walk, language, everything I could do to put me in the right era and state of mind.
What we were able to do as a cast was mind-blowing for me. We were lucky to be under such excellent direction, and given a set that so closely resembled a school room from the 1930's. Together, that helped us all get to where we needed to be by the climax of the play, or the infamous "beat G" as we called it. I find myself very fortunate to have played Karen, who was later played by Audrey Hepburn in the film version.
