Interview: Alice Sanders, starring in The Colby Sisters at the Tricycle Theatre

Alice Sanders is currently starring as Mouse in the world premiere of The Colby Sisters of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Directed by Trip Cullman, performances begin at the Tricycle Theatre tonight (Thursday 19th June). The new black comedy, by OBIE award-winning Canadian playwright Adam Bock, runs until Saturday 26th July 2014.

In a world of champagne and canapés, the five Colby sisters are the glamorous faces of New York high society. With wealth, style and desirable husbands, they appear to have it all. But privately, the sisters’ squabbles distort the picture of this perfect family. Image is everything, and struggling to maintain it could have life-changing consequences. 

Alice previously starred in Inadmissible Evidence at the Donmar Warehouse. For television, her credits include Law and Order UK, Foxtrot, The Musketeers and Lightfields; and for film, Powder Room. I recently spoke to the actress about her first impressions of the play, working so closely with Adam Bock and the joys of working at the Tricycle Theatre...

What were your very first impressions when you came across the play?
When I first read the script I was really laughing. Then I continued reading and was really shocked! At first it’s quite light, it’s a dark comedy and obviously there are little bits of the darkness that work their way in and then you realise that actually it’s not glamorous but quite a sad reality. It is a difficult relationship and things have to change. I really enjoyed the transition.

What has the rehearsal process been like? How does it compare with what you envisioned?
It makes so much difference. You imagine what the other sisters are like but then all the other actors come in and you can hear how they have brought them to life which changes the way you relate to them – they become real people. It is still making me laugh and I think every time you have a read-through on the first day you think, ‘oh, that’s what that meant!’ The wonderful thing about doing theatre and having time to rehearse is you have so much time to keep working on it, revise it and discover new things about the scenes and the characters.

What’s it like to take on a brand new piece of writing? Is it still changing?

Yes, it’s still changing. It’s so exciting doing something brand new. Adam (the writer) is in rehearsals every day and tweaks the script as he hears us working on it. Also, because it’s based in New York and the premiere is to a British audience, we have to be sure that they will understand some of the references, rather than just assuming it will be obvious. It’s very exciting doing something new for the first time. I’m scared what people will think [laughs]. I think they will like it, fingers crossed!

Adam has had an interesting career, working mostly in America. What’s it like working with him?

He’s so much fun to work with and I think this play is quite personal to him; a lot of the characters are based on people he knows. It’s not directly based on his life, but inspired by things he has witnessed happen or in some way been a part of. I think that’s why the play seems so real because he knows from first-hand experience exactly what these people are going through.

What are the cast like to work with?

Oh man, I get to work with girls for once, it’s so nice! I did a film which came out last year called Powder Room which also had a lot of girls in it. Normally it’s all boys! We’re having so much fun, we’re a good old girl gang!

Do you think everyone will be able to see themselves or perhaps someone they know in the characters? 

Oh yes, definitely. On the first few days when we were reading through the script we all had so many stories of things we have experienced, or people we know have experienced, or people we know that we see in the characters. Everyone knows people like that, or situations like that, or families like, that which is what makes it so compelling. Even though it is this fantastical and seemingly incredibly glamorous frivolous world, actually these very flawed people do exist and these situations do happen.

You’ve worked at the Donmar before and now you are at the Tricycle, both of which are intimate venues. How do you find performing in a small space?

This is the second play I’ve done and I’ve never worked in a large theatre. For me watching plays, the difference between a small venue and a large one is that in a small venue you feel very much part of the atmosphere. So if it’s funny you’re right in there laughing and feeling part of it rather than merely a distant observer. So that makes it really exciting for an actor and also quite scary because you know you are bringing the audience right into the performance. Your mum could be sitting in the front row [laughs]!

I love the Tricycle, is it an exciting place to work? 

Everyone here is so lovely and yes, it’s really exciting and you get the feeling that they’re excited about the plays they put on. They’re willing to take risks; it’s such a nice place to be a part of. You feel their enthusiasm the moment you walk through the door which keeps you going and keeps everyone happy and excited.

Is a balance between screen and theatre work important to you?

I love both. It’s the same job but so, so different! I’ve really missed doing theatre. I think a lot of the parts I am playing are characters who are younger than I am and in theatre you can be quite flexible with age but you can’t on TV. I would definitely love to do more theatre. I love the fact you get to rehearse and you have a period when you just work on the play, trying things out. There is so much time to explore which is lovely and I really hope that, as my experience develops, I’ll get more opportunities to do theatre!

Interviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)

The Colby Sisters of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania runs at the Tricycle Theatre until Saturday 26th July 2014. Please visit www.tricycle.co.uk for further information and tickets.

Photo Credit: Mark Douet

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