Kristen Thomson’s Dora Award-winning I, Claudia is one of those plays you don’t forget.
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Performed by Thomson and featuring a set of four masks, the solo show about a precocious preteen’s troubled life struck many familiar chords through its many remounts and a Genie Award-winning film. Now Thomson returns to the piece in a slightly revised version at the Young Centre. See Previewing.
Where have the masks been stored all this time?
Liisa Repo-Martell, my good friend and a very gifted actor, has been touring I, Claudia with them across Canada.
So – first time you put on one of the masks again. What goes through your mind?
“They kind of smell like Liisa.”
How has motherhood changed your approach to the piece?
I now wear Spanx under my costume.
Any changes to the production?
It’s being performed at the Young Centre this time, so Soulpepper artistic director Albert Schultz will be making a cameo – in mask – as Claudia’s pre-pubescent boyfriend. He will also be wearing Spanx.
You’ve remounted I, Claudia several times, made an award-winning film, published it. Any plans for a musical?
In both the film and play, I’m the only performer. So we’d have to recast, which would mean a reality show first. Apparently, that works.
If there were an I, Claudia sequel, what would it be called and what would the plot be?
The sequel, II, Claudia, would be adult Claudia in therapy. Light on plot, high on emotion. I would play both the therapist and Claudia.
Have you seen anyone else perform it?
Liisa (who performed it with my masks, as I mentioned) and Michelle Polak (who performed it with different masks). They were both masterful.
Okay – theatre geek scenario. Characters you played from Problem Child, Uncle Vanya and The Memory Of Water are leaving a performance of I, Claudia. What do they say?
Denise from Problem Child: “Too depressed to speak.”
Elena from Uncle Vanya: “Too exhausted to speak.”
Catherine from Memory Of Water: “Too high to speak.”
