Is there anyone who hasn’t seen The Graduate, Mike Nichols’ 1967 classic starring Dustin Hoffman as the aimless university graduate seduced by an older woman (Anne Bancroft)?
It certainly didn’t seem so at Langham Court Theatre the other night as artists put the finishing touches on a free art exhibition presented in tandem with director Judy Treloar’s production of Terry Johnson’s play inspired by the film and Charles Webb’s novel.
“When I was a teenager, that was the first movie I went to on a date. I think it was Restricted too. I thought ‘Oh, wow,’ ” recalled Caroline Waelti, a mixed-media artist whose colourful submission — a striking fusion of polyester, netting, acyrlics, silk, nylon, cotton and zippers — captures the erotic allure of Mrs. Robinson’s zippered dress and the main characters’ inner psyches.
She’s one of 31 artists whose thematic interpretations of the play are on view in the theatre’s lounge Mondays from noon to 4 p.m.; Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 8 p.m., throughout the run of the play and during a meet-the-artists show and reception today from 1 to 3 p.m.
Nirmala Greenwell’s colourful acrylics-on-canvas painting of Benjamin and Elaine, wearing her bridal gown, dashing away — had a different source of inspiration.
“It was a time, historically, of great darkness. The civil rights movement was going on, people were being lynched,” she said. “They were breaking away from that darkness, from the old generation.”
Jeani Reynolds, the theatre’s longtime art show co-ordinator, conceived the first group art and theatre show as a means of engaging the audience artistically.
“It always bothered me that these [adjoining] rooms don’t really connect aside from the audience coming in and out,” she said.
“I thought if they were getting emotional about the play they’re seeing, and then see art connected to it, they might understand some of the abstract pieces.”
The artists weren’t the only ones tripping down memory lane.
Set and lighting designer Adam Wilkinson travelled to Los Angeles and took a whirlwind road trip through the Mojave Desert along Route 66 with sound designer Jason King to photograph images, some of which are projected as scene transitions. The duo made the requisite stop at Roy’s, the iconic motel and café, and shot images of churches, classic hotels and a strip joint on Sunset Strip.
“I’m a sun nut,” quipped Wilkinson, explaining his motivation.
Treloar and Wilkinson agreed on a minimalist approach, with images projected as backdrops to period music including, of course, Simon and Garfunkel’s Mrs. Robinson.
“It’s all about the beds!” they declared in unison, referring to two multi-purpose beds much of the action takes place on or around.
Treloar, who last directed the disturbing, emotionally wrenching drama That Face, said she welcomed the chance to return to the land of laughter.
“Although it’s about an alcoholic and dysfunctional family, it’s still very funny,” Treloar said. “It brought back memories of working with Colin Skinner at the [McPherson Playhouse], where it was a laugh a minute.”
Another familiar face — as assistant director this time rather than onstage — was actor Amanda Lisman, last seen here as Eliza Doolittle in Blue Bridge Theatre’s My Fair Lady.
“I worked with Judy as an actor doing Rebecca and when I learned she was directing I thought, ‘What a great opportunity to learn more about the craft of directing,’ ” Lisman said.
“The dedication you witness is really exciting, especially since these actors and crew members lead 9-to-5 lives.”