Catching Up With Tina Packer of Shakespeare & Company
Taking a Break from Playing Martha to Attend a Press Conference
By: Charles Giuliano - Oct 14, 2009
As the media settled in for a press conference convened to discuss the fiscal crisis of Shakespeare & Company we were surprised to encounter the founding artistic director, Tina Packer. She is currently in mid production of Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf" at Boston's Publick Theatre. The run ends there on October 24 when she is scheduled to start rehearsals for her first appearance in Great Britain in decades.
Given the mood of the event yesterday, with its sad tidings and grim figures, I greeted her as "Martha" and asked if we would be playing "Get the guests." At first she seemed surprised and didn't comprehend the intended humor.
"Oh Martha" she said. "I thought you were saying hello Mother." Responding to my question she said "Do you mean Get the Media? Oh, don't worry, everything is going to be alright."
Which despite the doomsday reporting in the Berkshire Eagle, New York Times, and The Boston Globe was not the impression conveyed during an exhaustive discussion of the financial crisis of some $10 plus million in combined debt. The new artistic director, Tony Simotes, who has been on the job as Packer's successor for the past four and a half months assured us that "I do not plan to preside over the demise of the company."
Instead, he conveyed a complex plan, which we will comment on separately, to restructure loans taking advantage of "cheap money" with record low interest rates, make further staff cuts moving some full time employees to seasonal contracts, and reduce the number of shows (this year a record 18 productions) to a more manageable 10 with longer runs. His take on the study released yesterday, with its grim prognosis, was that "This is what will happen if we do nothing." But changes have already been implemented and more will follow.
We asked Tina how it is going with the demanding, if not suicidal, role of Martha. Looking at her I asked if she had lost some weight. "You think so" she asked adding that it mostly was the result of all the wear and tear of such a demanding role.
"The reviews have been great" she said although she told me some time back that she never reads them. I asked what the Phoenix had written. She replied rather glibly that all the usual suspects and characters in the Boston media had chimed in.
Of course this is particularly significant as Albee had originally blocked the production. He relented with the understanding that the company would print a full page disclosure, that he did not approve of the production, in its playbill. One wonders what he thinks now that the show has been well received.
Tina asked if we would see the show. Reluctantly I told her that we won't be able to fit it in with our tight schedule. But I asked, what is the chance that we will see it at S&Co., this summer, or some time soon?
"Tony is coming to see it this week" she said implying that it is under consideration. "But he's the boss now and I work for him.He makes the decisions." Of course Mr. Albee will be a factor if they decide to move forward in scheduling the play. It would surely be a hit in the Berkshires given Packer's reputation and the media coverage of the controversy with the playwright. Simotes during an interview last summer told me that he plans to open the season with a long run of Packer, possibly in her pastiche of "Shakespeare's Women." Her too brief, two week run of "Shirley Valentine" in the Diva Series last summer sold a lot of tickets.
We asked if Virginia Woolf is selling out in Boston? Not really was the answer although sales have been picking up through positive reviews and word of mouth as it approaches the final week of the run.
"Are you performing tonight" I asked. "No we are off or I never would have been able to drive out today." She conveyed how stressful the role is even though she has come to understand Martha and is up to performing her. I asked if the stress of the role as the shrill Marths is getting to her? "On Saturday we have two performances and at the end of that I'm a puddle."
It was interesting to observe Tina in the role of second chair behind Simotes. Now and then she added some emotional intensity to his even tempered discussion of short and long term goals for the company. Much of the debt was incurred during her watch so she bears a burden of responsibility. But she was quick to point out that because of her efforts, to purchase the campus, and develop the building that houses the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, scene shop, meeting and rehearsal rooms, the company now has considerable net worth and equity. As well as formidable debt.
She interjected to state that Simotes was a founding member of the company who evolved into a full professor at the University of Wisconsin. She stated that he is an example of the dozen or so annual MFA students that S&Co. plans to train in the not distant future.
"I'm having lunch this week with the President of Lesley College" she said. An MFA program is a part of the agenda but she denied a confirmation of that. "They gave me an honorary degree last year. If that doesn't work out there are two other potential institutions waiting in the wings."
While many drama departments send their students abroad for a year of study of Elizabethan technique Packer discussed how S&Co. might well serve that need. As well as teach other aspects of directing and theatre management. As an example, she pointed out that Simotes as artistic director, is responsible for a revised business plan, teaches, plans the seasons, and directs.
Simotes commented how this summer, in addition to adjusting to his new job, and administrating a record breaking 18 shows, he was also on the hook to remount the 2008 production of "Othello" which he directed. "It didn't prove to be so simple" he explained "As there were four cast changes to deal with and a short time for rehearsal."
"I'm an actor too" Packer explained. Stepping down from artistic director has allowed time to perform on the road in Boston and Great Britain. "That was never possible before when running the company was a full time job. Now I can devote sixty percent of my time and energy in acting. And forty percent to what I do best, fundraising."
It will be an invaluable asset to the company struggling through hard times to have Tina out there picking pockets. She will indeed be the Artful Dodger of S&Co. Praise the Lord.
Link to Tina Packer's History at S&Co.