Thoughts on Flavia Antonescu

I read the character of Flavia at the initial read of the script and was instantly excited by the character. A subsequent, more careful reading of the play in my own time only deepened my desire to play the role, and I was happy to be told by our director that I was indeed cast as Flavia opposite Jonathan Lum as Mihai, Flavia's husband, and Terence Tan as Radu, their son.

When I was rehearsing for On North Diversion Road, young 'n' W!LD's debut production in June, one note from director Jonathan Lim that kept echoing in my head was simply this, "Don't cope. Suffer."

It is conflict, both internal and external, that lies at the core of theatre. We have to remind ourselves that our instincts as human beings often need to be put aside in the rehearsal room and onstage.

The character of Flavia gives ample opportunities to "suffer". On the surface, she is the thoroughly respectable, dignified wife and mother of the rather well-off, intellectual Antonescu family, comprising an architect, a teacher and an art student. Her family, to all appearances is doing well under the Ceausescu regime.

But privately, Flavia is just barely getting by from day to day. Even as she toes the party line and dutifully preaches state propaganda to her students, inwardly she hopes for change, for freedom. Emotionally, she is so cut off from her husband and son that she confides only in her dead grandmother.

As the play progresses, Flavia's struggle to bridge the chasm between her private ideals and her practical day-to-day reality becomes increasingly acute, and as her husband and son retreat further from her, we truly wonder how much longer Flavia can preserve even the illusion of coping.

In other words, from an actor's point of view, what a fantastic character to get to play!

My first rehearsal takes place tomorrow night, and I can't wait to plunge in.