Rosebud graduates in Canadian Premiere of Count of Monte Cristo

Times Contributor   

 

A brand new production of the classic story The Count of Monte Cristo opened in Calgary this weekend, with two Rosebud School of the Arts graduates as cast members.

Count of Monte Cristo is about a young sailor, Edmond, engaged to be married. His jealous friends falsely accuse him, steal his fiancée and sentence him to life in prison. Fourteen years later, a dying fellow prisoner tells Edmond where he buried a treasure. Edmond escapes, finds the treasure and uses it to purchase the island of Monte Cristo and the title of Count. He then begins plotting revenge on those who framed him, drawing everyone around him into his plans.

Scott Schreiner, a 2008 graduate of Rosebud’s Acting Program, plays the Count’s feisty accomplice, Benedetto, who betrays the Count but, in the end, dies when the Count discovers his treachery and double-crosses him in return. Schreiner has been in numerous theatrical productions since graduation, first working with other Rosebud graduates to form Loudly Whispered Theatre, then working with Morpheus Theatre and Evergreen Theatre and at Heritage Park.

“The role (of Benedetto) is pretty interesting,” Schreiner says, “because the character doesn’t show up very much in the book … so it gave me a lot of room to bring my own ideas to it and for me and (director) John Knight to decide where the character was going to go and how he was going to be portrayed.”

Schreiner says another highlight was to do more fight scenes. 

“Anastasia St. Amand is the Assistant Director and Fight Choreographer,” he says. “I’ve known her for awhile and she always has really good ideas and she knows how to play to people’s strengths, especially when it comes to combat style on stage and it makes it look really believable.”

Lennette Randall, a 2012 Rosebud graduate, plays Haydee, a beautiful Greek slave whom the Count has rescued and raised as a daughter, who then falls in love with him. When the Count has achieved his goals for revenge, and is seeking new direction, Haydee is the one who gives it, with the final words of the play: “Hope — and wait.”

This is Randall’s first acting role since graduating from Rosebud in September. She enjoyed exploring the character, who can be played either as a child or as a woman. 

“When I was directed to play the sultriness and the sensuality of her attraction to the Count, I was like ‘what?’ But it was actually really good because I was able to play it both ways,” she said. “I was pulling (together) everything I had (learned at Rosebud) … from my first year to my final year. It was actually pretty brilliant to see all of those things become relevant.” 

But Rosebud gave her even more. 

“When … there’s something you need to be able to play your role well, you know how to dig for it, and you know how to search for it,” she says. “That’s all part of the training.”

Schreiner and Randall both feel this play has an important message. 

“I think the most important thing in this play comes about at the end,” Schreiner says, “when the Count realizes that even with the best intentions and the most-plotted out revenge, you may end up feeling empty because you’ve sunk as low as the people you were trying to get revenge on.”

Randall says, “There’s a lot about justice and it’s not just for the Count.” 

She asks, “Who does vengeance belong to? How far do wicked people get away with their schemes? Who should put an end to it?” 

The play also says a lot about ambition, she says. “How far can you go for what you want?”

Both Rosebud grads are finding The Count of Monte to be a great experience. 

“I am so in love with the story, it’s ridiculous,” Randall says. “I’m very, very grateful for the experience.”

Schreiner says, “It’s been a great experience and we don’t have a very long run … so I encourage people to come out and see it … I think (audience members will) be really fascinated with this adaptation of the story … It has new characters. It has twists on the plot. And, in my opinion, a really great cast of young actors.”

Count of Monte Cristo is produced by Mob Hit Productions, and runs until Feb. 9 at the Arreta Opera Centre, 1315 – 7 St SW, Calgary. See thisisamobhit.com or call 403-668-1634 for more information.