Q&A: Glenn

Jeff Lillico in rehearsal for Glenn. Photo by Nathan Kelly.

How well do you know legendary Canadian pianist Glenn Gould? This season, Soulpepper explores the man behind the composer, writer and broadcaster in a new production of David Young's Glenn directed by Diana Leblanc (on stage Aug 26). The play divides Gould's character into four distinct aspects or personas: the Prodigy, the Performer, the Perfectionist and the Puritan.

Here, performer Jeff Lillico talks about his experience playing the Prodigy in this highly anticipated composition.

Theatromania: How would you describe David Young's Glenn in a few sentences?

JL: David Young's Glenn is an incredible puzzle of a play. It's a picture of one of the greatest talents in the history of Canadian culture, and a profound and complex journey into his psyche.

Theatromania: Were you very familiar with Glenn Gould's life and music before starting on this project?

JL: Prior to this project I knew very little about Glenn Gould's life and had never, to my knowledge, heard any of his recordings. It has been a truly amazing experience having this opportunity to plunge headlong into discovering his music and his life.

Theatromania: You play The Prodigy, one of four Glenn personas. Tell us about your character. How did you prepare for this role?

JL: There are four actors in the play, all of whom portray Glenn Gould, representing different facets of Glenn's psyche, as well as different stages of his life. The Prodigy ostensibly accounts for the earliest stage of Glenn's life and development, up to his famous 1955 recording of The Goldberg Variations. To prepare for the role, I've been listening to as many recordings of his music as possible, as well as watching a great number of documentaries about the man, including his CBC broadcasts. We've also been so lucky to have some of Glenn's close friends and acquaintances come in and speak with us about their relationships with him, which has been invaluable.

Theatromania: What are some of the challenges involved in staging this production?

JL: One of the greatest challenges that this show presents is -- and it's surprising for me to say -- but learning the lines. Usually, that's just something that comes with the territory. However, the structure of this play mirrors that of the Goldberg Variations and as such, David Young has scripted much of the dialogue contrapuntally. One scene will be playing concurrently opposite another and you have to listen to the other for your cue. It's definitely the most challenging play I've ever worked on as far as learning lines.

Theatromania: Did you learn anything surprising about Gould through this process?

JL: If I've learned anything particularly surprising about Glenn Gould, it would probably be how much his passions went beyond music. I always thought of him strictly as a pianist. I knew nothing about his passion for writing and documentary. Whether it was in pursuit of self-knowledge, or simply out of sheer enjoyment, these things were clearly very important to him. Ultimately, it's these passions along with Glenn's music that provide the backdrop for David Young's play. Whether you're new to the world of Glenn Gould, or you know his recordings inside and out, I hope that perhaps this play will give you a fresh perspective and inform your listening the next time you hear his music.

Glenn runs until Oct 1 at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Visit soulpepper.ca for more information and to buy tickets.