Q&A: Sextet

Laura Condlln and Damien Atkins in Sextet. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

This month, Tarragon Theatre presents the world premiere of Sextet, a new play written and directed by Morris Panych. The story follows a group of six musicians stranded by a blizzard in a hotel where secrets and hidden obsessions eventually come to light. Featuring a powerhouse cast, including Damien Atkins, Rebecca Northan, Laura Condlln, Bruce Dow, Matthew Edison and Jordan Pettle, the production promises audiences a steamy night of theatre.

Here, we chat with Damien Atkins about his experience being one of the sextet.

Theatromaia: How would you describe Morris Panych’s Sextet in a few sentences?

DA: Sextet is a melancholy sex farce. Six exquisitely screwed-up musicians with varying degrees of libido find themselves stranded at a slightly seedy motel in northern Ontario. Hilarity, brief nudity and, of course, classical music ensues.

Theatromania: Tell us about your character. What are his motivations and can you relate to him at all?

DA: Harry is the first cellist of the sextet. He’s a bit of a philosopher, a bit of a screw- up. And—although he would never admit it—a bit of a romantic. I can relate to all of these things. I can also relate to my character’s general physiognomy.

Theatromania: What are some of the challenges in staging this particular piece?

DA: Ah! Therein lies the rub! How to depict six motel rooms on one stage, with characters running in and out of each others’ rooms, removing and replacing clothing, texting, crying, playing charades, talking about Schoenberg. How do you get your cue from a scene taking place at breakneck pace at the other end of the stage? This is what we’ve been spending our time doing.

Theatromania: Have you learned anything new or significant from this experience?

DA: Oh yeah, you always learn something when you work with witty, beautiful people on a brilliant text. A lot of what I learned is not appropriate for publication, however. People’s secret obsessions. Very naughty word games. What certain people look like unclothed. And lots about Schoenberg.

Theatromania: What do you hope audiences take away from this performance?

DA: I hope they have a great time. I’m almost sure they will. I would say that I am certain, but I am one half Canadian, and that side of me does not want to be over-confident. My Australian half is pretty sure though, so listen to him.

See Damien Atkins in Sextet, on stage now until December 14 at Tarragon Theatre. Visit tarragontheatre.com for more information and to buy tickets.

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