Save Freewill: Mary-Ellen Perley's Story

I was recently asked why The Free Will Players was important to me.

Well… Where to start?? …

Of course, Shakespeare’s works figure largely in my response. I was brought up on the Bard. While I was in elementary my family went to the Stratford Festival. Then in high school I performed in 3 Shakespeare plays. I studied Shakespeare in university. During my teaching career I managed to bring Shakespeare into the classroom in an active theatrical way. So, you could say that the Bard has been part of my life from about age 7! So, it really was no surprise that when I learned about the Free Will Shakespeare Festival, I made sure I was somehow a part of that tradition here in Edmonton.

And so, the love affair with The Free Will Players (FWP) really begins!

Originally, the affair started as an audience member witnessing amazing productions performed by talented, professional artists in the open air of the Hawrelak Park Amphitheatre. The venue itself created an atmosphere that could not be replaced any where else. It also provided its own ambience and moments of hilarity. There are many stories about the role Mother Nature has played over the years as Director of Ambience. Some of these stories I witnessed, and some have become the folk lore of FWP.

One such is the time Julien Arnold and Troy O’Donnell entered the amphitheatre from off stage left on a motorbike in The Taming of the Shrew. The entrance area was not paved, and when Julien gunned the motor to make a dramatic entrance as the carefree Petruchio, the tires slipped…. down went bike and actors. The audience gasped. The actors righted the bike and smiled. The audience cheered.  …Then… never ones to miss a chance to ham things up... Julien and Troy stumbled onto the stage and collapsed. Horror! The audience held its collective breath... Then the gentlemen stood and smiled once again to assure their patrons that all was well.

Cue: applause and cheers.

During a production of King Lear, the actors were given direction to look out from the stage over the audience and pan the sky from left to right on the line "Tonight's storm is too rough for human nature to endure". Just as they did this, Mother Nature responded with thunder and lightning which travelled along with the actors’ eye line as they panned the sky. No manmade equipment could have produced that effect, only Mother Nature!

Cue: sound and lights by MN

In the second year of the Free Will Players Festival the young company, somewhat strapped for money, solved the expense of building a set by using old tires as set pieces. Unknown to them the tires had become the breeding ground for mosquitoes. I’ve been told that season was the worst for mosquitoes the actors ever had to deal with.

Cue: sound of slaps

Of course, the squirrels add their own humour to the plays by stealing popcorn or running across the stage at the most inappropriate times or deciding that the vibrating sound speakers are a perfect place to pursue their amorous relationship… I’ll say no more!

Cue: audience chuckles

One of the rarest moments for me personally was after a performance of Hamlet. I had been selling 50/50 tickets with my daughter (who was now completely indoctrinated as a FWP volunteer) and as we left the amphitheatre enclosure, we were greeted with the most eerie sight….

A mist a foot deep covered the park area all the way to the parking lot and beyond. There were a few of us leaving at the same time and all talking became whispers as we made our way through the mist… at any moment we were sure we would see 3 weird women stirring a cauldron… I have never forgotten the feeling. And what an ending to the evening!

Cue: sense of awe

Mother Nature at her best.

These stories all illustrate the uniqueness of the festival and its home in Hawrelak Park’s Amphitheatre. No other venue comes close to creating such a sense of community, both of nature and humankind. Every time I am there, I feel the warmth of friendship and shared love.

So, my love affair with this company spans nearly 30 years: first as a patron, then as a volunteer, then as a board member and finally as chair of the board. During my years with FWP, I have been constantly inspired by the inventiveness of the artists who have brought Shakespeare to Edmonton audiences with lively, sometimes quirky productions, but always with a faithfulness to the text and an eye to accessibility for all.

I have enjoyed each of my experiences. Selling 50/50 tickets afforded me the opportunity to get to know the audience members. Often, there was good natured banter back and forth as I endeavoured to sell my tickets. This banter was not just with the audience but often between myself and the other volunteer 50/50 seller. I had particular fun when my daughter was the other seller and we would encourage the audience to buy just from one of us. This often ended with the buyer buying from both of us! There was always a feeling of good-natured fun and of course all the proceeds went to support the company.

Once I joined the board I got to know the inner workings of the company. I found the board members I interacted with to be as passionate about the company as I was. We were a family united in support of FWP’s work and their mandate. I served on various committees and of course continued my volunteer work during the summer run of the plays.

This was a working board; so, we were active not only during the summer down at the park, but also during the year with our annual fundraiser.  Because this is a working board the members are deeply committed to the success of the company and the success of the festival. If there was a sudden volunteer position vacancy, a call out to the board invariably was met with one or more of us saying we can fill the spot. Down at the grounds, the board members are willing to fill in where ever they are needed. We are a community of festival lovers. I can’t stress enough what a feeling of camaraderie and family there is whether in the park or wherever FWP performs. This sense of ‘family’ extends to my family… my daughter, her partner, and her sister are now regular volunteers. I see other families who have volunteered for years bringing their children to either see the plays or become volunteers.

My next position was to become chair of the board. I was deeply honoured to be entrusted with this position. I knew I was filling the shoes of previous chairs whose leadership I had followed and I had to work diligently to be worthy.

And so, I continue my love affair with FWP to help steer the company and ensure that we have another 35 years of brilliant Shakespearean productions to share with our patrons.

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