THE ENSEMBLE THEATRE
www.ensemblehouston.com
 

Artistic Director of The Ensemble Theatre EILEEN J. MORRIS

Presents

THE OLD SETTLER

Written By John Henry Redwood

Directed By Eileen J. Morris

May 8 - June 1, 2014

A HUSBAND OF HER OWN

Interviews with Bebe Wilson and Roc Living

Starring in THE OLD SETTLER at the Ensemble Theatre

By Theresa Pisula
May 8, 2014
Houston, Texas
Theresa@HoustonTheatre.com

The Ensemble Theatre presents its revival comedy THE OLD SETTLER by John Henry Redwood and directed by Ensemble Artistic Director Eileen J. Morris from May 8th through June 1st, 2014.  In World War II Harlem, New York, a fifty-five year old spinster (or as they were called in those days - an Old Settler), Elizabeth Borny, rents a room in her apartment to a dashingly handsome young male tenant named Husband Witherspoon. 

Husband came from South Carolina to search for his pretentious girlfriend, Lou Bessie Preston, who is eager to shed her country shackles in exchange for the worldly sophistication of the big city, but he finds himself falling for the older woman.  Also living with Elizabeth is her feisty fifty-three year old sister Quilly McGrath.  She doesn't like Husband living with them in the first place, and surely doesn't approve of their "carrying on," especially since Elizabeth is old enough to be his mother.  It is this "carrying on" that strains the ominous tension between the sisters and exposes a thirty-year old wound they must finally address to mend their relationship once and for all.  This story celebrates African American women and addresses the question of age, strength and forgiveness during the Harlem Renaissance: the love between an older woman and younger man, a young woman reinventing her life, and sisters reconciling their estranged past.

THE OLD SETTLER was first staged in 1996 and selected by the Russian Theatre Union to be performed in Sheleykovo, Russia and in Moscow, with both an American and Russian cast where Redwood's playwriting was complimented as being very "Chekovian."  Houston born actresses Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen produced, directed and appeared in the April 2001 television premiere of the play on PBS Hollywood Presents.

I recently watched the TV movie version of The Old Settler on You Tube.  I’ve seen the original play version at the Ensemble Theatre in September 2000.  I must say, I am totally in love with this story.  That John Henry Redwood III is one master story teller especially when it’s about sisterhood rivalry.  So when I found out that the Ensemble Theatre is doing a brand spankin’ new production in 2014, I couldn’t wait to see it.

Brenda “Bebe” Wilson who plays Quilly McGrath, has been active throughout the Houston theatre community since moving from her native home of Louisiana.  Bebe performed last season at The Ensemble Theatre in The Nacirema Society for her role of Ruby, which won her the 2011-2012 Giorgee Award for Best Leading Actress.  This marks Bebe’s 32^nd season with The Ensemble where a few of her credits include Seven Guitars, The Waiting Room, Livin’ Fat, Joe Turner’s Come & Gone to name a few.  She has performed at the Jewish Community Center as well as AD Players.  Bebe received a Giorgee Award for Best Supporting Actress for Seven Guitars and was nominated by the Houston Chronicle as Best Actress for Gem of the Ocean.  Besides being an exceptional actress, she is also an accomplished stage theatre Director. 

Theresa:  Have you seen the movie version of The Old Settler?

Bebe:  No, I haven’t seen it.

Theresa:  It stars Debbie Allen……

Bebe: and Phylicia Rashad her sister, I know that much.  We discussed it during one of our rehearsal process.  Our director Eileen Morris who is also the Artistic Director here at The Ensemble didn’t want us to see it.

Theresa:  Why not?  She didn’t want you to be influenced by……

Bebe:  Exactly.  She wanted us to bring our own characterization to the part. 

Theresa:  Your own interpretation of the script…..

Bebe:  Of the piece itself, yes. 

Theresa:  I first saw this play in 2000 when the Ensemble Theatre did their production.

Bebe:  Oh okay, if you saw it in 2000 then you got an opportunity to see some of my work because I assisted in directing it.

Theresa:  You were not onstage?

Bebe:  No, I was not in the piece.  Another young lady was.  I sort of oversaw the project.  I was behind the scenes, from a director’s prospective point of view.

Theresa:  Which sister are you playing:  The Debbie Allen or the Phylicia Rashad?

Bebe:  I am playing the Debbie Allen part whose name is Quilly. 

Theresa:  I didn’t know that Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad are sisters. 

Bebe:  Yes, they are sisters.  They grew up right here in Houston.

Theresa:  Wow.  Isn’t that interesting?

Bebe:  It’s very interesting!

Theresa:  Tell us about the part that you are playing……

Bebe:  I play Quilly McGrath, the sister to Elizabeth.  I am the younger of the two sisters. 

Theresa:  If I remember correctly, don’t you own the house?

Bebe:  Well, it’s our house, yes.  I’ve been away and I have come back to live with my sister.  Back during the 1940s a lot of folks to subsidize their income, rented out rooms.  So my sister has taken on a roomer.  And I am not especially happy about that.  My sister has been estranged for awhile and it comes out in the play why.  I don’t want to tell you because I want you all to be able to see. 

So we are trying to mend our relationship, our relationship that has been broken.  In the midst of all this happening, a young man comes to room. 

Theresa:  And it creates all the drama

Bebe:  Yes.  It brings out all of those hidden wounds that have not healed.

Theresa:  That’s right!  It opens it all back up (laughs).  How did you become a part of this production?

Bebe:  Annually, we have season auditions here at the Ensemble Theatre where we hold auditions for the entire season.  I auditioned for this particular piece and got cast.

Theresa:  How do you like working with Eileen, the Artistic Director for the Ensemble Theatre?

Bebe:  I have known Eileen for many, many years.  I mean many, many, many years (laughs).

(Foreground)  Bebe Wilson as Quilly McGrath and Detria Ward as Bess Borny (background) star in THE OLD SETTLER.  Written by John Henry Redwood and Directed by Eileen J. Morris, THE OLD SETTLER is showing through June 1, 2014 at the Ensemble Theatre located at 3535 Main Street, Houston Texas 77002 USA.  Photo by Henry Edwards Jr.  For more information, click on www.EnsembleHouston.com

Theresa:  How long have you been with the Ensemble Theatre?

Bebe:  I’ve been with the Ensemble Theatre…..I did my first production with them in December 1981.  I’ve been with the Ensemble Theatre a long time.  I had the opportunity to work with the founder of Ensemble Theatre George Hawkins.

Theresa:  Wow!  How was he like?

Bebe:  Oh!  George was quite remarkable.  He had a way with words.  He is very sophisticated but on the other hand, very down to earth.  There was something about him that you never could quite pin point.  George always had an element of surprise, yes.  You never knew what George was going to come up with.

Theresa:  But it’s amazing how he was able to make all this happen.

Bebe:  Oh absolutely!  When I started with the Ensemble Theatre, we were in a very small building over on Tuam Street that was once a pet shop.  Of course, we’ve grown from there to where we are now.

Theresa:  Was that in the ‘80s?  But I think it was in the ‘70s was when he started The Ensemble Theatre.

Bebe:  He started it in 1976, if I’m not mistaken, out of the trunk of his car as a touring company.

Theresa:  And now in 2014 it has blossomed into a major theatrical organization.  That’s quite amazing.  Since you’ve been with Ensemble for a long time, I must have seen you in some of the plays here.  Were you in Livin’ Fat? 

Bebe:  I was in Livin’ Fat.  I was the mom.

Theresa:  Which one do you like better, doing comedy or do you prefer drama?

Bebe:  You know, I really enjoy doing both.  And this particular piece that we’re doing tonight, it’s a comedy, but some drama is mixed in with it.  So I find both of them very challenging.

Theresa:  But Livin' Fat was so hilarious!  How can you keep from not laughing?

Bebe:  We are at an advantage because we’ve had the opportunity to rehearse and rehearse and rehearse.  When we first get started a lot of the rehearsals are as much fun for us as it is for the audience watching it the first time.

Theresa:  Who are your most favorite actors?

Bebe:  I’d have to say Cicely Tyson was one of the biggest influences for me.  Along with……there are so many others that influenced me all through the years.

Theresa:  What made you go into acting, into Theatre?

Bebe:  I was in a production when I was in elementary school and the bug bit me very early.  It was exciting but I really had a love for it, just right off.

Theresa:  Was it a musical or a play?

Bebe:  Back then, they called them operettas because it was a combination of music and acting.

Theresa:  You sang?

Bebe:  I do.  I don’t call myself an accomplished singer but I can hold my own.

Theresa:  Have you done many musicals?

Bebe:  Not as many as I have done comedy and drama.  But I have done some musicals.  I did Cinderella here several years ago.  I was the fairy godmother and I had to sing.

Theresa:  Do you remember the operetta that started it all for you?

Bebe:  Oh, I can’t even remember what it was.  That was like second grade.

Theresa:  (Laughs).  You don’t remember but it was all over for you after that….

Bebe:  I loved it!  I love the set and the lights…..

Theresa:  You must have loved the attention, people telling you that you did such a good job.

Bebe:  Well, you know, we all like to feel appreciated.  So I enjoyed that.  But just being able to give a sense of enjoyment to others has always been gratifying for me.

Theresa:  That’s a reward in itself.  Are you originally from Houston?

Bebe:  No, I grew up in North East Louisiana, grew up in Shreveport and moved here in 1979 where I got involved in theatre.  Now I was involved with theatre back in Shreveport but I didn’t have the opportunity to do it as much as here in Houston working with a professional theatre company.

Theresa:  Do you have any kids?

Bebe:  I have two boys.

Theresa:  How nice!  What do they think of mom being onstage?

Bebe:  They absolutely love it.  Both of my boys are very talented.  My oldest son did rap for many years.  And my youngest son is also very creative.

Theresa:  So they’re both in the Arts.

Bebe:  Yes, both my sons are married, they have families. They are both in the Arts. 

Theresa:  Who would you like to dedicate this Opening Night performance to?

Bebe:  To my husband James Wilson.

Theresa:  What would you like the audience to gain from watching this play?

Bebe:  It’s a great piece of work.  I’d like to think that by watching this piece they can see someone that they’re related to, like a mom or a grandma, a brother or sister.

Theresa:  What would you like to say to the Houston theatre-going audience?

Bebe:  We appreciate all of the support that they have given for the Ensemble Theatre and we ask that they continue to support us.  We are in a very challenging time now economically and all the support we can get is so very well appreciated.  We want this institution to be around for many, many years.

Roc Living as Husband Witherspoon and Detria Ward as Bess Borny star in THE OLD SETTLER.  Written by John Henry Redwood and Directed by Eileen J. Morris, THE OLD SETTLER is showing through June 1, 2014 at the Ensemble Theatre located at 3535 Main Street, Houston Texas 77002 USA.  Photo by Henry Edwards Jr.  For more information, click on www.EnsembleHouston.com

ROC LIVING who plays Husband Witherspoon in the Old Settler is a native Houstonian.  Several years ago, Roc began pursuing acting at the Encore Theater of Houston, where he was later inducted into its Hall of Fame of Actors.  He has performed at various theaters in Houston such as the Wortham Theater, Hobby Center, Main Street Theater, Stages Repertory Theater, Express Theater and currently at The Ensemble Theatre.  He has also performed in other theaters in surrounding cities and states.  Roc has performed in such productions as Othello, Romeo and Juliet, Of Mice and Men, Sparkle and Incarceration to name a few.  Currently, Rock can be seen on TV and heard on radio as a Wal-Mart host.  Aside from performing on stage and film, Roc is partnered with a filmmaker and serves as the Casting Director for their media production company: Original Seed Entertainment Inc.   

Theresa:  How long have you been with the Ensemble Theatre?

Roc:  The first time I performed at the Ensemble Theatre was in 2006 in the musical Sparkle.  I played the character of Levi Brown.  Since then, I’ve had a couple of understudy roles and I’ve also worked as crew in a few productions.  The next time I hit the name stage was in 2010, the first year they actually showcased Cinderella.  I came in to fill in for the guy they originally cast in Cinderella.  They wanted to replace him less than two weeks before preview.  So they called me up and fortunately, it wasn’t a huge challenge despite the fact that I don’t sing.  But we were able to make that particular song into a spoken word session.  So it turned out very well.  Since then, I’ve had a couple of minor roles such as understudy or crew.  Now, here it is 2014, I’m back on main stage and I am excited.

Theresa:  I am excited for you!  This is the lead male role in the entire cast.  You are the male lead on the show!

Roc:  I am the male lead and the only male!  (Laughs) I am in the presence of beautiful women.  I love it!  I love it!

Theresa:  (Laughs) including the director Eileen Morris. 

Roc:  Exactly!  What man would not love this situation?  I get all the attention!!

Theresa:  How did you get the part?

Roc:  The Ensemble Theatre has an audition process…..at the end of June.

Theresa:  In the summer time, they already picked the parts for the plays upcoming season.

Roc:  And when I was notified that I was selected.  Shortly after I received the pending schedule….

Theresa:  (Laughs) as your head was reeling….

Roc:  I said, “Okay, I have to make sure I block off these two months” so I don’t have any conflicts.

Theresa:  But as an understudy, don’t you still do all the work?

Roc:  Well, you’re required to attend some rehearsals because you never know.  You never know when you have to go up.  You still have to learn the lines and schedule the blocking.  Previous productions I’ve been involved in with the Ensemble, I had the responsibility.  Still, it’s nothing like having that role.  This time around, I say “This is my role, the only male lead cast in the play.”

Roc Living as Husband Witherspoon and Detria Ward as Bess Borny in THE OLD SETTLER.  Written by John Henry Redwood and Directed by Eileen J. Morris, THE OLD SETTLER is showing through June 1, 2014 at the Ensemble Theatre located at 3535 Main Street, Houston Texas 77002 USA.  Photo by Henry Edwards Jr.  For more information, click on www.EnsembleHouston.com

Theresa:  Can I be honest with you?

Roc:  Yes.

Theresa:  I don’t like Husband

Roc:  That’s fine.

Theresa:  (Laughs) I’ve seen the show in 2000, Ensemble had a production of the same play and I’ve also seen the movie because I liked the show so much.  Have you seen the movie?

Roc:  I have not. 

Theresa:  Well I’ve seen the play stage version and the full length movie, two-hours on You Tube.  I can honestly tell you that Husband is not very nice.  He’s the guy I loved to hate.

Roc:  I wouldn’t say that.  (Smiles) you have to chalk it up to naïveté.  He’s like the greenest person you would ever meet.  He’s so naïve and blind to city life.  I mean, he’s a country boy.  He’s a momma’s boy country bumpkin.  Those are the two best descriptions I can give to him:  country bumpkin momma’s boy.  You know, being in the time that it takes place in, in 1943.  Things were a lot different then than they are now.  Even though there’s a difference between being city-wise and country-wise.  I wouldn’t say that he was the guy you love to hate!  He’s just an innocent victim.

Theresa:  Oh no, you didn’t just say that (laughs)

Roc:  (Laughs)

Theresa:  Once the audience sees it, we’ll let them decide that I’m right and you’re wrong.  Okay?  (Laughs)  What made you decide to become an actor onstage?

Roc:  I first got interested in acting around junior year in College.  Some of my colleagues asked me if I was interested in it.  I said no.  I took theatre classes in high school prior to that but I hadn’t really thought about it as far as a career until I got involved in the film industry.  A guy approached me on campus asking if I was interested in Acting because they were looking to replace someone and I fit the description.  They needed to film that weekend.  Fortunately, I was available.  After which, everybody said they didn’t believe I didn’t have any experience.  And that made me think, “Okay, well maybe there is something to this.”  So I got involved in community theatre since then.  And that happened over fifteen years ago.

Theresa:  Recently, haven’t you done some local commercials?

Roc:  As of July of last year I’ve been the Houston host for the Wal-Mart campaign.

Theresa:  Who inspires you?  Who are your most favorite actors?

Roc:  To take it back, I would have to say James Earl Jones, Ozzie Davis, Anthony Hopkins, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, of course Denzel Washington.  There are so many I’d like to pull from that the list is on going, definitely.

Theresa:  How do you like working with the director Eileen Morris?  Isn’t she awesome?

Roc:  Working with Eileen is phenomenal.  I love the fact that she gives us that room of creativity.  She’ll give us some staples to follow but then she wants us to figure it out.  And to have that creative freedom is beautiful.  As opposed to, you’ve learned it this way and this is the only way you can do it and that’s it.  That is so not her.  It’s the complete opposite of her.  So, working with her is a phenomenal experience.

Theresa:  What would you like to say to the Houston-theatre going audience?

Roc:  For anyone who has a passion for Acting, you definitely want to get started in Theatre.  That’s my preference.  I say that because when you’re onstage, it’s such an overwhelming feeling that you have to learn how to control the energy.  You have to learn to control your nervousness.  Even to this day, I’ve been onstage since 1999 and I still get nervous.  I still get queasy where I get butterflies in the stomach or however you want to phrase it.  But over the years, you learn how to control that and divert that energy into your character and deliver it to your audience.  For anyone who is interested in Acting, you definitely want to get involved in Theatre, have that as your background.  Because if you think about it now, even a lot of the A-list actors are still going back to doing Broadway Theatre or Off-Broadway Theatre.  If it’s a passion of yours, you definitely want to get involved in theatre, more particularly The Ensemble is well established.  They have an awesome staff, an awesome list of directors they work with.  They put on phenomenal shows.  The sets are immaculate!  The crew is so cool to work with, you know. 

Theresa:  And it’s a family environment.

Roc:  Yes indeed, very family oriented.

Theresa:  Who would you like to dedicate this performance to?

Roc:  (Laughs) I would definitely dedicate this performance to my mother.  Her name is Sheri Walker.  She’ll be here in a couple of weeks to see the performance.  She can’t make it this coming weekend for Mother’s Day but she will be here the weekend after that.

Theresa:  Are you and her from Houston originally?

Roc:  I’m from Houston and she’s from Jasper, Texas.  She now lives here in Houston in Missouri City. 

Theresa:  What would you like the audience to gain from watching this play?

Roc:  For this particular production, I would like for the audience to have a sense of knowing where you come from.  And to understand who you are, to understand where you want to go and what you want to do in life. 

THE OLD SETTLER

Time:  Spring 1943

Place:  Harlem, New York

CAST

 Husband Witherspoon……..Roc Living

Elizabeth (Bess) Borny……Detria Ward

Lou Bessie Preston……………....Samantha West

Quilly McGrath…………Bebe Wilson

(R-L)  Bebe Wilson as Quilly, Samantha West as Lou Bessie and Detria Ward as Elizabeth in THE OLD SETTLER.  Written by John Henry Redwood and Directed by Eileen J. Morris, THE OLD SETTLER is showing through June 1, 2014 at the Ensemble Theatre located at 3535 Main Street, Houston Texas 77002 USA.  Photo by Henry Edwards Jr.  For more information, click on www.EnsembleHouston.com 

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The Ensemble Theatre Presents THE OLD SETTLER

Who/What:  The Ensemble Theatre presents THE OLD SETTLER, written by John Henry Redwood. 

Show Run:  May 8 - June 1, 2014

    Thursdays: 7:30 p.m.

    Fridays: 8:00 p.m.

    Saturdays: 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

    Sundays: 3:00 p.m.

Where: The Ensemble Theatre

  3535 Main St.

  Houston, TX 77002

  713-520-0055

  www.ensemblehouston.com

The Ensemble Theatre's 2013-2014 Season is sponsored in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Ensemble Theatre was founded in 1976 by the late George Hawkins to preserve African American artistic expression and to enlighten, entertain, and enrich a diverse community. Thirty-six years later, the theatre has evolved from a touring company operating from the trunk of Mr. Hawkins' car to being one of Houston's finest historical cultural institutions. The Ensemble is one of a few professional theatres in the region dedicated to the production of works portraying the African American experience. The oldest and largest professional African American theatre in the Southwest, it holds the distinction of being one of the nation's largest African American theatres owning and operating its facility and producing in-house. Board President Emeritus Audrey Lawson led the capital campaign for The Ensemble's $4.5 million building renovations that concluded in 1997. The Ensemble Theatre has fulfilled and surpassed the vision of its founder and continues to expand and create innovative programs to bring African American theatre to myriad audiences.