As part of our Meet the Cast of The Liar Blog Series, let us introduce you to Shanan Custer:
ROLES: Sabine, puritanical servant to Clarice; Isabelle, vivacious servant to Lucrece
DESCRIPTIVE LINES ABOUT SABINE IN THE PLAY:
Said by Philiste to his friend Alcippe:
. . . . I love her strictness.
She’s adamant as truth, she’s hard to rattle,
And on a picnic–expert with a paddle.
DESCRIPTIVE LINES ABOUT ISABELLE IN THE PLAY:
Said by Dorante’s servant, Cliton, about Isabelle:
I too submit me to the moon! Ah, Isabelle,
Sweet Isabelle, who really truly is a belle!
I’d find more rhymes if only she were visabelle.
Is it not risibelle how most invisabelle.
The indivisibelle Isabelle … is?
CAST QUESTION:
You have successfully played poignantly funny characters in the past, which takes great skill. How will you approach the more directly hilarious task of playing twin sisters?
For me, there is very little difference in approaching these two styles of comedy. Trying to be funny has never been my approach because I’m not sure how to do that exactly.
It’s Acting 101 really: be in the moment, listen, be truthful and don’t be afraid to look silly or vulnerable or ugly or ridiculous. Above all, take care of the people around you; otherwise, you have no scene. There’s a great quote in the book Truth in Comedy about how, if you treat everyone around you like a genius, they will be. There are many ways to interpret this piece of advice; but, for me, the most important layer is to stop thinking about myself and just pour that energy into others and the scene. I can’t wait to play with this cast!
CAST BACKGROUND:
Park Square Calendar Girls; 2 Sugars, Room for Cream; Dead Man’s Cell Phone Representative Theatre Interact Theater: Hell is Empty and ALL the Devils are Here; Casting Spells Productions: Frankie and Johnny in the Clair De Lune; Workhaus Collective: The Mill; Theatre Pro Rata: Emilie: Le Marquis du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight; 2016 MN Fringe Festival: Sometimes There’s Wine Training M.A., Theater History, Theory and Criticism, University of Maryland, College Park Awards/Other Ivey Award 2013 (Ensemble, 2 Sugars, Room for Cream) Upcoming Projects Park Square: Theatre Pro Rata (at Park Square): Up: The Man in the Flying Chair
Shanan Custer with Zach Curtis in a rehearsal.
(Photograph by Connie Shaver)
Area Premiere of The Liar – Park Square Theatre’s Proscenium Stage – September 9 to October 2
As part of our Meet the Cast of The Liar Blog Series, let us introduce you to Sara Richardson:
