In a Word... Arlene Duncan, Dora-winning actor

(photo credit: Pierre Gautreau)

Be careful what you wish for though, because sometimes your dreams can be larger than you imagined.  

by Christopher Douglas

Winner of the 2012 Dora Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female in a musical, Arlene Duncan is a woman of many talents.  Ranging from her stage roles where she sings and dances, Ms Duncan also has numerous film and television credits including the recently-wrapped sixth season of Little Mosque on the Prairie.  As if that’s not enough, she also taught herself Wordpress to redesign her website.

Sitting down with the talented Ms Duncan over an iced tea, I wasn’t sure if I’d get somber Fatima or sullen Caroline.  Since Arlene flashed that first smile, our interview flew past as we laughed and chatted.

CHARPO:  After your successes on film and television, what made you return to theatre and – more specifically – to Caroline, or Change?

DUNCAN:  I wanted to come back to the theatre.  I mean, I missed the music and everything.  I love to sing and dance and this show would be a chance to work that muscle again.  But theatre is disciplined in a way that film and television isn’t.  Theatre has an immediacy to it, the thrill and the energy and the reactions of the audience, that allows you to have control of the character in a different way; from night to night, you have to roll with how the character might subtly shift.

Be careful what you wish for though, because sometimes your dreams can be larger than you imagined.  I put it into the wind that I would love to do theatre again and that I hoped an amazing part would come along.  Then Caroline appeared and she was one of those roles.

Our director, Robert McQueen, told me that he considered Caroline to be the Lear of musicals.

CHARPO:  How so?

DUNCAN:  Caroline certainly provides a lot to sink your teeth into.  Our director, Robert McQueen, told me that he considered Caroline to be the Lear of musicals.  She covers these emotions through her stage time… I remember the first day of rehearsals, going through her songs, turning the pages and turning the pages and I kept thinking, is she still singing?

In theatre, you get to grow into a part like Caroline and grow with her as an actress.  There’s rehearsals to discover who she is; then you live on the edge with one chance to get it right.  Whereas in film you have to be ready when you arrive on set and you’ve got five takes.  But with the amazing support from the cast and Acting Up Stage, plus Robert and Reza (Jacobs), the musical director, Caroline got under my skin. 

CHARPO:  What makes the show so special? 

DUNCAN:  Caroline just seems very real; I could relate to her and her story.  I wanted to make people see the humanness of this woman and show that even a cranky woman like Caroline is real and redeeming.  Caroline, or Change is a scary show because it’s complex and not black and white or black versus white: there’s always layers underneath the story and a reason why people are the way they are.  Like I love the relationship between Mrs. Gellman and Caroline.  Mrs. Gellman tries so hard to be politically correct, always trying to help.  But Caroline adamantly states these are Mrs. Gellman’s problems, not Caroline’s, and Mrs. Gellman should deal with them herself since Caroline has her own issues, real problems.  These ladies are not friends; this is just Caroline’s job.

Duncan with Michael Levine in Caroline...

CHARPO:  Switching gears, you are quite technology savvy.  How do you blend technology with your public persona?

DUNCAN:  You have to be out there.  Tricky as social media can be – whatever I Tweet about someone’s dress at an awards show is out there forever – you have to be doing it.  It takes time to be active and have patience but it’s worth it.  In Canada, our artists are down-to-earth.  Artists here are approachable, and social media is part of that.  I love a challenge and I love technology.  I just love to learn, so I blended those together and it made sense for me to teach myself websites.  That’s just the history of my life.

CHARPO:  Why such a diverse portfolio of work?

DUNCAN:  I just love being a part of everything.  I can never decide what’s next: music or theatre or film.  I think you have to roll with what happens in life.  There’s always so much more to learn and part of life involves loving to learn.  I have lots of interests because I don’t think we stop learning until death.

For some reason, lots of people aren’t open to learning, even actors.  Some only want to do theatre or are just actors and not creators or producers.  Creative people are simply creative; we had to do everything back in the day.  But you have to do what you love now – life is too short.  Why wait until retirement to do what you love?  I started as a singer, before acting in musical theatre, then drama and now television.  It’s all about growth, using all the areas of an artist – be that painting, writing, designing jewelry, I’m just a creative person.  The medium is just a medium, a method of reaching an audience. 

CHARPO:  What’s up next for you?

DUNCAN:  Theatrically?  I don’t really know.  I’m part of the concert, Tapestries: The Music of Carole King and James Taylor.  I’d love to play another role but I just don’t know what it is yet.  I keep hoping that something equally as wonderful as Caroline will come along, though I’m not sure that’s possible. 

I’ve also been shooting some TV appearances like Mr. D and The Ron James Show.  Right now, I am a bit more focused on writing music.  Music feels left behind and I want to get my feet wet again.  I guess that sounds like a bit of everything?   But I know I can only do so much at once.   I can have it all, but not quite at the same time.

Check out the new and improved arleneduncan.com and Acting Up Stage’s Tapestries on November 26 at Koerner Hall.