'Sylvia' ... Speak!

Ambler’s will open its 2011-2012 season with Sylvia, a romantic comedy written by A.R. Gurney and first produced in 1995. Act II’s associate artistic director Harriet Power directs the play.

Power has a 21-year history of directing in Philadelphia, working at most of the theatres here as well as theatres across the U.S. She has directed 20 productions at Villanova University, where she’s also a theatre professor.

“Sylvia was a play I've long wanted to do,” Power said. “The entire Act II team loves the play and gave it an immediate green light.

“It’s got just about everything we look for in a season-opener — a great story, it's wonderfully funny, it has some surprising and very moving moments, and it takes advantage of what theater does best—making the audience co-conspirators as the tale unfolds,” she said.

Sylvia is a dog of a New York power couple, Greg and Kate, who move to the city in hopes of enjoying their new empty nest. Kate is eventually ignored by Greg after the stray dog comes to live with them. The tale unfolds as Kate struggles to compete with the unconditional love between Greg and Sylvia.

“Greg Wood, one of Philadelphia's finest actors, plays the character of Greg, the husband who brings home the stray dog, and he noted that this play is a valentine to dog lovers,” Power said. “The playwright understands that when a person is powerfully connected to his or her dog, the understanding between them is so profound that owner and dog speak the same language and understand each other perfectly.”

Sylvia is played by Jessica Bedford, a newcomer to the Philadelphia theatre scene. This is her first appearance on stage at Act II.

“The audience is a co-conspirator of story, because I know they will buy into the ways that Jessica Bedford embodies the essence of dog,” Power said. “Her owner almost sees her as another woman in his life — the woman who, unlike his wife, loves him unconditionally. The audience should see the actress as both dog and human.”

The role of Sylvia was originated by Sarah Jessica Parker in 1995, and in the 1996-1997 season, the show was the most produced play in the country.

Bedford, the latest actress to take on the role, is a recent graduate of Villanova with a master's degree in theater. Power was one of her professors, and has directed her in Villanova performances like Le Dindon and As You Like It.

“We have been hoping to work together ever since I graduated and she invited me to audition for the role,” Bedford said of Power. “Happily the shoe fit.”

Bedford spent a lot of time playing with her own dog and every other dog that crossed her path to prep for the role.

“One of the things the playwright explores so effectively in this play is the way our pets have a window into our soul,” Bedford said.  “I know from being a dog owner myself, that having a dog can be very meditative. They have such an ability to be right here, right now and that ability to just 'be' can be inspiring for their human companion, providing a real clarity of thought.”

“I'm having an absolute ball directing Sylvia,” says Power, who will also be directing Act II's second main stage production, The Mystery of Irma Vep. 

Sylvia’s first performance is Sept 6, and the official opening night is Sept. 9. The final dress rehearsal for the show is Sept. 4, and the performance will be open to the public. Tickets will be a suggested donation of $10 that night, with all money going to the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). PAWS is the city’s largest animal rescue organization, and each year thousands of animals find loving homes because of the organization. 

More information can be found on www.act2.org.