2008 Woodie Awards
The purrr-fect life of a 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' actress
"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" actress Javiera Torres opens up about her experiences with the play.
Melissa Meek
Published: 11/9/08 at 8:43 PM PST Section: Reviews
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The "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" actress played Maggie Pollitt, who is part of a wealthy, Southern family and trapped in an unfulfilling marriage with her husband, Brick.
"It was wonderful to play Maggie. I had the opportunity to play a character not like me," Torres said. "She's not shy and she uses her hands a lot (to talk)."
Torres, a former Pierce College student who still enrolls in theater classes, heard about the play from another actress while performing in a Spanish show at Luna Playhouse, a multilingual theater in Glendale.
"I thought maybe that would be a good part for me," Torres said.
She performed a monologue in front of Gene Putnam, director of the play and chair of the theater arts department. She was originally trying out for either the character of Maggie or Mae, Maggie's sister-in-law, since both were around her age.
"They called me back to read with other actors, and that's when I read for Maggie," Torres said. "Two days later, they called me back again for a last-minute audition. There was two of us left at that point and they didn't know who to cast."
"The next day, I was called by Gene (Putnam) and he told me, 'Congratulations, you got the part of Maggie,'" she said. "I was excited."
Fellow actress Helen Richman, who played Big Mama, said Torres was very responsive onstage.
"I had to cry real tears onstage and I thought she'd cry back at me," Richman said.
Torres felt the same way about her co-stars.
"In one scene, Helen had to cry. It was really emotional and then I would start crying," Torres said. "Playing this character was a team effort. You play off another character and create your own. It's wonderful."
"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" was Torres' first play back at Pierce after three years since she left for California State University, Northridge to complete her bachelor's degree in English.
"I had no time then. I missed doing shows," she said.
Torres has also appeared in "Robber Bridegroom," "Cabaret" and played the lead of Maria in "Westside Story."
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