Wolfie Lewandoski (seated) and Sarah Catherine Chan perform in the Orinda Starlight Village Players production of “Carmilla,” starting Sept. 6 at the Orinda Community Center Amphitheater, 28 Orinda Way.
Sarah Catherine Chan and Wolfie Lewandowski lead the Orinda Starlight Village Players (OrSVP) production of Malcolm Cowler’s adaptation of J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s “Carmilla,” in September, closing out their 2024 season.
Both are excited to be involved with this new adaptation of Le Fanu’s classic novel.
In the story, Laura, played by Lewandowski, lives alone with her father in a remote mansion. When a carriage accident brings a stranger named Carmilla (played by Chan) to their doorstep, Laura’s life changes as she experiences unsettling and frightening events.
“I’ve never been in a horror production before, and not just any horror production this is,” said Lewandowski. “The story of Laura and Carmilla is considered the first true vampire novel ever written, inspiring Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula.’”
Chan said, “I’m really looking forward to the adventure with the rest of the cast, and hope we can put together a great and thrilling experience of the story of ‘Carmilla’ for folks this pre-Halloween season.”
Both are anxious to explore their characters in this production.
“I’m looking forward to challenging myself with this new and different character,” said Chan. “I find that each role in some way, shape or form ends up being personal development in my own life. Somehow playing a character helps me either gain perspective or allows me to behave in a way that I normally would not behave or allow myself to behave.”
“It also contains a core lesbian romance that is decades ahead of its time,” said Lewandowski. “As a queer, nonbinary performer myself, I always revel at the opportunity to portray our community’s stories, especially when they’re this old and powerful.”
Although both Chan and Lewandowski came to OrSVP through the same channel (audition postings on Bay Area Theater Bums), they entered into performing in different ways.
Chan said, “I badged into the Salesforce Tower in downtown San Francisco for many years before entering the world of community theater. I took some time off work and explored a few different interests. Eventually, I felt inspired to take acting, singing and dance classes and began dabbling in short films, plays and hopefully a musical in the future.”
Lewandowski, on the other hand, has been performing for most of their life.
“I have been part of various performing arts for over 15 years now, from instrumental performance to choral performance to stage performance and more, and once I finished school, I did not want to stop,” said Lewandowski. “Community theater is what keeps the art of theater alive amongst the people, so naturally I began to invest time into it. I think doing art with the true intention of sharing it with the people and creating community is what makes art special.”
Both are excited about the challenges that Cowler’s adaptation brings to the stage.
“I have never worked with a fully projected set before,” said Lewandowski. “All of the backgrounds and settings for ‘Carmilla’ are projected across the back wall, and we have very few set pieces. I’ve done some work with a partially projected set, but this is much more intensive.”
Chan added, “This production is best seen in the evening, as there is a screen on our set, aside from the story itself being what it is.”
Performances of “Carmilla” run Friday and Saturday nights at 8:30 p.m., Sept. 6 – 28. There is a Sunday performance Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. and a Thursday performance Sept. 26 at 8 p.m.
OrSVP is true community theater, run by the community for the community. OrSVP always encourages anyone who is interested in theater and would like to learn more, to contact the group at info@orsvp.org or 925.528.9225.
“Support community theater! Immerse yourself in art! And don’t forget to come see ‘Carmilla’ at Orinda Starlight Village Players,” said Lewandowski.
For more information, visit orsvp.org.