Q&A: The River

Dani Kind. Photo by Michael Cooper.

After a popular and critically-acclaimed first season, artistic curator Ted Dykstra and artistic producer Diana Bentley will launch The Coal Mine's second season next month with Jez Butterworth’s The River, starring David Ferry, Dani Kind and Jane Spidell. Set in a remote fishing cabin, The River is a taut, tense, love story about the dark influence past relationships have on the present.

Here, we chat with Dani Kind about her experience working on this mysterious play with a team of veterans.

Theatromaina: How would you describe The Coal Mine’s production of The River in a few sentences?

DK: The River is complex in its humour and love and mystery and darkness. I'm excited to hear people's Interpretation of this story and how they are left feeling.

Theatromania: You play The Other Woman. Tell us about your character. How did you prepare to play her?

DK: It's the first time I've ever begun rehearsals for a play this perplexed over a character. She is multi-layered, smart and sexy and funny and so vulnerable. My preparation is digging. I dig each day in rehearsals with my partners and director. I take home notes and feelings and put time into them after rehearsal is done and enter the next day with newness and do my best to dive in.

Theatromania: We hear you are a new Mom. Congrats! Has it been a challenge managing that demanding role while working?

DK: Thank you! It's been insane BUT also eye opening and supportive. I have two kids under the age of two and although this experience is so new to me, it's not new to our Industry. I keep getting reminded of this when I bring my kids to set or my sitter stops by during my lunch break so I can breastfeed. Everyone around me has been so incredibly kind and gracious.

Theatromania: What excites you most about working with this cast and director Ted Dykstra?

DK: I haven't felt like "the new kid" in a very long time. I'm always excited to start a project with any new team and navigate our way through each other's process. I've already learned some great lessons in these rehearsals.

Theatromania: What have you learned so far?

DK: Most importantly, to slow down. That even when it feels like there's no time . . . there's time. That discoveries can happen as quickly as I can blink if I leave myself alone and pay attention to my partners. That my babies are resilient! Also, that my husband is a wonderful best friend. I sometimes lose sight of this in the bustle of managing life. He's pretty awesome.

Catch Dani Kind in The River at at 982 Danforth until November 22, 2015. Click here to buy tickets.