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As soon as Doug Jones read through the play, he thought it was genius.

“It’s very ‘filmy’,” he said, referring to the movie-like quality of The Story, a BMDS play that opens Monday at Daylesford Theatre.

He and Khalilah Smith are acting as two reporters — Jeff Morgan and Yvonne Robinson — at a major city newspaper. Yvonne is a young black woman new at the job while Jeff is a white reporter she becomes involved with.

“Yvonne is shoved into what she sees as an entry-level position…It’s about what she does to make her mark on her own because she doesn’t think her superiors are helping her.”

The backdrop of the play is a recent murder that Yvonne is covering for the newspaper. A black person has killed a white person, and Yvonne believes she has found the killer.

“I thought she was exciting and interesting and complex — it’s been a real challenge,” Ms Smith said.

“Jeff is a lot less complex,” said Mr. Jones. “It’s been difficult giving him depth.”

He said Jeff is on stage throughout much of the play though he doesn’t always have lines. Yet he must remain in character even when he’s not speaking. “It’s really important to listen to everyone,” he said.

The two actors admitted it’s a challenge to stay “in the moment” all the time, though they said the costumes often help them truly become the character. “I need to wear the suit to turn into the cocky office guy,” Mr Jones said.

Ms Smith said she has been wearing Yvonne’s office shoes instead of her own sneakers during rehearsals in order to stay in character.

“It’s really important that the actors identify with what they’re doing,” she said. “My job isn’t to judge, it’s to interpret.”

Themes include everything from office politics to truth.

The concept of stereotypes – and taking advantage of them – is also present in “The Story”.

“The play also says a lot about adhering to hierarchies and what steps people take to make their mark and find their place,” Ms Smith said.

She has been acting for most of her life and has a BFA in Musical Theatre. Her most recent production includes playing Tina in the 2005 season of “Tony and Tina’s Wedding”.

Mr Jones began acting in 2003, when he claims he was cast “by mistake” in Waterspout Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet. He’s been hooked ever since.

“I became addicted — it’s a buzz,” he said.[[In-content Ad]]

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