We've been doing a lot of character work in play practice these days. My character, Mrs. Gibbs, is a pleasant, happy woman full of dreams. She loves her family very, very much, but also wants to travel the world. The dream of her life, is to visit Paris, France. She has two beautiful children, George and Rebecca, and a wonderful husband, Frank Gibbs, to whom she's been married for 20 years. In previous plays, I've never had to become as invested or as dedicated to the characters I play. The reason for this was, either I played several characters in one performance, or I was only on stage for several minutes (like the Fringe Festival). Anyways, I've learned a lot from this play, especially how to connect and understand Mrs. Gibbs and any future characters I may play. Below are photos of previous "Mrs. Gibbs'":
Above: Mrs. Gibbs with Rebecca and George.
Right: Mrs. Gibbs and Mrs. Webb miming stringing beans.
Left: Frank and Julia Gibbs having a conversation at breakfast time.
"Our Town" has been performed thousands of times, likewise with the role of Mrs. Gibbs. Every actress probably puts a different spin on her. To me, Mrs. Gibbs isn't misunderstood in any way, in fact, she's very easy to "get". In the early 1900s, women were never known to be very strong or independent, but Julie Gibbs knows exactly what she wants, and she's happy. She is happy with her husband, and all she asks from her children is that they are responsible and humble. Her biggest dream, one that never happens, is to travel to France. But, despite that, she's content with her life in Grover's Corners.
I can't wait to show audiences how much I've worked with Mrs. Gibbs. She's become a part of me, and I'm sure that once the performances are over, I'll miss her very much. I hope to perhaps have the opportunity to play her again.
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