An Earnest return to stage
January 19, 2009
By David Hayes
Issaquah native Jen Taylor (right) stars as Gwendolen Fairfax, seeking love with Paul Morgan Stetler, as John ‘Jack’ Worthing, in Village Theatre’s production of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest.’ By John Pai
Issaquah native Jen Taylor has taken quite the circuitous route in her return to the stage at Village Theatre. In fact, the path to the starring role as Gwendolen Fairfax in the theater’s production of “The Importance of Being Earnest” took Taylor literally around the world and even into the digital realm.
After four years of starring roles at Issaquah High School’s theater program and in Village Theatre’s burgeoning KIDSTAGE program, Taylor set off for college in 1991 to hone her craft. But after graduating from Northwestern University where she studied theater, a funny thing happened.“I thought maybe this was something I shouldn’t do,” Taylor recalled.
Why?
“I wasn’t able to get cast in anything,” she admitted.
So, she packed her bags and went to Europe. After a year of being a self-admitted “Eurobum,” Taylor said she ran out of money. So, she returned to the States and started taking what gigs she could, including working in the box office at Village Theatre. The Stage Right Theatre (located next to the Village Theatre and known for recreating small productions on the tiny stage within the restaurant) did “Godspell.” Taylor auditioned but failed to get a role. Then, an actor bailed out of his role as John the Baptist and Taylor was tapped for her first big break.
“Actually, what I am very grateful from Northwestern is they taught me how to take rejection,” she said. “I was able to figure that one out early.”
In between roles in the Seattle area at such venues as Book It Repertoire, Seattle Children’s and Empty Space theaters (“Oh! I also performed at the Australian Theatre Co. as part of an exchange while at Northwestern,” Taylor recalled suddenly), a unique opportunity presented itself for her to expand her résumé.
“My best friend Megan Adams said she was involved in voice-over work and I should give it a try,” Taylor said.
After some work in children’s radio and as a radio disc jockey, she found steady work within video games.
“Mainly, because there are a lot of companies up here. If you don’t go to Los Angeles for the work, why not stay here?” she said.
Nintendo is replete with characters Taylor has voiced, including Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Toad, Princess Kong, Toadette and Birdo. But Google Jen Taylor and the name that first pops up is her work as the über-popular Artificial Intelligence guide Cortana in the “Halo” series.
Not wanting to get pigeonholed into voice work, which she said she still enjoys immensely, Taylor kept returning to the stage and, ironically, to Oscar Wilde’s period piece “The Importance of Being Earnest.”
“Actually, I get cast in a lot of period pieces,” she said after reflecting for a moment. “Must be the nose.”
She said she was actually worried about getting cast in Gwendolen, as she and director Brian Yorkey go way back as friends in high school.
“You always worry about how it looks, hiring a friend for a role,” she admitted, fretting needlessly.
She said she particularly enjoys Wilde’s prose skewering 1895 English high society.
“It’s fun doing Wilde pieces. He writes long, exquisite, delightful passages where the words just roll in your mouth,” she said. “No one these days could possibly write that funny. It really takes you back to 1895.”
As the honorable Gwendolen, Taylor plays someone from the very high social strata of turn-of-the-century England who likes things very orderly and has planned everything out for herself just so.
“She’s decided years ago to fall in love with a man named Ernest,” Taylor added.
All this is background for the actual play that finds Gwendolen fighting for the affectations of Ernest, who is really an every-day Jack.
“I don’t want to give away too much,” she said, coyly.
What she can share is the joy of donning exquisite period costumes and working amid stunning sets depicting Victorian England.
“When the curtain rises for the first act, people in the audience are probably going to gasp,” Taylor said. “The design team has done a really great job.
“I actually first saw ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ back when it was done at the old Village Theatre space,” she recalled. “Wilde is fascinating. The play is so beautiful, it should appeal to everybody.”
If you go
‘The Importance of Being Earnest’
Jan. 21-March 1
Francis J. Gaudette Theatre
303 Front St. N.
$22-$58
392-2202 or www.villagetheatre.org
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