Diana Garcia / Roundup
Dana Zlotky, the star of “The Importance of being Earnest”, sits on a black chair with a lavender color dress and a needle in her hand as she embroils a design into her dress with white thread. Surrounding her is a room filled of costumes, mannequins, needles, buttons and rolls of fabric materials with patterns. Shelves filled with colored sequences of yarn.
Zlotky talked about her role in the play and how it affected her.
(Garcia) What were the pros and cons to this particular script?
(Zlotky) The language is absolutely beautiful. There are so many different little areas of cleverness. It’s well written in every possible way. There really aren’t any dislikes. The only thing probably is that there are a lot of paragraphs, so our director has said that you don’t hear everything when an actor says something. You don’t necessarily hear everything they are saying. You pin point words to hear and that’s in everyday life as well. So I think with Oscar Wilde, you really have to fine tune and find those sentences that are really important for the audience to hear.
(Garcia) How did the script affect you?
(Zlotky) Not really, I think he makes his script really clear about society and just how silly it can all be. I think the most effect it had on me was the desire to want to be a part of it. Just to say that you’ve done a [Oscar] Wilde play.
(Zlotky) I think we are in a really good place. I think right now is the time to be silly and have fun with everything. We are really into the fine tune and I think we have a really great base right now everyone is perfectly suited for their role. So it really does seem like now is the time where you can just, you know, kind of play the lines.
(Garcia) Is the storyline effective in an everyday life situation?
(Zlotky) I think whenever you have a story about relationships, there’s going to be someone who is still affected by it. It doesn’t matter if it was written in 1895 or 2010.
(Garcia) How did you work with Michael Hovance?
(Zlotky) It was wonderful, he is a remarkable actor and he embodies the character of Jack so well. He’s the kind of guy who would be like, “hey let’s try this.” He is so playful on what he wants to accomplish and there’s no rules, which is kind of exciting you know.
(Garcia) What was the hardest/easiest part of the play?
(Zlotky) The hardest part is the language, mastering the language. The easiest part is again acting with the people around us. The fact that they are so playful I feel like I keep repeating myself, but it is. It’s just so much fun with people who are unpredictable. (Laughs)
(Garcia) Are you used to acting in the types of plays?
(Zlotky) No, my two other plays that I’ve done here were modern plays. One was “Fine Women” by Alan Ball. That’s a modern play based in the South Tennessee. And the other show that I did here was “Stage Door.” That [play] was actually based on the forties. They pretty much speak the same as we do now. So I have never done anything like this before. I was a little intimidated by the language, but through the help of our director, I was really able to start feeling comfortable with it all.
(Garcia) Describe your personality and how does it fit into this role?
(Zlotky) I’m actually, very different from my character. If I met my character I probably wouldn’t like her very much. She is very snobby. She’s very, very snobby. And she feels very privileged and I am a little more grounded, I think. I don’t think I’m snobby (laughs). I don’t know, do I come across as snobby? (Laughs) But yea I think if the character I am playing and myself meet, I don’t think we would be friends.
(Garcia) I see you’re sewing, what is it that you’re doing?
(Zlotky) I am, this is my costume and I am actually helping Kathryn Juday, who is the costume maker over there (points) at a green dress, because I use to work in a costume shop before I ever got into film or anything like that. I have a background in costumes and styling. She has to be ready by Saturday and I told her I had today off. And I would come in and help.
(Zlotky) She [Juday] did everything. She is the creative designer. There is so much—she’s incredible. She is very fast too.
(Zlotky) I thought it would be nice place here [Costume Room] for an interview.
(Garcia) Are you a student at Pierce?
(Zlotky) Not a student at Pierce anymore. I t transferred to Cal State Northridge with a B.A degree in theatre. I graduated in 2008. It’s a theatre degree and that can be kind of difficult especially since I have a job in film right now.
(Zlotky) If I could go back I probably would have switched to a film degree because with theatre it’s nice and I love, love theatre. But in terms of working in it specifically, if I were in New York, it would be a lot more helpful because that’s where Broadways is.
(Zlotky) I would love to be an executive producer or direct television shows. I am too much of a control freak. Only when it comes to my career. (Laughs)
(Garcia) What’s your next job?
(Zlotky) My next show will be American Got talent.
(Zlotky) I am currently working on American Idol right now. I do talent and VIP’s. I basically kiss butt all day. But, you got to work your way up.
