Lila Smith's Insight on Meredith

The cast for Naked Came the Painting, a one act comedy by LindaAnn Loschiavo, will begin rehearsals in Manhattan's theatre district on Monday, 18 October 2010.

• • Here's an excerpt from an exclusive interview with the actress Lila Smith, who will portray the character MEREDITH. 

• • • •  QUESTION:  MEREDITH in Naked Came the Painting — —  what are some things you like about her and what are some things that make you empathize with this reluctant graduate student?

• • • • LILA SMITH:  I always approach roles from the perspective of what the character is trying to do to better their own situation. People never do things they think will surely end in disaster — —  their actions are always what they think is best for them at the time. That's why it's so difficult to identify our own self-destructive behavior, and, in a play, that can make for some great comedy.

• • • • LILA SMITH:  I relate to the character of Meredith in this way, because I was also a reluctant student. I was always interested in learning, but I wasn't necessarily as interested in going to class, doing papers, or studying. I've gone through the back and forth about whether I really want to go to grad school, and when, if so.

• • • • LILA SMITH: Meredith decides the best thing to do would be to bring in this great psychic to help her to see the outcome of her tests, and to work with her to determine whether she herself has psychic talent (which would be a convenient reason to skip the GREs and grad school altogether).

• • • • LILA SMITH:  In high school, I often decided to relieve my stress about school by doing something I felt would be more immediately beneficial to me than actually going to class. Sometimes it was sitting in the halls and catching up with friends. That seemed very important at the time. Often it was also learning new music; finding songs from musicals that would be a good fit for my voice.

• • • • LILA SMITH: It's interesting- I never missed my acting, music, or language classes. I also never missed a rehearsal. Not even if I was actually sick. For a student who had little interest in "school," I certainly did find myself incredibly busy  — —  and I still do.

• • • • LILA SMITH: Something that I really like about Meredith is that she's not exactly sure about who she is, what she wants to do, and where she wants to go, but at least she is willing to ask herself the questions. I like that she doesn’t necessarily accept her mother’s opinions about her life as gospel. I have always greatly admired people who admit when they aren't sure. I like Meredith and I hope whatever it is, she finds it. I think she will.

• • This spirited three-character comedy — — that explores the boundaries between art and artifice — — will make its debut at the 2010 Harvest One-Act Play Festival.  Variations Theatre Group will offer performances between November 10th — 20th, 2010 at the recently renovated LABA Theatre at the 14th Street Y.
• • In the cast are: Lila Smith, Katherine Mylenki, and David A. Green.
• • Shela Xoregos directs.
• • First performance dates and times have been announced by Variations Theatre Group.
• • FIRST DATE:  Wednesday, 10 November 2010 — — 7:00 PM
• • SECOND DATE:  Saturday, 13 November 2010 — — 9:15 PM
• • FUTURE DATES:  to be announced
• • WHERE: LABA Theatre, 344 East 14th Street, NYC 10003.
• • Subway: Union Square Station/ IRT Lexington, 4, 5, 6; First Avenue Station / L line
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