One of the decisions that Holly Twyford made while preparing to direct Sam Holcroft’s thriller Edgar & Annabel was to have the actors perform the play, which is set in a dystopian near-future, in American accents. “I think the play works best when you’re not quite sure what’s true and what’s not true. And there’s something about a British accent that could make the world of the play seem alienating,” says Twyford.
In preparation, Twyford, Holcroft, and production dramaturg Adrien-Alice Hansel have been sending emails across the Atlantic to make what Twyford calls, “the Yank version.” Holcroft, for her part, is enthusiastic: “I agree completely with Holly: a familiar American setting, complete with American rather than British accents and phrases, is much the best option. I’ve been impressed and surprised by the suggestions [she’s] come up with—‘toasted’ instead of ‘pissed’; ‘goof’ instead of ‘old fruit.’” Perhaps unsurprisingly the play’s climactic karaoke scene didn’t need any tweaking; 80s karaoke is a universal language.
Edgar & Annabel begins rehearsals in mid-November and performances start December 11, 2013. Twyford and Holcroft will discuss the play and their process of bringing it to the stage after the 8pm performance on Friday, December 13 as a part of Studio’s Artists in Conversation Series.