The Stayner Sun: Local actor part of Fringe

Local actor part of Fringe
The Stayner Sun
Author: Michael Gennings, Staff
Date: Jun 30, 2009

A young actor from Stayner is appearing on stage in a production that’s part of the well-known Toronto Fringe Festival, a smorgasbord of theatrical shows that can be seen in the city from July 1-12.

In Lockdown, a new play by award-winning director Frances-Anne Solomon, Lauren Bunn, 17, plays a troubled high school student.

A backgrounder for the show says “Lockdown’s explosive fictional story traces the fortunes of a diverse group of people held hostage during a high school lockdown. The play’s high octane script picks apart the violence that threatens to undermine their dreams.”

Last week, Bunn, a Grade 11 student at Stayner Collegiate Institute, talked about the play and her role in it.

“The idea for it comes from real-life events in the city,” she said.

Bunn described her character as a laid-back kind of girl who likes to read and write.

Still, she lives in what Bunn calls a dysfunctional home. Her half-sister in the movie is black and into dealing drugs and running a prostitution business.

She has a half-brother, also black, with his own set of problems and their mother, a single parent, is depressed and working three jobs to make ends meet.

Bunn said her character hardens as the play progresses.

And the play’s ending is somewhat tumultuous.

“There’s a happy ending for some characters but people die, relationships are broken and love is found,” she explained.

Bunn acknowledged the play contains some pretty heady material but said that’s what drew her to it.

“The storyline from the beginning struck me as interesting,” she said. “And the characters’ stories too.”

A native of Stayner, where life is considerably slower and safer – Bunn’s Toronto-area cast mates call her Honky Tonk, a reference to her small town roots – Bunn said Lockdown has been a real learning experience.

“It’s opened my eyes personally to a lot of things,” she said. “You might not want to see this, many might feel offended, but it’s the truth, the way life is for many young people. If we don’t put this type of thing on stage and make it known…we ignore the problem and that’s the last thing that will help.”

Bunn auditioned for the play last summer and got a call back but failed to land a role.

However, when another actor left the production Bunn was offered a part and accepted.

“This is the largest thing I’ve been involved with so far,” she noted. “It’s been a great opportunity. I’ve met so many talented, nice people.”

Bunn said she’s always been interested in acting. Her first gig was in Clearview Community Theatre’s Gone with the Breeze, a musical comedy, when she was 8.

She hopes to pursue acting full-time after high school.

A special launch for Lockdown was held Thursday at TOTA Lounge, 592 Queen St., W., in Toronto, allowing guests a sneak peek of selected scenes from the play.

The play can be seen at the George Ignatieff Theatre, Trinity College, the University of Toronto, 15 Devonshire Place, just south of Bloor Street West and east of Spadina Road.

Show times are Wed., July 1 at 6:30 p.m., Thurs., July 2 at 8:15 p.m., Fri., July 3 at 1:15 p.m., Mon., July 6 at 10:45 p.m., Tues., July 7 at 1 p.m. Fri., July 10 at 4 p.m. and Sun., July 12 at 8:30 p.m.

For tickets call 416-966-1062.

For more information about the Toronto Fringe Festival, visit www.fringetoronto.com.