Lyndall Barber, spouse of Australian Maj. Nicholas Barber, Command and General Staff Officer Course student, has brought her acting skills to Fort Leavenworth and is “trodding the boards,” in “Into the Woods” with the River City Community Players, Leavenworth’s community theater troupe.
She said she is from a strong, supportive community in Australia and has felt that same level of support and connection from the Fort Leavenworth community and the Leavenworth-Lansing area.
Barber took the long journey from a small mining town in northern Western Australia to Kansas, yet she said she feels artistic expression is universal.
“I love the experience of being in the audience at the theatre — the pleasure of watching a story be told through song and spoken word. I aspire to provide this experience and feeling to others,” she said.
While artistic expression may be universal, Barber shared some subtle distinctions between her Australian and Leavenworth community theater experiences.
“One difference is that, instead of dodging kangaroos at dusk, I have to keep an eye out for deer, raccoons and skunks when I drive home from rehearsals,” she said.
Acting and singing in theatrical productions often requires all of the characters to communicate in the same language or accent. Barber caught a break and doesn’t have to affect an American English accent for this play.
“Fortunately, ‘Into the Woods’ is set in a fairytale kingdom, which has meant that the Baker’s Wife (the role she plays) can have an Australian accent,” she said.
“Being involved with the RCCP has provided the additional joy of being able to meet some wonderful local people, outside of the military community,” she added.
“Into the Woods” runs March 1-3, and March 8-10 at the historic Hollywood Theater at 500 Delaware St. in downtown Leavenworth.
Ticket and schedule information is available at the Leavenworth Kansas Community Theater Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LeavKSCommTheater.
Social Sharing