Phoebe Wantz has always dreamed of playing Katharine Hepburn's character, Ethel Thayer, in "On Golden Pond." She even named her youngest daughter after the Hollywood star who won an Oscar for the role in the 1981 film version of the play.
"It's kind of like the epitome role I've always wanted," Wantz said. "Katharine Hepburn is an idol of mine. I've just always idolized her."
Wantz will get to live out her dream role this summer at the Muncie Civic Theatre. Beginning Friday, she will play Ethel Thayer in the stage version. The seven performances will be in the Studio Theatre versus Main Stage, making it for a more intimate setting for the audience to enjoy the play as performers will be a few feet away.
The film version of the play has also influenced Wendy Carpenter, who plays Chelsea Thayer Wayne, the daughter of Ethel and Norman Thayer. She said she watched the film many times throughout her childhood.
"I watched it so many times, I had a lot of it memorized," she said. "I was using lines from the movie in regular conversation."
The show's director, Bill Wilkison, said the movie's popularity will enhance people's interest to see the play.
"It's a timeless piece and for many people this is their favorite movie, and they want to see the play version," he said.
What will set the play apart from the film however, is the original score. It was written by a friend of Wilkison's, Glenda White from Indianapolis. Despite the film's famous score, Wilkison wanted to set the play apart from the film with the music.
"We really wanted to make sure we gave people what they expected but pushed beyond that to really discover the play and not the movie," he said.
Another factor setting "On Golden Pond" apart from many theatre productions is the age of its characters. The ages of the couple are not typical for a play.
"Theatrically speaking, it stars a 79-year-old male and a 69-year-old female but not a lot of plays are written for that age group," Wilkison said. "That age group is such an important part of the community. People of that age have experienced so much in life."
Wantz's character in the show is the same age as her now. This is in stark contrast to the youngest cast member who is 13 years old.
"As you get older, the roles get more skimpy for older actresses," she said. "It will probably be the last time I will have a lead in a play so I will make the most of it. I kind of called this my 'last hurrah.'"
The play explores relationships, which the actors said they can easily relate to. Carpenter said she shares similarities with her on stage counterpart who hasn't seen her father in 8 years.
"I don't quite have that terrible of a relationship with my father, but I haven't seen him for a long time and if we would see each other again, there would be that awkwardness," she said.
Although she can relate to her character, that doesn't necessarily mean it makes the role easier to play for Carpenter.
"[My character] is having an emotional roller coaster through the play," Carpenter said. "I think just getting in touch with those feelings of insecurity that Chelsea feels that I am somewhat familiar with and having to bring those to the surface for everyone to see, it's a little unsettling."
Though they have been influenced by the film version, each actor has brought his or her own adaptation to the role.
"I've been finding the character in my own way and not doing it like Katharine," Wantz said. "I'm doing it the way I feel. It has been a great psychological battle finding this character."
Challenges have arisen in the weeks preparing for the play, including the director also playing a character. The play has an assistant director which has helped with the scene the director is involved in.
"I'm very much of the mind I want to work with people who want to be there, and I didn't want to have to recruit someone and convince them of the role," he said. "I've been interested in getting back on stage, and it seemed like a perfect solution."
Wantz said she hopes people enjoy the show as much as she has enjoyed preparing for it over the last several weeks.
"I hope they come away loving the characters and wanting more, and come back to Muncie Civic Theatre time and time again," she said.
Carpenter encouraged the audience to take the play's messages to heart as it has life lessons for all.
"Maybe if they have family members they haven't seen for awhile, this would maybe trigger contact with them," Carpenter said.
Wilkison encouraged the community to attend the play, which has themes that are universal.
"It is about life, about attitudes toward life and living every day as if it was your last," he said.
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WHAT? On Golden Pond
WHEN? Friday, Saturday, June 29-30, July 1 and July 6-7
Thursday through Saturday performances: 8 p.m.
Sunday (July 1) performance: 2 p.m.
WHERE? Muncie Civic Theatre, 216 E. Main St.
$10 tickets can be purchased at munciecivic.org or by calling 765-288-7529 or going to the Muncie Civic Box Office, from noon until 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
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