Suburban youths discuss royal roles in TimeLine's 'Last Wife'
Just like any other teen, Peyton Shaffer is learning valuable time-management skills.
She's a freshman at Crystal Lake South High School. And she's also an aspiring actress with a role in “The Last Wife,” a production about the sixth wife of King Henry VIII, presented by TimeLine Theatre Company in Chicago.
“On the way home, after late rehearsals or performances, I'll sleep in the car as much as possible,” says Shaffer, 14. “I've gotten pretty good at sleeping in the car. I spend weekends and breaks on set doing homework.”
The U.S. premiere of “The Last Wife” is running now through Dec. 18. The show, a sold-out hit at last year's prestigious Stratford Festival in Canada, is a timely examination of politics, sex and women's rights.
The production centers on Katherine Parr, who has just been crowned the sixth and last wife of King Henry VIII. She's smart and passionate, juggling an illicit affair and three children, while launching a political career at the head of the country, alongside her husband, who is known for his insanity and brutality.
The play is a contemporary take on Tudor-era England, featuring a multiethnic cast in modern dress, and also a relevant piece about a powerful woman in politics.
Shaffer, along with another teen actress, alternate in the role of young Bess, who eventually becomes Queen Elizabeth I.
“The play is a more modern adaptation of King Henry VIII's last wife,” Shaffer says. “It's been cool to see the parallels that are happening now with stuff that happened way back when.”
For Shaffer, the appeal of acting has always been about becoming someone else and getting to have an emotional impact on the audience.
“This is definitely what I want to do,” she says. “Everything I'm learning here is helping to prepare me for the future. The other actors are so great, and the learning process has been amazing for me.”
She's no stranger to theater, having performed in shows at Paramount Theatre in Aurora and Drury Lane Theatre in Oak Brook Terrace, as well as others.
Even so, before she steps on stage, it's not unusual for her to get butterflies.
“I worry I won't remember my lines or I hope I'm portraying (my character) in a way that does it justice, especially if it's a historic figure,” she says. “But adrenaline kicks in and then I just get out there.”
In addition to Shaffer, the show also features young actor Chinguun Sergelen of Fox Lake.
Sergelen, 10, says portraying his character, Eddie the prince, forced him to tap into his emotions in a new way. The most enjoyable part of being involved in the show has been the learning process.
“I get to be around all these great actors, and I get to learn so much from them,” he says.
“The Last Wife”
<b>Where:</b> TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago, (773) 281-8463 or <a href="https://timelinetheatre.com/">timelinetheatre.com/</a>
<b>When:</b> 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 4 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday; through Dec. 18. Also 4 p.m. Nov. 25. No show Nov. 24.
<b>Tickets:</b> $38 Wednesday through Friday, $51 Saturday and Sunday matinees, $46 Saturday night. Discounts for students and members of the military.