Theatre Horizon's "The Syringa Tree" - 6abc Loves the Arts

October 5, 2014 (WPVI) -- Theatre Horizon in Norristown kicks off its 10th season with a story of a South African family's personal strife with apartheid.

Pam Gien's The Syringa Tree is a semi-autobiographical story that opened off Broadway in 2001 and was originally performed through the eyes of its main character, Elizabeth.

Since it was for one woman to perform, one actor it has a sense of spoken word single actor onstage about something very emotional, says Director Steve Pacek who says this new take on the story includes the perspective of the family's black caretaker, "since we have 2 actors we can build relationships so it can become a little bit more realistic."

Pacek says he is drawn to works that, like this one, are poetic, "things that are maybe are a bit more metaphorical than literal or at least combine the two really, really well."

Kristyn Chouiniere plays the lead character, Elizabeth. She served as the understudy for the role nearly 10 years ago, and after a brief hiatus from acting, she says she's excited to return as the leading lady.

"I knew that it would take the right project for me to come back....I love this play that first experience remains one of my favorite experiences as an actor and so getting to come back and have another crack at it to do it for real this time is so exciting and it feels like a real gift."

The play runs October 16th through November 9th. For tickets go to TheatreHorizon.org.

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