Linda Griffiths: The Actress as Playwright

Abstract

Note: Since Maggie and Pierre, her collaboration with Paul Thompson which toured nationally before a brief, unsuccessful run in New York City, Linda Griffiths has become one of Canada’s busiest actresses. After performing the lead in Lianna, John Sayles’ much-praised low-budget film about a young woman’s growth to self-awareness, Griffiths completed another film, Reno and the Doc, for release on pay-TV, a major role in CBC’s Empire Inc. and a run in Master Builder, John Murrell’s adaptation of Ibsen’s play for Toronto’s Tarragon theatre. Perhaps more significantly, her career as a playwright that began with her work on Maggie and Pierre has also developed in leaps and bounds. Jessica, another collaboration with Thompson, premiered at Saskatoon’s 25th Street theatre last year, as did O.D. On Paradise, a collaboration with Patrick Brymer that was remounted at Toronto’s Theatre Passe Muraille in March to become that theatre’s hit of the season. Rewritten for the TPM run, O.D. On Paradise is still not finished according to Griffiths. Slated for TPM’s coming season, the play will receive yet another re-write before Griffiths will let it rest. Her diligent concern with the script is typical of her approach to both the roles she plays and those she writes. Maggie and Pierre has once again occupied her time recently as she and Paul Thompson have adapted it for pay-TV over the summer. The following interview with Linda Griffiths – prepared for CTR by Muriel Leeper in Saskatoon over a year ago, before Griffiths’ rise in profile – gives a valuable insight into the life of an artist poised for success.