Sixty years after the founding of the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society, three directors bring three plays to the stage where the general themes vary from ducks, to death, to reawakening.

Directors Jim Brier, Sheilagh Robertson and Deborah Bowness spoke to The Royal Gazette about why they chose the plays they are directing and what directing means to them.

Mr. Brier is directing "Wake" written by playwright David Widdicombe, Ms Robertson is directing "The Duck Variations" and Ms Bowness is the director of "Theatrical Digs".

Theatrical Digs is being produced by first-time producer Bente Brandt.

Mr. Brier previously directed "Science Fiction" by the same author, Canadian David Widdicombe, as he liked his writing style.

"I find it has a very gritty realism to it," he said, "He uses very believable everyday characters and doesn't dress them up to make them more acceptable or likeable.

"Nor does he shy away from difficult or uncomfortable subjects; his work is not always easy, but is very rewarding.

"Wake" was actually written as a companion piece to "River Lady" and I'd really like to do them both together, as originally intended, sometime."

Ms Robertson said she chose the early David Mamet play "Duck Variations", as it is a well-crafted and affectionate piece of theatre.

She said: "I chose the play first and foremost because I enjoy the dialogue.

Like a good poem you can read it many times and find new meaning in the text, which has a natural rhythm and a musical ebb and flow.

"Secondly, I lived at one time in Canada near a city on Lake Huron, and I regularly went for walks with my dad in a park by the lake where we watched the ships going down the river, watched the birds, or wandered through the children's zoo.

"Anyone who has ever spent an afternoon sitting by the water or in a park can relate to the play."

The play "Theatrical Digs", which was written by Jean McConnell, was both funny and profound said Ms Bowness.

"Once I was told I'd been given the chance to direct a play I was given a book of four plays by Jean McConnell to choose from," she said.

"I was looking for something that was a comedy, but also had a bit of depth, and "Theatrical Digs" seemed the best choice of the four plays."

The general themes of the three plays varies from ducks, to death, to reawakening.

Ms Robertson said her characters are Emil Varec, played by Cotty Outerbridge, and George S. Aronovitz, which is performed by John Zuill.

"Two gentleman in their sixties are sitting on a bench, in a park, on the edge of a big city, on a lake," she said.

"The play consists of 14 variations, which each represents a conversation between the two men as they pass the time sitting looking at the lake.

"The title of the play reflects the fact that much of the conversation revolves around ducks, but at the same time reflects on man's place in the universe."

Mr. Brier said "Wake" orbits around a dialogue between a woman and a girl.

"Without wanting to give away too much of the plot," he said, "It revolves around a conversation at a wake between the widow and a young girl.

"Their conversation explores their pasts and the loneliness and feelings of guilt resulting from past actions and events.

"They find similarities and ultimately form a brief friendship."

Mr. Brier said there are two characters in "Wake", which is about 22 minutes long, Ellen, a middle aged widow, played by Debbie Pharoah, and Chloe, a young girl, Jessica Rego.

"Debbie has been in numerous BMDS shows and brings a wealth of stage experience," he said.

"This is Jessica's first production outside of a school environment. They've both worked extremely hard on "Wake". "They've both been very keen and flexible in exploring the script to get the most out of it. Sometimes it was a little unnerving just how often our interpretations coincided.

"It's been a joy working with them and I hope to do so again soon."

Ms Bowness said all four of the plays by Jean McConnel that she saw were all one act plays involving two ladies.

"The play is about two ladies who strike up conversation while sitting on the promenade of an English seaside town, which leads to them discovering each other is an actress," she said.

"One is older in years and is content with her lot, although is still interested if anything good comes along.

"With a twinkle in her eyes she teases the other actress, who takes acting very seriously, but deep down realises she's at the crossroads of her career and is desperately seeking to further it."

When Ms Robertson first embarked on the play she was told that she might be swamped with older female actresses looking for a moment.

"At first I was told that there were not many plays written for older women and that I would probably be inundated by over-40-year-old actresses eager to get on to the stage again," she said.

"As it turned out I wasn't, but I think that was more the time of year the auditions were held, and people might have thought Christmas might get in the way or they were actually going away for Christmas.

"But I have been lucky enough to get two very experienced BMDS actresses, Connie Dey as Maggie Festoon and Barbara Jones as Pascaline Holbein who have made my directorial debut an enjoyable experience."

Over the years the directors have been involved in theatre in one facet or another and they came with a diverse set of talents.

Other than school plays, before arriving in Bermuda, Mr. Brier's theatre experience began with BMDS.

"Other than a school production longer ago than I care to remember," he said, "All my theatrical activity has been here at BMDS.

"Initially I became active in a technical capacity; designing and running sound for many shows, and also assisting with lighting and other general backstage assistance.

"After a couple of years, I broadened my theatrical background by playing the role of Freddy in the rehearsed play reading "Picasso at the Lapin Agile".

"I've since played a few minor roles and my largest role yet was Shelly Levene in "Glengarry Glen Ross" in 2003, which was directed by John Zuill."

Mr. Brier said the inspiration for David Widdicombe plays came after a visit to Canada about four years ago.

He said: "I was in Toronto during the winter of 2001 and saw the original production of "Science Fiction".

"I was impressed and thought that it was a play that would work well at Daylesford. I attended a summer school in 2002 to learn more about the directing process and went on to direct "Science Fiction" in early 2003.

"This will be my third directing experience, last year I directed one of the new plays in "24 Hours to Curtain" "Final Rehearsal" by Barbara Jones."

Like Mr. Brier, before arriving on the Island Ms Bowness also did not have a theatrical background.

She said: "I was introduced to the BMDS by a friend who was a member when I first arrived in 2002.

"I've gradually gotten more involved, from volunteering behind the bar during shows, working back stage with sets and props, to actually asking if there was a chance to shadow a director to see how things operated from the front of the stage.

"This is my first go at directing a play. I happened to be in the right place at the right time when I enquired if I could shadow a director on a play, as I would like to learn more about it.

"I was told they were going to do three one act plays giving first timers an opportunity to get their feet wet.

"I was then given the chance to sit in on rehearsals for "Lend Me a Tenor" with director Kelvin Hastings-Smith and also a couple of sessions with Carol Birch during the pantomime "Sleeping Beauty", when rehearsals first started and then that was it - in at the deep end!

"I am very grateful though to the BMDS for being so trusting of someone with no experience whatsoever and giving me the opportunity to try at being a director."

Until recently Ms Robertson's only involvement with theatre was as a musician. She played the flute in the pit in the early Gilbert & Sullivan productions.

"I made my acting debut as Martha in the BMDS production of Arsenic and Old Lace," she said.

"Other acting roles at BMDS have included Hecuba in Trojan Women, and Clara in Hay Fever.

"I have worked backstage as prompt, assistant stage manager, or assistant to the director on productions of "Our Country's Good", "A Lie of the Mind", and "Lend Me A Tenor".

"This is my first time directing and I am enjoying working with John Zuill, who has extensive acting and directing experience, as well as actor Cotty Outerbridge who I have worked with previously on "A Lie of the Mind".

"I am grateful that the BMDS workshop theatre offers an opportunity for people who may never have acted or directed before, to spread their wings and have a go with the support and advice of others in a community theatre.

"It draws on a pool of amazingly talented volunteers, which include those who work the magic behind the scenes by creating sets, and all the effects that enhance what the actors do on stage."

•Triple Act opens on January 24 and runs until January 29 at the Daylesford Theatre on the corner of Dundonald Street and Washington Street, Hamilton. Tickets are available from www.bmds.bm or on the door for $20 or ( 202-0848.