In this week’s Running Lines podcast, John Moore takes full advantage of the audio format to talk stage dialects with DCPA dialect coach Kathy Maes and young actors Charlie Franklin and Matt Gumley. The three demonstrate differences in the way the actors might talk naturally, and the way they speak while playing British schoolboys in the DCPA Theatre Company’s new production of Lord of the Flies.

In this harrowing stage adaptation of William Golding’s classic novel, the boys become stranded on a deserted island and are quickly intoxicated by sudden freedom and power. “Lord of the Flies” plays through Nov. 2 in the Space Theatre.

Maes has a Ph.D in Theatre Arts from the University of Pittsburgh and graduated with an advanced diploma from the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. She came to the DCPA in 1989 as Head of Voice for the National Theatre Conservatory and  DCPA Theatre Company. She has worked as Voice and Dialect for many professional theatre companies, including the Royal Shakespeare Festival. 

“I try to help the actor find why he needs this accent to do the character,” says Maes. “And if you can help the actor find that, they won’t lose the accent.”

Franklin, who plays Ralph, recently appeared in The Bridges of Madison County on Broadway. Gumley, who plays Piggy, has appeared in both Elf and The Addams Family on Broadway.

Lord of the Flies: Ticket information
Performances run through Nov. 2
In the Space Theatre
Public performance showtimes vary, but generally run at 7:30 p.m. Fridays; 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 6:30 p.m. Sundays
Call 303-893-4100, or go to the Denver Center’s web site at www.denvercenter.org

Our Previous Lord of the Flies coverage on Denver CenterStage:

• Meet the Cast video series: Matt Gumley
  
• First look: ‘Lord of the Flies’ opens previews tonight
• ‘Lord of the Flies’: A ‘Morality Thriller’ opens rehearsals
• First look: Lord of the ‘Fires’!
• Denver Center’s full 2014-15 season announcement

Recent “Running Lines” episodes:
168: Jeremy Palmer, Ed Mills and J Murray d’Armand of L.A. Diner
167: Laura Norman and Josh Hartwell on Grounded and Dylan Went Electric
166: Alison Horsley on the art of Dramaturgy
165: Christy Montour-Larson on directing Shadowlands

From left: Charlie Franklin, Kathryn G. Maes and Matt Gumley. Photo by John Moore.