Enamored with the theater since she was a child, Angelica Smith never really pursued acting, instead focusing more on education and travel. That was until she met director Richard Camp in Ojai Coffee Roasters. “He encouraged me to audition,” she said. “I actually didn’t know the story at all. After reading together, I think he saw me more as Olivia than anyone else.”
Debuting as the lead in “Night Must Fall” can be a daunting task. Smith has been up to it, learning as she goes from two great mentors in her co-star, David Taylor, and Camp. “Richard is incredible and provides the perfect balance between guiding us as a director and allowing us to make discoveries of our own,” Smith said.
“Night Must Fall” takes place in the English countryside between the two world wars. Olivia, played by Smith, is the manor owner’s niece, who lives with and works for her aunt, Mrs. Bramson. She is a sharp, intelligent girl, who early on in the play starts speculating about whom the murderer is. As Dan, played by Taylor, comes into the story and ingratiates himself into all of their lives, Olivia never quite accepts him, but ultimately feels she and Dan have a different connection than the rest of the household does.
“When Olivia starts to notice that Dan is also somewhat of a poet, I feel a shift in her,” Smith said. “He exudes a vivacity and independence that she bottles up, so there are multiple times when I think she’s annoyed and even repulsed by him, but also strangely intrigued and maybe even envious of the liberties he takes.”
“Night Must Fall” is a play about connection. “Human connection is so important to us all; everyone in the play is desperately trying to connect with somebody,” Smith said. “I find it interesting to consider what life was like in rural England 80 years ago. No matter how different our culture has changed since then and all the media we have to get in touch with each other, I feel we currently live in a time of extreme loneliness. To me, the story is a cautionary tale of what sort of twisted events and relation- ships could develop from such circumstances.”