Spotlight On: Lucy Eddinger

 

 

Connecticut Theatre Company’s “Spotlight On…” series continues with a look into the cast of Carrie. Get to know Lucy Eddinger who is portraying Norma in our production!

 

 

 

Introduce yourself to our audience.

Hi! My name is Lucy Eddinger. I am 17 years old and a senior at Coginchaug Regional High School.

 

How do you balance the heightened, supernatural elements of the show with the grounded, painful reality of high school bullying?

When I’m playing Norma, I really try to portray how mean and uncaring she truly is, this makes the bullying that is inflicted on Carrie all the more heartbreaking, because some of the students are not even apologetic until they experience Carrie’s powers. I feel that this makes The Prom scene even more impactful when she discovers Carrie’s abilities and die’s because of her lack of caring.

 

What is your favorite musical motif or lyric in Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford’s score that helps define your character?

 

How does this production make Carrie feel relevant to modern audiences?

This production introduces some modernity into the bullying that brings the instance more into the society that it is being performed for, especially with the recording and posting of the students’ bullying. This connects the audience more to the treatment that Carrie is receiving and demonstrates how she cannot go home to escape it. Not just because of her mother, but also because of the posts.

 

What has been the most physically or emotionally demanding part of the rehearsal process for you?

For me, “The Destruction” is the most physically and emotionally demanding aspect of the rehearsal process. This is because of how terrified Norma is in the moment, so it requires me to be really in the moment that I am “experiencing.” Also, the way that Carrie kills my character can sometimes be a bit painful and difficult to execute.

 

What surprised you most about the script and score compared to the original Stephen King novel or the films?

I noticed that my character is written very differently in Stephen King’s novel compared to in this script. Norma is more kind within the book, but extremely mean in the musical adaptation. Also, the book is much more violent than I had anticipated.

 

How does the ensemble use choreography and movement to amplify the tension and horror onstage?

Oftentimes, the choreography builds in intensity as the scene shifts and the score becomes more dramatic. This build can heighten the stakes and make things more visually “nerve-wracking” for the audience.

 

If your character could give one piece of advice to their younger self, what would it be?

I think she would obviously say to be kinder to Carrie in order to avoid the death that came from her bullying and maltreatment. However, I also believe that Norma might tell her younger self to find more interests and place less importance on the people around her, and more on the person she wants to be. I don’t think that Norma really knew who she was or how to find that person on her own.

 

What do you hope audiences are discussing in the car on their ride home from the theater?