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| Sarah Lovy as Hedy LaRue, perched on the lap of J.B. Biggley (Dorne Lefere) Photo by Jan Cartwright |
Fresh on the heels of her
Barn debut as the adorable Audrey in Leading
Ladies, Sarah Lovy is back as the femme fatale in another Farmington
Players production. This time Sarah
portrays the vivacious and curvaceous Hedy LaRue in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Like
Audrey, Hedy’s vocabulary is full of humorous malapropisms and both characters strive
to improve their lot in life. But while
1950’s Audrey is an innocent small-town girl, 1960’s Hedy is fully aware of her
sexuality and is not ashamed of flaunting her assets to get ahead in the big
city. In that way, she is clearly as
ambitious as protagonist J. Pierrepont Finch (played by Jason Wilhoite); It’s just that Hedy takes a different path to
the top of the World Wide Wicket Company.
As the mistress of company
president J.B. Biggley (Dorne Lefere), Hedy first uses her relationship to get
hired as a secretary. But she is clearly willing to hitch her caboose to any
train that can advance her career faster. Sarah has always wanted to play a
character like Hedy, saying, “It’s easy to write her off as a funny, sexy character,
but there is so much more to her. She wants to be a businesswoman. She wants to
be independent and not to have to always rely on her looks to get what she
wants (but it doesn’t hurt!). She can be spoiled and brainless, but she’s also
so witty, spunky, and most of all, kind. She isn’t the vixen that’s gonna come
in and steal all the men just because she can. Hedy honestly wants to try and
make something of herself.”
Sarah appears very
extroverted backstage and confident onstage, so it might surprise you to hear
her say: “I’m a very self-conscious and self-aware person, so playing a
character that’s so overtly bodacious was definitely something I had to work
on. But, in the end, I think the role has actually helped me a bit with my
confidence. I walk a little taller and my head’s held high a little more. If
Hedy can walk like that, so can I!” And
while Hedy is definitely a material girl, Sarah knows that money can’t buy you
love, saying, “I measure success by happiness. I have seen people with all the
money and things in the world who are absolutely miserable. I didn’t grow up
with lots of money but I was taught to value the happiness of you and your
loved ones. When I see a couple who love each other together or am surrounded
by my friends I think, ‘What success!’”
Sarah has been in love with How to Succeed since age 16 when she saw
it on Broadway during a class trip (“Me and my friends were singing ‘Coffee
Break’ the rest of the trip.”) She
thinks How to Succeed’s appeal is
universal: “I think people will enjoy the most zaniest parts and the most
heartfelt parts. You get to see a guy move through an entire company. From the
mailroom to almost being president! It’s the everyman’s fantasy.” But beyond the fantasy, the theme of
Brotherhood resonates even more strongly with Sarah: “In my opinion, that is
the most important theme (and song) of the show. It doesn’t matter where you
are. Whether in a company or life. In the grand scheme of things, we are all a
community of people that need to rely on each other more. Whether you’re
fighting a corporate battle or personal, you are not alone in this world. The
membership is free!”
Sarah is from Berkley, MI and
currently works for the Murder Mystery Improv Troupe. In addition to theater,
she enjoys reading, writing, and her dog.
The Farmington Players
production of How to Succeed in Business
Without Really Trying is proudly sponsored by TruVista Wealth
Advisors. The show includes 13
performances from April 24 – May 16 and tickets are available online at
farmingtonplayers.org or by emailing boxoffice@farmingtonplayers.org or calling the Barn box office at
248-553-2955.
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