STAGE MOTHER (AND SON)
Stratford Festival veteran Lucy Peacock and son Harrison Thomas are both treading T.O. stages,
They are as proud as peacocks of each other. Lucy Peacock and her son, Harrison Thomas, represent a long line of thespians; Thomas is the fifth generation.
Stratford stalwart Peacock is in Toronto with Groundling Theatre’s
The Winter’s Tale at the same time her son, 24 and just starting out in the profession, is performing in Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard with Canadian Stage. It is a rare occasion for them to be performing in the same city and each took the opportunity to see the other in action onstage.
Peacock is an unabashed fan of her son saying, “I love to watch him act and I love listening to him talk with so much insight and passion and empathy for the human condition.”
The Star asked Thomas about his career choice.
When did you first become aware your parents were actors and didn’t have “regular” jobs?
Honestly, pretty early on. I went to elementary school in a small town, where a lot of the kids came in from the country. My dad had stopped acting by the time I was born and started farming (specifically breeding race horses). Just talking with other kids about what their parents did, it became clear pretty fast that what my mum did was unusual in their frame of reference.
Growing up, who were some of your favourite actors and plays, as a child?
As a kid, I always loved going to see the Elizabethan tragedies and the adventure plays ( Three Musketeers,
The Scarlet Pimpernel, etc.), mainly for the sword fighting and the esthetics. When I got a bit older though, I started really falling for the language of it, especially Shakespeare. I especially remember the first production of
Hamlet I saw when I was 10. My mum took me out of school to see a matinee and I was transfixed. I had just learned “To be or not to be” and was mouthing along with the speech, like everybody does. Probably didn’t understand a word, though. I always really enjoyed watching Graham Abbey and Peter Donaldson. I knew them since I was young and they had incredible stage presence. And of course, I always enjoyed watching my mum.
What kind of jobs did you think about?
When I was really young, I wanted to do something with animals, specifically birds of prey. I actually took a falconry course, raised and trained a couple of kestrels. But once I started acting, arts was where I wanted to be. Funnily enough, despite doing a lot of theatre in my teens, I really wanted to be a poet.
When did you decide to be an actor and what was your parents’ reaction?
I don’t know if I ever really decided. I always loved acting, especially after I did Edward II at the Studio Theatre and just kept coming back to it. I think my folks figured pretty early on that I wanted to be in the arts and were always very supportive. My mum was my first acting coach.
What is your dream job or role?
My dream job is actually directing. I’ve devoted most of the last two years to directing dark, language-driven work with Desiderata Theatre Company, the company I coartistic direct. So I’d really hope to continue down that road. Dream role? Hamlet or Constantine from
The Seagull.
How are you enjoying Chekhov?
I’m really enjoying Cherry Orchard. It’s been a great return to the other side of the table, challenging and exciting.
Our director, Dmitry Zhukovsky, is a recent Russian emigré and has such wonderful insights into the heart of the play.
It’s fascinating to encounter your cultural biases about these plays, to have a director who understands the archetypes of the play authentically.
Do you make it a point to see your mother’s plays? What’s your favourite role for her?
I see just about all of my mum’s shows, yes. I’ve always loved watching her work, but my favourites are her Shakespearean heroines, especially Rosalind. I think she does an amazing job of keeping grounded and simultaneously engaging with the deep romance of those roles.
What’s her best piece of advice?
Always keep the smile behind your eyes. Be here now.