Martha
Smylie was smitten with the G&S bug at age 10 when she sang
Buttercup in a full-stage elementary school production where (a fact
heretofore unbeknownst to most of you) she also played the violin in
the pit orchestra for the overture!
As an adult she hid out in the chorus of The Savoy Company for 10 party
years until she got the courage to step back into the spotlight again
and has been performing major roles in G&S, musicals and
straight plays since 1986.
Unabashedly incestuous, Martha has sung roles with all six of the major
G&S societies in the Delaware Valley, a feat which may be
unmatched ... "not that others couldn't do it, just that they haven't
done it"). She's played most of the G&S contralto roles, sung
in several International G&S Festivals in both Philadelphia and
Buxton, England, and enjoys roles in musicals and plays around the
region. Her favorite play was the Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 at
Hedgerow Theatre ("working at Hedgerow is a whole other dimension -
what an education!"), and she admits being the murder victim in Agatha
Christie's The Mousetrap was also great fun ("the real murder, though,
is waiting through the second act to take your curtain call!").
In addition Martha has done some minor TV work - you can still catch
her occasionally on repeats of Suzanne Roberts' little spotlight show
on CN8. Martha sings professionally in concerts and ensembles, and has
even done some interesting ad lib work in training trial lawyers.
A former president of the GSSCC, Martha's organizational talents are
legendary! Board members of four local G&S societies have had
to tolerate her participation, and three have suffered through her
presidencies. "Like Ko-Ko, they must learn to bear it!"
|
| Training: |
 Voice
Teacher/Coach: Richard Johnson, Bryn Mawr, PA
|
| Martha's GSSCC Roles:
|
Lady
Sophy, Utopia Limited - 2007
The
Baroness von Krakenfeldt, The Grand Duke - 2005
Dame
Carruthers, Yeomen of the Guard - 2004
Buttercup,
HMS Pinafore - 2002
Lady
Blanche, Princess Ida - 2001 *
Diana,
Thespis - 2001
Lady
Jane, Patience - 2000
Ruth,
Pirates of Penzance - 1998
Mrs.
Partlet, Sorcerer - 1997
*
= Martha's favorite role with GSSCC
|
| Martha's Other Roles:
|
Lady
Angela, Patience, Ardensingers, 2008
Dame
Carruthers, The Yeomen of the Guard, Thespis Etc.,
2008
Lady
Blanche, Princess Ida, Ardensingers, 2007
Nicolette,
Eyes and No Eyes, Ardensingers,
2006
Eulalie
Mackechnie Shinn, The Music Man, Day and Night
Productions, 2006
Little
Buttercup, H.M.S. Pinafore, Ardensingers, 2006
The
Learned Judge, Miss-Trial By Jury, Ardensingers,
2005
Inez,
The Gondoliers, The Savoy Company,
2005
Lady
Jane, Patience, Thespis, Etc., 2005
Katisha,
The Mikado, Ardensingers, 2004 *
Ruth,
The Pirates of Penzance, Thespis,
Etc., 2004
Mrs.
Kindheart, A Gilbert & Sullivan Christmas Carol,
Ardensingers, 2003
Mrs.
Boyle, The Mousetrap, Hedgerow Theatre, 2003
Mrs.
Partlett, The Sorcerer, Rose Valley Chorus, 2003
Mrs.
Kindheart, A Gilbert & Sullivan Christmas Carol,
Ardensingers, 2002
Dame
Carruthers, The Yeomen of the Guard, Ardensingers,
2002
Mrs.
Higgins, My Fair Lady, Rose Valley Chorus, 2002
Mrs.
Partlet, The Sorcerer, Ardensingers, 2001
Diana,
Thespis, Gilbert &
Sullivan Players, 2000
Ruth,
The Pirates of Penzance,
Ardensingers, 2000
Emily
Creed, Ladies in Retirement, Hedgerow Theatre, 1999
Mrs.
Jessup, The Uninvited, Hedgerow Theatre, 1999
Granny/Cindy's
Mom/Giant, Into The Woods, King of Prussia Players,
1998
Elsa
von Grossenkneuten, Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,
Hedgerow Theatre, 1998
Old
Lady/Blair Daniels, Sunday In The Park With George,
Dramateurs, 1996
Lady
Sangazure, The Sorcerer, Thespis Etc., 1996
Mother
Burnside/Mrs.Upson, Mame, St. Thomas Players, 1995
The
Duchess, Me and My Girl, Dramateurs, 1994
Katisha,
The Mikado, Thespis Etc., 1993 *
Mrs.
Partlet, The Sorcerer, Ardensingers, 1992
Lady
Jane, Patience, Thespis Etc., 1990
Ruth,
The Pirates of Penzance, Thespis
Etc., 1989
Inez,
The Gondoliers, Rose Valley
Chorus, 1989
Mme
Praskowia, The Merry Widow, Rose Valley Chorus, 1988
Dame
Carruthers, The Yeomen of the Guard, Thespis Etc.,
1988
Katisha,
The Mikado, Thespis Etc., 1987 *
Lady
Blanche, Princess Ida, Thespis Etc., 1986
*
= Martha's favorite role
|
| Martha's Personal Remarks:
|
Being a member of GSSCC not only has been an incredible pleasure, but
highly educational. It's a delight to be part of a group of so many
knowledgeable folks who produce phenomenal shows of high calibre. And
the cultural enjoyment continues year-round, not only when we're
performing the major G&S show or the annual Trial by Jury in
the county courthouse's magnificent ceremonial courtroom. It's great to
be part of such a brilliant family, rich in knowledge, fat on fun.
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her
infinite variety. - William Shakespeare
|
|
