Julian a gem in Mauckingbird's 'Beautiful Thing'

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With building empathy and sympathy as the initial and ultimately integral task for an actress to address, Melanie Julian consummately plots to make connections with audiences no matter the complexity or simplicity of a role. As Sandra in Mauckingbird Theater Co.’s presentation of “Beautiful Thing,” the 41-year-old blends harrowing hardship and pleas for ease in mothering an adolescent beginning to comprehend his sexuality.

“The story is told so sweetly and without judgment,” the East Passyunk Crossing dweller said of the Adrienne Theatre-situated tale. “It’s a great piece for encouraging acceptance and as a coming-out work, it offers a reminder of the importance of not being ashamed of one’s attractions or feelings.”

In promoting those sentiments, Julian is portraying a woman she deems “super fun,” “tough,” “very sexual” and “sure of herself.” As a single mother in a downtrodden section of South East London, Sandra loses layers of her weary nature through her son Jamie, whose kiss with friend Ste proves pivotal in pushing the play’s emphasis on discovery and camaraderie. As she feels many contemporary creations lack those elements, along with explorations of love and family, Julian appreciates the opportunity to execute the gentleness apparent in “Beautiful Thing.”

“It’s a gorgeous script, and I love performing it to support Mauckingbird and its mission of inclusion,” she said of the company for whom she played Hippolyta in 2010’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” “It really strives to help people to understand they have to battle regardless of their circumstances, especially at times where they feel nobody is going to support them.”

An overt component of the 1993 brainchild by English playwright Jonathan Harvey, homosexuality takes on numerous companions as themes, with questions of self-worth, estimation of dreams’ validity and notions of acquiring lasting happiness also affording viewers occasions to see the characters as theatrical depictions of themselves. Julian finds the capacity for channeling those links particularly compelling, as they reveal her infatuation with letting patrons see into her soul, itself an ever-covetous seeker of serenity.

“I think we long for close bonds, and I’m fortunate to have two careers where I can reinforce that belief,” the sixth-year assistant professor at Temple University said of meshing her acting, theater and voice coaching endeavors to garner more lessons on life’s laborious and rewarding pursuits. “The play undoubtedly is great for teenagers and young adults, but it’s really for anyone with an interest in great storytelling and wondering how better life can be by constantly looking at who we are and who we can be.”

Julian has explored opuses with the same allegiance to crisp narration as “Beautiful Thing” possesses for most of her life. Through her mother, the co-founder of a community theater, the Kentucky native found taking on different identities an intoxicating pursuit and became enthusiastic about delving more deeply into theatre’s likelihood of yielding her vocation. Earning bachelor’s degrees in acting and English from the University of Kentucky, she knew forging her future would require diligence and patience and sought more education to understand the historical and critical facets of her burgeoning passion.

“Like most people, I suppose, I had a period where I wondered if I were heading in the right direction,” Julian said. “I knew fairly early on, though, that I had to situate myself in that universe somehow.”

Adding master’s degrees through the University of Pittsburgh and the Steel City’s Point Park University, she became a full-fledged occupant of the creative cosmos and has excelled as a hire for The Pittsburgh Playhouse, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, the Minnesota Orchestra, the St. Paul, Minn.-based Penumbra Theatre, New York’s SoHo Playhouse, the Sacramento Theatre Co. and the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at the University of California, Davis, her postsecondary education employer before Temple secured her services. Looking to build her local stage profile, she landed her “Beautiful Thing” assignment in December and will cap her experience Sunday.

“It has been a great run so far, and I’ve really enjoyed being able to have my acting and teaching feed off each other,” Julian, who is making additional use of handling Sandra’s Cockney dialect by teaching it to her students, said. “I’m definitely enthused about seeing what I can do to help out more productions as an actress and to do more vocal coaching.”

Come April, she will assist husband Lane Savadove as he directs her in EgoPo Classic Theater’s “Gint,” in which she will play Oldie Mama, a character whose name drew a laugh because it marks such a leap from the vitality that Sandra exudes. The play will mark her third work for EgoPo, which Savadove founded in 1991 and guides as its artistic director, and will find her offering vocal coaching, too. The latter talent is also keeping her busy at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, where she is helping South Philly resident Amanda Kearns and the other cast members of the Philadelphia Theatre Co.’s “Tribes.”

“Like with any project, I’m enthusiastic about making a difference,” Julian, who has also coached thespians for Luna Theater Co., 620 S. Eighth St., said.

With “Beautiful Thing” nearly behind her, the actress confessed to falling for its focus on family and ability to resonate with its beholders. Those qualities have made it a valuable contribution to the contemporary stage and just as endearing as far older and more renowned works.

“I’m fortunate to have had this job,” Julian said. “Every experience has kept this teacher a student.” 

For tickets, call 215-923-8909, or visit mauckingbird.org.

Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.

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