Duncan actor Gavin Langelo is making his dreams come true in the big city.
Langelo, 24, will be starring as Vicomte de Valmont in Exit 22 Productions’ Dangerous Liaisons (Les Liaisons Dangereuses), from Feb. 10-13, a play about the seductions and betrayals of French aristocrats.
“It’s a feel-good show, it’s definitely a comedy starting out,” Langelo said, though noting the play becomes more emotionally heavy toward the conclusion.
Langelo’s character Valmont and the character of the Marquise de Merteuil are callow cads who get their kicks from doing what they shouldn’t.
“Valmont and Merteuil take pride in pretty much playing with people and destroying them to make themselves feel better,” Langelo explained. “It’s a very sexually-driven show. It’s driven by jealousy and love and hate.”
The play tells the story of an insensitive playboy who meets his match at the most unexpected moment.
“I end up falling in love and it kind of flips my whole life upside down,” Langelo explained.
It’s been a fulfilling and challenging role that Langelo’s excited to share with the audience.
“I had to work a lot on my British accent. They call it ‘RP’ for this, it’s received pronunciation...It’s a heightened British, it’s not quite what you’d hear coming out of London nowadays,” Langelo said. “It’s a very dialogue-heavy show, so I spent well over a month just learning my lines and making sure I’ve put all the acting work as well ‘cause there’s a ton of subtext and that stuff that goes into it.”
Langelo, who was born and raised in Duncan, now lives in North Vancouver where he’s in his third year of his degree in acting for stage and screen.
“My goal is eventually to just work in films, work in theatre and not have to have your conventional 9 to 5 job,” said Langelo who played the part of Riff Raff in Exit 22’s production of Rocky Horror Picture Show last November.
Langelo said he honed his acting skills locally and with help from the expert instruction of several Cowichan Secondary School teachers, including Michael Moroz and Devon Bailey.
“They really helped me,” Langelo said in appreciation.
Last and most of all Langelo said he’s thankful for the support of his family, who resides in Duncan.
“They’ve supported me throughout all this,” he said. “I would not be able to do it without them just saying ‘go for it and do what you love.’”
Dangerous Liaisons runs from Feb. 10-13 at the BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts at Capilano University in North Vancouver. Due to mature content the play is recommended for ages 14 and up. For ticket information and showtimes visit capilanou.ca/centre or call the theatre at 604-990-7810.