By Emily R. Zarevich, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Village Theatre Waterdown, located on 317 Dundas Street East, is preparing to present Susan Miller’s 20th Century Blues. Directed by Jerrold Karch and produced by Ilene Elkaim, this fast-approaching and ambitious play is set to premiere on November 7, 2025. A Burlington-based actress, Karen Gaudun, has been cast in the role of Danny, a leading part. Gaudun previously appeared as the Paris-dwelling Chloe in Theatre Burlington’s 2023 production of My Old Lady. She is now mounting the Waterdown stage as a New Yorker.
20th Century Blues is a play about women. It’s about how they age, how their relationships change, and how they perceive themselves through different stages of life. Gaudun will play a New York-based photographer who has been snapping shots of the same close group of female friends for decades. Danny has documented these ladies as they’ve changed their hairstyles, recovered from childbearing and illnesses, grown wrinkles, and forged their special bond. Danny, an innovative artist, is scheduled to give a big show at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). She makes a request of the women, hoping that the trust they’ve built up over forty years will compel them to say yes. Will they sign releases for their photos to be included in her exhibition?
Gaudun’s full-time career outside of acting on local stages is running a creative business. She is the founder and owner of Karen Gaudun Interiors, a home interior decorating company that she began ten years ago. This makes her an ideal match to play a professional, artistic woman with big goals for her career.
When asked about the connection she feels to her character, Gauden was able to cite many strong similarities as well as significant differences that she is reflecting on while rehearsals are underway.
“Danny and I are both introverts,” said Gaudun. “People who know me might find it surprising that I would say that, but I need a lot of alone time to recharge my battery, even though I love being with people. I am a bit more of a ham than Danny since I like to be on the stage, whereas Danny is behind the camera. She’s very sensitive and intuitive and sees things through a particular lens. No pun intended.”
One major theme that 20th Century Blues will heavily touch upon is the theme of public exposure versus privacy. We’re currently living in a digital age where being photographed or filmed can change a person’s life in a heartbeat. The reality is no different in Susan Miller’s twentieth-century setting. The women photographed by Danny are conflicted about whether or not they want their photos to be put on display for anyone to see and comment on. Do they really want other people to judge the long transition between their younger and older selves?
“It’s an interesting dichotomy because, on one hand, I think we all want to be seen,” Gaudun responded when asked about this particular theme. “And on the other hand, it’s terrifying. There is a vulnerability in being exposed. It’s one of those double-edged swords, and the play definitely explores that.”
Gaudun and her fellow cast members are working hard to establish trust amongst themselves so they will be able to persuasively portray the long-term relationship between Danny and this tight circle of women.
“It’s super important that we have this connection and bond,” Gaudun explained. “I did not know any of the other actors before we started. We did have a get-together at my place in the early summer. We spent the evening together sitting in the backyard. It’s a process of getting to know each other and trust each other. This group is a ton of fun to rehearse with. We laugh. We laugh a lot and goof around. Our director shakes his head, but he laughs too. He knows how important that is.”
Tickets for 20th Century Blues are on sale via the Burlington Performing Arts Centre here. Ticket buyers should know that this will be an off-site venue, and that the play will be staged in the Memorial Hall in Waterdown, located on 317 Dundas Street, from Nov. 7 through Nov. 23, 2025.
