There are those who think actor Ian Lake was blessed with good fortune. Only in his early 30s, he has been working steadily almost from the time he graduated from the National Theatre School, less than 10 years ago.
Shortly after he received his diploma he was accepted into the Birmingham Conservatory at Stratford, where he had the opportunity to grow under the tutelage of some of Canada’s finest theatre artists. In 2008 he debuted as Berowne in Love’s Labour Lost at the Stratford Festival. From there, just like the battery-powered bunny, he just kept going from one role to another with the Stratford company and to critical approval. During his six year tenure he strengthened his acting chops in roles such as Mortimer, in Mary Stewart, Orestes in Elektra and Florizel in The Winter’s Tale.
He currently stars as Guy in Mirvish’s production of Once, a musical set in Dublin about a guy who gave up his music, and his love, and the girl who inspired him to dream again.
Though Lake has demonstrated he has talent, his success is more likely due to his use of executive thinking skills than to luck. His manner is affable and low key yet his actions point to a passionate commitment to a career as a performer.
In 2013, Lake stepped away from the Stratford Festival because he felt he needed to take time to travel and “to reconnect with who I was outside of acting.”
At the same time, he chose a point in his career when it was wise to investigate possibilities beyond classical theatre. “I wanted to consider what shifts I could make in my acting choices and in my life choices,” he said.
A move into the film and television industry was one of his considerations. However, not long after he left Stratford to embark on his travels overseas, he took a side trip to New York City where his friend Paul Nolan was playing Guy, the lead in the Broadway production of Once.
Lake says that usually he equated musical theatre as, “not something I could do.” However when he saw Once, his reaction was, “Wow, this is a musical I could sing.”
A long time collector of indie folk and indie Irish music, Lake has been singing and playing guitar since his parents gave him one for his 21st birthday.
In fact, Lake credits his parents for providing a lot of support. Perhaps this is the area of his life in which good luck has played a role. Raised in Vancouver in a secular Jewish home connected with the Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture, he has had a sense of identity and heritage to draw upon.
When Lake returned from his trip to Europe in June 2014 he had no job prospects waiting for him. Then he heard that Mirvish was bringing a production of Once to Toronto. Lake decided to go for it and asked his agent to set up an audition for him. To which his agent responded, “You know there is a lot of guitar playing and singing in the show?”
Lake went through a long audition process and the result is evident. About his experience doing the show, he says he feels very close to the role of Guy because he knows what it feels like to be heart-broken, he knows what it feels like to be unsure of next steps.
“Guy is a common man who speaks to many people, real people, struggling to know themselves and to overcome fears.” Lake also perceives that he has grown as a musician. “I’m very excited about this new realm of possibilities,” he says, “and want to explore new opportunities.”
Once is indeed a good vehicle for Lake. It is not a typical Broadway belt-out-the-tunes show. Rather, it is a high-energy ensemble piece composed of a strong talented cast, who are skilled musicians, dancers and actors. The music is indie Irish folk. The characters are lovely, loony, empathetic people with issues. The story is funny and poignant.
Was Ian Lake born under a lucky star or is his secret that he has learned, “It’ll all be OK. Just live”?
Once runs until June 28 at the Ed Mirvish Theatre. www.mirvish.com
