TV personality and actress Paige Davis (TLC’s “Trading Spaces”) chatted about starring in the Off-Broadway show “Pen Pals,” where she plays the role of Bernie. The play is being performed at DR2 Theatre in Manhattan.
“Pen Pals,” directed by SuzAnne Barabas, is a celebration of the endearing power of friendship and connection between two women Bernie and Mags through handwritten letters that span nearly five decades.
Australian ballroom dancer and TV personality Sharna Burgess (“Dancing with the Stars”) portrays the role of Mags.
Working with Sharna Burgess
“Sharna is wonderful as Mags; we’ve really hit it off,” Davis said. “Perhaps there is something to be said about two dancer brains, two dancer spirits and two dancer souls coming together.”
“I just felt connected to her right away, and I have always been a really big fan of hers,” Davis admitted. “Sharna was always one of my most favorites on ‘Dancing with the Stars.”
“I idolized her, frankly, and to be able to meet her in person was very exciting for me,” Davis added.
Playing Bernie in ‘Pen Pals’
On playing Bernie, Davis said, “It has been wonderful. She’s a rich, wonderful arc of a character and she goes through so much. She changes so much and a lot of that is because of Mag’s influence and a lot of that is just life’s ups and downs and hits.”
“Bernie is just wonderful. I love playing her,” she reiterated.”
Lessons learned from the ‘Pen Pals’ play
On the lessons learned from this play, Davis reflected, “Well, it made me very grateful for my own life, I can say that.”
“One of the things I love about this show is that it’s incredibly relatable. Between the two women, there really is something for everyone. It goes the span of almost 50 years of each of these women’s lives,” she elaborated.
Davis continued, “So, between these women, there is something that happens in at least one of their lives that is bound to resonate with any person in the audience. It starts from a very young age, we begin at 14 years old. So, it really deals with very typical life challenges and joys.”
“Marriage, babies, illness, moving, dreams fulfilled and dreams lost,” she admitted. “So, I really love that, and it has made me cherish my own journey. I think I’ve learned about myself and my capacity for empathy and compassion,” she expanded.
Working with playwright Michael Griffo
“It’s quite a journey to go from age 14 to age 65 in the span of 90 minutes,” she said. “As an actress, that has been a really incredible challenge. Michael Griffo really wants the script to be the best that it can be, and I think that’s extraordinary. That’s not true for every artist of playwright, so I think a real nod goes to him for that.”
“The script has gone through several changes, and he is willing to keep working on it, and he’s not super precious with it,” Davis added.
The digital age
On being a performer in the digital age, Davis said, “Well, there are two sides of a coin. It’s a double-edged sword. As a consumer, I absolutely love it. I think it’s really fun and it’s entertaining and I love following people that I admire and that give great information.”
“There’s also the getting sucked into it and not getting the stuff done you need to get done. You know, first things first in life, right? It’s not always scroll to Instagram,” she said.
“As a performer, I love it as an opportunity to connect with fans,” she said. “I actually do enjoy making content, but I don’t enjoy the pressure of having to make content.”
“Sometimes, something that can be so fun and artistically fulfilling can feel a little bit like a burden when you’re not keeping up and when the followers aren’t plentiful,” she observed.
“It takes a tremendous amount of consistency and really a lot of creativity,” she noted.
“Success in this industry has nothing to do with being lucky or being on a hit show. It takes focus, energy, drive, and commitment to make that happen,” she stressed.
Advice for young and emerging artists
For young and aspiring artists, she responded, “Oh, goodness. Remember that it takes time. Remember that nothing is just given to you. It takes a lot of work. You’ve got to always be prepared to be better than you were and yet, don’t take yourself so seriously.”
“You may have done a really, really good job, but you just didn’t get it because you weren’t the right height or maybe somebody was just better than you,” she noted.
“Just always be prepared,” she underscored. “The only thing you can keep control of is your preparation. Also, just know that your time will come.”
“It takes a lot of patience. Sometimes, even if you hit it right out of the gate, that might be really, really wonderful, and your waiting might come later,” she noted.
“You may do three jobs in a row, and then all of a sudden it’s three years since you’ve booked something, and that’s common. You’re not alone and just don’t give up,” she added.
Stage of her life
On the title of the current chapter of her life, she said, “Let Go, Let God.”
Success
Regarding her definition of the word success, Davis revealed, “Peace of mind, being calm, having trust and faith.”
Closing thoughts on ‘Pen Pals’
For fans and viewers, she expressed about “Pen Pals,” “I want people to be taken on a journey and be able to relate to these characters. I want them to sit back and connect with these two women.”
“Also, to enjoy and revel in what female friendship means, and what friendship in general means,” she said. “It teaches us how very important friendships are in everybody’s lives.”
“Friends can offer a kind of compassion and forgiveness that is unique. It’s distinct, special, extremely valuable, and needed in everyone’s life,” she concluded.
To learn more about Paige Davis, follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
For more information on the Off-Broadway play “Pen Pals,” check out the official homepage.
