Actress made good
career choice

By Rita Charleston
For the Times

Merritt Janson wasn’t quite sure where life would take her, and today, she’s unsure of what the future has in store.
But one thing she does know: "For me, it’s just a question of going after what you want, making a commitment to choices and decision. Then, within that, it’s just remembering to keep your eyes open and realizing that there are incredible people around you who can also help you achieve your goals."
That’s Janson’s explanation of a philosophy that eventually brought her from her home in Yardley to the A.R.T. Institute at Harvard University, where she received her master’s degree in fine arts, to an accomplished acting career. She is appearing in the Philadelphia premiere of Eurydice at the Wilma Theater through June 1.
"Growing up, I didn’t have a clear sense of what I wanted to do, but I do know that I was an incredibly active child. So my parents were great in providing us with anything that interested us. For me, one of those things was the theater," she said.
After receiving a degree in English, Hanson was still not sure what to do with her life, until one of her travels — something she also enjoyed immensely — took her to London, where she got involved in theater.
And suddenly came that ah-ha! moment some of us are lucky enough to happen upon in life. From that point on, Janson has managed to amass a substantial amount of impressive acting credits, both here and abroad, some of which include productions at American Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Vineyard Playhouse and Amaryllis Theatre Company. She’s also done some work in film.
Today, starring in Eurydice, Janson explained the story as a modern tale of loss and love as the classic myth of Orpheus is retold from the heroine’s point of view. It has been called a "magical play with gripping emotional potency…a love letter to the world," by the New York Times
On the day Eurydice is to marry her true love Orpheus, a tragic misstep sends her plummeting to the surreal depths of the underworld. Memories are forbidden in this world of the dead, but an unexpected reunion with her father vividly awakens Eurydice’s mind with the love she felt in life. When Orpheus braves the gates of hell to find her, Eurydice must painfully decide whether to remain with her father or return to her earthly love.
"This play is beautifully written and full of imagery. There is also a great image within the play which is a room built out of string. I think that’s a wonderful way to make us think about the play as a whole," she said. "Sarah Ruhl, the playwright, gives you just enough language to make the structure recognizable. But then you have to fill it with the emotional intelligence the play deserves.
"I think the whole play is built on that — an incredible amount of fragility based on the words, the relationships, and the characters," Janson continued. "It’s a very metaphorical story and we must always leave enough space for the audience to enter into it so that they can fill it with their own experiences."
She added that she not only loves appearing in this play but also the profession she has finally chosen to pursue.
"I think this profession offers you the constant opportunity to re-explore, re-examine and learn about yourself and the world around you. It also, hopefully, allows the process, in part, to give an audience a way to open up to something that might not have been there before." ••
For ticket information, call 215-540-7824.