Belles Soeurs character convincing in role as 93-year-old

Nadia Verrucci has become so convincing in her role as a 93-year-old woman that no one knows she isn't actuallya senior citizen and she is not unwell.

"Nobody recognizes me," said the actress of her role in Belles Soeurs, a musical now being performed at the Confederation Centre.

Verrucci told CBC Mainstreet P.E.I. she has read comments on Facebook about no one knowing who she is. "It was pretty funny."

Confederation Centre's communications manager, Fraser McCallum had a hard time not to laugh as he described some of the comments received after the opening night of the play.

They received feedback from people "who were very concerned about the health and wellness of this seemingly wheelchair-bound, 93-year-old woman, who was doing a two-hour musical for 20 nights in September in Charlottetown."

"And dancing to the bingo number," added Verrucci.

Gold Star stamps

The musical is about a woman who wins a million Gold Star stamps and invites others over to help her stick them in the books so she can get free stuff.

The actress said she has played a lot of elderly women and learned from a makeup artist at the Seagull Center in Montreal.

Verrucci does her own makeup and applies it so wellin about 20 minutes that others are convinced she is an old woman.

Verrucci's character, Olivine, is the mother-in-law of a supporting character, Therese, in the play. She says very little in the musical, but watches everything going on.

"I see who's putting the stamps in their bags from the very beginning. I make sure [Therese]knows exactly what's going on."

Verrucci said she learned how to move in a wheelchair by watching her father when he was in one during an illness.

Belles Soeurs continues its run at the Confederation Centre until Oct. 1.

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