Experiences on the Stage
I guess you could say I've been acting all my life. Like most actors I have insecurities and I need to deal with them by drawing attention to myself. It's been a liability as much as it's been an asset at times. Early on I broke the first rule of military basic training: DO NOT draw attention to yourself. But, what can I say? It's my nature. And I can't think of anything that is more satisfying to me than performing. Whether it's on stage or in front of a camera, it doesn't really matter.
Ali Hakim selling his dodaddles |
When I was growing up, I spent a lot time by myself. Playing and play acting, making up stories for my own personal entertainment. When I began writing, it opened up more possibilities. When I got up in front a big audience to play a part for the first time, I was hooked.
Ali Hakim & Ado Annie |
I started acting in 1990. Though I had played a couple of minor parts in church road shows and played in the occasional skit at summer camp, I didn't think of it as seriously acting, though I did have fun. In 1990, I tried out for the part of Ali Hakim in Oklahoma. It was the part I wanted and the part I got.
Ali Hakim & Will |
At the risk of sounding a little self absorbed (you might want to reread paragraph one, sentence two), there are still people in Mt. Pleasant, Utah that remember my performance in Oklahoma. Basically, I did everything I could to make my time on the stage the funniest and most memorable of any of the scenes.
Dominic after spiking the punch. |
The next year, I tried out for Grease. I did do my best, even if I did wind up pissing off my Speech and Drama coach, Suzan Rasmussen, on more than one occasion... But that kind of defines our relationship. I would do Grease again, but only on the condition that we work from the script as it was originally written.
With the Beauty School Dropout. |
The script we used was completely rewritten so we wouldn't offend central Utah sensitivities. Of course, in my book, to hell with sensitivity. I have no problem with changing a line or two in a given script, but this was a completely different play (in my honest and not so humble opinion). As an actor I could care less. As a writer, I was offended. But now I think of all the changes a script goes through during the filming of a movie. I guess that's the sacrifice a writer makes when they finally sell their property.
Joe, front left (circa 1990). |
It was in high school that I, along with everyone else, was introduced to William Shakespeare. And like most, I rebelled. "What the hell is this guy saying? I don't get! This is ridiculous! Greatest writer ever my ass!" Eventually, I came around. I developed a greater appreciation for Shakespeare and even spouted out a few verses in my day. I was even in Hamlet... Okay, I was in a scene from Hamlet. I played the part of the ghost. I still didn't get it. Then I saw Kevin Kline play Hamlet on PBS and of course I said, "Oh, now I get it... kind of."
I didn't try out for any plays when I was first in college. But I went to a couple. I watched Fiddler on the Roof and Little Shop of Horrors. My friend, Mark Parnell (front right in the last photo), played the taylor and the dentist respectively. He was great. Mark and I have had our differences. I always thought he came off as kind of arrogant from time to time and he probably thought the same of me. I think we were both right. But I've always had a lot of respect for Mark and I am looking forward to watching him act again. I'd also like to work with him again.
Sarah and Matt in 6 Rms Riv Vu. |
I went through a pretty long period without acting. From 1992 until 1997. Gosh, five years. There were auditions for the Hammond Hall Players, a comunity theater in Winter Harbor, Maine. I wish I had worked with the group sooner. I had so much fun working with them. The play I tried out for was 6 Rms Riv Vu (Six Rooms River View), a comedy set in a New York rent controlled apartment. I wanted so much to play the lead, Paul. I was kind of disappointed when I didn't get it. My friend, Matt got the role and he was awesome. I think it was his first time acting as well. My friend Sarah Ferriss got the other lead part and I played her husband. I had only one scene in the entire play and it was at the end. But I made the most of it and got some great laughs.
I was practicing with Sarah one day. I was reading Paul's lines and said, "I could play this."
"Oh, shutup," said Sarah, "You just want to kiss me."
Hey, I'll do whatever the roll requires. I'm that dedicated.
Promoting The Mousetrap.
I'm on the couch. |
The next play I tried out for was Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap. I loved this play. I played the part of Christopher Wren and boy did I have fun. If you're familiar with Mousetrap, then you might know how... well, flamboyant, Christopher Wren is. I took it to every possible extreme. I believe we sold out two of our performances as well.
Hammond Hall Auditorium |
I was afraid that The Mousetrap would be the last play I'd be able to do with the Hammond Hall Players. They only produce two a year. But the opportunity came up to do a Christmas play right on base. Through some twist of fate, our Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) director was trying to get in touch with me at the same time I was trying to get in touch with her to see if we could do a Christmas play at the club. They had done a melodrama there a couple of years earlier. It was dinner theater. So, we decided to do it again. We produced Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." This marked my debut as a director.
