Knock Knock - An Actor's Journey - Chapter 1

So I’m cast in Knock Knock as Cohn, an irascible mid-aged hermit who lives with his equally irascible mid-aged hermit friend Abe in a cabin in the woods.  Neither of these gentlemen has left their home in 20 years.  Along the way they are visited by Joan of Arc (accompanied by her Voices) who wants Cohn and Abe to accompany her to see the Emperor and tell him that the sky is missing and that the Emperor needs to build 1000 spaceships to take people to heaven and save them from the holocaust. 

I know. I know.  You’re think---what a tired old plot line.  But trust me, it’s hysterical.  Part Marx Brothers slapstick and word play, part satire, part…fill in the blank.

Last night was the first read-through for Knock Knock.  Led by director Frances McCain, we sat in comfort in the lobby of the TLT Workshop and read the play aloud.  No matter how many times you read a play silently by yourself, there is no substitute for hearing the characters come alive through the spoken word.  This is because plays aren’t written to be read silently like a book.  They don't work like that. Plays are written to be heard and seen.  And hopefully, you'll be able to hear this one over your own laughter.

I’m going to try to provide a narrative of one actor’s journey through the six to eight week process of putting on a play – this play.  It's mean to be informative and hopefully entertaining.  I'd like you to leave comments to tell me how I'm doing.  Onward we go. Gotta learn those damn lines.

End of Chapter 1.

A Little Night Music closes

Congratulations to director Richard Sharkey, musical director Pam McNeil and their talented cast and crew for their beautiful production of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music! 

Last weekend for A Little Night Music

Friday, Saturday and Sunday are your last chances to catch Tryon Little Theater's lavish production of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music.

Stephen Sondheim is the premier composer and lyricist of our time and he has won 8 Tony Awards (including a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre), an Academy Award, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Price and the Olivier Award.

His famous scores include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Follies, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Assassins and Passion.  In addition he wrote lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy.

A Little Night Music originally opened on Broadway in 1973 and was revived in 2009 starring Catherine Zeta-Jones.  Even if you don't know the show you can't help but know one of it's classic songs - "Send in the Clowns".

Call for your tickets today at 828-859-2466!

Liebeslieder Singers - A Little Night Music

The Liebeslieder Singers warm up in Tryon Little Theater’s upcoming production of Steven Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music.” The group acts as a Greek Chorus, commenting through song on the actors, their lives, and their romantic choices. From left: Ed Richardson, Petra Harrelson, Rebecca Davis, Josh Moffitt, and Connie Fry-Cedervall.

Performances will be at the Tryon Fine Arts Center, February 17-19 and February 24-26. Show times are 8:00 on Friday and Saturday evenings and 3:00 on Sundays. To purchase tickets or for more information, contact Tryon Little Theater, Mon–Sat, 10am – 1pm. The TLT Box Office is at 516 South Trade, Tryon 828-859-2466. (photo by Lorin Browning)

Mimi Alexander

The Summer Night Smiles Three Times

Fredrika (left, Alexa Hughes) with her grandmother Madame Armfeldt (played by Mary Meyers) rehearsing for Tryon Little Theater’s “A Little Night Music.” (photo by Lorin Browning)

So says the eccentric Madame Armfeldt as part of her instruction to her solemn and serious granddaughter, Fredrika in this Stephen Sondheim musical “A Little Night Music.”

Mme. Armfeldt dislikes Fredrika touring across 1900’s Sweden with her actress mother and ‘rescues’ her to a more stable life in the country. There, Mme. Armfeldt’s teachings include thoughts of:

• romance: “Never marry, or even dally with, a Scandinavian… They are all insane.”

• suffering loss: “To lose a lover or even a husband or two during the course of one’s life an be vexing. But to lose one’s teeth is a catastrophe.”

Meyers moved to Tryon in 2008 after spending the most recent twenty-four years commuting from New Jersey to New York City as a member of the Metropolitan Opera Chorus, an accomplishment for which they will honor her in New York this coming April. In this production, Meyers will sing the well-known “Liaisons.”

Director Richard Sharkey says, “We are so fortunate to have Mary with us in this cast and especially in this area. She retired from her career at the Met because she has Parkinson’s disease but her love of performing is so evident in everything she does on stage. Mme. Armfeldt is such a strong character, and in fact much older and more frail than Mary herself is, but Mary knows that there is strength in us all - despite our frailties. She serves as an inspiration to us all!”

The talented sixteen year old Hughes will sing “A Glamorous Life” in this production. She has been a regular in TLT’s Summer Youth productions, beginning her career as the young Alice in Wonderland. Hughes also works for TLT shows in the tech booth and back stage.

The cast is full of commanding singers who are busy rehearsing the Tony Award winning musical score. Perhaps the most notable song in the production is “Send in the Clowns” sung by Debbie Craig-Archer of Spartanburg.

Performances will be at the Tryon Fine Arts Center, February 17-19 and February 24-26. Show times are 8:00 on Friday and Saturday evenings and 3:00 on Sundays.

To purchase tickets or for more information, contact Tryon Little Theater, Mon–Sat, 10am – 1pm. The TLT Box Office is at 516 South Trade, Tryon 828-859-2466.

Mimi Alexander

Box Office now OPEN for Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music.

Call the Box Office at 859-2466 or drop by the Tryon Little Theater Workshop at 516 S Trade St.  Hours are 10 -1 Monday through Saturday.

Why is HE Wearing MY Robe?

Tryon Little Theater is pleased to have the creative duo of Debbie Craig-Archer and Ben Chumley back in its midst. The Spartanburg team recently brought “Clue, the Musical” to the TLT Workshop stage, under Craig-Archer’s direction and Chumley’s musical leadership. The two join the current company of actors for this season’s full-scale musical: Stephen Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music.”  Rounding out this love triangle is local TLT favorite Steve Porter, with his booming voice and bullish ways.

Director Richard Sharkey says of the cast, “I am really thrilled at the talent we’ve got in this show. ‘A Little Night Music’ is one of my favorite musicals and this production will be made better by the quality of performers we’ve been able to cast. Sondheim’s music is always difficult, but with Pam McNeil’s talent as the musical director, and with this cast, this is a TLT production that no one should miss.”

The story takes place in Sweden in the early 1900’s. The twists and turns in the character’s romantic lives will keep the audience in suspense. Here is a foretaste of one trio’s intertwining romances.

The glamorous Desiree is a touring actress when her former lover, Egerman, attends one of her performances. After the show, Egerman visits Desiree alone, and lamenting about his marriage to his young and innocent (virginal, in fact) trophy wife, the two former lovers rekindle their romance.

The two are interrupted by a surprise visit from Desiree’s current lover, a married military man, Count Malcolm. Malcolm enters Desiree’s room and is stunned to find Egerman dressed in Malcolm’s own robe.

Malcolm, determined to investigate Desiree’s relationship with Egerman, recruits his own wife Charlotte (played by Porter’s real-life wife, Tena Greene-Porter) to get information about Desiree from Egerman’s young wife.

Will Egerman end his chaste marriage in favor of his old love? Will Malcolm’s wife really spy on his lover for him? Will Desiree choose either of these men, or perhaps another?

The answers to these and many more questions will be revealed at performances over two weekends at the Tryon Fine Arts Center. Performances are February 17-19 and February 24-26. Show times are 8:00 on Friday and Saturday evenings and 3:00 on Sundays.

To purchase tickets or for more information, contact Tryon Little Theater, Mon–Sat, 10am – 1pm. The TLT Box Office is at 516 South Trade, Tryon 828-859-2466.

Mimi Alexander

“I Shall Make Love to Your Husband”

Charlotte, long suffering wife of Count Malcolm, has devised a plan to get her philandering husband back. Her plan will involve the young Anne’s husband (Fredrik Egerman played by Ben Chumley), but will ensure Egerman’s faithfulness to Anne in the meantime. That is, if all goes according to her plan.

This is one of the many trysts in Stephen Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music,” Tryon Little Theater’s upcoming musical.

You see, Count Malcolm (played by Greene-Porter’s real-life husband, Steve Porter), has taken a mistress. Charlotte has tolerated his infidelity, but now that Malcolm has discovered his mistress’ rekindled romance with Egerman, the Count’s jealousy is proving too much for his wife.

And what of Egerman’s wife, Anne? Well, she’s half his age, and after an eleven-month marriage, still a virgin, although she has no trouble flirting with his son, who is her own age.

But back to Charlotte’s plan…When Charlotte informs the self-absorbed Anne that Anne’s own husband has also been unfaithful with the very same mistress (Desiree), the two wives conspire to send Desiree “peddling her dubious commodities elsewhere.”

Desiree has invited Egerman and Anne to weekend in her family’s country home. But Malcolm plans to invite himself and Charlotte to the same house party. Malcolm plans to keep an eye on Desiree and Egerman, and Charlotte’s plan is to throw herself into Egerman’s arms, causing her own husband’s jealousy and securing his loyalty to her.

Since she is confident that Egerman will succumb to her charms, she predicts this affair will leave Desiree without either of her lovers. The young and foolish Anne agrees to Charlotte’s plan, as the disappointments of love have strengthened their friendship.

Does Charlotte go through with her plan? Does Egerman stay with his wife, his former lover, or this new paramour? Will the Count’s penchant for dueling solve any of his problems? And what of Egerman’s son – who seems to be in love with his own stepmother?

Richard Sharkey, Director, and Pam McNeil, Music Director, promise the answers to these and more questions at performances at the Tryon Fine Arts Center. Performances are February 17-19 and February 24-26. Show times are 8:00 on Friday and Saturday evenings and 3:00 on Sundays.

To purchase tickets or for more information, contact Tryon Little Theater, Mon–Sat, 10am – 1pm. The TLT Box Office is at 516 South Trade, Tryon 828-859-2466.

Mimi Alexander