Meet the Cast, Part 2 Skip to main content
4th Wall Dramaturgy
Test

Meet the Cast, Part 2

November 10, 2014 12:00 AM
Abram Yarbro

by Abram Yarbro, dramaturg See How They Run opened on Friday, November 7. Before one of our final rehearsals, I sat down with each member of the cast and asked them to introduce themselves, talk about their character, the show, and if they had any fun bloopers they wanted to share. You can read part 1 of the "Meet the Cast" series here. Interview with Ann Lopez Abram Yarbro: Tell me about yourself. [caption id="attachment_3149" align="alignright" width="300"]

Ann Lopez plays Miss Skillon

Ann Lopez plays Miss Skillon[/caption] Ann Lopez: I'm from Harriman, Utah. I just got back from my mission in El Salvador, Santa Ana mission. I'm a pre- acting major and this is my second year at BYU. AY: Tell me about Miss Skillon. AL: She is crazy! She is really interesting. She is not afraid to tell people what is wrong or correct people. She has a good moral code. She knows what is good and what is bad and she lets people know. A lot of time that is overbearing for other people but deep down she thinks she is doing what is actually good. That has left her incredibly alone and that has made her loved starved. She gets really drunk and that is really fun to play in the show- the first time she gets drunk in her life. AY: What is your favorite part of the show? AL: I love farces. The energy is what is what I love about the show in general and making people laugh. I think when you're doing a show, a comedy, people laugh and actors get the energy. That drives everything forward and I love that feeling. Specifically, my favorite part is the beginning of act two when I'm drunk. That is my favorite part to be in. Interview with Soren Barker Abram Yarbro: Tell me about yourself. [caption id="attachment_3150" align="alignright" width="200"]

Soren Barker plays The Reverend, Lionel Toop

Soren Barker plays The Reverend, Lionel Toop[/caption] Soren Barker: I am NOT an acting major- go figure. I'm a humanities major with an emphasis in theatre and I have another year before I graduate. I'm married to my wife Emily, she is a theatre teacher- that is how we met. I transferred form BYU Idaho, I did two years up there before moving down here. I'm really grateful to be in shows here because it is hard to be the new kid on the block. AY: Tell me about the Reverend Lionel Toop SB: Lionel Toop is a vicar in his 30s, recently married, under a year. He is trying to do what is right in the sight of his parishioners but it's awfully tricky when he has a wife that is... what is the right phrase... she may be a trifle more broad minded than the rest of the community. He doesn't expect any of this to happen to him and he is just trying to live a normal, quite life and suddenly get hit over the heard by a situation he can't control. AY: What is your favorite part of the show? SB: I like so many parts of the show. Act two is really where some of the fun, craziness happens. Act three is all out nuts, but act two is when some things start happening to Lionel and he gets more and more disheveled. That is a real treat for me, I love the physical comedy. AY: Do you have any bloopers you want to share? SB: My favorite blooper happened at the very end when things are finally wrapping up in the story and come to a resting point. There is one little problem that arises at the very end and someone missed their cue so the problem never got brought up. We just sort of improved and said, "Okay, I guess the show is over... yay!" Interview with Michael Abbott Abram Yarbro: Tell me about yourself. [caption id="attachment_3151" align="alignright" width="225"]

Michael Abbott plays Sergeant Towers

Michael Abbott plays Sergeant Towers[/caption] Michael Abbott: I'm grew up in Oregon, I've been living here in Utah since I started school. I've been at BYU three or four years and I'm currently a Biology Major. AY: Tell me about Sergeant Towers. MA: Sergeant Towers is a cockney. He always feels this need to assert himself, he needs to show that he is in charge. He is used to giving out order and used to having them followed. He is a Sergeant Major, pretty high up in the command, so he is used to people jumping when he says. He is not really used to this situation outside of military life and not used to civilians not giving him direct answers. With the confusing nature of the play, that really bothers him- he just can't seem to get a straight answer. AY: What is your favorite part of the show? MB: I love all my interactions with Humphrey. Jordan does awesome as Humphrey and I love watching him. I kinda wish I could watch the whole play from the audience but I don't get to do that. AY: Do you have any bloopers you want to share? MB: There is a part where I”m supposed to say, “Well you don't make me laugh,” but I started to laugh right after saying that and I ended up laughing while I was saying the line. Another time, Rodger is deaf in his right ear and I'm partially deaf in my left ear, and because of the way we were oriented backstage we couldn't hear our cues so we had to switch positions backstage so that we could listen with our good ears.

Related Articles

data-content-type="article"
Test

Some Pig: Final Thoughts with Wilbur

July 26, 2022 12:00 AM
by Jessa Cunningham, dramaturg After the show wrapped up and people went their separate ways, Garret Rushforth, who played Wilbur, and I chatted and I asked him some questions about his experience with the play. What better way to gain insight about the show than from the actor who was in the thick of things from the very beginning? Here is what Garret had to say about this unique opportunity: Me: How was this experience of playing Wilbur? What was your Favorite aspect of it all? Garret: I loved playing Wilbur. My favorite aspect was discovering the character more and more each performance. I never really felt that I had learned all that the character had to offer. Me: What were some challenges that you faced while preparing for the show? Garret: A few of the challenges that I faced had to do primarily with transportation. My car tried to die a couple of times during the run. As far as developing the show goes, I found that the difficulties were mostly in finding the lines. Not simply reciting them, but discovering what was beneath them, motivating them and making them come to life. Me: What lessons have you learned from playing this part, or just from the play in general? Garret: I've learned that there is an amazing opportunity to find out about yourself from the character discovery process. I also learned how much a family the cast can become if given the opportunity. Me: What is your favorite part of this story? Garret: I love when Wilbur and Charlotte talk about Charlotte's death and Wilbur is so devastated. It showed how deep Wilbur's reliance on Charlotte was as well as his desire to help her too. Me: As you leave this production, what will stay with you? Garret: The friendships I've made and the things that I've learned about myself because of the show. Me: What aspects of your character did you love/latch onto from the beginning? Garret: I latched onto the loneliness aspect of Wilbur's life. For all his life, he'd not been given much of a chance, Fern and Charlotte being the exceptions. He was written off by nearly everyone until Charlotte pointed out how special he is. Me: Any final thoughts you would like to share with those who came to the show? Garret: Charlotte's a web was a show that offered a unique view of friendship and family. It doesn't matter what someone looks like or where they're from, friendship and family can transcend all differences.
2 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"
Test

test

July 26, 2022 12:00 AM
story emporium
1 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"
Test

It's All So Very... British! (Part 2)

July 26, 2022 12:00 AM
Playwright Philip King knew how to get the laughs. Much of the humor in See How They Run is the contrast of American and English cultures. America's entrance into WWII and subsequent support of the United Kingdom led to many American troops stationed in England. Those troops brought their American culture and customs. Consequently, 1940s Britain was suddenly learning a lot about our culture; some of it they liked and some of it they didn't but Philip King's ability to find the humor in American/England cultural differences contributed to See How They Run's success. BBC America: 10 American Habits Brits Will Never Understand See How They Run's current version was purposefully revised for an American audience. In fact, the play has gone through more than one big change. The original script was a one act farce titled Moon Madness produced at Peterborough Reperatory in 1942. A few years later it went to Comedy Theatre on London's West End and it was there that King added a second act and renamed it See How They Run. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="343"] See How They Run first appeared in London during Hitler's second Blitz of Southern England news1.ghananation.com/international[/caption] Opening night on the West End was an exciting event. Rumor has it that during the show, three bombs dropped on London but even Hitler's Blitz could not stop the laughs. The show continued without a pause but George Gee, the actor playing Clive, later complained that all three bombs dropped during his funniest lines. See How They Run was so successful it continued for 600 more performances. In 1949, the show was once again revised and re-staged, this time in America. King changed Clive and Penelope to American characters to appeal to the local audience. Also, with the end of the Second World War and the rise of the Cold War, the original Nazi intruder was changed to a Russian spy. This is the version we present to you this year.
1 Min Read
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
Previous Next