ACTING LESSONS OR: Anything, Anything, Anything Goes

Its been a bit since I did an old Matt story, so here it is, one of my fave old Matt stories.

1991, My freshman year of High School, Matt’s Senior year. After a fine middle school acting career, but an unauspicious beginning of High school nabbing an understudy role, I finally found myself back on the stage in a larger capacity. I was cast to play Elisha J. Whitney in Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes”.

Now, my current reputation for over the top theatre comedy was not present nor deserved at that time, as I was afraid to do much more than yell onstage. There was someone in the cast who I found to be further along in the talent game than I was. Mr. barnson.

Playing the irrepressible Evelyn Oakley, Matt brought a gusto and bizarre energy to the role that Porter himself probably never envisioned (or probably wanted). Playing right to the crowd, Matt was able to take an energy i had yet to find as an actor, and blast it out with flailing arms and legs, a bizarre accent, like Sam Kinison mixed with Eddie Izzard, with just a touch of Jim Carrey.

As I was struggling to play drunk, Matt pulled me aside and said.. “Dude, look.. just stop being afraid to look dumb and just explode.. WOO!!”.

I told myself I would do it, and I was sure I had.. but the video of that old Play doesn’t lie. I never did quite get it right.

As my acting years went on, I held on to that advice, though. The next year, as I began an almost “Single White Female” imitation of Matt (never was good at forming my own identity), I used some of this approach in “Into The Woods”, and finally mastered it in “Hello Dolly”.. and to this day, I find myself utilising these over the top skills that I was lucky enough to be taught.

As a side note.. the above is not one of my fave stories.. this one is.. Matt would get really wrapped up in his over the top Bristish role. He would be known to hold the accent offstage for a while.. which could be funny.

It is important to note that we had body mics on for the musicals.

On one particular night.. after aparticularly good scene with a pair of glow in the dark boxers shining in the blackened theatre.. Matt began trotting offstage in character as he would often do. As the steps began to swivel around, one could hear an audible thud.. the dull banging of the stairs right into Matt’s flailing limbs.

On this particular night, the sound tech just happened to have not turned off that particular microphone..; and like the stars alligning, these particulars allowed the audience to hear their favorite bombastic purehearted, well behaved Mormon boy.. scream out..

“OH F**K!” in a loud british accent, ringing over the loudspeakers.

Now, matt was not a curser.. (nor was he british).. but that day, to hundreds of shocked Cougar parents, he was both.