Ardmore’s Sean Close has featured role in Philadelphia premier
For its closing show this season, 1812 Productions is presenting a Philadelphia premiere, “Hope and Gravity,” written by prominent local playwright Michael Hollinger.
It features a cast of five, including Ardmore actor Sean Close.
Even before it was selected for this season, he and four other actors sat down at a table to read through the script, a procedure which is called a “table read”
“We had a blast just reading it” said Close. “We were making each other laugh so much. We thought it was really funny and it also had a really huge heart.”
It’s no surprise that Close found it funny. 1812 Productions is the only professional theater company in the U.S. dedicated to comedy. Its productions have been making audiences laugh since the company was founded in 1997.
That doesn’t mean “Hope and Gravity” is only a comedy. Director Jennifer Childs, who is producing artistic director of 1812, described it as a combination of “hysterical laughter and aching truth side by side.”
As Close discovered, that combination can be quite a challenge. He plays Steve, a poetry graduate student near the end of his final year
“I’m dealing with writer’s block and looking at the real world after graduation and feeling overwhelmed and paralyzed by it.,” he said. “I have these meltdowns thinking about the future.”
The challenge is that these dramatic moments often follow the comedy that’s an integral part of the play.
“So I have to turn on a dime from using one part of my brain for comedy and then communicate something honest and truthful that’s not funny, ” said Close.
Director Childs even coined a phrase for these swings − “Steve’s spirals.” − and she helped guide him with these ‘spirals.’
“She’s an incredible director because she lets actors bring as much as they want to the play,” said Close. “She encourages us to have strong voices in the creative process.”
Besides the “spirals” his character experiences, there’s the challenge of a play with a clever but complicated structure.
“It’s broken up into different episodes, characters and story lines that interweave and connect,” said Close.
He’s in four scenes in the twoact play. In most scenes, he appears with cast member Jessica Johnson.
Each scene in the play takes place in an entirely different setting that’s part of an intricate set designed by Jorge Cousineau. The play involves multiple storylines from nine people whose lives intersect after an elevator crashes. So Cousineau designed nine different settings that include trick doors, fold out walls, projections and more.
“The set is a dynamic part of the play and a huge part of the show’s magic,” said Close. “The world sort of changes drastically for each scene.”
Playwright Hollinger is having a record season with four of his plays being produced on area stages.
“I’ve seen and admired his previous plays,” said Close. Although Hollinger’s plays have been presented on many stages, this is his first production with 1812.
It’s not Close’s first time on the 1812 stage. For the past three years, he’s been a cast member in the company’s signature political satire, “This Is The Week That Is.” The cast members get to write the sketches for the first act..
“I loved it!” said. Close. “It gave me my first opportunity to help write and create a show.”
Then in the second act, he’s been news anchor reading the news of the day- always satirical. He reads the news deadpan style- but with subtle changes in the tone of his voice, or a raised eyebrow, he conveys the absurdity of the news he’s reporting.
The versatile actor has appeared on various stages besides 1812. Including Arden Theatre Company, Quintessence Theatre, Theatre Horizon, Delaware Shakespeare Festival and more.
Later this season he’ll have a major role when Act 11 Playhouse presents “Tuesdays with Morrie” based on the best-selling book about journalist and author Mitch Albom’s interviews with his terminally ill former teacher. It’s a two character play, and Close takes the role of journalist, Albom.
He’s also been cast in “Mary’s Wedding,” to be presented in early fall by Montgomery Theater.
Right now, the Ardmore actor is fully enjoying every performance of “Hope and Gravity”, and like the other four members of the cast, he feels the excitement of presenting a premiere.
“We wanted to step up to the task of doing justice to this premiere,” he said. “We figured out how to give the audience time to laugh- and then we continue with the drama that happens right along with the comedy and, audiences have been really enthusiastic, rapt and fascinated.”