‘Three’s Company’ actor hits stage in ‘Straight White Men’
It’s a good bet that when you see or hear the name Richard Kline, memories of his eight-year run as Larry Dallas on “Three’s Company,” will come flooding back. Now, Kline returns to Westport Country Playhouse in the comic satire, “Straight White Men,” on stage May 24 through June 5.
Directed by Playhouse artistic director Mark Lamos, and written by Young Jean Lee, the first Asian American female writer in Playhouse history, the play is set on Christmas Eve. A father has invited his three grown sons back home for pranks, Chinese takeout and gossip. In between the male bonding rituals and conversations about money, work and love, they are forced to face their own identities.
Kline plays Ed, the father, while Bill Army, Denver Milord and Nick Westrate play sons Jake, Matt and Drew, respectively.
“It’s a homecoming for two of his three sons, as his eldest son, Matt, lives with him, but is kind of drifting, making Xerox copies for the oppressed,” Kline said. “Of the other two sons, one is a rich, successful banker and the other is a rich, successful author. There’s a dynamic between them and their Harvard-educated brother who can’t seem to find his niche even at 40 years old.”
What follows is a lot of humor and reliving of childhoods, and some drama in why this third brother is the way he is.
“The play is a bold, exuberant, very funny comedy — and then near the end it builds up to a surprising dramatic punch that proves both powerful and moving,” Lamos said in a press release. “I’ve wanted to bring it to the Playhouse stage since its premiere at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 2017.”
The play reunites Kline and Lamos, who were classmates at Northwestern University.
“I hadn’t seen him for many, many, many years before I did the show at the Playhouse about five years ago, but he didn’t direct that,” Kline said. “But that was the first time I had seen him since 1967, and I was thrilled to find out that he would be directing this one. I knew him as a terrific actor, but he’s become very notable as a director, and we’re having a trip down memory lane together.”
Kline shared that he still gets recognized for his role in “Three’s Company” and people will often talk to him and ask questions about the show, be it in person or on social media.
“The fact the show is still running is astounding to me since the last broadcast was in 1984, so it’s insane,” he said. “I get requests for photos all the time and it’s nice to meet people and share memories of the show. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with John Ritter, which was incredible. Plus, being on a series for eight years is an actor’s dream.”
In addition to working on Broadway in “Waitress,” “November” and “City of Angels,” Kline has toured in the role of the Wizard with the national company of “Wicked,” and has done numerous regional shows, including his previous Westport Country Playhouse role in “And a Nightingale Sang” in 2015. Following “Three’s Company” he has appeared on several television shows, including his current recurring role as Judge Angioli on “Blue Bloods.”
“I’ve had a very varied career doing TV and theater, so I feel very fortunate in that respect,” Kline said. “When people ask whether I prefer one over the other, my first answer is always, ‘I prefer an income,’ but the second answer is, ‘I really love live theater.’”
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit westportplayhouse.org.
“THE PLAY IS A BOLD, EXUBERANT, VERY FUNNY COMEDY”