Best supporting performances
Ordered by preference, here are the 10 performances by actors in a supporting role that most registered with me this year:
1. Tracy Michelle Arnold (Linda Loman, “Death of a Salesman,” American Players Theatre): Arnold’s Linda insisted that attention be paid, to a woman who commanded respect.
2. James Ridge (father, “Eurydice,” American Players Theatre): Ridge gave one of the most moving demonstrations of a father’s love for his daughter that I’ve ever seen on stage.
3. Marcus Truschinski (Biff Loman, “Death of a Salesman,” American Players Theatre): Truschinski conveyed Biff’s abiding but tortured love for a disappointing father he’d once worshiped.
4. Linda Stephens (Betty, “The Foreigner,” Milwaukee Repertory Theater): Stephens was alive to the great awakening in a character tired of life until meeting a quirky foreigner named Charlie.
5. Dan Klarer (actor and plague victim, “Isaac’s Eye,” Third Avenue Playhouse): Klarer’s funny and smart Brechtian narrator sold me on a play I’d previously liked but not loved.
6. Kelsey Brennan and Cristina Panfilio (the Dromio twins, “The Comedy of Errors,” American Players Theatre): No way I’m choosing between these two gifted comic actors, playing characters they somehow managed to present as both distinct and identical.
7. Shannon Cochran (Fräulein Schneider, “Cabaret,” Broadway at the Marcus Center): Cochran was heartbreaking as a character who rejects love because she sees farthest into the future.
8. James Pickering (Candy, “Of Mice and Men,” Milwaukee Repertory Theater): Pickering conveyed the forlorn alienation of an old man rightly afraid that he and his beloved dog would be left to die.
9. Molly Rhode (Saunders, “Fallen Angels,” Milwaukee Chamber Theatre): Rhode’s maid sang, danced, played the piano and shamelessly stole every scene she was in.
10. Marcus Naylor (Bono, “Fences,” Milwaukee Repertory Theater): Naylor registered the collateral damage of a friendship gone south, once Bono’s best friend loses his way.
Honorable Mention: Arranged alphabetically by actor’s name, here’s ten more terrific 2016 supporting performances: Terry Bellamy (Gabriel, “Fences,” Milwaukee Repertory Theater); Jonathan Gillard Daly (Padre, “Man of La Mancha,” Milwaukee Repertory Theater); Matt Daniels (Dr. Carrasco, “Man of La Mancha,” Milwaukee Repertory Theater); Kelly Doherty (Becky, “Bachelorette,” Theater RED); Karen Estrada (Sophie, “A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur,” Milwaukee Chamber Theatre); Chiké Johnson (Crooks, “Of Mice and Men,” Milwaukee Repertory Theater); Greta Oglesby (Sarah, “The African Company Presents,” American Players Theatre); Bristol Pomeroy (Da, “Once,” Broadway at the Marcus Center); Jeff Schaetzke (father, “Violet,” Skylight Music Theatre); Rachael Zientek (Annie, “Doctor! Doctor!,” Northern Sky Theater).