◆ Matthew J. Palm
Uncle and nephew play uncle and nephew in Mad Cow’s ‘Little Foxes’
talks with an uncle and nephew who also play uncle and nephew in Mad Cow Theatre’s “The Little Foxes.”
In Mad Cow Theatre’s “The Little Foxes,” a family seethes with blackmail, greed and theft. As it happens, two of the actors in the cast share the same blood — though happily not the bad blood displayed by their onstage characters.
Steven Lane and Zachary Lane, uncle and nephew respectively, also play uncle and nephew in Mad Cow’s dynamic production — though their fictional counterparts are related by marriage, not genetics. The two actors do share one thing with their more disagreeable alter egos: They live within shouting distance of each other.
The extended Lane clan owns adjacent houses in Lake Mary — which while working on “The Little Foxes” has proved convenient.
“We rode in together today,” says Steven Lane when I catch up with the men in late July, a few weeks before opening night.
The play marks the first time the two have worked together.
“It was actually unsettling” at first, Steven Lane says. “He’s looking at me… but he’s somebody else right now.”
Both actors are critically acclaimed: Steven, 49, has made numerous “best of the year” lists during his career. Among his work: “Dancing Lessons” and “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby” at Orlando Shakes.
Zachary’s work in Mad Cow’s “Skylight” earned him the 2017 Sentinel’s Critic’s Pick for best featured actor in a drama. He played the leading role this year in “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” for Beth Marshall Presents at the Garden Theatre and has a film, “The Suicide of James Rider,” coming out soon.
“The relationship we have centers around acting,” says Steven, who performs regularly at Walt Disney World. “No one else in our family does anything like this.”
As a child, Zachary watched his uncle perform — sometimes with unexpected consequences. At one performance, Steven’s character was being berated on stage.
“I yelled, ‘You leave my Uncle Steven alone’ and interrupted the show,” Zach recalls with a grin.
Years later, Zach decided he needed to be onstage, too.
“I had this awakening from God, saying this is what I have to do,” recalls Zach, now 27 and a performer at Universal Orlando. And then? “I went to talk to Steven.”
Uncle Steven was surprised at first — but he has nothing but respect for his nephew.
“He’s super brave,” Steven says. “If he sees a role that interests him, he goes for it. I’ve always been a toe-in-thewater kind of guy. He just jumps in.”