Coastal Point | Arts & Entertainment

Shining Stars

By Christina Weaver
Special to the Coastal Point



	Coastal Point • CHRISTINA WEAVER The cast and crew of Character Analysis unwind after a terrific performance. Creator Harold Schmidt is on the top row, third from the right.

The Village Players have done it again. Last weekend, area theater go-ers were treated to being the first audiences to experience another inaugural production from the creatively quirky mind of local playwright, author and, by-the-way, director of human resources for Carl M. Freeman Communities (Freeman), Harold Schmidt.

Character Analysis, a romantic comedy, is Schmidt’s fifth play to be performed at Bear Trap Dunes in Ocean View. Josh Freeman, owner of the development company that prides itself on community involvement, remembers when Schmidt first broached the subject of his desire to integrate his need to write with his responsibilities at work.

“Just start,” Freeman said he told him. “You are part of an organization that is driven by personal and professional achievement. Just start.” Freeman continued, “Five plays and a theater company later, Harold has paved the way with passion and guts.”

The protagonist in Character Analysis is a 37-year-old writer, aptly named Peter Font, whose life has become conflicted by the reality of four of the characters he has created and the fiction generated by the two women in his life. Schmidt admits in the program that, at times, his own characters have taken over his consciousness and the only way he can rid them from his mind is to write their story.

Managing to keep four imaginary characters both real yet differentiated from the four “live” characters is a formidable challenge for any playwright as well as for both the actors and back stage personnel. The key ingredient to pulling it off successfully was undoubtedly the direction of Ken Skrzesz. Skrzesz recently moved to the area from New York. With a Master in Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina, he has had a distinguished career as both an actor with over 20 leading roles in Broadway repertoire and as a director/choreographer.

Skrzesz’s relocation to Rehoboth coincided with the preparation for the production of Schmidt’s last play, Einstein’s Breakfast. Recognizing talent and opportunity, he offered his assistance. Then as Artistic Director of Clear Space Productions where he teaches acting, he taught an eight-week class for many of the actors involved with the Village Players. All of the actors in Character Analysis were participants in that class. Asked about the difference he has seen since he started to work with the ensemble, Skrzesz commented, “They have evolved from being product to process oriented. They have shown their commitment to studying the craft and now they have the opportunity to apply it. I am delighted with the result. They have become committed to the truth of Harold’s text.”



	Coastal Point • CHRISTINA WEAVER The action was intense during Character Analysis, at Bear Trap.

Indeed, for those who have had the experience of watching the evolution of the Village Players, one of the delights is seeing the growth of people whom one might know as neighbors, friends, co-workers, customers or business associates blossom from the ranks of inexperienced amateurs to self-confident performers. Take Cathy Digrazio and Tom Halverstadt for example. Colleagues at Freeman, both played in Schmidt’s first play, Wrinkles, as well as being two of the imaginary characters in Character Analysis. Three years ago, they walked stiffly on stage, weren’t sure how to stand and what to do with their hands when they weren’t speaking their parts, and when they forgot their words used their engaging personalities to have the audience laugh along with them. And the audience loved them for the people they knew them to be. Last weekend the audience loved them for the characters they played. As Halverstadt explained, “Working with Ken has been a wonderful experience. Our approach is so much more professional. The satisfaction I feel now is from achievement.”

Demetrios Retzos who played the lead, Peter Font, previously appeared in the production of Schmidt’s, Nessie and the Naked Ape. Working as a new home site superintendent for Freeman, Retzos confessed to being leery of the part when he first read the script. “The idea of stripping down to my boxers in front of my co-workers and family was a bit daunting,” he admitted but he pulled it off with flair. “It was comforting to have Ken there to keep us in line and our spirits up,” he continued.

The rest of the cast included Robin Cannatelli and Beth Carlson, who in the best tradition of the romantic farce sought to claim the attention of the engrossed, one might say nerdy, Mr. Font. Also Jeffrey Osias and Nancy Hawpe appeared as the two other imaginary characters. And lastly, Skrzesz himself performed as Font’s brother and agent. How refreshing, incidentally, to have a gay role honestly integrated within a mainstream adult comedy.

Much of the enjoyment of watching Character Analysis was due to its staging. With eleven circular tables with eight chairs at each surrounding the floor level stage, the audience felt connected with the performance. It was a new challenge for stage designer and Village Players board member, Amy Kaufman who quipped, “I went from outside the box into the round!”

The next performance to look forward to will be Oklahoma. This will be a Clear Space Production sponsored by The Carl M. Freeman Foundation. It will again be directed by Skrzesz and will include several familiar faces. Circle your calendar for July 21, 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. This time the show will be in the Outdoor Amphitheater at the Village at Bear Trap Dunes. And this time the show will be free!

One line in Character Analysis seemed particularly autobiographical: “You need two things to become a successful writer, talent and luck.” Schmidt has the talent. It is time the luck came his way and the busses leave Ocean View for a Harold Schmidt Broadway show.