I was recently offered a lead role in “A Raisin in the Salad, Black Plays for White People” (yes it’s a reference to Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raising in the Sun). While I was very excited about the role, I had to turn it down for several reasons including the uncertainty of the actual dates of the performance and rehearsal due to my current show. I’d like to thank director Christopher Burris for this amazing opportunity and wish his production team lots of luck with the project.

I recently had the chance to step in for an actor that broke his leg (teach me to use that expression) in a short play by Duncan Pflaster called “Pocket Universe.” Jeff Martin was supposed to play my role of Zack, though I’ve never met him I hope he gets better. Anyway, it was a brief one act where I was someone’s boyfriend in their fantasy world but just their co-worker in the “real world.” I had a blast and got to perform in the Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe is the East Village. I could swear I could feel the presence of Jack Kerouac and others like him who’d no doubt spent countless hours in that very space. I love my life.

Matt delves into the work of one of the greatest actors of our time

Every time I see Meryl Streep in something I’m beside myself. So I decided it would be beneficial for me to watch all of her work and see how she grows as an actor over the years. I expected her first film to be some bit part, but in actuality it’s a filmed version of a Broadway Production called “Secret Service”.

In the film, Streep plays Edith Varney a Southern girl madly in love with Captain Thorne (played by… wait, is it? John Thithgowe with red hair). The play is performed in four acts, three of which take place at the Varney home, one at a Confederate telegraph office. Preceeding each act the players sing a folksong in the style of the era (or from the era – not sure). Streep sings the song preceeding the act by herself. Her voice is beautiful and she is clearly well trained. This is particularly interesting to me as I’ve struggled with trying to decide if I want to pursue musical theatre or if I want to pursue film, television, and legit stage. Streep seems to have made a choice to go the legit route even though she has a beautiful voice.

Streep’s performance is very strong. After all, she is on Broadway. During the first scene she enters the Varney home having come from the President of the Confederacy with orders that will allow her love, Captain Thorne to stay with her rather than leave on the orders he has told her about. This is particularly impressive to me as she is fully engaged in the fact that something wonderful has happened. She seems headstrong and confident.

As she goes through the play and develops doubts about Thorne’s integrity, you can clearly see the struggle and her emotional life unfolding onstage. She trusted him and he has… wait, has he betrayed her? How could he? If he did? Fantastic to watch.

If you’ve never seen a show at the Gallery Players, you’re cheating yourself out of some very good theatre. Right now they’re doing “City of Angels” (which is on my must-see list) but they have a reputation of producing original shows that go on to have pretty long lives like “Yank!” and “Enter Laughing: The Musical”. It’s true that you must enter the borough of Brooklyn to get there, but I hear they actually have indoor plumbing there now. Anyway, the point is they’re doing a one-act play festival and I was called back for three separate plays. Keep your fingers crossed.

In addition, I just had photos taken for an upcoming NYC FRINGE show which I can’t say any more about at this time. Mysterious huh?