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| Hector Coris |
Hector Coris is a man that can do it all. Not only is he an award winning director, but he also acts, writes songs and performs in cabaret shows in town.
Born in Queens, New York, Coris was heavily involved in the cabaret scene in New York and has had a successful career, acting in dozens of plays, musicals, revues, concerts and comedies throughout his time in NYC as well as in Phoenix, where he moved in 2011.
Hector has been nominated for several ariZoni Theatre Awards and he won a Zoni for directing Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Hale Centre Theatre. He has been seen in productions at many theatres in Arizona, including at Hale, Mesa Encore Theatre, and Scottsdale Musical Theater Company.
He recently appeared in Mary Poppins at Mesa Encore Theatre, A Christmas Carol the Musical at Scottsdale Musical Theater Company and also co-starred in All Shook Up at TheatreWorks last fall.
Coris is back at TheatreWorks acting in the classic musical comedy A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, which opens this Friday and runs through March 3rd, reprising the same role he played a few years ago in the Scottsdale Musical Theater Company's production of the Stephen Sondheim, Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart comedy.
Even though he was busy with final rehearsals for this show, Hector sat down to answer some questions about his past, this musical, and why he thinks this production needs to be seen.
"...Forum is the story of a Roman slave who creates a series of hilarious complications while trying to obtain his freedom. It's a classic ancient theater plot - that of a crafty servant trying to best their masters, based on the works of the Roman playwright Plautus. It has elements of farce, vaudeville and slapstick. It's also the first show Stephen Sondheim wrote both the lyrics and music for with a very clever script written by Larry Gelbart (of "M*A*S*H*" fame) with lots of low-brow humor and high-brow wordplay."
What can you tell us about the character you play, Pseudolus?
"Pseudolus is a unique musical comedy protagonist in that he only cares about one thing: his freedom. He's not trying to get the girl (though he will take any girl...) or save the town. He has no loftier goals than being free. And he'll literally do anything - to anyone - in order to get what he wants. "
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| Coris (center) and the cast of TheaterWorks's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum photo courtesy TheaterWorks |
"It's not that hard to recognize a character with such base needs and desires. It doesn't matter the time period or the setting. But it's fun to play that in the world of a classic Roman play. I'm not anywhere near as ruthless and hedonistic as Pseudolus, but if ever I had the opportunity to play out a 'self' that runs rampant over everyone around him, this is that moment. I'm a pretty fast problem-solver, but Pseudolus is a quicker problem-maker."
What is the point of this show in your eyes? Why should people go and see it?
"It's pure entertainment. Nothing more, nothing less. There is not one moment in the show that is a 'lesson' or a moral for the audience to take home with them. It's just 2 hours of check your politics and problems at the door and laugh. Live in this very un-PC world for a little while. I think it will be cathartic for people to let themselves be indulgent with these characters and situations. I long for the days - not too long ago - when we didn't have to be so insanely sensitive about every little thing. It feels like someday all comedy will be outlawed. I think, secretly, everyone wants to giggle at a sexual innuendo, a boob joke, an ageist remark, a gay joke. It's OK. We give you that 2-hour Purge. I'm sure someone will get offended by something. We already got their money, so who cares?"
I believe you've played this character before, right? Any major changes you've made to the part since the last time you played Pseudolus?
"Yes, it was in 2013, I think, with Scottsdale Musical Theater Company. The first time I did it, I was just trying to get a handle on the enormity of the role and do justice to the spirit of the show. Now, I'm getting to revel more in the specific moments and take the antics further than I did in six years ago. "
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| Coris (left) and the cast of Scottsdale Musical Theater Company's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum photo courtesy Scottsdale Musical Theater Company |
"I would play this part forever if I could. It's very rare when you get to play in a show where you have permission to break all the rules. The history of this role from the start with Zero Mostel in the 60's, to Phil Silvers, Nathan Lane and Whoopi Goldberg (yes, Whoopi...) has one unifying characteristic: some very funny, spontaneous comedians in the part. My background is in long-form improvisation and in rehearsal - for any show I do - I try and find different approaches to each moment. I'm so lucky to work with directors who give me the creative space to do what I do. I love to play in rehearsal - and even in performance. It's painfully boring to lock into one way of doing something from the get-go. Of course, once you find the "right thing", you lock that in, but continue to play within that beat. It's a nice Russian nesting doll of discovery. This is one of the very few roles where I can do and say anything - outside of the original script - if the moment calls for it. That's an important distinction. There is a danger of an actor indulgently going off the rails. It has to be in service of the show. Rehearsals are a blast because I can try new things all the time. Sometimes they work gangbusters, sometimes they don't. But that's the point of rehearsal.
The other side of it, too, is getting to work with a whole new bunch of actors and see what they are bringing to their parts, which also gives me new and surprising things to react to. I feel that Peter (Hill, director) and I share some of the same comedy DNA. We're both "old-school" so I know exactly what he's after when he suggests I try something. This is a funny bunch of people. I don't usually break-up in rehearsals, but a few of them caught me pretty good."
What's your favorite moment in the show?
"There's not a particular moment in the show, per se, but I most look forward to every moment with the audience. We have no idea what they will react to or how, so there's 10% of my performer brain that remains free of the constraints of the show to be able to recognize how to ride that wave and when to move on to the next. We can't predict which moments will 'kill'. The audience will laugh at things we never thought they would and vice-versa. My character is the only one who gets to break the fourth wall and address the audience and include them in the lunacy so we have a very symbiotic relationship."
Do you think that some of the subject matter, such as buying and selling of women, is smart to showcase today in this era?
"This question would never have come up five or six years ago, but I can see where some might have an issue especially these days. Historically, it's the milieu of the play. Slavery was a thing back then. But it's all used here in fun. Any good spoof or farce plays up the silliness of the very thing that's supposed to offend you. The brilliant thing Peter Hill has done is not to back away from possibly cringe-worthy elements but rather lean into them - embrace them, even celebrate the ridiculousness of them. If you want to be careful, stay home and watch 'Ellen'. But if you want to have a rollicking good time, come see Forum. No refunds if we become a ranty hashtag in your Facebook feed."
Do you think this show can captivate all audiences?
"Yes - well, maybe not the kiddos, but, hey, if you can't find a babysitter, you may have some explaining to do. The joy of this show is just to have FUN. Does anyone remember that word anymore? There's so much to enjoy: A LIVE ORCHESTRA conducted beautifully by Steve Hilderbrand, a gorgeous colorful production, a delightful and game cast. There's even a rubber chicken. What more do you need?!"
What do you hope audiences take away from seeing this production?
Wet pants.
CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs February 15-March 3
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