From New York City, USA, comes a darkly comic guide for brothers everywhere: how to teach, protect and permanently traumatise each other. We fired a Q&A off, over the ocean, to Brother Richard.
I look down straight into the eyes of a furious seven year old girl. My performance was not just unappealing, it was personal insult to her. Never had I met with such naked disdain before. Or since.
Hi Richard, tell me about The Older Brothers' Almanac
This play is about the rulebook brothers all over the world are expected to play by, in the larger sense, and how it drives the characters of Older and Younger brother on a collision course over three days in July 1994 that will change them both forever
What does Edinburgh mean to you?
I saw the festival for the first time last summer and I fell in love the sense of passionate community I found there. The city was filled with artists in a constant cycle of creating and ingesting art and the Pubs were filled with heated discussion. My kind of place.
Who inspires you and why?
I find Annie Baker’s plays truly frustrating and inspiring. I make sure to see everything thing she writes and, if I can, see them more than once. At first viewing there is always a lot of mystery- you know something is going on but you can’t quite figure out what it is and then with each subsequent viewing the bones of the piece emerge. They’re really beautiful and elegant and the deeper you go the more there is to the whole piece.
Describe your best or worst experiences on stage.
I played Falstaff in a school tour of Merry Wives of Windsor my senior of college. One morning I was feeling particularly in the flow, “you are killing it, Richard”, I thought as I was delivering Falstaff’s final soliloquy in the forest “these kids are loving it! You’re keeping Shakespeare alive! You are the hope of the modern theater!” And suddenly, right at my feet I hear the words “STOP. TALKING.” and I look down straight into the eyes of a furious seven year old girl. My performance was not just unappealing, it was personal insult to her. Never had I met with such naked disdain before. Or since.
Describe your best or worst review.
I was in WS Gilbert’s Engaged a few years back playing a Scottish character and after one of the performances a crusty old man approached me. “Im from Scotland” he said in a thick brogue. He paused for a moment while I waited for the hammer to fall. Then he squinted at me and said “your accent’s... not bad”. Best review ever.
If you weren’t a performer, what would you be?
Fishing guide, massage therapist or a concierge at a fancy hotel
What was the last book you read?
The North Water by Ian McGuire- amazing book. Dark and harrowing and…ripe
Richard, what are you going to miss the most while you’re in the UK?
My dog, Tucker, who is old and moody but keeps me safe and never complains when I snore and basically just wants his belly rubbed.
Imagine that the BBC have asked you to produce a primetime show. What would it be and who else would be involved?
It would be exactly like Iron Chef except I would always be the judge.
Twitter: @OldrBrosAlmanac
Website: http://meadowrosenthal.com/the-older-brothers-almanac.html
© 2017 On the Mic.
