Two handers are a unique, exciting, and challenging performance opportunity. The challenge begins with the task of memorization. If it isn\u2019t your line, it\u2019s your partner\u2019s. There\u2019s a bond like no other that I\u2019ve experienced because you must rely on the other actor for every exchange, every emotional or vocal\/physical nuance. I\u2019ve been fortunate to have wonderful actors to work with on all eight of my two hand journeys. The other special feature of the two-hand adventure is one\u2019s relationship with the audience. Each night they get to spend the entire evening with the two of you. It\u2019s much like inviting them into your living room for a fine long conversation.<\/p>\n
Richard\u2019s Two Handers:<\/strong><\/p>\n Two for the Seesaw<\/em> \u2013 Wayside Theatre, VA, 1980<\/strong> <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Same Time Next Year<\/em> \u2013 Wayside Theatre, VA, 1980 Mass Appeal<\/em> \u2013 St. Michael\u2019s Playhouse, VT, 1983<\/strong> Greater Tuna<\/em> \u2013 St. Michael\u2019s Playhouse, VT, 1984<\/strong> Rounding Third<\/em> \u2013 Heritage Festival Theatre, VA, 2005<\/strong> Educating Rita <\/em>\u2013 St. Michael\u2019s Playhouse, VT, 2007<\/strong> Chapatti<\/em> \u2013 Heritage Festival Theatre, VA, 2017 Chapatti<\/em> \u2013 St. Michael\u2019s Playhouse, VT, 2018<\/strong> Two handers are a unique, exciting, and challenging performance opportunity. The challenge begins with the task of memorization. If it isn\u2019t your line, it\u2019s your partner\u2019s. There\u2019s a bond like no other that I\u2019ve experienced because you must rely on the other actor for every exchange, every emotional or vocal\/physical nuance. I\u2019ve been fortunate to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":298,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-highlight"],"metadata":{"_edit_last":["276"],"_wpac_members_redirect_to":[""],"_wpac_show_in_search":["0"],"_wpac_show_excerpt_in_search":["0"],"_wpac_nonmembers_redirect_to":[""],"ase_chapter_enable_timeline":["off"],"ase_map_component_start_point":["a:2:{s:3:\"lat\";d:29.76;s:3:\"lng\";d:-95.38;}"],"_wp_old_date":["2022-10-15"]},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nMy first two hander with my wife, Jude Reagan. The playwright, William Gibson, is one of are all-time favorite American writers. We were skillfully directed by Robert Brink who understood the complexity of this multi-scenic play about star-crossed lovers. Jude as Gittel. Richard as Jerry.<\/p>\n[aesop_gallery pslightbox=”on” caption=”Photos by George Black” galleryType=”grid” id=”486″]\n
\n<\/strong>A challenging but fun romp where Jude and I play Doris and George who are married to others but get together in the same room in a run-down motel every year for 25 years. This was our first opportunity to be directed by George Black, a master at staging style comedy.<\/span><\/p>\n[aesop_gallery pslightbox=”on” caption=”Photos by George Black” galleryType=”grid” id=”487″]\n
\nTwo Catholic priests from different generations struggling to understand each other\u2019s view of religion. It was an honor to be directed by Joanne Rathgeb and on stage with Bill Farley.<\/p>\n
\nRon Lee Savin was my amazing partner in this wacky, wild play, enthusiastically directed by Margaret O\u2019Brien. There were two shows running simultaneously every performance. After every scene there was a 15-second full costume change. I wish we had filmed the whirlwind of backstage activity that occurred before the next Tuna citizen appeared.<\/p>\n[aesop_gallery pslightbox=”on” itemwidth=”300%” galleryType=”grid” id=”491″]\n
\nMy only chance to perform in a play about baseball opposite a great friend, Martin Beekman, who happens to be a diehard Boston Red Sox fan. I root for the Yankees. In real life Martin and I coached our sons on rival teams in Little League and Babe Ruth baseball. Life and art merged, and Martin and I had a ball throwing each other straight lines every night!<\/p>\n
\nOne of my favorite acting gigs mostly due to my talented, generous partner, Andrea Wollenberg. Dre was a former student of mine in the 1996 University of Virginia MFA company. Her portrayal of Rita was full of vitality and vulnerability. My son, Ben Warner, was the sound designer. He created a beautiful soundscape of modern jazz.<\/p>\n[aesop_gallery pslightbox=”on” transition=”crossfade” galleryType=”grid” id=”488″]\n
\n<\/strong>This was a challenge like no other in my career. A complex script to memorize with lots of calls for deep emotional engagement. Jude was my partner. We have never felt closer and more connected to each other on stage and with our audiences.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nJude and I got the opportunity to reprise our roles on a bigger stage with a larger audience and a theater that we were blessed to call one of our artistic homes. It was very satisfying to revisit and refine our work together on this beautiful play.<\/p>\n[aesop_gallery pslightbox=”on” transition=”crossfade” caption=”Photos by Michael Bailey” galleryType=”grid” id=”492″]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"