Since Ray Cooney’s RUN FOR YOUR WIFE debuted on the London stage back in 1982, it’s become a staple of theatre companies worldwide thanks to its outlandish farcical plot, slapstick physicality and side-splitting laughs, so it should come as no surprise that Playhouse 615 is including it in their current season. Earlier this week, while the cast and crew prepped for their Friday the 13th opening night, I had a chance to chat with four of the show’s cast members for my latest Rapid Fire 20Q. What follows are those conversations.
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RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST OF PLAYHOUSE 615’s RUN FOR YOU WIFE; ON STAGE JUNE 13-29
RAPID FIRE WITH BEN GREGORY, JOHN SMITH IN PLAYHOUSE 615’s RUN FOR YOUR WIFE
JHPENTERTAINMENT: For those unaware, what’s the basic plot of Ray Cooney’s RUN FOR YOUR WIFE?
BEN GREGORY: It’s no spoiler to say that John Smith has been living a double life. As the play opens, the audience will know that John Smith is married to two different women and lives in two different, though nearly identical, flats. He spends the rest of the play trying to avoid getting discovered with the reluctant help of his upstairs neighbor, Stanley (played by Artis Elrod). It’s essentially a maelstrom of confusion and misdirection with John at the eye of the storm and Stanley swirling nearby, while two police officers attempt (with varying degrees of competence) to uncover the truth; caring Mary and sweet Barbara try to make sense of things, and Bobby (played delightfully over-the-top by the fabulous Daniel Vincent) just does his merry best to keep things from getting too messy.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: While you’ve been a staple of the Nashville Theatre scene for years, RUN FOR YOUR WIFE marks your Playhouse 615 debut. What’s been the most memorable part of the experience so far?
BEN GREGORY: It’s a fantastically challenging show for a number of reasons, which is a joy for growth as an actor. We have a small, fun, hard-working cast who all partake in the production of the show in some aspect beyond performing, and feeling that devotion and collaboration, along with working under the tutelage of Joel, who has directed a great number of comedies and yet remains open to suggestions, feedback, adjustments, etc…it’s a dream to feel so welcome, respected, and included at Playhouse 615.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: One recurring trope in many of playwright Ray Cooney’s shows is the physicality of the comedy. Is there a particular moment in the show that’s both physically demanding and hilariously fun to perform?
BEN GREGORY: I don’t want to isolate any particular moment, lest I give away too much. As much as happens within the blocking, I imagine that there will be moments that change and evolve in unexpected ways based on audience reactions. Suffice it to say, there are several bits that we will rehearse at fight call prior to each performance. Audiences will just have to see it live!
JHPENTERTAINMENT: What’s it been like to share the stage with John’s two wives played by Abby Waddoups and Tiffany Vinson?
BEN GREGORY: They are both excellent at their craft and their grasp of the dialect is fantastic. I feel, as John Smith, truly cared for by Mary and desired by Barbara throughout the play. Both are quite lovable and make it clear how stupid a man would have to be to carry on as John has.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: So much of British farce finds some laughs in the comings and goings of the characters in near-miss situations. To that end, what can you tell me about the set as conceived by Joel Meriwether and Wanderson Rezende?
BEN GREGORY: They have designed a set which has scenes taking place in two different flats at the same time, but both flats, on stage, exist in the same space. The key differences are that each apartment has a separate front door and a separate phone. The challenge for the cast: not to acknowledge what is happening in a scene which is happening in the same space as the scene in which they are participating, which is in a different imaginary space, though on stage at the same. There is, undoubtedly, a better way to say that. The overlap of the apartments intentionally creates opportunity for some extra laughs, and extra challenges for the actors.
RAPID FIRE WITH TIFFANY VINSON, BARBARA SMITH IN PLAYHOUSE 615’s RUN FOR YOUR WIFE
JHPENTERTAINMENT: What can you tell me about Barbara, your role in RUN FOR YOUR WIFE?
TIFFANY VINSON: Barbara is a feisty, confident and vibrant woman who is self-possessed and passionate about life.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Playhouse 615 audiences will no doubt recognize you from recent role in Sordid Lives. To your estimation, what’s something that sets British farce apart from Southern comedy?
TIFFANY VINSON: Being from the south, I have a heart for Southern comedy b/c I have lived with various versions of these characters. I find it comforting and sometimes painfully familiar which helps inform my acting choices. That said, I grew up watching British comedies on tv with my dad and have always enjoyed some good English humor. Both Southern and British comedies can be savvy and witty but the British farce moves at a breakneck pace. In my experience, British farce is more physically demanding. I love both.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: This is also a return to this show for you, having played Mary, John Smith’s other wife in a production some years back. What’s your favorite aspect of taking on the role of Barbara for Playhouse 615’s take on the classic British farce?
TIFFANY VINSON: Playing Barbara has really taken me out of my comfort zone. I don’t think I’ve ever played a character so comfortable and confident in their sexuality. I am usually the quirky sidekick. It’s hard to take myself seriously enough to play the physical aspects of her but it’s also been fun. I was super comfortable playing Mary and found it challenging to channel Barbara at first. That said, the point of art is to challenge you and to shake things up. I appreciate Joel believing in me that I could make this role my own and for helping me grow as an actor.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Potential Spoiler Alert. At one point in the show, Barbara typically appears on stage in a rather compromising state of undress. So, just between us…did RUN FOR YOUR WIFE director, Joel Meriwether have to talk you into it?
TIFFANY VINSON: I should have remembered that Barbara was a very physical character but it didn’t dawn on me until a few weeks in that I’d need to be in various states of undress. This is a first for me. Joel can be very persuasive but he was also respectful of my personal boundaries. I feel like we made a great compromise that feels true to character while not causing me personal distress.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: if there were a song to describe Barbara, what would it be?
TIFFANY VINSON: Pour Some Sugar on Me?….Hmmm…I might need to get back to you on this one.
RAPID FIRE WITH ART ELROD, STANLEY GARDNER IN PLAYHOUSE 615’s RUN FOR YOUR WIFE
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Since you were part of Playhouse 615’s 2021 production of RUN FOR YOUR WIFE (cut short due to the pandemic), what’s it been like to return to the role of John and Mary Smith’s upstairs neighbor, Stanley Gardner?
ART ELROD: It’s been a joy to join fellow cast mates Abby Whaddoups and Rich Moses for this revival. Four years have passed since the first production and that has allowed my character to be fresh and new, so it’s like a whole different role.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Having the gift of time since you first took on the role, are you approaching Stanley any differently now?
ART ELROD: Yes. Working with a different cast obviously makes the experience different. I’ve had the chance to create a new character and that is always enjoyable, and as an actor I would not want to simply repeat what I did before. I believe this time around, I’ve made Stanley more lovable, even though he’s a curmudgeon!
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Who among the cast has had the hardest time keeping it together during the chaos while rehearsing?
ART ELROD: I don’t think any one cast member has had a harder time keeping it together. Farce is not easy. We’ve all had our moments.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: If you could switch roles with any other cast member, regardless of whether you fit the type or not, what role would it be and why?
ART ELROD: Porterhouse, the role played by Rich Moses. That role is just plain fun, and would be a blast to play. He’s totally clueless. There’s so much you could do with that, not just with the lines but with the character as a whole.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: From his first scene, it seems evident that Stanley Gardner, the role you play in RUN FOR YOUR WIFE is…shall we say…excitable and panicked. What’s the most fun—or exhausting—aspect playing Stanley?
ART ELROD: Honestly the lines are the most fun. I believe Stanley has many of the best lines in the show. He requires a lot of energy so I have to kick it into high gear and that in turn kicks the adrenaline into high gear. Stanley has a good deal of time onstage, so running at double speed for nearly two hours is in itself exhausting- but it’s what makes Stanley such a great character. And that’s what I love about farce.
RAPID FIRE WITH DANIEL VINCENT, BOBBY FRANKLYN IN PLAYHOUSE 615’s RUN FOR YOUR WIFE
JHPENTERTAINMENT: You play Bobby Franklyn, the flamboyant upstairs neighbor to John and Barbara Smith. What attracted you to the role and this show?
DANIEL VINCENT: The show is so much fun. It’s really hilarious. I knew some of the original cast was coming back and they always bring their A-game. It seemed like a good time and if you’re going to be in a show this fun, why not play the most outrageous character? The experience has surpassed my expectations.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: RUN FOR YOU WIFE debuted on the London stage back in 1983, where, after clocking in nine years, it became London’s longest-running comedy. In the years since, it’s pretty much been performed somewhere in the world each theatre season. What is it about this show that keeps audiences laughing all these decades later?
DANIEL VINCENT: There are lots of shows that don’t hold up. They eventually become dated. Especially with comedies, some of that comedy doesn’t age well. Lots of things that were “funny” 40 years ago are just offensive now. This show has aged beautifully. There’s a reason there’s always a production of it somewhere in the world.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Alright, I’m just gonna ask…since the show’s first reviews back in the 80s, some critics occasionally labeled RUN FOR YOU WIFE as homophobic and misogynistic. Are gay stereotypes still funny, or is it just comedic low-hanging fruit? AND…Was there any discussion between director Joel Meriwether and the cast about the audience perceiving the stereotypes as offensive, given the current state of things?
DANIEL VINCENT: I don’t think there is anything inherently homophobic about the script, but I’m sure it’s been played that way over the years. Being gay myself, I’m not just putting on a stereotype and calling it a day. I’m pulling from people I know in my life that really do behave this way. I know people like Bobby. They are lots of fun and sometimes they’re just a lot, period. LOL It is a British sex farce and that can come with a small dose of misogyny, but again, it’s all in how you play it. The lead character is a bigamist which is misogynistic itself, but he’s the one who loses in the end. I had some initial discussions with Joel about not just going stereotypical. It’s very important to me that Bobby is a fully realized person and not just a stereotypical, two-dimensional ridiculous gay neighbor. That would be lazy as well as offensive.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: In addition to being in the show, you’ve also been part of the set construction team, something you do quite often with Playhouse 615. As is the case with many British farces, the set, with the quick succession of exits and entrances, becomes a character itself. Because of the way the set is typically constructed for RUN FOR YOU WIFE, I’d imagine it had to be pared down to fit the confines of Playhouse 615’s intimate space. What’s been the most challenging aspect of the set and utilizing the space for this show?
DANIEL VINCENT: To be honest, the last time Playhouse 615 did this show, the stage was even smaller, so we feel like we have all the room in the world. It’s usually done with 6 doors, but we decided to just use 4 as a design choice, not for lack of space. I think we had as many as 8 doors on stage in a previous British farce.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: What do you hope audiences come away with after having seen Playhouse 615’s RUN FOR YOU WIFE?
DANIEL VINCENT: I hope they can’t remember the last time they have laughed that much and that hard, so better abs? A good core workout?
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RUN FOR YOU WIFE opens at Playhouse 615 (11920 Lebanon Road, Mt. Juliet, TN) on Friday, June 13 and continues through Sunday, June 29. Tickets are $20/Adults or $17 for Seniors/Military. All seating is General Admission. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30pm, with Sunday matinees at 2:30pm. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets, or call the Box Office at 615-319-7031.
Following RUN FOR YOU WIFE, it’s RUTHLESS: THE MUSICAL, onstage at Playhouse 615 July 25-August 10. CLICK HERE for ticket info when it becomes available. For more on the show and to keep up with what’s next at Playhouse 615, check out their website or follow them on Facebook.
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