Phil Proctor is playing ‘Detective Norris Coslow’ in the world premiere comedy The Psychic by Sam Bobrick and directed by Susan Morgenstern – soon to be premeiring at the Falcon Theatre starting March 17, 2010! He took a few minutes out of his busy rehearsal schedule to sit down and chat a bit – let’s see what he has to say!
For more info about Phil Proctor, check out his website here.
Phil Proctor
Falcon: What was your first experience with the theater?
PP: I’m Irish and Amish on my mother’s side of the family (read “Rosannah of the Amish” for the whole story), and I inherited some extraordinary talents from my musical, multi-lingual great-uncle Joe Yoder. Legend has it that as a baby in Goshen, Indiana, I hummed back a hymn my grandfather was singing over my crib and he brought me downstairs to repeat the feat for the rest of the family. That was my first public performance — and I’ve insisted on being paid for ever other one since! Later, I played a town burgher in a second grade (but first-rate) production of The Pied Piper of Hamlin at the Allen-Stevenson School in Manhattan, and being a boy soprano, I went on to play female leads in the annual Gilbert & Sullivan productions. God, how I miss those days…
Falcon: What is your favorite part about the character you play in “The Psychic”?
PP: As a classically trained actor, I love the fact that my detective character speaks in such a “dignified and refined” manner. I’m also delighted to be portraying another role from the brilliant comic mind of Sam Bobrick, whom I met at the International Mystery Writer’s Festival in Owensboro, KY a few years ago when I performed in his award-winning play Flemming after which we were both appointed Kentucky Colonels for our exceptional patronage of the local BBQ joints.
Falcon: What is it like to originate a role in a world premiere play such as “The Psychic”?
PP: It’s always a thrill because we get a chance to establish characters that others will emulate in future productions. Working with our wonderful director, playwright, and exceptional stage manager and staff, we’ve also been encouraged to make suggestions and adjust lines, many of which have been incorporated into this production.
Falcon: What is your favorite mystery novel, play or movie?
PP: I love Agatha Christie’s mysteries and had the pleasure of playing ‘Poirot’ at last year’s Mystery Writers’ Festival with my wife, Melinda Peterson, as ‘Agatha’. Then, of course, there’s The Maltese Falcon. It inspired me and obviously inspired our playwright as well… the cheap hack.
Falcon: What is the funniest thing that has happened during a rehearsal, either for this show, or another one?
PP: Every day is filled with laughter with this brilliantly talented ensemble and our equally witty director Susan Morgenstern and our stage manager, Deidre Murphy. It is so important when preparing a comedy that we amuse one another. Finding comic rhythms and the humorous balance between characters is an instinct that cannot really be taught and this cast is perfectly pitched, thanks in no small part to ingenious casting. Comedy does not need to be hard, and if everyone is focused on developing their characters’ honest commitment to the author’s intentions, the result will be the interaction of eccentric but real people who are silly in spite of themselves. Well — come and see for yourself. You’ll be well rewarded and hopefully will have as much fun seeing the results of our efforts as we had a fun time getting there!
Falcon: Why should people come see you in “The Psychic”?
PP: Me? Well, although I started as child actor on live TV in New York, most of my recent work has been as a voice-over artist due to a 43-year long success as part of the 4-man Firesign Theatre satirical recording group; but my theatrical background includes a BA in Drama from Yale University and an extensive history of stage roles from Broadway to the Mark Taper, to a 14-year run with the celebrated Antaeus Classical Theatre company in North Hollywood. This role’s a rare chance for me to appear in a contemporary and hopefully, wildly popular comedy, not unlike a part I played in Samual Warren Joseph’s dark comedy Window of Opportunity a while back at the Met Theater. I like working with funny Sams…
Why do you think theater in general is important for Los Angeles audiences?
It’s LIVE! I tell you – LIVE!!!!
Anything else we should know?
If you were psychic, like Adam, you wouldn’t have to ask that question…
Phil Proctor (Detective Norris Coslow) Phil met Sam Bobrick at the International Mystery Writers’ Festival in Owensboro, KY while performing in his Angie-winning comedy, Fleming with his wife, Melinda Peterson, where all were appointed Kentucky Colonels – another honor in a long career on Broadway, screen, TV, records and touring with the LA Guitar Quartet. Proctor’s musical and linguistic talents have made him one of today’s most sought-after voice artists: ‘Howard’ in Rugrats, the ‘drunken French monkey’ in the Dr. Doolittle movies, and characters in Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., The Princess and the Frog and interactive games. He was cited as Best Actor by the LA Free Press, won a Theatre World Award, LA Weekly and Drama Critics’ awards with the Antaeus company, three Daytime Emmys and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Rugrats, and three Grammy nominations with the Firesign Theatre, one of whose recordings was inducted into the Library of Congress.
