Crimes of the Heart

WRITTEN BY: Beth Henley
PERFORMED AT: SUNY College at Fredonia, NY
PERFORMED ON: November 6-7 and 12-14, 1998
DIRECTOR: Candice Brown
SPONSORED BY: SUNY College at Fredonia
CAST:
* LENNY MAGRATH- Carolyn Kraat
* CHICK BOYLE- April Neujean (Nov. 6) / Candice Brown (Nov. 7-14)
* DOC PORTER- David Alan Scott Jr.
* MEG MAGRATH- Janae Longo
* BABE BOTRELLE- Emily K. Peers
* BARNETTE LLOYD- Thomas Farnan

PLOT: Three Southern sisters are brought closer together when one of them (Emily Peers) shoots her abusive husband. A dramatic comedy.

HISTORY: In March of 1998, I auditioned for Elmira Little Theater's May production of "Crimes of the Heart", this one being directed by CCC professor/director Clare Reidy. There are only two male roles in this play, and since no one I knew could really see me as playing 30-year-old Doc Porter, I tried out primarily for the role of Barnette Lloyd (the young lawyer). As with all of the other plays that Clare had directed during the '97-'98 year, I did not get a part.
Fast forward to August 1998. Now a transfer student at SUNY Fredonia, I went to try out for a production of "Dracula". When I got to the building where auditions were held, I found that "Crimes of the Heart" auditions were going on at the same time.
For both auditions, I needed a prepared monologue. Having known about auditions for only one play the day before, I only had one monologue prepared and memorized (practiced in a British accent, as required for "Dracula"). So, I performed the same monologue for both auditions, using a British accent for the "Dracula" one, and a southern accent for the "Crimes" one.
Well, I didn't get a part in "Dracula" (just as well, since I'd done a Dracula play already), but I successfully landed the role of jilted ex-boyfriend Doc Porter in "Crimes". A play that had once been denied me had now become mine.
"Crimes" was a great show, but I insist that it was jinxed. First off, when my girlfriend Amelia saw it on opening night, she ended up losing her dorm keys, as well as two books.
Also, in the college paper's newspaper article on the show, my name was listed as "David Allen". Having clearly written my full name (and preferred stage name)--David Alan Scott Jr.--numerous times for Candice, I asked her about the misspelling, her reply being that it was my fault for having so many names. (A similar spelling error occurred when I performed "Hopscotch" the following month, when the programs listed me as "David Allen Scott".)
Then, due to a family tragedy, cast member April Neujean was not able to attend most of the performances (Effectively filling in for her was our director, Candice).
Additionally, the stage manager wouldn't let me have the show video-taped for my archives, even though Candice had given permission. Hence, this became one of those rare shows of which a video tape was never made of it (I did, however, have my parents record it with my hand-held audio player).
(SIDE NOTE: This little problem with the video-taping situation happened during the last performance, which took place on my birthday.)
And to top it all off, because of certain rehearsals I had to do for the show, I missed the first two classes of a weekly five-week course I had signed up for back in the summer. I ended up having to drop (and retake) the class.
So, though audience reactions to the show were highly positive, being a part of it ended up being frustrating in the long run. All in all, "Crimes of the Heart" was a nice experience, but with a very bad aftertaste.
ONE FINAL NOTE: In late April, I discovered that my role in "Crimes" got me nominated for one of the PAC (Performing Arts Company) theater department's "PAC-ademy Awards". The list of nominees, which I received in one of my mail slots at the college, listed me as a nominee for "Best Dramatic Actor in a Supporting Role". Of course, it would have been a greater honor if the nominees list hadn't spelled out my name as "David Allen Scott". Some people never learn.