Pat Dwyer, currently in rehearsal for Identity Theater’s production of The Tempest (Performances run: Fri. @ 8:00 pm • Sat. @ 2:00 & 8:00 pm • Sun. @ 3:00 pm at The Underground Theater of El Barrio’s Artspace, 215 E. 99th Street, NYC) is no stranger to works of the Bard. He was The Ghost in The Shakespeare Forum’s inaugural production, Hamlet opposite Tyler Moss, as well as appearing is The New York Shakespeare Exchange staging of Much Ado About Nothing. He also created the role of General Haywood Hansell in Douglas Lackey’s Daylight Precision; played Hugh for Mother of Invention’s Look Homeward Angel (Dir. Austin Pendleton).

OuterStage will be reviewing this production, presented by the courage Identity theater, so we thought we’d take a moment to get to know one of their actors.  

We hear a lot about inspiration – or Muse – that drives an artist. What inspires you? 

For me what drives me in my acting work are the other people acting around and with me. Working with other actors and experimenting to see what kind of behavior comes out of us playing off each other is the real magic.  When it is really happening it’s like fantastic JAZZ.

Tell us about the play

Well it’s about a man named Antonio whose evil sorcerer brother HAD to be banished along with his infant daughter, because… hey she might be a witch. Anyway…

Tempest is a real romance. At the heart of the show is a golden thread of love.  Love of a father for a daughter, love of two young people who NEED to be together, love of family both by blood and by circumstance. Prospero takes the opportunity to bring his loved ones together and to make a match for his daughter that will set her amongst the rulers of his homeland. It is also his chance to settle some scores with those who betrayed him including his own brother Antonio.

How you are approaching your characters?

Antonio is the “villain” of the piece but it’s important to me to not play him villainous. My Approach is to simply be a man who wants what he wants and will do whatever it takes to get it. He is motivated by his drives and passions and simply wants to remove the obstacles to the power he seeks. His relationship with Sebastian is key to all this and he can use that relationship to manipulate Sebastian. Until the end of the play he is unaware that his brother survived his betrayal and that there will be payment for his sins.

 

Sally Field and Paul Newman both said of their profession… “it’s all I can do.” Is this all you can do? 

Apparently. I’ve failed at everything else.

Along those lines, if you couldn’t so this, what would you do? 

Well if I could chose, I would like to create things… I think to compose music is a true gift from the Heavens.

How do you want [legit] history to remember you?

Not at all. I don’t want the responsibility.

Last words? 

I am so having my life altered by working with this wonderful company. It pleases me no end to work on a beautiful story with gifted people. I believe in Identity’s mission and am proud to be a small part of fulfilling it at this moment in time.