B.D. Wong "Breaks a Leg"
Injured on Opening Night of Williamstown Theatre Festival Season
By: Charles Giuliano - Jun 19, 2007
Herringbone
Starring B.D. Wong; Book, Tom Cone; Music, Skip Kennon; Lyrics, Ellen Fitzhugh; based on the play by Tom Cone: Sets, Neil Patel: Costumes William Ivey Long; Lights, Frances Aronson; Sound, Nick Borisjuk; Stage Manager; David H. Lurie; Production Manager; Michael Wade; Casting; Laura Schutzel, Tara Rubin Casting; Choreographer, Darren Lee; Musical Director; Dan Lipton; Director, Roger Rees; Cast, Herringbone, B.D. Wong, Thumbs Up, Dan Lipton, Slim, Benjamin Campbell, Patty, Richard Huntley. Herrinbgbone, the narrator, assumes the roles of: Arthur, Louise, Grandmother, George, Lawyer, Nathan Mosley, Salesclerk, Lou and Dot. The Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, Mass. June 14-24, 2007
There was a particular energy, anticipation and sense of excitement appropriate to the opening night of the summer long run of the renowned Williamstown Theatre Festival under the artistic direction of Roger Rees. He is also the small stage director of a new play "Herringbone" starring B.D. Wong which, depending on a successful launch, may be headed for off Broadway.
The evening started on a casual upbeat note. There was little or nothing on the "stage" of the intimate theatre with stadium seating. One could see the tiled floor and brick walls in the back with large window-like inserts. There were a few props: A piano on a flat, a large trunk, a standing lamp, and a wall around what would prove to be a drum kit. For several minutes before the 8 pm "curtain" Mr. Wong just appeared and interacted with a turnout of friends. There were hugs and handshakes. He had his pants rolled up revealing thick calved legs and a pair of designer running shoes. After chatting with friends he started to walk up the stairs. I was startled when he was just standing there in front of me. This has never happened before and I didn't know how to react. It is unheard of for actors to literally meet face to face with the audience prior to a performance. He introduced himself and with a handshake I returned the greeting and introduced Astrid. I informed him that I would be reviewing the show. He seemed surprised at the information and said that perhaps we should keep our distance. It was a charming and disarming moment and I found myself determined to enjoy the performance of such an obviously fun and unpretentious actor. He proceeded up the row saying hello to more surprised members of the audience.
Knowing his work only from the long standing role of a psychiatrist on the TV show "Law and Order" (he won a Tony for the starring role in "M Butterfly") this performance in which he sings, dances and channels a cast of characters, old and young, male and female, from a small Southern town set during the Great Depression was beginning to be a wonder of talent and versatility. Yes, he had rolled down his pants. Wong wore a simple outfit of pants, shirt and a vest designed to hide the wires of an unobtrusive head set.
The patter that connected the story and seamless transitions in and out of multi layered characters, at times simulating a dialogue between several individuals, for example family members mulling over the prospects as heirs in the reading of a will, was most absorbing. The trio of musicians was perfectly balanced to augment his tunes. There was a lot of whimsy as for example when he introduced the non existent string section. There was another out of character moment when apparently he lost his place and stated, where am I, to which the pianist offered a musical cue and Wong launched into a segment about a Christmas celebration.
The asides and slips in and out of character were such a part of the persona that the audience assumed that it was just a part of the script when the mishap occurred. As a part of the staging Herringbone shifts some of the props. The trunk is moved. Then with great effort he moved the heavy flat on rollers with the piano. The choreography called for some fast movement around and over the piano bench ending with a thud on the floor as he finished a song.
But there was an unscripted pause as he lay sprawling on the floor. He looked down and announced that there was blood pouring out of a hole in his pants on his thigh. He had caught the edge of the piano bench and told us that he left behind a hunk of his flesh. In evident pain he put on a game face and informed the audience that there would be a brief pause to go back stage and seek a pad of gauze. He waved goodbye while the trio picked up the slack for several minutes. A stage manager was seen scurrying about for a first aid kit. In the audience several rows above us Roger Rees was intently studying the developments before heading back stage.
Moments later Rees and Wong emerged. The actor had changed out of his costume and was holding up short pants. There was a bit of banter with the audience as he said that he really wanted to show us the gash which he feared required stitches. Indeed he would have thirty of them at a local hospital. When Wong departed Rees engaged the audience stating that the evening was cancelled but that tickets would be honored for later performances and assured us that knowing what a tough veteran Wong is that he was certain that the production would resume with a matinee the following day. Rees asked if we had any questions and humorously offered to recite some sonnets. But the audience departed content to make it an early evening and return another day. We arranged to attend on Saturday evening. But the Saturday Boston Globe announced in a brief report that the weekend was cancelled and the show would resume on Tuesday. Trusting this misinformation we made other plans but apparently, just as Rees had predicted, Wong returned for the matinee and the production remains on track for its run this week. We hope to return and report on the play in its entirety.
Hey, that's show biz. You really gottah love this guy. What a gamer.