Rick Wasserman
We caught up with Rick Wasserman, who stars alongside Sophina Brown and Henry Simmons of Shark in the Harold Pinter play, "Betrayal."
The Star Scoop:
You're set to appear in the play "Betrayal." Could you please tell our readers a little about this play, and your character, Jerry?
Rick Wasserman:
Harold Pinter wrote this play in 1978 about a love triangle between three thirty-something Londoners and the betrayals that exist within each relationship. I play Jerry, the best friend of Robert whose wife, Emma, is the woman I am having an affair with. This story is semi-autobiographical: Jerry is mostly Pinter himself. This play is celebrating its 30th anniversary and not only is it still completely relevant, curious, and disturbing; it still has one of the most fascinating and complicated theatrical conventions: the play spans nearly a decade and is told to the audience backwards in time. That is, the play begins after the affair has disintegrated, then it moves backward through time to the moment of the first indiscretion between Jerry and Emma. I must say that while it is tricky for me to keep the chronology straight in my head, I really do enjoy shedding nine years in ninety minutes. (If only we could all work that trick out in real life. Oy.) Jerry is a literary agent. He has that dry British wit and charm. But, at the root, Jerry just wants to be loved, to be special.
The Star Scoop:
What made you choose a play as your next acting role, as opposed to something in television, or film?
Wasserman:
Maybe I am still carrying my theatre school torch, but I will always turn to a theatre gig to satiate my appetite for story telling. I recently shot an episode of SWINGTOWN (CBS) where I play porn legend Harry Reems. Big mustache, big sideburns, flares, the whole sha-bang. It was a blast, as you could imagine, but at the end of the day, I don’t know what the audience will see until it actually airs. Once I finished on the set, the story went into the hands of the editors. But on stage, I am the only one responsible each show for the telling of Jerry’s story. That is both satisfying and a bit daunting. As they say: theatre is the actor's medium. And there is nothing that compares to having a live audience. Nothing.
The Star Scoop:
When people see the finished product of a play, oftentimes they forget to think about all the preparation. Give us an idea of just how much work goes into putting on a play like this and what you've been doing thus far.
Wasserman:
This play is the first staged production of The Playground, a group for actors I started six years ago with our director, Lee Eskey. We are known for our long, luxurious rehearsal periods, focusing for weeks on table work: just sitting around a table and sussing out the all the angles of the play. And that’s precisely what we did with BETRAYAL: Two weeks of table work, two more weeks on our feet, and that’s just on the acting end. There are the sets and lights and costumes and music and publicity and...geez, it’s daunting just to think about it. And all for 12 shows. We have all had a fast and furious education in theatre production. And I think we’ll do it again. Besides...how often do you get to work with your friends, doing what makes you the most happy? I am one lucky fella.
The Star Scoop:
Who will "Betrayal" appeal to?
Wasserman:
Listen, we have all betrayed or have been betrayed. The play resonates (for better or for worse) with everyone, in every culture. The wonderful thing about Pinter’s work is that he absolutely requires the audience to become involved. At no time in the play do the characters just come out and tell you how they are feeling or what they want or how they are going to get it. The dialogue mostly consists of friendly conversation...but underneath, the audience will sense and piece out the desires and passions that remain unspoken. It may be the most engaging type of theatre.
The Star Scoop:
Do you have any other upcoming projects where fans will be able to see your work?
Wasserman:
You gotta check out SWINGTOWN. And yes, that mustache was real! I am also the voice for THE INCREDIBLE HULK for the upcoming animated film, PLANET HULK. That was a lot of fun: screaming for hours in a studio with my t-shirt that reads “You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.” I spend most of my time in my voice-over studio these days. I can be heard on AMC, FOX SPORTS, and FOOD NETWORK among others. It’s quick and easy work and it’s always neat to get a phone call from my dad saying, “Hey! I just heard you on TV talking about Derek Jeter!!!”