Interview #3 with the Cast of "Laughter on the 23rd Floor"

   For our third interview with the cast of Laughter on the 23rd Floor, let’s hear from my pal Jerry Morse.

   He’s a triple-threat in the world of theatre - he’s a terrific director, a marvel at set design and construction, and he’s also an amazingly talented actor, as anyone who sees this play can attest. He’s hilarious! 

   Let’s hear from Jerry:

Q: What is the play Laughter on the 23rd Floor all about?

            Jerry: It’s an “inside look” at the writers for the Sid Caesar television comedy shows, who were at least as zany as the comedies themselves, and probably zanier.

Q: Tell us about the character you play.

Jerry: I play Ira Stone. The character he represents, like many of the other writers, was Jewish, but unlike the others, was a hypochondriac, and was notorious not only for that, but for consistently showing up late for work.  While the characters in the play are “composites” of more than one writer, much of Ira’s character is patterned after Mel Brooks.   

  
Q: What's your background in theatre?

Jerry: Over the decades, I have performed with Community Players (“The Pleasure of His Company”), HOT (“Li’l Abner”, “The Music Man”), Musical Arts Guild (“South Pacific”, “Showboat”), Musical Arts Guild – Children’s Theater (“Oliver”), Appalachian Regional Theater (“The Sound of Music”), Summer Motion (“1776”, as Andrew McNair), ARTS (“1776”, as James Wilson), and First Night / First Church  Dinner Theater.  I’ve directed with Children’s Theater (now First Stage Theater Company) for “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” “Charlotte’s Web,” “Secret Garden,” and Pinocchio,” and for 21 seasons with First Night/First Church Dinner Theater (of which I’m a Co-Founder).

I’ve written, acted in, and directed Chancel dramas and Biblical sketches for First United Methodist Church, and designed sets for a number of shows, most recently for “Noises Off” for the City of Huntington Foundation.   

Q: What's the most challenging thing about doing a comedy?

Jerry:  The timing – not just timing of the lines, but timing of the pauses, the reactions, and the “stage business” (the work with the props).

 
Q: You're staging this in the Renaissance Ballroom, a more intimate setting than the main stage. Does that make the show easier or is it more challenging?

Jerry:  In the case of Laughter on the 23^rd Floor, it makes little difference.  We actually have as much space on the set as we would have on the main stage at Renaissance.  The intimacy will probably bring the audience more completely into what’s happening on the “stage”, so they should appreciate the humor even more.

Q: Tell us about the cast you're working with.

Jerry: The play is written to bring out the foibles and unique characters of each of the writers.  Each member of the cast has been challenged to bring that uniqueness to his or her part, and much of our fun as players has been watching that develop and happen as rehearsals have progressed.  I’ve especially enjoyed the “in your face” action between Ira Stone and Max Prince, and between Ira and Brian Doyle (Brian’s Irish, not Jewish, and he and Ira don’t get along too well and that’s good for more than a few laughs).  

Q: Why would you recommend this show to our readers?

Jerry: The show is fast-paced, and displays the true “nutty” character of many comedy writers.   We must caution that the show does contain adult language, so it’s intended for mature audiences, and is not suited for youngsters.

Q: Where and when will the show be staged?

Jerry: Friday and Saturday nights, December 6 and 7, performances start  at 8 p.m. each night, at the Renaissance Ballroom, 900 8^th Street, in Huntington.