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Leatherman as Angelo in "A Comedy of Errors"
Although the Southwest Shakespeare Company is one of the most respected theatre companies in the Valley, many of us average Joes may feel a bit of trepidation at the thought of attending a show written by the Bard at the company's home stage at the Mesa Arts Center. In a society where audiences are used to action-packed, fast-paced entertainment, how could John Q. Public possibly feel confident about signing on for a show full of obscure historical references, indecipherable dialect, and symbolism that immediately brings to mind the familiar yellow-and-black design of CliffsNotes covers?
"This is a great show for people who aren't necessarily familiar with Shakespeare," James Leatherman explains. "It's a goofy story of mistaken identities . . . kind of a Benny Hill meets Keystone Cops meets Shakespeare."
Leatherman, a cast member of Southwest Shakespeare's A Comedy of Errors, (playing at the Mesa Arts Center through October 3) spoke with me about the show yesterday. It's his third production with the prestigious theatre company. In addition to his current role as "Angelo" in Errors, Leatherman previously played roles in Pygmalion and The Merry Wives of Windsor.
The story of the ninety-minute Errors is pure farce. Two sets of twins are involved, and when the pairs are separated, chaos and hilarity ensue. I'm reminded of a line from Annie Hall: "Twins, Max. Can you imagine the mathematical possibilities of that?"
Well, in Errors, everything that can get mixed up does, and Leatherman's character is at the heart of much of the confusion. Angelo is a merchant who unknowingly gives a gold chain to one twin, when it was in fact commissioned by the other. When he later approaches the twin who commissioned the chain for payment, he is refused. Angelo takes the perceived injustice into his own hands, leading to more episodes of misunderstanding, and the snarl of miscommunications doesn't get resolved until the end of the story.
I first met Leatherman two years ago, in an improvisation class in Chandler. At the time, he was a transplant from New York who had been initiated into acting only a few months before, in the ensemble of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Scottsdale's Desert Stages Theatre. We commiserated about the intimidating nature of improvisation.
Despite his professed intimidation, Leatherman finished the course with flying colors, culminating in a fully staged improv performance before a live audience at the conclusion. He went on to perform with Desert Stages again in 2007's five-character thriller Deathtrap, and then with Southwest Shakespeare, as well as star in a widely-viewed commercial for Cox Communications. In November he will begin performing with the National Comedy Theatre, a professional improvisational theatre company based in San Diego, New York, and Phoenix. The National Comedy Theatre has performances twice nightly every Friday and Saturday in Mesa, and travels to bookings for corporate events and other special occasions nationwide.
Prior to starting his acting career in 2006, Leatherman had gained a lot of experience as a voiceover artist. In his hometown in upstate New York, he had begun working for a next-door neighbor who owned an advertising agency and worked out of her home. His boss eventually had him make a demo CD and send it around. Multiple bookings followed.
When he moved to Arizona, Leatherman decided to pursue acting as a means to improve his voiceover technique. The experience was a positive one from the very beginning - even in his first small role in Forum, his performance generated enthusiastic feedback from audiences and the rest of the cast. Leatherman was hooked, and has a very favorable view of the theatre community in Arizona.
"I actually found that Arizona had a lot more opportunities than New York," he says. "There are so many good community and local theatre companies."
Leatherman is a relaxed and friendly person, very down-to-earth, but with a wicked sense of humor that belies his low-key manner. Self-deprecating about his talent and experience, he disagrees with my premise when I comment that in the last several years since I first met him, he has become a full-fledged "ac-TOR."
"I consider myself more of a 'professional hobbyist,'" he says, with a modesty that is as far from false as you can get.
Perhaps, but Southwest Shakespeare Company actors with enough experience at the company become eligible for membership in the Actors' Equity Association, and Leatherman is now represented by the Ford/Robert Black Agency.
If this is just a hobby, Leatherman's spare time is proving to be very well spent.
The Comedy of Errors is playing at the Mesa Arts Center, 1 East Main Street in Mesa. For tickets, call the Box Office at (480) 644-6500 or visit www.swshakespeare.org.
Visit www.JamesLeatherman.com for Leatherman's resume, current projects, contact information and more.
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