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An interview with Tony Award winner Faith Prince
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Faith Prince first won a Tony Award for her memorable turn as Miss Adelaide in Broadway’s Guys and Dolls. She’s now starring in the world premiere of Terrance McNally’s new play Unusual Acts of Devotion at Philadelphia Theatre Company (480 S. Broad St., 215-985-1400).
Prince, who comes to Philadelphia after a run on Broadway with Harvey Fierstein in A Catered Affair, for which she received a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical, can now be seen alongside Richard Thomas (he played John Boy on the beloved television series The Waltons) in an ensemble piece set atop a Greenwich Village tar beach. Now in it’s final week at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Unusual Acts of Devotion closes November 23), the play tackles the sometimes tragic and comic experiences shared by a group of unlikely New York neighbors one warm summer night.
Prince took time out from her performance to talk to Examiner about what it’s like being a singer who acts and why the television series Huff (she played the frisky Kelly Knipers alongside Hank Azaria and Oliver Platt) had to prematurely call it quits.
Natalie Hope McDonald: So how has the play been going?
Faith Prince: It is a joy to do. A joy to act! And the audiences seem to really love it. It’s constantly changing and growing. It’s a very exciting experience.
NHM: You have a long and fabled history with playwright Terrance McNally.
FP: This is the fourth show of his I’ve done. I did a show called Bad Habits. And I did a show called Urban Blight that included Andre’s Mother (which was later turned into a television movie). I also did Man of No Importance; he did the book for that. It was a really lavish musical.
NHM: How would you describe your character in Unusual Acts of Devotion?
FP: Loaded. I think she’s one of those people who started down the road never imagining she’d end up where she did. I find her very human. I think her journey is interesting, and over the course of one night, a lot of back story happens. She really has the most secrets and needs to get those out to be well again. It’s one of those great roles.
NHM: Setting the play on a rooftop in New York seems natural for anyone who knows what an important role rooftop culture plays in a city.
FP: I went out with my acupuncturist last night. They are a Chinese couple. The husband said, “Wow, it’s the whole life on the roof in New York that no one really calculates in.” There are so many scenes where you realize these people probably would have never been together except in New York City.
NHM: How does this connection translate in the play?
FP: People find a way to intimacy that has nothing to do with sex: between two men, between a straight woman and a gay man, a younger woman and an older woman. The play pretty much has everything except racial minorities. What I love about it is it’s just about life. It sums it down to what life could be about and what life ends up being about.
NHM: Has that been your experience in New York?
FP: I certainly went to New York because I was searching. Most people who go to New York are searching. Sure, people who live in suburban life are searching, but it isn’t until you’re put into a sea of misfits that you learn something. All the characters are from somewhere. There’s maybe one character in the play (Leo) who’s actually from the Village. Otherwise it’s a sea of people that come from a lot of places.
NHM: I saw Nathan Lane was in the audience of Unusual Acts opening night. You and he were terrific together in Guys and Dolls many years ago.
FP: Yes, he and I have remained friends. He’s great friends with Terrance.
NHM: How did you first hear about this role?
FP: I did A Catered Affair this spring (written by Harvey Fierstein). Terrance came to see me in that and asked, “Could you do a living room read on this play?” I wasn’t sure at first. I wanted to do it justice. But he assured me it’s just a reading. And told me Richard Thomas was going to be there. We had worked together when he did an early read on Man of No Importance. He and I had a lot of chemistry, so when I started that day I felt like I knew who this person was.
NHM: What kind of work did you do to prepare for this role (the character you play in Unusual Acts is nothing if she’s not complex)?
FP: I did Huff. Bob Lowry writes a lot like Terrance in that one minute you’re laughing and the next you may be crying. He combines all of these emotions. I felt like I had a basis for this type of character. I sort of had broken out in a strange way in Huff. I had found my inner core of all sorts of possibilities. It was a real challenge to go on this journey. Not all of her is likeable and that’s okay with me.
NHM: I loved the Showtime series Huff, but it ended with a bang (too much of a bang not to wonder what happens next). Please tell me it’s coming back.
FP: No, it’s not. But we have been asking Bob Lowry to write a two-hour special to tie up all the loose ends.
NHM: Have you had much of a chance to explore Philly since you’ve been here?
FP: I’m a big fan of Philadelphia. We haven’t really had much time; we had rehearsal yesterday. But my husband and son and I went to La Viola (253 S. 16th St., 215-735-8630). We also want to go to a Cuban restaurant; I think it’s Alma de Cuba (1623 Walnut St., 215-988-1799). Richard Thomas went there and loved it. This is the fourth time I’ve been in Philly. I love the people. It’s like a big small town.
It's not to late to get tickets to see Faith Prince: Order online, by phone (215-985-0420) or in person during regular business hours (Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m. until showtime and Sat.-Sun. 12 p.m. until showtime).
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