A-LISTS theatre
Rage: You are playing Bruce who is described as a demanding venture capitalist boss. Will you tell me a bit more about your character?
GH: Part of what he is, in addition to being a venture capitalist, is a surfer. I’ve been
surfing since I was 9 years old. I think one other time in my career I was able to incorpo- rate my love of surfing and what I do for a living as an actor. That was in a film about 22 years ago. So, now I’m able to play a character in a stage play who has a side of him that is very much the same kind of surfer that I am, being avid and incredibly earthy and soulful. On the other hand, what makes this character a dichotomy and so interesting to play…is the other side of him is capitalist and a bit willing to be brutal.
Rage: This guy is kind of a ruthless person?
GH: Maybe people will interpret it that way. That’s a result and I don’t play results. I
don’t think of my characters as good guys or bad guys or victims. Though, absolutely this guy could be perceived as intimidating and a bit ruthless. Some people aren’t go- ing to like that aspect about him. Others are charmed by it or attracted to it.
Rage: Is Surf Report a combination of comedy and drama interwoven into a very human story?
GH: Yes it is. Exactly that. How wonderfully put. It’s a combination of character-driven
comedy, not plot-driven comedy. Comedic elements that combine with real serious moral dilemmas…family, angst and the La Jolla surfing world, all intercombined into this interesting eclectic kind of play.
Rage: Did you initially start out acting in plays or did television come first?
GH: Neither one. I actually started out in feature films. I eventually evolved into televi- sion and then evolved from there into theatre. It’s kind of a backward career (laughter).
Rage: What do you feel audiences will enjoy or take away with them after seeing Surf Report?
GH: I absolutely think that audiences will be entertained by this story. Anybody who
Starring in Surf Report at La Jolla Playhouse
by bill biss
GREGORY HARRISON
Award-winning San Diego playwright, Annie Weisman will present the world-
premiere of her new play Surf Report on June 15. The production, which runs until July 11, centers on the character of Judith [Linda Gehringer]. Her relationships with her husband Hal [Matthew Arkin], boss and daughter [Zoë Chao] have been described as “funny and poignant” at the same time. Starring in the role of Judith’s boss is well-known screen and television actor Gregory Harrison. The Rage Monthly spoke with Harrison a few weeks before opening night to learn more about his role, Annie Weisman and how a personal passion of his ties into his role as Bruce in Surf Report.
The Rage Monthly: How would you describe Annie Weisman’s writing and what appeals to you about her new work, Surf Report?
Gregory Harrison: I think she’s just a brilliant writer. It’s so specific. I love it when I’m
able to read or speak dialogue that could only come from a particular character. If you look at this play, any line in this play could only come from the one person to whom it was assigned. That’s often not the case in plays…even good ones. That’s really the difference that makes me feel so confident to entrust her in defining who it is I’m going to play on that stage.
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RAGE monthly | JUNE 2010
comes from a family will relate to some element of the dynamics of this woman’s family travails, both with her husband, with her daughter and her boss. It will resonate with them on that level. I’ll think they will get a lot of unexpected laughs in the course of this. I don’t know if there is a big life lesson to be learned from this. We may discover there is. But, I think it’s more of a mirror or reflection of the gray areas of life—that there are no easy answers.
Surf Report
June 15 - July 11
La Jolla Playhouse
lajollaplayhouse.com 1.858.550.1010
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