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Actors Sacrifice Hair For Play
January 22, 2009
By JOSEPH SITARZ
Index-Journal Senior Staff Writer
Greenwood, SC - The actors in Greenwood Community Theatre’s upcoming production of “A Few Good Men” have gone to new lengths to create an authentic military feel to the drama that opens Friday.
GTC executive director Bess Park found “a few good men” who not only were good actors, but good sports willing to go the distance for realism. “A Few Good Men” is a drama by Aaron Sorkin set in a military courtroom, so it made sense to have the actors look the part.
- So, haircuts were the buzz at Greenwood Community Theatre in Uptown Greenwood recently when local barber Judy Nelson Roberts, owner of George’s Barber Shop, gave cast members their military-issue new looks.
For many of the actors, having to wear their hair cropped close to the scalp was a dramatic change.
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- But for one, to make a long story short, the change was drastic.
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Greenwood barber Judy Nelson Roberts, owner of George’s Barber Shop, cuts Tom Lewis’ hair as in preparation for a part in Greenwood Community Theatre’s production of “A Few Good Men.” Lewis has had long hair for more than four years and the last time he had a haircut was July of 2008. (Staff photo by T.M. James) | Tom Lewis, performing for the first time in a GCT performance, had hair down to his shoulders a couple of weeks ago. Not anymore. His goatee is gone, too. Having to get his hair cut wasn’t a surprise to Lewis, who first heard of the possibility during auditions.
“We were there trying out, and about halfway through the auditions, the assistant director came up to me,” Lewis said, adding she posed the “million dollar question” to him.
“If you get the part, would you cut your hair?” Lewis said she asked. “I didn’t answer directly. I wasn’t sure.”
Lewis, who has worn his hair long for more than four years, said a little buttering up by the assistant director sealed the deal.
“It’s high and tight. It’s short. My head and my neck are cold,” Lewis said, adding he doesn’t remember how long it’s been since his hair has been this short. “I miss it more for the warmth and not as much for the aesthetics. Everyone’s been kind saying I look good.”
The last time the man playing Lt. Jonathan Kendrick had his hair cut was July of last year.
“I grew it out to do a one-man presentation as Herod,” the 46-year-old said. “I kept it long.”
The decision to make the cut was most dramatic for Lewis.
“I was the only person who had any hair of consequence,” Lewis said. “The others had a contemporary look � close cropped. It wasn’t near as impactful to the others.”
The change isn’t something Lewis regrets.
“I’m glad I did it,” said Lewis, who also removed his goatee.
“A Few Good Men” examines the fine line between following orders and following one’s conscience. A Navy lawyer and his team find themselves in an explosive murder case. The team is set to defend two Marines accused of killing a fellow soldier. The team immediately butts heads with issues of loyalty, honor and sacred codes, along with their biggest defender.
Acting is nothing new to Lewis, who moved back to Greenwood about a year and a half ago.
“I’ve acted in other places, in Walterboro and in Atlanta, and I did community theater stuff,” said Lewis, a musician who plays acoustic guitar and was a member of the band at St. Mark Methodist Church. “Some of the plays I have done, I’ve played music. I’ve played music in 'Alice in Wonderland’ and 'Grease.’”
Even though this will be his first appearance on the GCT stage, his son Caleb, a ninth-grader at Greenwood High School, has performed most recently in “Sleepy Hollow” and “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.”
Spending time at the theater put Lewis into a certain category.
“Honestly, it was just one of those things. It was January, and I didn’t have much else to do. I knew I wanted to get involved in some way,” Lewis said.
Those factors led to Park getting Lewis to audition.
“She’s a great recruiter,” Lewis said. “I couldn’t turn her down.”
“A Few Good Men” was made into an award-winning movie in 1992 directed by Rob Reiner and starred Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Pollak and Keifer Sutherland, who was Kendrick.
Lewis has seen the film, but not recently. As far as he can remember, the play and the movie are very similar.
“I didn’t want to watch it,” said Lewis, a counselor at Vocational Rehabilitation Department. “I didn’t want to play Keifer Sutherland in the play. I wanted to do it my own way. It’s a small but important part.”
Lewis is enjoying his first GCT experience.
“It’s great,” he said. “It’s amazing. It’s a wonderful thing to do. I forgot how much fun acting is. You’re around other people like you. You get to exercise your brain. You’re memorizing your lines, and that’s good for your brain.”
The play has some intense scenes, including heated moments peppered with mature language. That doesn’t bother Lewis.
“I’m from the camp that if you’re doing a play, to be really true to the play,” Lewis said. “I try to refrain from cussing. I’m not a big fan.
“But, it doesn’t bother me a bit.”
Lewis has nothing but praise for Park and the other performers.
“I can’t say enough about Bess Park. Her energy and time is inspiring,” Lewis said. “Her patience, the way she works with those without much theater experience. She’s very nurturing but very hard. She’s helping everyone to do their best.
“It’s amazing how good the main characters are. Everyone is good,” he said.
The cast is Stephen Creswell as Pfc. Louden Downey; Rob Gilchrist as Lance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson; Chris Allen as Lt. j.g. Sam Weinberg; Joshua Kirby as Lt. j.g. Daniel A. Kaffee; Jill Lawrence as Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway; Bruce Rollin as Capt. Isaac Whitaker, MP1; Alvin Johnson as Capt. Matthew A. Markinson; Jacob Grooms as Pfc. William T. Santiago; Richard Whiting as Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep; Bobby Wood as Lt. Jack Ross; Wally Dorn as Cpl. James Owen Howard; Hope Ott as Capt. Julius Alexander Randolph (judge); Ken Hockenson as Cmdr. Walter Stone; Campbell Wiltshire as MP, orderly, Dunn; and Kristofer Parker, as Hammaker, Lyle and an MP.
Lewis said his first GCT experience has already led to a second casting. He will be in the musical, “Brigadoon.”
“I’ve got a part. I’ll be wearing a kilt,” Lewis said, quickly adding, “I’m not shaving my legs.”
Show times for “A Few Good Men” are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Jan. 30 and 31. Matinees are 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and military and $10 for students.
“A Few Good Men” deals with mature subject matter and does have mature language. The show is not recommended for children.
For information, call 229-5704 or e-mail tgct@greenwood.net.
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