IMFourPlay

Charles Gray Jr., a returning company member of the FourPlay company, brings an unmistakable "everyman" quality to his work, and has one of the most effortless singing voices I've encountered. I sat down with Charles over fish and chips and a beer in a nearby pub (complete with majestic mahogany benches and ample well-placed portraits of Queen Elizabeth II) and together we reflected on the upcoming show...

Current Favourite Musical: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Current Favourite Improv Game: Scene Three Ways

DC: Okay, Charles, I'm going to out you right away. We've had many chats about the fact that you are not really a big musical theatre fan!! So why sign on to FourPlay, an improv musical theatre show?!?

CG: First of all I love music -- I also love improv. Musical theatre "people" tend to annoy me (ooopps just made some enemies) with their singing of Rent and Wicked songs over and over again. Now, if Metallica wrote a musical, I would be there! The real reason I signed on is to represent all the beer drinkin', football watchin', buffalo wing eatin' guys. We get turned off by all the fluffy stuff that goes along with musical theatre. So I am here to make fun of it while being entertaining.

DC: And you do that well! You grew up in a military family, which meant a lot of moving and traveling. Did that predispose you to being an improviser in any way?

CG: That, along with my mom having newborn twin boys and a 1-year-old sister meant I was alone a lot. So, my imagination became a big part of who I am today.

DC: I think many entertainers have a similar story. Speaking of traveling, we have an Australasian connection (I'm from New Zealand for those of you who have never seen the rest of the SAK cast make fun of me on stage!) Share a memory with us from your Up With People days down under.

CG: Communicating was easy in Sydney and up the Eastern Australian coast. Once I got out into the outback a bit, I stayed with a family who had such a thick accent I had no idea what they were saying! They hated their ignorant American guest. They were sheepherders and part time school bus drivers. They also had no doors on their house so sheep would just wander into the house! It was like the movie Deliverance "Aussie" style!

DC: Oh dear... Anyone who has had the good fortune of watching you onstage will agree that you are just a natural character actor. SAK won't soon forget your impersonation of your lovely wife during a Slice of Life! Where do all those wacky characterizations come from?

CG: I tend to pick up on others' emotions and I like to go to extremes for my character choices. Plus I people watch a lot... even in a creepy way! So if you see me in the mall, walk the other way. Being a different character enables me to give off emotions that do not usually come out of my everyday life: Murderous Rage, Flamboyant Distress, and Holier than thou Apathy are a few of my favorites.

DC: Well, thanks so much Charles. Let's finish our beers. While I've enjoyed our chat, I hope I don't bump into you at a mall any time soon...

To learn more about Charles, go here.