In Part 5 of a series of interviews with the cast of WSC Avant Bard’s production of Friendship Betrayed—a classic comedy by Spanish playwright María de Zayas y Sotomayor—meet Zach Roberts.
Joel: Where have local audiences seen you perform recently on stage?
Zach: I recently performed as Pierre in the Avant Bard production of The Madwoman of Chaillot.
Why did you want to be part of the cast of Friendship Betrayed at Avant Bard?
I had a wonderful time in Madwoman and was very excited to work with Kari (Ginsburg). I loved the adjustments she gave at the audition and thought that she had a great angle on the piece. She’s a fun director to work with.
Who do you play in the show? How do you relate to him?
I play Felix and Lauro. Felix is Laura’s bestie, and I absolutely adore Daven Ralston, who’s playing Laura, so that’s easy! Lauro is kind of in his own little world and in his separate play, and I think we’ve all been there before.
What’s the show about from the point of view of your character?
From Felix’s point of view the show is about his bestie Laura finally getting married. For Lauro it’s the end of a very long and tumultuous relationship that finally became too painful.
What is your favorite scene that you are not in and why?
I love the first entrance of Gerardo (Brendan Edward Kennedy) because it’s such a different tone than everything before it. He’s so sweet and lyrical, and the way it contrasts with all of the preceeding scenes is just delightful.
What is your favorite line or lines that your character says, and what is your favorite line that someone else says in the show?
My favorite line is when Lauro tells Fenisa (Melissa Marie Hmelnicky) that Liseo [James Finley] is getting tired of all her messages and letters and she’s wasting her time mooning over him. That line that helped me figure out my way into my character.
My favorite line that someone else says is when Marcia (Megan Dominy) enters with Belisa and Laura and says, “Amazing things are happening.” It just cracks me up.
What are you doing next on the stage?
I’m directing a few projects for DC Music Theatre Workshop and appearing as Anna’s Husband with Quotidian Theatre in the production of The Little Lady With the Dog.
What do you want audiences to take with them after seeing Friendship Betrayed?
I hope the audience enjoys being on our journey and enjoys vicariously living through our delightful characters. It’s fun to watch these beautiful rich people behave badly and say the things that we (sometimes) wish we were able to say and do the things we (sometimes) wish we were able to do.
Friendship Betrayed plays from September 10 to October 11, 2015 at WSC Avant Bard performing at Gunston Arts Center, Theatre Two – 2700 South Lang Street, in Arlington, VA. For tickets, call the box office at (703) 418-4808, or purchase them online.
LINKS
Meet the Cast of Avant Bard’s ‘Friendship Betrayed’: Part 1: Alani Kravitz.
Meet the Cast of Avant Bard’s ‘Friendship Betrayed’: Part 2: Daven Ralston.
Meet the Cast of Avant Bard’s ‘Friendship Betrayed’: Part 3: James Finley.
Meet the Cast of Avant Bard’s ‘Friendship Betrayed’: Part 4: Melissa Marie Hmelnicky.
Meet the Cast of Avant Bard’s ‘Friendship Betrayed’: Part 5: Zach Roberts.