Meet the Cast of Avant Bard’s ‘Holiday Memories’ Part 5: Devon Ross

In Part 5 of a series of five interviews with the cast of WSC Avant Bard’s production of Holiday Memories—a stage adaptation of two classic short stories by Truman Capote, “A Christmas Memory” and “The Thanksgiving Visitor—meet Devon Ross.

Joel: Where have local audiences seen you perform recently on stage?

Devon: I was recently in two short plays in the Source Theatre Festival. In the first I played a bear who wanted to learn math so he could impress a human girl. And in the second I played a surgeon preparing to sever a pair of Siamese twins that he himself had sewn together…so that was fun.

Why did you want to be part of the cast of Holiday Memories at Avant Bard?

I was really drawn to the lucid, almost dreamlike, style of storytelling that this play uses as well as the rich imagery and language.

Who do you play in the show? How do you relate to him?

I play slew of characters in the show including Odd Henderson, who bullies “Buddy,” the young Truman (Séamus Miller). The character I relate to most is Truman’s Uncle B. He is a simple and hardworking man with understandable needs and frustrations.

What’s the show about from the point of view of your character?

For Odd Henderson the show is a lesson in the unforeseen consequences our actions can have on others.

What are your own favorite holiday memories?

I always loved having Christmas back in Amarillo, Texas, with my extended family.

If you could be granted one holiday wish, what would it be?

I’ve been asking Santa for a jetpack for as long as I can remember.

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 one Odd Henderson says to Miss Sook (Charlotte Akin): “You must be a special lady, Miss Sook, to fib for me like that.” It is the first moment we see Odd Henderson feel regret for his torments against Buddy.

As for my favorite line spoken by another character I would have to choose Miss Sook’s final monologue:

And I imagined that when He came it would be like looking at the Baptist window: pretty as colored glass with the sun pouring through, such a shine you don’t know it’s getting dark. And it’s been a comfort: to think of that shine taking away all the spooky feeling. But I’ll wager it never happens. I’ll wager at the very end a body realizes the Lord has already shown Himself. That things as they are . . . Just what they’ve always seen, was seeing Him.

It’s a beautiful sentiment that poses a massive question, yet it is delivered in remarkably honest language. We see that Miss Sook doesn’t need overindulgent language or higher education to be incredibly wise.

What are you doing next on the stage?

I’m not sure what’s next for me but I’m proud to have taken this massive step forward in my career with Avant Bard. I’m hoping it’s only the first step in a long journey. :)

What do you want audiences to take with them after seeing Holiday Memories?

Forgiveness and acceptance are very precious.