?/td> Ahmanson Theatre (left to right)Michael
Potts as Benvolio, Sharon Omi as Lady Montague and
James Avery as Montague star in the Ahmanson
Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, directed
by Sir Peter Hall.
By Mary Williams
Daily Bruin Contributor
There will be no more of butler Jeffrey’s fat jokes for
James Avery, who played Uncle Phil on “The Fresh Prince of
Bel-Air.?
Now, in the role of Lord Montague in a new production of
“Romeo and Juliet?at the Ahmanson, Avery may no longer be the
victim of verbal jabs, but instead he is afflicted with a
rebellious son and one of the most destructive family feuds in
literature.
“As an actor you’re supposed to be able to do it
all,?Avery said in a recent interview. “You’re supposed
to be able to do stage and film and TV and voiceovers and
commercials.?
But when asked which type of acting he prefers, Avery erupted
into laughter and said, “I prefer getting paid.?
Poor as a child, Avery was raised by his single mother, who
worked as a barmaid, in Atlantic City. She stressed hard work and
education as a means of improving his situation; through both,
Avery became a well-trained and successful actor.
His credits include six years on the sitcom “The Fresh
Prince of Bel-Air?as Philip Banks, two years as the host of
PBS’s travel show “Going Places,?two and a half years
as the lead role in “Othello?in the Oregon Shakespeare
Festival in Ashland, as well as roles in dozens of other
television, film and theater productions.
Avery didn’t begin acting until college. After returning
from four years in the Navy during the Vietnam War, he attended San
Diego City College and later earned an academic scholarship to
UCSD.
He performed not only in plays at school, but also in local San
Diego productions; he spent a year in London studying Shakespeare,
the subject of much of his training.
“As an actor, especially as an American actor, especially
as an African American actor, the language we use is English and
(Shakespeare) is the greatest writer in the English language,?Avery
said. “And the skills that one learns to do those classics
stands you in good stead when you do anything else.?
?/td> James Avery, best known for work on
the "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," plays Montague in "Romeo &
Juliet" at the Ahmanson Theatre. Learning the necessary skills,
preferably at a university, is vital for being a successful actor,
according to Avery.
“Most of the actors that I’ve met in my life who are
wonderful are those that have been trained and schooled,?he said.
“It’s learning your craft. You wouldn’t just walk
along the street and pick up a brick and say, “˜Oh, let me go
build a brick wall.'”
Working with people who are knowledgeable about their craft,
particularly director Sir Peter Hall, is the reason Avery agreed to
join the cast of “Romeo and Juliet.?Hall is the founder of
the Royal Shakespeare Company in London and the premier director of
plays by Shakespeare.
?Hall) knows scansion, he knows the language,?Avery said.
“You learn all these tricks. That’s the thing about
Shakespeare: you’re always learning. No matter how much you
know there’s always something and it’s just
exciting.?
Hall’s current production of “Romeo and Juliet?has
added a new twist to the tale by presenting Romeo’s family as
black and Juliet’s as white, as well as changing the time
period to the early 1800s. The words and location of the play,
however, have remained unchanged. This is an aspect of the play
Avery said interested him, because he sees it as taking up the
issue of the under-representation of minorities in theater, film
and television in America.
“It will make a point for American audiences, because race
is always involved in America,?Avery said. “If you’re
black and onstage, you’re making a statement. It
shouldn’t be that way necessarily, but that’s the way
it is.?
It’s an issue that is close to home for Avery, who is
frustrated by the fact that many roles are available only to actors
of a specified ethnicity.
?Race is) an issue in casting sessions,?he said. “Why do
they have to make it specific that this doctor has to be white, or
that doctor has to be this, or why can’t it be a woman??
Avery has been subjected to such type-casting in the past,
having been turned down for roles because he is African
American.
“I wanted to read for a role, but I was told it was
specifically designated as Caucasian, because somehow this person
had to give the feeling he might have been Santa Claus,?Avery said
of one experience. “So Santa Claus is just white now? I
thought Santa Claus was a spirit.?
Avery has worked in other Shakespeare plays with non-traditional
casting, including one all-African American production of
“Much Ado About Nothing?at the Long Wharf Theater in New
Haven, Conn. The play was set in the midst of the Harlem
Renaissance, but the director altered none of the dialogue to
accommodate the change.
“”˜Much Ado About Nothing?was a fabulous
production,?Avery said. “It was the first time there was an
all-black Shakespeare production that was done without music and
dance, and changing things, and trying to make it fit.?
“Nothing was changed, nothing was adjusted,?he continued.
“It’s patronizing. You don’t really need to do
that.?
Whether he continues working in Shakespearean plays or chooses
other roles, Avery said he is certain that he wants to continue
acting as long as possible.
“I want to keep on working,?Avery said. “I want to
die offstage, I want to have a heart attack in the wings or waiting
on the set to do my scene. I like my work.?hr noshade
color=000066>THEATER: “Romeo and
Juliet?will be at the Ahmanson from Feb. 4 through Mar. 18. Ticket
prices range from $25 to $55. Student group rates are from $12 to
$25 per seat. Call (213) 628-2772 to purchase tickets.