A Streetcar Named Desire - Meet cast member Camden Gonzalez
What have you learned
about yourself in playing the role of Stanley?
It's really not easy to play such a brute, and it's been
much more difficult than I ever imagined. In real life, I consider myself to be
a considerate and caring guy, and in the past, I've usually played the
protagonist; for this role, I've really had to tap into the deepest and darkest
parts of my soul to find that primal personality. But what makes it even more
interesting—and challenging—is that, while on the surface Stanley may appear
like an ape, deep down he truly is just as fragile as any of us. I suppose we
all have two sides to us: the side we put on for the world to see, and the side
that hides what we don't want them to see (for reasons good, bad, or
otherwise). And then we pick and choose the moments (or sometimes it just
happens) where we let our true self be exposed—if you find yourself among the
lucky few who witness the veil coming off, be sure to cherish it.
What do you want the
audience to experience/take away from this show?
One thing dramas do so well that comedies often can't is
tune into the personality struggles in our own lives. I suppose one of my favorite
comedic writers, Neil Simon, does this quite well and manages to still keep the
laughter going; but Tennessee Williams finds a way to take some of the most
impactful traits each of us have(even if it's to the slightest degree), and
embody it and expand it tenfold into a character. While you watch the show,
reflect upon each of the characters' weaknesses, how it eventually unravels
them, and see if you can compare this cause-and-effect chain to your own
struggles in life. I think you'll be just as surprised at what you find as I was!
How does this show
differ from other shows you have worked on?
Until now, almost every production I have worked in has
been a comedy; after all, I love to make people laugh. But my goal with this show
is different: if you somberly walk out of the theater with that pit in your
stomach and devoid of words, then we as a cast have done our job.
How long have you been
acting and what made you get involved in theatre? How did you get involved with
LTA?
I've been acting since I was probably 4 or 5. I remember
a home movie of me (that's hopefully still buried somewhere) where I was using some
skillfully-crafted sock puppets to put on a show for my parents and some
neighbors (I think now I know why the neighbors quickly moved thereafter). My
parents were both Thespians and both worked in the television industry, which
lead to a couple opportunities for me to play some TV background artist roles
as a kid—but that was enough of a bite to keep me hooked. After freshmen year
of college, I actually got away from acting for a while, being consumed by
schoolwork and other hobbies. It wasn't until about a year and half ago I decided
to pick it up again after seeing a friend in a show...I suddenly realized how
much I missed it! And then, at the behest of a coworker, I took one of LTA's
adult acting classes to shake off some of the dust, and...well, I guess you
could say the rest is history!
What advice would you
give others who are interested in working in theatre?
My advice? Don't let your fears stand in the way. On the
weekends, I'm a skydiving instructor with over 2,200 jumps; I don't think twice
about leaping from an aircraft from 14,000ft over the earth. Put me just off
stage, moments from going on? I swear my thumping heart could be heard by the
audience! I have friends who say to me, “I'll jump out of a plane any day, but
I'll never go on a stage.” Skydiving and acting really are no different; it
just takes a leap of faith: close your eyes, take a deep breath, and step out
and over that ledge. You will honestly be surprised at just what you are capable
of.
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