James Taylor Odom discusses CLUE, Gentleman's Guide & Sally Struthers!
Now, here's Wil's interview with James:
Wil Elrick: You have been to Huntsville before! Because I recognized you as soon as I saw your face on this video call.
James Taylor Odom: Yes. I played Huntsville with Gentleman's Guide as the D'ysquith Family, which was the lead of the show.
Wil: So, do you have a favorite city you have played so far on this tour and why?
JTO: My favorite city to have played... I would probably say Washington DC. We played the Kennedy Center this year and I went on for Wadsworth in CLUE as we were in a transitional phase from one lead to the next. It was an amazing experience to be in our nation's capital performing in CLUE that I love and with audiences that really loved the show! The show has a lot of ties to Washington DC.
Wil: So, what are the ties between CLUE and Washington DC? Just out of curiosity.
JTO: If you're familiar with the film of CLUE in 1985, in which this play is based on, not only the game, but that film, Jonathan Lynn, who wrote the screenplay, came up with a pretty brilliant idea to set CLUE during the 1950s McCarthy era. So every character is either from Washington DC or works for an organization that has ties to the political arena of DC. So there are all these references in the play to locations in the nation's capital. All the characters are politicians or work for the FBI or things like that.
Wil: I've
seen the show twice and once you said it, I do remember that. So, by the way, CLUE is my favorite current touring show. Just FYI,…
JTO: That's awesome. Yeah, it's a lot of fun.
Wil: My next question for you... on the tour Gentleman's Guide, did you ever have any crazy mishaps during a performance trying to play all the different family members, costume changes, etc.
JTO: They ran a pretty tight ship. However, there was one mishap, which was when
I played Ezekiel, who was the old priest that fell from the tower in a vertigo
style death sequence. I had this wig that not only had a bald spot but
crazy hair and it was one of those pieces that had to go on very quickly. So it
wasn't the most tightly connected piece.
I remember there was one performance where I was falling from the tower and screaming. And as my body swung back to land into place from that forced perspective, my bald spot crazy haired wig flew backwards right off my head as if my scalp opened up. it was very funny. It kind of played into the silliness that the show has, but it was definitely a mishap!
Wil: I see that you have been in a couple of shows with Sally Struthers, including CLUE at Gateway Playhouse. She headlined in Hello Dolly and played Huntsville back in 2013 and she was wonderful. What was it like working with Miss Struthers, and do you have any fun memories to share?
JTO: I have endless memories with the wonderful, talented and kindhearted Sally Struthers. I've worked with her three times and we have a great working relationship. And as you know, she has this new show on Netflix called A Man Inside with Ted Danson. I shamelessly will plug that for Sally because it's a great return to the screen for her. Sally does a lot of musical theater and comedies. And I can't think of a human being who has the celebrity that she has that is as down to earth, hilarious, and beloved by everyone that she works with.
I remember working on the musical adaptation of the film Grumpy Old Men with Sally. We were in a rehearsal room in New York and we were a little behind and I remember some package arrived in the mail that was in this massive tall cardboard box as if it was for a refrigerator. In the middle of rehearsal, she went out in the hallway got inside the box, cut two holes for eyes and a mouth, and poked her hands through each side and walked into the rehearsal room waddling in as this weird bizarre character. And we all just died laughing because it was such a random thing in the middle of a work session! She knows how to make people laugh in a way that breaks down barriers. I really love her.
Wil: That is an awesome answer. And speaking of Gateway Playhouse (or Camp Gateway as many call it), they often have Broadway talent working there because it's in Long Island and not too far away from New York City. I know our very own Kip Driver worked there back in the day. He played Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol and he said it was a really cool experience. What are your memories of performing CLUE there? The cast all living together on campus, etc.
JTO: Yes... Not only have I done CLUE at Gateway, I've also remounted the Broadway production of Gentleman's Guide at Camp Gateway. I love working for Gateway Playhouse. As you mentioned, it is just a short train ride away from Manhattan proper. And so, you end up working with a lot of your friends that live in the city. And it's on this historic property that back in the 1950s people like Robert Duval got their start there doing summer stock and regional theater and to this day it's still owned by the same family. They're in the midst of current renovations. But it's a really cool experience where there's this old mansion, that's on the property, and that's where all the actors live.
Wil: Besides CLUE, what is your favorite production that you have worked on or been in?
JTO: It's really unfair, because we've talked so much already about Gentleman's Guide, but it is, besides CLUE, my favorite thing I've ever done. It is such a brilliant piece. It is the show that kind of helped catapult my career into what it is today. From doing some regional gigs to working on that national tour, it has allowed me to open up doors with a lot of theaters and jobs around the country. The lyrics are hilarious. The music is truly a great throwback to the Gilbert and Sullivan era. And the costumes in the period of the Edwardian era... They are so incredible.
And as an actor, it's a joy to be able to perform as nine different British characters, moving in and out of wigs and costumes and that sort of thing.
Wil: What has it been like touring the South?
JTO: Well I'm from just north of Atlanta. I have a lot of family in Florence, Alabama and my cousin moved to Huntsville probably eight years ago. I often go out there and stay with her which I love. Yeah, shout out to my my cousin Esther Clark who lives in Huntsville! I just want to say I love you and can't wait to be there soon.
Wil: Lastly, what can people that come out to the show expect to see?
JTO: So, audiences can expect all of the great clever dialogue that exists in the movie, and know that the play does a good job of expanding more upon the incredible physical comedy that also exists in the movie. But we take it to another level in terms of seeing all of the characters from the board game come to life. Not only giving respect to the actors who played those roles so iconically on film, but giving these new actors their ability to take their own inspiration and bring the characters to life so that you are seeing something new and fresh but also familiar. Simply put, it's 80 minutes of pure fun!
And who doesn't love 80 minutes of pure fun??!! So we will see you all at CLUE this weekend right? Unless you want to hear Mrs. White yelling at you: "Flames, FLAMES, on the side of my face...!!"
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