INTERVIEW: Keith Huff is back with ‘Garbageman’
Photo: Garbageman stars Deven Anderson as Buddy Maple and Kirk Gostkowski as Dan Bandana. Photo courtesy of David Zayas Jr. / Provided by Kampfire PR with permission.
Writer Keith Huff has many highlights in his impressive career. There’s his work on some of TV’s most well-respected dramas, including Mad Men, House of Cards and American Crime. His stage work has made it to Broadway and starred some high-profile names: A Steady Rain played Midtown Manhattan a few years ago with Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig.
Now Huff is back with a new play called Garbageman, currently playing The Chain Theatre in New York City through Sunday, April 10. Much like A Steady Rain, this new outing is a two-hander about crime and punishment. This time, the characters of Dan Bandana and Buddy Maple are introduced to the audience as lifelong friends who didn’t exactly succeed in life, and their friendship is complicated by Buddy’s request of Dan to find him a gun.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Huff about Garbageman, which stars Kirk Gostkowski and Deven Anderson, and is directed by Greg Cicchino. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What is it about two-handers that you enjoy so much?
I enjoy that each character is, essentially, the “star” of the play. In a true two-hander, there is no minor character. I enjoy that dynamic. Everybody in the play gets to play in the sandbox all the time. For this play, it was a natural choice. It was my vision for the story I wanted to tell. Having plays with a smaller cast also helps as theaters recover from pandemic closings and continue to take extra measures to keep their team and audience members healthy. A two-person play in the time of Covid recovery just happened to be a bonus logistically. I’ve written many other plays and scripts with multiple characters. I’ve even written a one-person play. It just so happens my most recognizable play is a two-hander.
Are there limitations with only two characters on stage?
There’s always a ball in the air, a ball bouncing back and forth between the two characters. The challenge is to have the characters keep the ball in the air till the final moment of the play. It’s something natural to me as a writer because that’s the kind of experience I always want when I go to the theater. Of course, having two actors in Garbageman (Kirk Gostkowski and Deven Anderson) with years of comedy and improv experience doesn’t hurt. Every play will have its challenges no matter the cast size. In the end, it’s about the story before you, the performers and the vision of the production company.
What kind of relationship do these two characters in Garbageman have?
There are moments in the play that Dan Bandana and Buddy Maple hate each other. There are moments throughout, however, where they genuinely care for each other. The weather changes and so does their relationship. Their friendship is definitely murky. Life is not black and white. Relationships are the same way, especially with Buddy and Dan. The end-point in theater for me is the experience of each individual audience member. I like to have the audience experience it for themselves. Sometimes, just as in life, there are layers to the connections we have with people and why we spend time with them. It’s not always rational or healthy, but I find it absolutely fascinating that we behave this way as a human race. What’s more fun than being able to put that on stage?
How do you know a line is humorous? Do you have to wait for the audience?
In this day and age, I don’t. Who tells us whether a line is humorous or not? If the audience laughs, it’s funny. If they don’t laugh, it’s not. I’m not known as a comedy writer. The TV shows I’ve written for were all heavy dramas. Some humor is unearthed in the rehearsal room, some when a live audience is present. The audience is always a changing organism. Each night the laughs hit differently. When a new audience walks through the theater doors, it’s always a new adventure.
What’s it like working with The Chain Theatre?
The Chain Theatre is a bold and tenacious group of theater artists. Kirk and the artistic team are not afraid to ask hard questions and tackle difficult material, even a “risky” play like this. They are willing to experiment, take chances. It’s always very exciting to work with them and be in the room. They do excellent work and have a lot of integrity when it comes to staying true to what’s on the page. For a playwright, that makes them great collaborators. I’ve worked with The Chain Theatre before on a drama called Six Corners, which was a wonderful experience, a truly diverse collaboration. Joining forces again seemed effortless — as effortless as getting back together post/current pandemic times can be.
Do you look back fondly at your time on Broadway with A Steady Rain?
Yes, of course. It was a life-changing experience, a dream come true. It opened doors and career opportunities I never knew were accessible to me. I was literally editing articles about foot surgery in my 9-5 job when Daniel Craig, at the behest of the producers, called me at work and said in his very authentic-sounding British accent: “I want to do your play.” Of course, I said yes! I was able to quit my day job after 25 years. Working with Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman was an extraordinary adventure. Both were very professional, incredibly skilled, and very, very funny. There was a lot of laughter in the rehearsal room (and a little singing and dancing from Hugh). Since Daniel and Hugh were portraying Chicago cops in A Steady Rain, I remember one day early in the process where they decided to compare abs to determine which of them had the most convincing cop paunch.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Garbageman by Keith Huff is now playing at The Chain Theatre in New York City. Performances continue through Sunday, April 10. Click here for more information and tickets.
