INTERVIEW: Kolby Kindle enjoys being ‘wrong’ eight times a week
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The Play That Goes Wrong continues to have people laughing out loud at New World Stages, its off-Broadway home for the past few years. This production, which centers on a less-than-stellar acting troupe staging an Agatha-Christie-like mystery play, originated in London and then transferred to Broadway. After causing buckets of chuckles on Broadway, the production moved a few blocks away to its current home.
One critical member of the play’s plot is the character of Trevor, who is tasked with keeping the audio and lighting cues on task for the doomed production. He sits in a sound booth above the increasingly destructive (and dangerous) proceedings taking place down below, that is until the performers need his “acting” help to complete the murder mystery.
Portraying Trevor at New World Stages is Kolby Kindle, who has appeared off-Broadway in Harmony and was a member of the original Australian cast of the musical Come From Away.
“I auditioned for it earlier this year, but what was so unique about this process was that it wasn’t a typical audition because they actually had us audition in groups to see how we play off each other, to see our improv chops, which was really cool,” Kindle said in a recent phone interview. “I’ve never had an audition experience like that. I auditioned earlier this year, and months passed. And they called and offered me the role.”
Kindle actually has a background with the show — as a fan. He had seen the original production on Broadway and fell in love with the comedy and the crazed antics of this heartfelt, but ultimately cursed ensemble of actors.
“There aren’t many farces on Broadway,” he said. “There weren’t many shows like that. I love mostly musical theater, but I love going to plays. And I just became such a huge fan of this one because it was so unique. Seriously, I’ve never been in the show where the entire audience is rolling in the aisles with laughter.”
To pull off this “wrong” play each and every night, Kindle and his colleagues on stage need to work their way through the action almost as if they are following well-choreographed dance steps. The actor said the key to the play falling apart is the timing.
“It’s like a dance on stage and a dance off stage,” Kindle said. “Everyone has to be on it and in tune with what’s going on. It is choreography. It really feels like we’re doing a musical in that way. … The audience is a huge part of the storytelling, especially my track. I really vibe off the audience and what they’re giving, and it changes every show. So the audience is such a huge part of the show because we have to depend on them to steer the show in whatever direction we want it to go.”
Kindle said the Trevor role is unique. He is a member of the company staging this murder mystery play, but he’s also in an observer position, much like the audience. He approaches each performance as if Trevor were trying his best to make the show work perfectly, but still he runs into problems, the least of which is his missing Duran Duran tape.
“The frustration builds that way, but I go into every day thinking this character just wants the show to go well,” he said. “And unfortunately it doesn’t happen. … It’s teamwork. It’s a family. The cast is genius in the fact that we are all comedic actors, so we all support each other. A lot of it is improv. A lot of it is going with the moment, and I feel so supported by everyone. There’s days where it’s like let’s see how they’re going to tell this joke today, and you vibe off that. It’s a very supportive group. We always try to be there for each other because that’s the beauty of the show. It’s moment to moment, and so we try to go with the flow and be there for each other.”
Kindle started theater at a young age. He remembers being 8 years old and starting his journey with children’s theater. He would perform in church plays and also sing in church.
“I remember the first musical I ever saw was Little Shop of Horrors, and I fell in love with it,” he said. “It was the first professional musical I saw, and I just knew this is something I want to do. I was a shy kid, but when I got on stage, my parents were like, ‘He just blossoms there.’ I think they kind of realized that this is something he’s into, and they really supported me since I was a kid. I went to college for musical theater, and from there I try to keep the ball rolling.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Play That Goes Wrong, featuring Kolby Kindle, is currently playing New World Stages in Midtown Manhattan. Click here for more information and tickets.
