Lea Thompson Is 'Caroline' in Theater Festival Debut
 Photos by Paul Guillotte
Lea Thompson appears as the title character in the Williamstown Theatre Festival premiere of 'Caroline in Jersey.' |
But what actress Lea Thompson was reading is not available to the public: the script of a new play titled "Caroline in Jersey."
Thompson will play the title role in the play's world premiere at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. The production runs Aug. 5 through 16 on the Nikos Stage.
Written by award-winning playwright Melinda Lopez ("Gary"), the plays tells the touching story of a fading actress struggling with a nervous breakdown and a mysterious stranger.
"It's a beautiful story," said Thompson in an interview last week. "When I was offered the part, I felt it would be an honor to do it."
Thompson, who won a People's Choice Award in 1996 for the TV sitcom "Caroline in the City," emphasized that the story line and characters of "Caroline in Jersey" are very different from those of her former television series.
"Only the lead character's name is the same," she said with a smile.
"Caroline in Jersey," will reunite Thompson and Wendie Malick who appeared in episodes of "Caroline in the City." Matt McGrath, who worked with Thompson in "Cabaret," will play the role of Caroline's writer/composer best friend.
It will be the first time Thompson performs at WTF, but the Berkshires hold fond memories for her.
Her husband of 20 years, Howard Deutch, a movie director, had a house in Sheffield before they wed. And looking at a diamond ring on her finger, Thompson said, "He gave me this engagement ring when we were in Sheffield."
Now Thompson lives in California with her husband and their two children, Madelyn, 18, and Zoey, 15. One of the girls wants to be an actress and the other wants to be a singer. Asked how she feels about her daughters aspiring to careers in show business, Thompson, replied, "If it's something they want, that's OK. As long as they have a focus."
They'll get a chance to perform soon. After her WTF debut, Thompson will produce and star in the movie "Mayor Cupcake," in which her daughters will have roles.
"I love my work, the people — being around artists," said the 48-year-old Thompson. "I consider myself lucky to work this long in different mediums and styles."
 |
|
| Lea Thompson | |
|
As Sally Bowles in a Broadway production of "Cabaret," Thompson sang, cried and smoked her way through eight performances a week for eight months. Despite the grueling schedule, she speaks of that experience as "a joy. But it was difficult for my family.
"Just like any working mother, I do my best to make time count. I'm lucky that in my line of work, I have long periods at home."
When Thompson set foot on stage for the first time, it was not as an actress but as a member of a ballet company.
The youngest of five, she dreamed of being a ballerina while growing up in Minnesota.
She worked diligently to bring that dream to fruition, and by the time she was a teenager, she had performed with various ballet companies. But when Mikhail Baryshnikov of the American Ballet Theatre told her she was too stocky to be a ballerina, her dream was crushed.
She decided to turn to acting, and a new dream was born. "It was the best thing I ever did," said Thompson.
From 1982 to 1984, Thompson made several films, but it was not until she played what would be her breakout role as Marty McFly's mother in the "Back to the Future" series that her career flourished, with numerous parts coming her way.
During 27 years in show business, Thompson has captured the essence of such diverse characters as a rape victim, a secret agent, an 87-year-old mother, a young woman struggling to improve her dismal personal life, a guerilla fighter and the scandalous Sally Bowles. Multitalented, Thompson has also directed movies as well as episodes of "Caroline in the City."
Coming up, she's set to star in a new television series, "A Town Called Malice," directed by her husband.
Thompson said the roles do not mirror her personality or experiences, but she feels it is her job to find something in each character to which she can relate.
Being an actress has not made Thompson immune to "fan fever." Her voice even trembles as she recounts the occasion on which she met a movie legend whom she so admires.
"When I met Meryl Streep, I made a fool of myself," Thompson said. "I kept talking. I do that when I'm nervous."
Thompson's wish to play the part of Momma Rose in "Gypsy" has yet to be granted. "I have the voice for it," she said. (Coming from the delightfully unassuming Thompson, there was not a tinge of false pride in that statement).
Right now, Thompson is happily anticipating entertaining audiences by bringing yet another Caroline to life in the poignant and amusing "Caroline in Jersey."
"A play is like a flower, you know it's beautiful and will not exist again," said Thompson. "Each one is unique."
