“Boys from Syracuse,” Baltimore, NYC & the World, Pt.3

             In my review of The Boys from Syracuse (playing now through January 14^th at CenterStage), I described Christopher Sergeeff as “sprightly,” and Kyle DesChamps as “jaw-droppingly athletic, and further declared the pair to be like “Energizer bunnies.”  Catching them on an early afternoon after an evening performance last week, I expected that hey might be perhaps a bit tired or reserved, storing up for that evening’s romp.  Far from it.  These two guys had the same energy and enthusiasm off stage as they do on.  On second thought, I’m not that surprised given the waves of energy emanating from my previous interviews with members of this company.  Clearly, all involved loved their work and each other.  Like before, both DesChamps and Sergeeff answer for each other, finish each other’s sentences, and talk rapidly over each other.  The two share a connection that apparently only two dancer/tumbler/athletes can share after weeks of perfecting spectacular physical tricks that require deep trust and understanding.

            How they both got started sounds like the script from A Chorus Line.  Kyle DesChamps says, “I got my inspiration to dance like this from old movies – Gene Kelly/>/>/> and Fred Astaire.  I started with tap, then later ballet and classical.”  He chuckles, “I come from Cape Cod, Massachusetts where there was this dinky dance studio.  But then I went to the Boston Conservatory.  Of course, I kept up with my gymnastics and martial arts, too.  To do the tricks we do, you have to be in a constant mental state of self awareness, which I learned from that.”

            Sergeeff’s start was inspired by family.  “My sister was in the business first, and watching her got me into theatre.  When I was younger, my brother and I used to mess around in the backyard, jumping off stuff and daring each other to do tricks.  I also was into gymnastics, soccer and martial arts. One of my first jobs was at this restaurant called Casa Bonita that had a 30-foot waterfall.  While people ate dinner I’d juggle fire and dive off the waterfall!”  DesChamps adds, “Yeah, all that jumping and climbing as a kid – now there’s actually a sport called “Hard Core” where people jump off and between buildings.  But we’ve been doing all this as kids.”  Sergeeff remembers going home at every Christmas, meeting a friend that he sees once a year, and running together through backyards and jumping things on the way to the high school, where they’d climb to the roof, and jump into a huge pile of snow.  All of that playing has turned into quite a successful career for both young men. 

But they know that to keep the tricks clean and their bodies in top shape, they have to constantly train – no matter where they are in the country performing.  Both of them have learned that in each city they can find pick up gymnastics classes, dance classes and gym time.  DesChamps enjoys running in the city, “You feel it harder [than running in a gym].  But mostly, it’s all about body awareness; you constantly test yourself to see if everything is ready.” 

All of this training has also taught them to be careful.  Christopher explains, “If the theatre wants you to do something you don’t feel comfortable with doing, DON’T DO IT!  I mean, you have to do it 8 times a week – it isn’t worth the risk.”  Both actors agree enthusiastically that choreographer Dan Knechtges/>/>/> was the ideal collaborator.  “He was cool – he’d have stuff set in the choreography, but let us have 100% control over the specialty stuff.  We’d show him a few tricks and he’d pick the one he liked for a specific moment.  It was very collaborative.”  Kyle and Christopher then launch into an explanation where they finish each other’s thoughts: “It’s the kind of show where we can do tricks and be flashy to the eye – like jumping over the orchestra pit – we keep tweaking – each time is the same and different – you never know what will happen – but we just look at each other and give very subtle messages to each other – part of it is naturally knowing how to land – yeah, even falling can be safe – we learned that from years of doing stunts as kids – but in the end, you always get it done!  Adjust, adjust!”

Both young actors relish the true Broadway gypsy lifestyle; both have made successful careers in the regional theatres, like CenterStage.  Sergeeff will be appearing in Carnival! at the Kennedy Center following Syracuse.  “How lucky am I?  I’m all over the place – this month Baltimore, next month DC.  I’ve been all over the country!  I’ve seen so much.  I even got to meet the President!”  DesChamps, on the other hand, doesn’t have anything lined up right now.  “I don’t know what’s after this.  It’s actually exciting.  You never know where you are going to live or where your next job is.”  They agree that this experience has taught them a lot.  “Everyone in this cast is the full spectrum – Broadway stars to guys like me; I’m getting my Equity card with this show,” Kyle continues, “ Some of the people here have families that aren’t with them – kids, pets, husbands – and yet they do it.  I can’t comprehend how, but they do.”  Christopher is at a different point.  “I feel like I’m on the cusp between regional theatre and Broadway.  I’ve had my Equity card since college – I was in a production of West Side Story.  I ended up doing a whole season of shows at the Denver County Dinner Playhouse, and got my card at the end of that.  I didn’t finish college, but I felt I was getting on the job training doing show after show.”  He quickly adds, “But if I ever felt like I wasn’t getting good training from my jobs, I’d have finished college.”  DesChamps agrees, “You need to keep all of your options open.  Your own path just happens.”  Aspiring dancers shouldn’t lament they say.  “There are always big dance shows – Millie, Fosse – being done all over, and even shows that don’t have to have a lot of dancing, like Boys from Syracuse, have dancing added.  Here, this group had the skills, so why not use them?”

The entire CenterStage experience has been positive for these traveling Thespians, who have seen it all – the good, the bad, the ugly.  Sergeeff smiles, “They (CenterStage) are definitely one of the better regional theatres.”  DesChamps says, “Everything here is taken care of.  They really take care of us – the housing, the spacious dressing rooms.  We even got gym memberships and free flu shots.  They want us to feel like we are home.  It is easier to concentrate and do good work when you feel like that.”  Both have enjoyed the charms of Charm City as well.  They visited the world famous Block, home of burlesque.  “There was a bunch of stuff about it in our dramaturgy packages, and it is in the program.  Baltimore was all about pushing the limits of vaudeville and burlesque.”  Now that they’ve settled into their run, they have more free time to explore the city.  Mr. Sergeeff has enjoyed the Charles Theatre and bars that feature concerts, while Mr. DesChamps loved the National Aquarium and several museums.  Both also love several local restaurants, and in unison exclaimed, “Lexington Market!”

But really, the play’s the thing, and both grow serious about what they hope audiences are getting from the show.  Kyle says, “Doing the ‘stunty stuff’ that looks difficult, hard and dangerous creates the illusion of impossibility.”  Christopher continues, “We can be as silly as we want, and no one cares.  We can see the audience just enjoying themselves.”  Almost simultaneously the pair says, “I hope the audience knows they are really a part of the show.  I hope they forget real life for awhile and feel like they are with us on stage.”  It is that kind of togetherness that makes these two that much more incredible.

The Boys from Syracuse continues at CenterStage through January 14.  Related interviews with Paolo Montalban/>/>/>, Kevin Free, Michael Winther/>/>/> and Manu Narayan/>/>/>, as well as a review of the show have been posted recently.  Thank you to Aaron Heinsman for arranging these interviews, and thank you all for your time and generosity of ideas.

PHOTOS: TOP to BOTTOM: Kyle DesChamps; Christopher Sergeeff; Christopher Sergeeff (L), juggling knives; Kyle DesChamps mid-air in tutu; The Boys from Syracuse company, Sergeeff and DesChamps, center.  All photos courtesy of CenterStage.