Baltimore's Performers of 2007: Actor of the Year

Regular readers of Baltimore.BroadwayWorld.com will likely find no surprise in my selection of David Bosley-Reynolds as 2007's Actor of the Year.  In twelve short months, he has graced the stage in five musicals: The Full Monty, Fiddler on the Roof, Little Shop of Horrors, Titanic: The Musical and The Sound of Music.  And regardless of the size of his role, he can be counted on to give 150% to each characterization.  In him, Toby's Dinner Theatres have the one man answer to any skeptics about the quality of "dinner theatre."  Mr. Bosley-Reynolds eschews any and all stereotypes, attacking each role with a professionalism and depth usually associated with actors taking on Hamlet, Macbeth or Lear.

One look at the reviews for his performances shows a wide range of talents and complex, detailed character work.  Underlying it all is a clear love for this American art form, and a spirit of generosity toward his fellow actors and his audiences.  Of his supporting work in The Full Monty, I wrote, "Harold is the stuffy uptight former boss who lives to give his wife everything she wants, be it a tanning bed or Alaskan cruise.  And David Bosley-Reynolds plays him with all the bluster and stuffiness required, plus a healthy dose of slowly revealed warmth.  Instead of a one-note character, his Harold is infuriating and ultimately lovable."  In another supporting role in Little Shop of Horrors, I found that "[He] gives a somewhat harder edged performance as Mr. Mushnik, florist of Skid Row.  His Mushnik is not cuddly, but driven by success, and this offers some definite clarity to the point that he adopts Seymour [David James] for purely monetary reasons, and it makes his later demise all the more satisfying.  When he turns on Seymour, you want to cheer as he is swallowed whole!  He and Mr. James also share an amazing chemistry, nowhere more apparent than their raucous tango-fied "Mushnik and Son."  And in a purely ensemble role in Titanic: The Musical, his depth and nuance were described thusly: "David Bosley-Reynolds as Captain E.J. Smith is an interesting mixture of quiet leader, wisdom, and quiet resignation."

2007 also found Mr. Bosley-Reynolds in two leading roles.  First was his Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.  "No production of Fiddler on the Roof can hold together, no matter how good it is, without the right Tevye.  In David Bosley-Reynolds, this company is truly blessed.  Having played the role in four previous productions, Reynolds has developed a character that fits him like a glove.  There is absolutely no sign that he has gotten tired of the role, nor does he ever seem to be walking through it.  His performance is fresh, spontaneous and completely genuine.  He is the very embodiment of that actor phrase "in the moment."  He also finds the perfect blend of blustery everyman, hard suffering father, and a man at the crossroads of tradition and growing with the times.  Every time he compromises you see subtle changes, some for the good, some take their toll.  His performance is completely magnetic.  When he is onstage, you want to watch him, and yet, he is perhaps the most generous Tevye I've ever seen – when it isn't about him, Reynolds doesn't make it so anyway.  And his renditions of "If I Were a Rich Man" and "Tradition" are nothing less than thrilling."  And his current starring role in The Sound of Music finds him again in top form.  "Once again, [he] has created a bravura performance.  His Captain von Trapp is man to fear, respect and love.  The pain at the loss of his first wife is clearly etched into every line on his face, and the starchy militaristic way he deals with things proves to be a rather thin veil for all of his suffering.  What is nice about his initial scenes is that Mr. Bosley-Reynolds isn't too extreme a tyrant, but you know he means business.  His children aren't scared, but are rather respectful, if not fully understanding of why their father is so cold toward them.  He gives just enough love to show them and us that his family is still most important even as he grieves alone.  And the moment when he, and the rest of us, knows that he loves Maria is pure magic.  The sparks fly, and we are close witness to it – ahh, the joy of live theatre!  His "Edelweiss" is touching, and his inclusion in the final "So Long, Farewell" is both charming and sad."

Several of his colleagues and friends wrote to me about not only what an amazing actor he is, but what great person he is.  Their respect and admiration comes shining through.  I share their sincere tributes with you below.

 

"I've been privileged to watch actor David Bosley Reynolds grow over the last 10 years from about 1997 when I began my career as a freelance arts writer for the Arundel Section of the Baltimore Sun.  Back in 1997 David was a regular performer at the Chesapeake Dinner Theatre on Route 50 near the Bay Bridge in Annapolis.  Even then Reynolds was a charismatic and formidable presence who put his own  stamp on every support and leading role he played, and he was vocally always first-rate - singing in that warm lustrous baritone with a profound and intelligent understanding and appreciation of the lyrics.   

In those days theater savvy folks joked that Chesapeake Dinner Theatre should be re-named David Reynolds Theater - that's the impact he had.  Incapable of a bad or even mediocre performance, David gave several that I recall fondly now years later - his dynamic Tevye in Fiddler and wonderful Warbucks in Annie - so phenomenal that he went on to be hand-picked by the creator/director some years later to join the national touring company, a production I caught at Wolf Trap.  Other memorable performances ranged from his earlier Jud in Carousel that I recall his bringing a sympathetic and tragic dimension  and later one of David's favorite characters - the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz to his Julian Marsh in 42nd Street.    

After his stint in the national touring company of Annie he returned to Chesapeake Music Hall, still free of any enlarged ego or star temperament and played a memorable leading man Fred Graham in Kiss Me, Kate singing a beguiling "Wunderbar" and "So in Love" in what was probably Chesapeake's last show before financial difficulties forced the theater's closing. 

Since then David's talents have been well utilized at Toby's Dinner Theatre - where he has reprised many of his starring roles first at Columbia and later appearing at the newer downtown theater, inhabiting each role with a new assuredness often under the skilled direction of Toby Orenstein.   Memories come flooding back - shortly after 9/11 David sang an "NYC" so heartfelt that I can conjure it up to feel.  His Warbucks took on a more burnished perfection, his Cowardly Lion joyously defined the role for me, and his Tevye at Toby's Baltimore brimmed with life and unmistakable spirituality.  I loved him in The Full Monty and a few weeks ago marveled at his defining the role of Georg von Trapp in Toby's current The Sound of Music - a whole new David transformed into a romantic leading man who knows his way around any song - giving classics like "Edelweiss" added warmth.   

Be assured that  I've only started here to tell you what I admire about this talented and gifted actor and singer who is also a genuinely good person.  Thanks for asking me to comment on what must be a favorite subject."     

Mary P. Johnson, writer Arundel Section of The Baltimore Sun

 

"The thing I always think of with David is the sense of fun he has- there are times he'll come off stage giggling like a schoolgirl over something that's happened onstage- but you would never know It from watching his performance. He's also a generous actor and person- and I've always known him to be ready to give everyone the benefit of a doubt.  

I'm afraid I'm not that good at this- the fact is, I don't tell stories well (that's why I'm an actor- I get to have other people write my lines!), but I hope there's something here you can use, I can't think of anyone who deserves this tribute more than David.  Well, maybe... no, no one."

Andrew Horn, co-star in The Full Monty, Fiddler on the Roof, Titanic: The Musical and The Sound of Music

 

"David and I toured together in the early 90's with a company called Library Theater. We performed in the tri-state area for a year with a trio of short children's stories set to music. David was always a charming and pleasant companion…even at ungodly hours of the morning! The image that stands out in my mind however is a comic one. One of the stories was Jack and the Beanstalk, and David played, among other things, a giant chicken. To see him in this yellow, fluffy chicken suit was truly hysterical. We always had a difficult time keeping it together watching David sing his song!

It's a really wonderful turn of the wheel to be working with him again in The Sound of Music at Tobys. He is still a charming, pleasant and talented cast mate!" 

Lynn Sharp Spears, co-star in The Sound of Music 

 

"I have been honored to attend many productions where David has been the leading actor not only in Columbia, but at our Baltimore theatre as well.  His talents have been shining through since I first saw his rendition of Daddy Warbucks.  The Cowardly Lion, Tevye, Captain E. J. Smith and Georg von Trapp come alive with clarity when David steps into their shoes. 

David is not only an outstanding actor but a gentleman and a darn good cook, too." 

Nancy Michel, Director of Marketing and Advertising, Toby's Dinner Theatres

 

"I have worked with David since 2000 at another theater, which has since closed, and at Toby's. Flat out- I love being onstage with him. Playing his wife in The Full Monty was ( I'm trying to think!) the first time, that I ever played his wife and I felt, "Well, we've been onstage so often together- I guess it's about time!"  

Oh no! We also played husband and wife in Meet me in St. Louis [until another actress] took over about midway through.  Ah! I also played his wife in Ragtime as Mother to his Father as Nancy Asendorf's alternate. Now I really have to stop and think because I'm realizing that being with David onstage feels as natural as standing near a man that was my true husband in life!

He's played so many different roles, as you know, and his character parts are as fun and silly to be around as his serious parts are intense. I feel more relaxed onstage when I work with him and lucky.  

Besides me loving him personally, he is so very, very talented.  

There are so many different sides of David that come through when he's onstage in different productions. He constantly recreates and surprises! I'm always excited to watch him. I was thinking the other day about Jekyll and Hyde when he played the father of Emma and how cool it was to remember that so clearly in my mind... and then Fiddler and then Monty and then Little Shop and so many more." 

Heather Marie Beck, co-star in Little Shop of Horrors, Fiddler on the Roof, The Full Monty, Titanic: The Musical 

 

"About  Mr. Reynolds (or "Bumbly" as I call him):
David is not only a fine actor, who makes clear and specific choices and has wonderful consistency in his performances (he also has a truly amazing ear for dialects).  He is also a very unique personality, who obviously loves the business that we call "show"... just ask him to let you speak to Judy!

I also feel the need to include the fact that David is a true gentleman(there just aren't that many left in the world) and I would also be remiss if I didn't mention how much he cares about everyone he works with.

In short, I am proud to call him a colleague, and even more proud to call him a dear friend...it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy!"

Daniel McDonald, co Director of Marketing for Toby's Dinner Theatres, and co-star in The Full Monty, Fiddler on the Roof, and Titanic: The Musical.

 

"I have worked in a number of productions with David and have even been married to him twice...both times we were Jewish.  When I first saw him he reminded me of "Lurch". He seemed very shy, which I found to be an interesting dichotomy.  But when he is stage the shy goes away.  It is always interesting to see what persona he chooses to attach his characters to.  David puts a great deal of time in selecting and perfecting these personae.  This is what I believe the key to his success on stage.  Offstage, David is a very kind and generous man.  He is full of surprises.  One moment he is secretly playing weird sound effect in the dressing room, the next he's managing a kitchen at a dinner theater and then giving an insightful theater interview. I am honored to have shared the stage with him and richer by getting to know him.  Congratulations David on receiving the 2007 Actor of the Year Award." 

-Lynn Sigler, co-star The Full Monty, Fiddler on the Roof

 

"When we were doing Fiddler, I would always grab his thumb during the "train station" scene. I didn't know I was doing it until he brought my attention to it. I figured out that I did it because his hands are so huge that the best way for me to hold them was to grab his thumb. He started calling me 'the thumb monster,' and even in Sound of Music, his hands are so big that I can only hold three or four of them when we hold hands!  I'm sure it makes him laugh." 

- Jessica Ball, co-star The Full Monty, Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music 

 

Finally, aside from the sheer joy of watching him perform, it is truly an honor to have the opportunity to review Mr. Bosley-Reynolds.  But oddly enough, it is an off stage memory that comes to my mind when I think of him.  No matter where I see him, he always, without fail, makes a point to speak with me between waiting tables and preparing to perform.  Many actors, directors and the like will talk to a critic, and for a variety of reasons.  But with David, there is never a second of insincerity or ulterior motive.  And whether it is a kind, quiet hello, a 'thank you' for a previous review, or just a warm smile and nod from across the room, one gets the sense that he is indeed grateful, but also thrilled at the opportunity to share his gifts with all of us once again.  Congratulations, David, and thank you.

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Toby's Dinner Theatres, photography by Kirstine Christiansen.  TOP to BOTTOM: Mr. Reynolds in The Full Monty (standing, far right); Mr. Reynolds as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof; Mr. Reynolds, with Russell Sunday and Larry Munsey in Titanic: The Musical; Mr. Reynolds with Jessica Ball in The Sound of Music.

Be sure to read all about 2007's Baltimore Actress of the Year, Deborah Hazlett.

And don't forget to submit your Readers' Choice Ballot for your picks of the Best Theatre in Baltimore 2007.  Deadline: Noon, January 4^th!

 

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