Bill Tindall says many challenges in playing unique part
Published in the January 6 – 19, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
Photo courtesy Bill Tindall
Morgan Hill resident will portray the author Truman Capote in SVCT’s production of “Tru.”
South Valley Civic Theatre is trying something new with the performance of its first one-man show. “Tru” is a 1989 play by Jay Presson Allen that ran for 297 performances on Broadway. It will be performed by Morgan Hill resident Bill Tindall for six special engagement shows starting Jan. 15.
The play is adapted from the words and works of the author Truman Capote.
Morgan Hill resident Bill Tindall will play the writer on a set at the Community Playhouse that represents Capote’s New York City apartment the week before Christmas 1975. Alone and lonely one night, Capote soothes himself with pills, vodka, cocaine, and chocolate truffles and muses about his life and career in a two-act monodrama.
Morgan Hill Life asked Tindall about the unique play and how he came to perform the role as the famous celebrity writer.
“Tru” is an unusual show for SVCT. What prompted SVCT to perform this unusual play, especially with the fact in only features one actor?
While I am not a spokesperson for SVCT, I think they felt “Tru” would offer a new and certainly unusual diversion from their usual fare. I offered the idea of this show to several board members a couple of years ago as a very entertaining but low cost production to fill their season. “Tru” is a simple one-set production and, of course, only has one actor. Presenting this iconic American writer to the audiences of South County also appealed to the creative taste of the board. Truman Capote was not only a master of the written word but a tragic figure that filled the headlines in the mid and late ‘70s.The story gives a glimpse at a life of brilliance, excess and addiction, everything you want in a great play.
Truman Capote was a brilliant writer who degraded into drugs and alcoholism and disturbing rifts with other celebrities. What prompted you to take on the challenge of portraying him?
I first saw “Tru” in the 1990s. The actor Robert Morse brought the character to life on Broadway, earning a Tony nomination. I have seen the several other productions of the show over the years. The emotional roller coaster the character takes the audience on is an actor’s dream — and playing this real person offers challenges that fictitious characters don’t. Interpreting his appearance and physicality adds a whole different layer to the portrayal. And while I knew it wouldn’t be easy, I never believed it would be this mountainous a task.
The play is set in the New York apartment of Truman Capote. The audience becomes the confidants of Truman’s stories, rants and delusions as he indulges his addictions.
Photo courtesy www.pinterest.com
What was your acting process of discovering the character of Truman Capote for the play?
The idea of playing this part came after doing two of the productions in the “Greater Tuna” series. In these shows I played 11 of the 22 characters, along with my co-actor Kevin Heath playing the other 11. Developing all the characters, four women, seven men, in this “quick change” high energy frolick gave me confidence to finally tackle “Tru.” I then started watching YouTube videos of Truman Capote being interviewed on talk shows from the late ‘60s into the ‘70s. He was as outrageous as he was intelligent. Everyone in the production have become enthralled in Truman’s life and escapades. Reading and researching the man and his life helped me create the character you will see. My directors Carol Harris and Matthew Hendrickson have been emotional taskmasters, molding every aspect of the character I present and making this an incredible experience for me.
How would you describe the play in terms of what struggles Capote is going through psychologically and with his use of drugs and alcohol?
The play is set in the New York apartment of Truman Capote on Christmas Eve. The audience becomes the confidants of Truman’s stories, rants and delusions as he indulges his addictions. He engages them, spilling all his emotions, fears and hopes and finally leaving them in shock in their own emotions.
How might you encourage people in the South Valley to attend a performance of “Tru”?
I hope everyone who comes to the show will prepare with some simple research on the man and his life. The trip they will be taking on is worth the effort. It is an adult show that will make you think and want to learn more about the author. All of us working on the show have become Capote junkies, wanting to know more about this man who wrote two of America’s greatest literary works: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and” In Cold Blood.”
