Richard Kline (Larry Dallas from Three's Company) chats to me about his role as Liberace and more

NEW YORK - Nov. 2, 2013 - PRLog -- Richard Kline  chats to me on my blog about his role as Liberace and more http://www.popspeaking.blogspot.com/2013/10/richard-kline.html

I had the absolute honour of being able to interview Richard Kline (http://www.richardkline.tv/) for my blog. Richard played the character of Larry Dallas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Dallas) on my favourite sitcom, Three's Company (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three's_Company), and when I heard he is about to star in a Broadway production of All That Glitters (http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Liberace-Musical-ALL-THAT-GLITTERS-Starring-Richard-Kline-Aims-for-Broadway-in-2014-15-Eyes-Fall-2014-Debut-in-Toronto-20130918), about Liberace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberace), I fired off an email asking him for an interview. I was overjoyed when he replied to say I may send him questions - many people don't bother to reply - and was even more happy when I actually did get answers to my questions. The mark of a gentleman is to stick to your word and treat everybody with respect. So it's with extreme gratitude that I can bring you this once in a lifetime piece.

PS: You are about to star in All That Glitters (http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Liberace-Musical-ALL...),  the story of Liberace, as Liberace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberace)! Liberace was a flamboyant character and the role will involve singing and playing the piano – how are you enjoying this multifaceted role?

RK: The role contains some wonderful ballads and a bit of piano playing. The script is at times hilarious and dramatic--especially in the second act where I play Liberace at the end of his life


PS: How did this role come about and how are preparations going?

RK: I auditioned for the role which was arranged by my agent. I have had interviews and a  publicity photo shoot. I am also practicing the piano every single day!

PS: What specifically would you like to share about this exciting role?

RK: This musical charts the life of Liberace from boyhood prodigy, to mid-life extraordinary success , to the waning moments of his life and relationship with Scott Thorson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Thorson)--whose affair with Liberace was the subject of "Behind the Candelabra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behind_the_Candelabra)" on HBO (http://www.hbo.com/). In the first  part of the first act I play Liberace's father and thus get to explore that toxic relationship which marked his early years.


PS: You’ve played in a variety of acting roles, and to have played in straight pieces such as  Arthur Miller's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Miller) "Death of a Salesman" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_a_Salesman) and numerous comedy parts shows your adaptability.  I must confess to my own knowledge of Liberace's highly coloured style of piano playing being limited, and I turned to Jean Collen (http://ziegler-booth.blogspot.com/), a respected Johannesburg musician, for assistance in preparing questions. She stressed how versatile she thought you were in being able to play such a variety of roles. What is your favourite medium - stage or TV, straight or comedy roles?

RK: My first love is the theater and I am at home with either drama or comedy. Comedy's rewards are instantaneous--that is, if the audience doesn't forget to laugh!!

PS: You made your Broadway debut at a comparatively late age in 1990 in City of Angels (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Angels_(musical). Please tell us more about this experience – what was it like going on Broadway for the first time?

RK: It was magical. I played the role of Buddy Fidler for 9 months and enjoyed every minute of it.

PS: Larry Dallas has the distinction of being the only other character besides Jack Tripper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Tripper) to appear on Three's Company (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three%27s_Company) and both of its spinoffs, The Ropers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ropers) and Three's a Crowd (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three's_a_Crowd). How did you land the role of Larry Dallas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Dallas) in Three's Company?

RK: I initially auditioned for a guest spot as Larry the used car salesman. The chemistry between John Ritter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ritter) and myself did not go unnoticed and so they brought me back for more and more spots until I was offered a contract to be a regular the following season.

PS:  Thankyou for your time Richard and all success for All That Glitters!

Richard gives acting workshops (http://www.richardkline.tv/workshop.html) in New York and I'd highly recommend that anyone who wants to get involved in acting checks it out.

Go and see Richard Kline in All That Glitters.