How I came to be in The Fox on the Fairway

By Andrew Fogel

I was not going to audition. I had only done one small role in the last twenty-two years and I did not feel like I was up to the strenuous task of doing a farce. In addition to that, I work for the Kansas City Symphony ticket office and getting ready for our first season in the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts was all consuming for everyone at the Symphony and did not leave much time for anything else.

However I did want my son, Edmond, who is a budding actor with a great deal of talent, to have a chance to work with Arthur Suskin and the Theatre Gym. So his Mother, Pat and I persuaded him to go and audition.  While he did that, Pat and I went to the Lowes.

While shopping for gardening tools, I got a call from Ed, “Good news” he said, “We both got called back!”

I said “Come again?”

When we were all at home again, Ed explained, a little uncertainly, that Art wanted me to come in and read for Dickey and Bingham. Ed was uncertain, because of the way the playwright described the character of Bingham, Ed did not think I was the type and when I read the description I had to agree. Bingham is described by Ken Ludwig as follows; Middle aged (so far, so good), tall, (I am five six when I don’t slouch), athletic (once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away), with gray hair (If I had hair I am sure it would be gray). Cleary the resemblance between me and Ken Ludwig’s Idea of Bingham began and ended with, “Middle aged.”

And that is why I went to the audition. I did not stand a chance at the role I wanted, so I could just go in and have fun.

That is what I said to Pat and they have gone down in our personal history as, “Andrew’s famous last words.”  As any actor can tell you, knowing you aren’t going to get the role is as liberating as being precast. And frequently it is when we do our best work.

Arthur told me he was giving me the role and after noting the look on my face, said, “I know, I am surprised too.”

So now I am in it and I am more than a little terrified. None the less I am working with some of the most creative people I have ever met and am having the time of my life.

I give my thanks to Arthur and the Theatre Gym for this opportunity to perform with this terrific ensemble.

Andrew Fogel