Straight From The Heart

Actor brings heritage, history to ‘Biloxi Blues’

Friday, February 22, 2013

— The character of Arnold Epstein might be the laughingstock of Neil Simon’s “Biloxi Blues.” Epstein, a Jew from New York, is physically weak and inept. He’s constantly the soldier caught in the gunsights of a belligerent sergeant. His fellow servicemen think he’s gay.

But Epstein is determined to retain his dreams and his dignity, no matter what.

And that’s how actor Michael Lawrence Eisenstein approaches the character in the Montana Repertory Theater production on stage for one show only Monday at the Alma Performing Arts Center.

In fact, Eisenstein takes Arnold so seriously he’s put a great deal of his grandfather into the role.

“My grandfather fought in World War II and was the only Jew in his company,” says Eisenstein, who grew up outside Chicago. “Arnold’s beliefs and ideals are the most important things to him. Same for my grandfather. He got knocked down in rank to buck private for arguing with a superior. It was a story I heard over and over again growing up.

“My grandfather and Arnold are both so intelligent,” he compares. “They both stand up for what they believe using reason as their compass. If orders didn’t make sense, my grandfather would just say no. That’s not what they want you to do in the Army!”

But Eisenstein’s grandfather also came home with a Purple Heart. And since he’s named after that grandfather, “that’s something I’m aware of every day.”

Perhaps strangely, he’s also become much more aware of being Jewish.

“I am Jewish. I don’t practice Judaism.

But culturally I am a Jew. Historically. I am a Jew, and I would never deny that,” he says.

It’s not something that’s ever been a huge part of his identity, however, Eisenstein says. “I think about it now more than I ever have.”

In addition to the emotional commitment of the role, there’s also a physical one for Eisenstein. A fourthdegree black belt in tae kwon do and a personal trainer, he has to “translate that (physical) strength and confidence into Arnold’s self-confidence about himselfand the strength he has inside.”

That means slouching, wearing baggier clothes and working to become Arnold physically, he says. When the show is over, “I can’t immediately shedit. Taking off (Arnold’s) glasses helps, then I just have to breathe and let it go.

Some people can turn it on and off like a light switch, but I’m not one of those people.”

Luckily, he says, his girlfriend Nora Gustuson is also on the tour. It helped him get his foot in the door with the Montana Rep - “it’s been like stepping into a family; I had a nice introduction because they absolutely love her” - and it helps him step out of character. “I love performing, but I want to perform on stage, not in my life.”

The Montana Rep tour is the first Equity show for Eisenstein, a big break for any actor, but he says he’s “truly honored to play Epstein” in a play he considers “timeless.”

“It deals with issues that will always be dealt with,” he says. “Neil Simon, in his brilliance, wrote a play that deals with war; that’s a relevant topic. It’s a comedy, yes, but it’s only funny if we own the fact that these young men you’re loving and laughing at are going off to die. That’s incredibly relevant and unfortunately probably always will be.

“It deals with issues of anti-Semitism - we’ve come a long way, but I still hear things I’m appalled by - it deals with homophobia - and yes, we’ve made huge strides, but it’s still present.

“There will always be someone who judges someone else solely on their sexuality or their religion. That’s unfortunate, but that’s why we need plays like this.”

Whats Up, Pages 12 on 02/22/2013