It's not often that a Hollywood star comes to Buffalo to perform and pay homage to its own established theater company. For Alec Baldwin, this was his third time.
Baldwin, award-winning veteran actor, star of 30 Rock, and featured host of Saturday Night Live returned to the stage to perform in Buffalo among the city's most talented actors in Clifford Odets' play "The Big Knife." Baldwin, who performed in Buffalo in 2006 and 2009, returned last Friday to the CFA night to fundraise for Road Less Traveled Productions, a non-profit independent theater company founded in 2002.
Baldwin, in something of a role reversal, portrayed deadbeat actor Charlie Castle. Baldwin was perfect for the role, however, and played freely with Castle's deviant and troubled persona.
Castle – on the verge of losing his wife, Marion – tries to get out of a 14-year contract to stay with his family. He is forced into signing the contract, however, when his studio boss threatens to blackmail Castle.
Baldwin sat center stage during all three acts, flanked by the 11 other actors. The star was casual and modest on stage, allowing the other actors to read with vigor and precision when their moments came.
Although the play was only read and not acted out, Baldwin and his cohorts gave life to the script, providing both exposition and emoition.
"I thought the play was amazing," said Caroline Grachos, 18 of Buffalo. "I really liked how even though [the actors] weren't able to move around the stage, they still made [the audience] picture what was going on. I thought it was great how [Baldwin] played it. He knew when to be passionate with his lines, and when to play it straight, so it really gave high points to the performance."
Andy Anselmo, Alec Baldwin's vocal teacher from when he first began his career, was in attendance to watch Baldwin's contributions, and was humbled to see Baldwin perform to benefit the theater.
"He's so supportive and has such a big heart, like what he did here tonight," Anselmo said. "Not many people do that, he's unusual, a beautiful human being."
Bill Zimmerman, a member of the board of the Community Music School, said Anselmo is the quintessential voice teacher of the past century. As a Buffalo native, he taught famous students like Regis Philbin, Tony Bennett, and Liza Minelli in addition to Baldwin, but Anselmo knew Baldwin was a stand out from the start of his career.
"When Alec came to me, I knew from the very beginning when he walked in, that here was somebody with talent," Anselmo said. "There was some energy, something about him that was totally free and ingratiating."
Baldwin turned the Road Less Traveled into a highway, and helped gain awareness for Buffalo's contribution to theater.
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