For Hartland High School sophomore Joshua Archer, every Drama Club role presents unique challenges, from discovering a character’s backstory to staying true to the playwright’s intentions. Archer has certainly risen to the challenge for his role as Simon Stimpson in “Our Town.”
Archer, who considers himself a character actor, says portraying Stimpson — an alcoholic with a negative attitude — is an especially fun undertaking. Archer has brought a unique voice or accent to almost every character he’s played, but it took some time to develop in this case.
“With Stimpson, I walked in with a rather ‘old professor caricature’ accent, portraying him as almost a joke,” said Archer. “As the production process and discussion with our sponsor (Mary Jo Del Vero) and director (Scott Usher) continued, it became clear that there was a lot more to Stimpson than being the town drunk, and he deserved a more realistic approach.”
Archer is the son of Brandy and Jeremy Archer, and brother to siblings Gwen and Josie. He said his parents inspired his love of theater by introducing him to musicals such as “Mary Poppins” and “The Wizard of Oz.” Archer is also the technology officer for Drama Club and involved in choir.
Archer, who calls “Our Town” a timeless play, says he is extremely proud of Hartland’s ability to raise the performance to a higher level of quality. “The amount of time and focus given to each line and movement is mind boggling,” he says, adding that audiences can expect to feel right at home.
“On its own, Our Town is already extremely relatable to anyone who experiences life,” he says, “but for those who grew up in a small town community, like Hartland, the story feels even more familiar.”
In addition to sharpening his acting skills, the writings of Thornton Wilder have had a profound impact on Archer’s life.
“He forces me to look deeper at the overlooked aspects of life that in reality hold so much importance,” he said. “Waiting at a traffic light is no longer a tedious task, but a treasured moment that will never come quite the same in my lifetime.”
— Jennifer Stang
Shows are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 9 and 10, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, at Hartland High School, 10635 Dunham Road in Hartland. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students/seniors, and can be purchased at http://hartlanddramaclub.weebly.com or at the door.
