TSM: What is an embarrassing moment you’ve had on stage?

PP: I’ve had more than one. Mostly stuff like that happened when I was younger. I was doing The Robber Bridegroom; it’s a musical and the tall tale of the Old South in Mississippi in the 1700s and I play the village idiot. I played this young (I was 25 when this happened)teenager, who was about 16 or 17, and I had to do these dumb faces and sound really stupid. It was really fun and I got to sing, had my own song. However, there was a bit where the director had me leave the scene, and I was like, okay, bye and left the scene. I was directed to skip Merlie off the stage and turn back to look at them, and then run into the wall. One night on stage, in front of a full audience, full house, I did the bit, but it knocked me so hard that I hit my tailbone on the floor and rolled backwards. I literally did a backflip, and the audience thought it was hilarious. They laughed, screamed, and howled, but it hurt so badly. I severely bruised my tailbone, and this was in the first act. I sat there and was pretty much done for the act. The other thing is it was an ensemble musical. So, the whole cast stayed on stage the whole time, and when it was your time to tell your story, you just got up and moved on stage. I was directed to go sit on the floor, and just sit there like a lump, and I couldn’t sit. I had to lean on the side of my hip, and I was just doing this fake, plastic smile the whole time. I was hurting so badly that when the curtain came down, everybody came running. I had tears running down my face because I was struggling so hard to stay in character and not go, “own, it hurts.” They came running, “can you get through the rest of the show?” The stage manager and producer were there that night. In the dressing room, they put ice on it, and we had to revise some of the movements in act two. I got through it though. Then, immediately, after the performance, they drove me to the ER. The doctor said, “you severely bruised your tailbone, and you’re going to have to cut some of these physical things.”

Twenty-five years ago I was doing a very serious, dramatic play called Death and the Maiden. Actually, I think it takes place in Spain. My character’s name is Geraldo. There were three roles – husband, wife, and a mysterious stranger who we don’t know until later in the play. Well, this was on opening night, we had rehearsed for weeks and weeks. Now you can imagine, when there is a play with only three characters and three actors, there’s a lot of dialogue. We learned because someone came back that worked in the theatre in the box office and said, we have a Critic here tonight from The Denver Post. The leading lady went crazy and got super nervous, and I’m standing in the wings waiting for my first entrance. I’m supposed to be in my pyjamas, and I heard a loud noise, and I awaken. I’m supposed to come out and say, “what is going on?” And be shocked to see this man sitting there. I’m standing in the wings waiting, it’s getting closer, and I’m getting ready to walk out. She jumps way past my entrance and starts feeding him dialogue from an upcoming scene that I’m not part of. So, I thought what am I going to do, she missed my entrance and skipped like two pages past my entrance. It felt like an hour, but it was probably thirty seconds. The other guy was paying attention (the guy that she was talking to). He got back on track and gave me the right cue so that I can say, “Here I am, what’s happening, who are you?” That was nerve-wracking on opening night in front of critics. People had no idea, and she came running to me at intermission to apologize.

I’ve never messed up lines because I really pride myself on being very thorough, and learning the words that the playwright put down on paper. Authors chose specific words for a reason and I learn those words. Now I’ve had actors that have attempted to break me on stage, and crack me up and see if I was going to laugh and break character. Never, I’ve had a lot of people do that to me.

TSM: Is there a role you’d love to play that you haven’t yet?

PP: There is not a specific role, so I can’t name a character. I’ve never played a character who’s mentally challenged, or who has mental retardation, or any kind of emotional or psychological illness. I would love to take that on. I’ve also never played a blind person. I can’t say that there is one particular show or role. I can only talk about the types of roles that I’m drawn to. I just know I want to continue to be challenged, to grow, and to learn. That’s what life is all about.

TSM: Who are some actors you admire and look up to?

PP: I do think Meryl Streep, like most people, just amazes me. She never ceases to surprise me. I am also a big fan of Robert DeNiro, and Leonardo DiCaprio – I would love to work with him. I also think he’s a good human being and cares about our planet. So, I’m drawn to him in that way as well, in addition to how he can escape into a good role.

TSM: What is something that you know now that you wish you knew when you were first starting as an actor?

PP: This is hands-down, no need to even think about this, learn to listen. I think what makes a good actor and what makes an actor that other actors and directors want to work with is someone who is a good listener. Good listening also helps you stay present and focused.