Say, that’s Leif Garrett on stage
Karen P. Kolb December 19, 2000
Gregory Nacozy, Anne Tomasetti, Leif Garrett, second right, and Matthew Daigale in a scene from the National Theatre of the Deaf’s "A Child’s Christmas in Wales." Erin Kiernan/For the RegisterWhen last we saw Leif Garrett, the ’70s teen idol, he was the fallen star profiled in a 1999 episode of VH1’s "Behind the Music." Now, he’s in Connecticut, playing three roles in the National Theatre of the Deaf’s production of Dylan Thomas’ "A Child’s Christmas in Wales," which is being presented this week in Waterbury and New London.
One doesn’t normally mention the Chester-based NTD and ex-teen idols in the same sentence. But in this sentimental look back at the holidays through Thomas’ eyes, there’s Garrett on stage as the poet’s father; as a postman who delivers a special package to Dylan; and as a fireman. He sings two songs in the play and signs along with one of them, and also joins in with the rest of the cast on "Silent Night" during the finale. Also in the production are teens from City Kids at Safe Space in New Haven, performing a choreographed movement piece.
So how did the 39-year-old Garrett — who, for all his film and television experience, had never appeared in a play — make his way to Connecticut? "Earlier this year, Pierre Patrick (a friend of mine) called and asked if I wanted to work on a Christmas CD with him," he explained last week after a rehearsal. "It was based on "The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t," which was written by Ogden Nash. I agreed to do that project in part because of the great actors and musicians involved with the effort." "We needed a villain for the role, the villain who steals Christmas," said Patrick, a one-time Canadian teen idol who toured with Garrett in his heyday; he produced the CD and also works as NTD’s publicist. The CD, with music by Ira Mitchell, was narrated by John Lithgow and features Rene Simard, a French-Canadian singer/ actor who has two deaf children; Steve Stevens, Billy Idol’s former guitarist; Billy Crawford, who sang the "Pokemon" theme song; Trina McGee Davis of TV’s "Boy Meets World"; The Wild Zappers, a deaf singing group from Washington; and teen pop groups Take 5 and Innosense. "Several months later," Garrett continued, "Pierre called me again about working with the National Theatre of the Deaf on this Christmas production." It presented a new challenge for Garrett, whose screen debut came in 1969, as Elliott Gould and Dyan Cannon’s son in "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice." "Although I’ve been an actor since the age of 5," he said, "I had never done a play before. Years ago, I was asked to do ‘Joseph and the (Amazing) Technicolor Dreamcoat.’ I turned it down, though, and then last year, I was asked to do another play. But I’d just gotten clean (from substance abuse) and was a bit nervous about doing a play at that time. I wasn’t ready then. "Fortunately, Pierre’s timing this year was perfect. This play was written by one of my favorite poets, Dylan Thomas, and the opportunity to work with the National Theatre of the Deaf has been a wonderful experience." For many people, Garrett’s life, frustrations and misguided past were never more obvious than in the 1999 VH1 special. Whether viewers were familiar with him or not, this segment became one of the most frequently requested and aired VH1 segments during the past two years. When asked if the special was a curse or a blessing, Garrett responded, with a wry smile, "It’s actually been a blessing. I was a bit apprehensive when they approached me. But when I decided to do it, I knew I would have to do it 100 percent and open my life completely to the public. I wanted to dispel some rumors about me and to do so with complete honesty. I wasn’t going to lie or sugarcoat anything. "And the amazing thing, even now, is when people come up to me and say that the special helped them to change their life and get clean, that it made them cry, or affected them in other ways. That’s meaningful to me."
IF YOU GO
The National Theatre of the Deaf’s production of "A Child’s Christmas in Wales," starring Leif Garrett, was staged at:
Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury last weekend, and returns there Wed. The remaining shows:
Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London, 7:30 tonight, $28, (860) 444-7373.
Seven Angels Theatre, Hamilton Park Pavilion, Plank Road, Waterbury, 8 p.m. Wed-Fri, $15-$25, (203) 757-4676.
Performances at the Quick Center for the Arts in Fairfield, Palace Theatre in Stamford and the Shubert Performing Arts Center in New Haven have been canceled. For refund info, call the respective box offices.
To obtain a copy of "The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t" CD, call (866) 831-9683 or log onto www.ntd.org. The CD costs $18.98, plus $3.50 shipping. Proceeds benefit the National Theatre of the Deaf.
Karen P. Kolb of Branford is a free-lance writer.
©New Haven Register 2000
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