Ih n o t m
OREGON'S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE
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Jones recently landed his dream role play
ing Angel in Rent. Sanchez saw him in the
production and invited him to audition for
BOOMCRACKLEFLY. The play marks his
first time originating a role.
“Angel was terrifying. I think playing a
part like that is scary because if you do some
thing wrong you’ll have a riot. People will be
pissed,” says Jones, explaining that audiences
have come to expect a certain performance
from Angel. “So this is the first. I get to do
whatever I want and call it good, which is
fim. I get to explore all the time, which is
what I really like."
Jones will have considerable freedom with
the role since Smith didn’t provide much of a
hackstory for Fulana. Smith says she imag
ines the character living life as a woman, but
doesn’t elaborate on what that means in
terms o f an identity.
“I’m leaving it to Tyler’s hands. I envi
sioned it as maybe he went back and forth
between identities, but primarily living out
life as a woman in terms o f gender,” Smith
says. The way she sees it, “everybody is their
own gender actually and people are different
gradations of straight and gay and everybody
is probably at some point on the spectrum.
These divisions we want to impose on people
are more for our own comfort.”
Jones has had his own run-ins with identi
ty-based divisions. Still, he doesn’t seem
worried about being typecast in gay roles.
Nor does he buy the argument that gays can’t
play straight and vice-versa.
MARCH 18, 2011
'V ^ '
“I think it’s bullshit. I know that when it’s
just Tyler, I’m feminine, and I’m okay with
that. It comes out when I’m playing Fulana,
it comes out when I’m playing Angel. But
I’ve played Prince Charming. I think if you’re
an actor and you say that [gays can’t play
straight roles], you’re not giving yourself
enough credit and if you’re watching and
seeing someone you don’t believe, then you’re
not buying into the scene.”
If anything, Jones says he sees his race as a
bigger roadblock than his sexuality, especially
in less diverse areas. In high school, he re
calls, his drama teacher wouldn’t cast him as
Curly in Oklahoma ! because, she told him,
“You don’t look like a cowboy and you never
really will look like a cowboy.”
In Portland, there simply aren’t enough
roles open to African-American men, and
Jones says he finds himself competing with a
small group of actors for the same roles, de
spite age and other differences among them.
Jones says he is excited to he a part o f a
play that leaves more open to interpretation.
BO OM CRACKLEFLY is like nothing he’s
ever seen or read.
“It’s completely original and thought pro
voking,"Jones says. “It’s beautiful. Once you get
right down to it, the words are gorgeous.” J0]
BOOM CRACKLEFLY, March 25-April
16 , Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Satur
days at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.; Milagro
Theatre, 525 SE Stark St.; $14-$25; 503-236-
7253 or milagro.com.
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