THE WAYWARD WOMEN opens March 17 at Mary’s Attic (5400 N Clark St)
JACK SHARKEY plays CORDELIUS
Q: How long have you been in Chicago?
JACK: Been in Chicago for seven years. Was on my way to Oregon but the axle broke, damn oxen died, then Rick and Morty got cholera. So I decided I’d hang my spurs here for a while. It’s been fun though. Gotten to work with bunch of great people at companies like DreamLogic, Bear Knuckle, E.D.G.E., and Unrehearsed Shakespeare. Once Wayward’s done I’m thinking about expanding my education by watching some reality television. Every time it’s on I hit mute and read a book.
Q: What can you tell us about Cordelius?
JACK: Cordelius is your best friend’s dog. Spending a day with him is great. Then you agree to watch him for a few weeks. He whines when left alone, keeps trying to squeeze between your legs, marks the entire house as his, and gives guilty looks that leave you going “What did he do this time?” So when your friend finally comes back it’s a huge relief. Still, when all’s said and done an afternoon in the park with him always sounds like a fun idea.
Q: How much experience do you have with Shakespeare? Do you have a favorite play? Character?
JACK: My grandfather gave me a paperback containing a couple of Shakespeare’s comedies including As You Like It, Midsummer, and Two Gents after I complained about being bored. It was that or go run off into the woods and frolic around. Ah the irony. Favorite Elizabethan play is Twelfth Night. I challenge anyone to do a production using that text that I won’t like. Favorite character is Hotspur from Henry IV Part I. Character’s a BAMF; tells the King of England to shove it sideways, throws down against an entire army after half his allies ditch him, and tells his wife how he’s going to make like Marvin Gaye with her in front of a bunch of royalty.
Q: Cordelius is, in some sense, a hopeless romantic who is very much out of his element (though he is handy with a sword). Do you relate to this character at all, or is he a complete stranger to you?
JACK: HA! Go back to 21-year-old me; there’d be a lot more similarities than differences twixt Cordelius and I. Granted I would’ve been prettier than him back then. Cordelius might have me beat now though. He’s aged better.
Q: Favorite line?
JACK: “’tis better to be pursued, by far I see, than to pursue.”
Persue Jack! ’tis far better! And watch him swoon!
THE WAYWARD WOMEN
March 17 – April 2
Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays
7:00pm
Mary’s Attic, 5400 N Clark Street
$3 at the Door