Rick Mickley Magically Ages 35 Years in 35 Seconds in Holiday Farce

The many faces of Rick Mickley:  Mr. Yarmowich (up left); 
Paul Gordon (right, with Ansley Barnard as wife Kaitlyn);
and Dr. Tim (down left, with Tristan Seaver as husband Jerry)
PHOTOS by Jim Kelly

In Let Nothing You Dismay, adoptive parents Allie and Kevin await the ultimate Christmas present – the birth of their child on Christmas Day!   But against their wishes, their entire extended family descends on the hospital while they wait.  Ten actors play 25 roles in this crazy holiday farce at the Farmington Players Barn Theater, which runs November 30 – December 15.   Barn veteran Rick Mickley plays three diverse roles:  Kevin’s father, Paul, a 55 year-old New York politician with a 30 year-old trophy wife; Doctor Tim, age 53, a gay married veterinarian; and Mr. Victor Yarmowich, a spritely 88 year-old Jewish man.  Of all the actors in this play, Rick’s characters have the widest age range which presents some interesting challenges.  As he says, “Aging 35 years in a quick change play means my acting will have to sell my age and character. I have to distinguish the characters by voice changes, costumes and delivery. Luckily, they are very distinct characters and present individual challenges, but it’s easier to get into character because they are so different:  Paul – the politician – is the exact opposite of me. A fun challenge to be egocentric. He’s a tough character because it’s all about him. Dr. Tim is happy, caring, and generous, just like me. And Mr. Yarmowich is just fun. A happy caring man.”

The main theme of Let Nothing You Dismay is family, and being there for each other in times of need.   Rick can definitely relate to this because, as he says, “I recently lost a very close loved one, and my family and friends stepped up big time to be there for me. Even when I thought I just wanted to be alone, they stayed by my side to get me through a tough time. (That’s why I keep them around!)”  And Rick knows that “as we get older, we surround ourselves with the people we choose to be around, the family and friends we love. Those people help us make life just a little more enjoyable. Our family isn’t chosen but they love us unconditionally, and are there for us, sometimes whether we want them or not, and most often, it’s for the better.”  This show brings these messages home by reinforcing the “great lesson and reminder that family and love is unconditional, and we need to surround ourselves with that love always, but especially during the holidays.” 

Rick sees Let Nothing You Dismay as “the perfect holiday show!  It’s got everything!  New life, death of a loved one, old love, new love, humor, politics, food, animals and cultural diversity, to name a few. The one liners are hilarious, and the depth of the characters happens so fast in the great dialogue the author has put together.”   Rick has also been impressed by “the challenge from director Tony Targan to find our characters and bring out their personality in the short times they are on the stage. He has made it very comfortable for us to dig into our own past to bring out the people we want the audience to see. That is the sign of a great director!”   

Let Nothing You Dismay has 10 performances at the Farmington Players Barn Theater from November 30 – December 15.  The show is proudly sponsored by Weinstein Jewelers.  Tickets are available online at farmingtonplayers.org or by emailing boxoffice@farmingtonplayers.org or calling the Barn box office at 248-553-2955.