For Monterey Peninsula actress Jane Press an important part of creating a convincing stage character is knowing what it means to be a member of an audience. "Sitting in an audience, for me, is much more demanding than actually being up on that stage," she told me in an interview last month. "A lot of the acting choices I make are based on what I believe would communicate that character and her motives to me if I were sitting out front watching.

"Audiences are like snowflakes, no two are ever alike. When I worked at Magic Circle, we always had a nice six week run. It was amazing to observe how differently each audience responded to different points in the play, in comedy, of course, but also with heavy subject matter like THE LARAMIE PROJECT, every audience responded differently, yet all were moved.

"There are times when you think they’re just sitting out there - that they aren’t into any of it - and then they’ll stand up on their feet at the end and cheer you."

THE LARAMIE PROJECT - Jane second from left

Jane comes from a family with an extensive theatre background in New York and Los Angeles. "My mother was a wonderful actress on stage and television. She did a Billie Dawn in

Uncle Lester

BORN YESTERDAY that was unbelievable. Her brother, my Uncle Lester Colodny, was the greatest influence on me. A wonderful, talented writer, producer, director and actor. You can read about him in the Woody Allen biography by Eric Lax. Also, he and an agent named Roy Gerber were the inspiration for Oscar and Felix in THE ODD COUPLE. Neil and Danny Simon are (were - Danny died) childhood friends with my uncle. Shortly after my uncle divorced my aunt, he and Roy were living together at Roy's house in Bel Aire, and Neil came to visit their crazy household...the rest is history!

"He produced the old Dave Garroway ‘Today Show’ in New York and worked on ‘Your Show of Shows.’ The others would bring in all the possible pieces for the forthcoming show, but he was the one who chose what would actually go on the air. He brought in Woody Allen. . . Uncle Lester and my mother wrote things together and were involved their whole lives in show business. I started appearing on stage in LA when I was a teenager.

"These days I’ve got a young cousin named Elizabeth Hendrickson who’s just finished a long stint in New York in ‘All My Children’ and now she’s doing film and TV in Los Angeles."

Is Jane Press optimistic about the future of theatre on the Monterey Peninsula? "Oh, I am! When I moved here four years ago, I was absolutely floored at the theatre scene. I’d lived most of my life in LA, but I’m proud to be a member of the acting community here. I have a lot of respect and admiration for those who work from show to show. I’m not in a position to do that, but I try to do two a year, and when Magic Circle was still open I did four. Even though we’re going through tough times it’s a beautiful thing there are so many opportunities - well, there’s around six theatres in Carmel alone if you think about it."

I HATE HAMLET

I remembered her in I HATE HAMLET and MISALLIANCE, but I asked for a run-down of some other area shows and roles that stand out in her mind. "My two favorites were both with Magic Circle. Believe me, I’m feeling homeless without that place. LEND ME A TENOR is probably one of the two favorite stage experiences I’ve ever had anywhere. Credit Jack Stauffer for that. What a fine, fabulous director. . . It was a beautiful script, a beautiful, experienced cast, a remarkable director and a beautiful theatre. We had the most wonderful experience every night. An entire theatre audience laughing, having it wash over you in waves, is such a pleasure. THE LARAMIE PROJECT was the other local high point. I played eight different roles and that was fabulous.

"I’ve just finished doing MISALLIANCE for Marcia at the Indoor Forest. I was - stand by! - Lena Szsczepenovska. A Polish acrobat. And aviatrix. She enters after crashing her plane. It was

THE DAY THEY SHOT JOHN LENNON

fun. I also really enjoyed THE DAY THEY SHOT JOHN LENNON at the MPC Studio Theatre. It’s a wonderful play. I was Fran Lowenstein. She’s a character I knew inside out. A native New Yorker, Jewish, an ex-hippie. It was heavily New York - not just the inflection, which I have anyway - it comes out when I get excited. If anyone needs New York, I'm your girl.

"In preparing a part, character always comes first with me. Who she is. What she’s doing there. What she wants. Learning of the lines really comes second, and as they come there are always more insights into the character. It’s all there if the play is well written."

With all Jane’s enthusiasm about a variety of personally satisfying roles, I asked her to describe her least satisfying stage assignment. She didn’t even have to stop and think. "You’d recognize the place. It was a period piece and they brought in a costumer who didn’t like actors. I don’t see the sense of working in theatre if you don‘t like actors!

"She insisted I wear a pair of shoes a size and a half too small for me. They hurt, they interfered with my balance, they interfered with my blocking. Didn’t she know how important shoes are to actors? No. She refused to let me wear any others. I said, 'Just you try walking around for two and half hours in shoes a size and a half too small!

"What a contrast with Magic Circle! Elsa Con knew how to treat actors like human beings. It’s beyond a shame that that theatre is no longer operating out in Carmel Valley. I don’t know anyone - not anyone - who doesn’t agree!"

Has Jane ever done other non-performance theatre work like design or directing? "Not so far, but Garland Thompson and I are looking to put together some evenings of short scenes and monologues. There’s one from a Neil Simon piece and, if I can talk Garland into it, I’d love to direct that.

“I am also very interested in writing for the stage. I have a musical I've been working on called SLAMMIN' YENTAS - the musical score is done and the book, though fully outlined, I'm still working on. I'm always thinking up scenarios to write just to be able to work with some of my favorite actors i.e., Mary Ann Schaupp-Rousseau and I as sisters; Michael Robbins and I in some great comedy - his timing is impeccable! There are so many truly talented actors in our community, and I love to write specifically with many of them in mind.

"Besides acting onstage, my greatest passion is writing, arranging, performing and producing my own music in the recording studio. In the early '70's, I was an Artist-Under-Development to Paramount Records. Record production is possibly my greatest life passion."

Monica

I asked what she does when she’s not appearing in plays. "I have a small business - humidity control for commercial refrigeration. Whole Foods is one of my customers. It’s a service for controlling the humidity of walk-ins. Good for the client. Good for the environment. You can’t do better than that!

"And I have a beautiful daughter, who went to Santa Catalina. She always played the boys’ parts, because she‘s nice and tall. And beautiful and smart and talented too. Monica Johnson. She was in OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS at the Magic Circle, but she’s now at Berkeley getting a degree in sociology. I hope that she'll always continue to come back to theatre - what a terrific stage presence!"

LEND ME A TENOR Jane and Roo

Asked about items on her local theatre wish list, Jane was clear and coherent. "I’d like to see Magic Circle somehow back in action. What Elsa had to offer with her background as a professional psychologist gave a unique slant to her choice of material and her way of directing . . .

"I’d like to see more comedies directed by Jack Stauffer. I’m counting the days till I can work with him again. And I want to see Roo Hornady back on stage, preferably in something where I can be with her."