Peter J. Hegel (Comm '11)
Peter J. Hegel (the III) is a character. The one he portrays in real life — involved in campus theater, mock trial, and karate — is a seemingly suave, archetypal jack-of-all-trades. Hegel, with his backlog of accents, can tackle Cockney, Parisian, and even backwoods Southern, but for his latest stage role in Arsenic and Old Lace, the suburban Chicago junior had to attempt something new — playing stupid for his role as the dimwitted Officer Klein.
Arsenic and Old Lace, a tale of murder and mayhem, is showing at the Ethel M. Barber Theater through November 8, and it also features award-winning Northwestern acting faculty Cindy Gold and Mary Poole. We talked to Hegel about his onstage “poisoning” experience, his love of David Mamet, and why his latest show bleeds purple.
What’s one thing people should know about Arsenic and Old Lace that they don’t already know?
There is also a famous movie production of this play. It is hysterically funny, the set is stunning, and everyone who worked on it — including several alumni and grad students — is associated with Northwestern in some way!
What’s your favorite play or musical?
Favorite play: Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. In my opinion, this play is the ultimate American tragedy because it represents the “American dream,” but then shows how Willy Loman failed to achieve it.
Drama, comedy, or musical theater?
Oh… that’s a tough one. I will say this — I prefer watching comedies, but I prefer acting in dramas.
Broadway: Yea or nay?
I’m a fan of Broadway! Though I must say, I would prefer to act in movies and television.
What’s the most embarrassing or bizarre thing that has happened to you during a performance?
In one show, some kids decided to play a prank on me. They knew I had to drink a whole glass of “wine” (really grape juice), so, on the last night of the performance, they mixed the grape juice with soy sauce without my knowing. When the part of the performance came, I tipped the glass and then half-realized what I drank, and I fell down pretending that I just got poisoned. Thankfully, that was what I was supposed to do, but this time I felt like I was actually poisoned!
David Mamet or Tony Kushner?
David Mamet. I think it’s because I can see a level of absolute realism in his plays.
Which famous person’s career would you like to have?
Dustin Hoffman. He just has such a talent for really embodying a character, and the spectrum of characters that he plays… has no boundaries.
