Chris Louis, a theater major, will graduate from University of Massachusetts Boston in the spring. Louis spoke with the Mass Media about his time at UMass Boston and his role as Officer Lockstock in the Department of Performing Arts’ production of “Urinetown.”
Q: You came to UMass Boston unsure of what you would major in. How did you decide on theater?
A: I enrolled as undeclared and I decided to get into psychology. But I found that I wasn’t into it that much, and my grades were slipping. I figured, why not actually do something that I enjoyed doing when I was growing up? So I chose theater. I immediately realized that [theater] is actually what I enjoy doing at college. My main thing is to be able to do film and TV one day, but theater has been my stepping stone to realizing the talent that I have. I’m glad I decided to go into theater when I did. I will not leave the university with any regrets.
Q: When did you become a theater major?
A: I have been taking theater classes since my sophomore year. That is when I got more involved with some of the plays — doing some of the musicals. “Urinetown” is one of the musicals that I actually enjoyed doing because of all the satire. I get a lot of excitement and thrill out of doing satire.
Q: “Urinetown” has been more enjoyable than other musicals?
A: Not that they were less enjoyable, but I felt like I really had a good time with “Urinetown.” I had done musicals back in high school and I was in the “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” here at UMass Boston. That was fun to do. I had a minimal role, but I got to see what it was like and be part of the first musical done at UMass Boston in over 15 years. But in “Urinetown,” playing Officer Lockstock, who is both a character in the musical and the narrator, allowed me to go all out and really put on a show that people will enjoy.
Q: Who is Officer Lockstock?
A: Pretty much the guy who tells it all, lays down the law, comes direct to the audience — tells them a story of love, greed, corruption, and a little revolution that starts up as well.
Lockstock has to be straight forward and direct with everybody. When this attitude is humorous to others, it is not so humorous to him, which makes him that much more of a lovable character. I figured that he was one of those characters that no matter what he says, it comes off as funny because of how serious he is. When Lockstock — I — talk to the audience during the show, I have to give the impression of being stern. The audience has to like me and be scared of me because Lockstock is this character that is humorous. But as the narrator, he has a really solid purpose.
Lockstock realizes what is going on. He see’s the overall circumstances. He makes sure things are told, and the audience is made well aware of the situation at hand. He is not about playing games or wasting time. He is very official and that is where the humor comes from. You want him to sort of step out of the cop-like attitude, but he won’t. That was something that was a bit of challenge because I think of myself as outgoing. It was a very interesting, very fun role to play. It was fun trying to figure out how to get this character to work with the other characters and connect with the audience. It comes down to how well the cast feeds off each other, and Lockstock is one of the balances in that mix.
Q: Lockstock has a sidekick doesn’t he?
A: Yeah, Little Sally. She is a young girl. She is very inquisitive, high curiosity — always asking questions to the point where Lockstock has to be like, “Run along. You ask too many questions. I can’t give you all the details. You’ll just have to see it for yourself.” She is character that Lockstock plays well off of. He is kind of a father figure. He is showing her the ways of the musical’s reality and telling her what’s what.
Q: Memorizing lines, getting up in front of people… difficult? Nerve wracking?
A: I feel like any production is nothing but hard work from start to finish, but it pays off in the end. It is always a great feeling when people come to see you do what you do best, which is act a fool on stage. But yeah, I think it is something that [actors] learn to do and know what it is like, but [actors] still love to do it. It is always a commitment. It may take over our lives, but since it’s something that we love to do, then why shouldn’t it?