
DATE: Thursday, November 6, 1997            TAG: 9711050709

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 08   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SMITHFIELD                        LENGTH:   81 lines

NEW YORKER FINDS BETTER LIFE, BETTER ROLES IN SMITHFIELD

Kathryn and Bob Strozak wanted out of Long Island. They dreamed of a warmer climate and a better standard of living.

``So,'' he said, ``we took a map - pointed - and here we are.''

They are on Appaloosa Way in Isle of Wight County, ``literally, a minute from Chuckatuck,'' said Bob Strozak, who spends his nights in Smithfield, emoting in the Smithfield Little Theatre fall production, ``The Fantasticks.''

It opens tonight and continues over the next three weekends.

Three plays is the sum total of Bob Strozak's theatrical experience.

Last season he played ze French character in ``Gold Dust,'' and later was a ``Witness For the Prosecution.''

``Those shows were good, but I have more confidence in this - by far,'' Strozak said. ``The cast is incredible. Any of them, in any other play, would steal the show. They're all committed to doing a good show.''

He is also filled with praise for the first-time director, April Chapman, and for ``the right people she chose to help her.''

Good help is needed - ``The Fantasticks'' ain't easy.

``The music is tough,'' Strozak said. ``Often, people sing different melodies at the same time.''

Generally, music is no problem for him.

``I like to play guitar, and I've written songs - rock `n' roll, and pop,'' Strozak said. ``It would be fun to warm up the audience, beforehand.''

What wouldn't be fun?

``Directing,'' Strozak said. ``I'd probably scream at people.''

The director has no problem with him. He learns his lines early so that chore does not distract from learning his character.

``I play Hucklebee. He's sort of simple and brash - a little bit country, but a man with experience,'' said Strozak, offering this ``Odd Couple'' analogy: ``He's more like Oscar Madison. The other guy is more like Felix Unger - standing straight, dressing neatly. My character dresses like a mix of somebody from `Beverly Hillbillies' and a '70s character.''

The other character he is talking about portrays the father of the girl. Strozak plays the father of the boy.

The men put a wall up between their houses so the young people cannot see each other.

``It's not a family feud, though,'' Strozak said, explaining, ``the parents fake the feuding because they know if you tell a kid `no' - the kid will do the opposite.

``And, the fathers really want the two to get married,'' said the 36-year-old performer, a software analyst for Daniel H. Wagner Associates in Hampton, which develops mathematical software and solutions.

Strozak's wife had the solution for her husband's frustrated acting ambitions.

``I've been wanting to do theater. The last couple of years I found excuses not to. My wife encouraged me. She knows if she doesn't push me, I won't do it,'' he said. ``She saw an audition notice in the paper and sent me to the theater.''

Strozak is impressed with the people he has met there.

``You wouldn't think you'd find a good base of talent,'' he said. ``I was surprised at how many good people there are in Smithfield.''

Himself included - now.

``I wasn't comfortable at all doing ``Gold Dust.'' It was my first time on stage. I didn't know technique,'' Strozak said, ``but I've been taking voice lessons, and I've gained confidence.''

He is sort-of used to an audience.

``I was a junior high school teacher several years on Long Island,'' Strozak said. ``I started right out of college.''

The Brooklyn native, who was raised on Long Island, has a bachelor's in math from Dowling College.

He learned about ``The Fantasticks'' as he went along.

``I knew nothing about it,'' Strozak said. ``Now, I can tell you - it's really entertaining.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

ABOUT THE PLAY

WHAT: Smithfield Little Theatre presents ``The Fantasticks.''

WHEN: 8 p.m. tonight through Saturday, Nov. 13-16, Nov. 20-22 and

2:30 p.m. Sunday.

WHERE: Smithfield Little Theatre, Commerce Street.

COST: Reserved seat tickets are $8, and are available at the box

office.