Area actor's credibility grows as director

Steppenwolf ensemble member Rick Snyder is best known as an actor, most notably in the acclaimed Steppenwolf production of "The Man Who Came to Dinner" and The Goodman's annual production of "A Christmas Carol" (in which Snyder has appeared as both Bob Cratchit and Scrooge).

But he's also built up cred as a director, including the 2003 Steppenwolf production "Orange Flower Water."

Snyder's current project is a revival of Brian Friel's 1989 drama, "The Aristocrats," at the Strawdog Theatre.

"I was drawn to this play," Snyder says, "because it reminded me of an Irish Chekhov."

Many have drawn a connection between "The Aristocrats" and the four great, dark masterpieces that Chekhov wrote at the end of his career: "Three Sisters," "The Seagull," "The Cherry Orchard" and "Uncle Vanya." For one, Friel, like Chekhov, uses the play to study in detail a handful of characters dealing with the slings and arrows of everyday life.

"It's a great ensemble piece," Snyder said. "Great characters who, for different reasons, have lost their way in life."

But true to their Irish heritage, being lost only makes Friel's characters more eloquent.

"The play is a play of conversations," Snyder said. "An Irish language play. It has been a challenge to get all the information and ideas out clearly while not sacrificing the very deep human emotions."

As an actor, Snyder excels at conveying with very little effort deep human emotions. So why did he leave his comfort zone and jump from acting to directing?

"After being onstage for many years, I was ready to try a new challenge," he said. "I had been trying to direct for years, but something acting-wise always came up and I had to let it go. I finally decided to just do it even if I lost some acting jobs.

"I liked being able to see the whole picture," he said, "and an actor often has a somewhat limited perception of things, even how he or she is actually being perceived."

As a director, Snyder has a much more global view of what's happening and more responsibility for the overall success of a production.

"I find it truly rewarding helping an actor achieve a fine, detailed performance," he said. "I take care of my actors. I guess because I am an actor. I believe I know how to communicate with them. I understand actors."

Now that Snyder is directing more, does he find it hard to go back to acting?

"No," he said emphatically. "I don't find it hard. The only problem I have had is that when I am acting, after having directed, it's hard for me to shut up."