Sandbox Theatre Project: The Blog

Moments after the treadmills finished whirring at Webster Fitness, CYSM actor Chris “Mystery Man” Mathews took up the clippers and put his beloved character to rest. This happens a lot: actors “leave their characters at the stage door”, but in a site-specific plays the rules seem to be a little different.

While the cast and crew of CYSM enjoyed celebratory closing night beers at the home of Justin and Cliff (aka, “the Sandbox office”), the party came to a climactic halt by the sudden buzz of high-powered clippers. Chris Mathews – with clippers held high and head bowed in reverence – headed straight for the bathroom to say goodbye to our favorite marathon mystery runner, Mystery Man from CYSM. Anyone familiar with the history of long-distance running will invariably come across the name Steve Prefontaine (or just “Pre”). Pre was a running phenomenon – at one point holding all the American records in every running event – in the early 1970s when thick moustaches and shaggy hair were all the rage. When it came time to approach someone for the role of Mystery Man – the enigmatic mysterious man running on the treadmill in the corner of Webster Fitness for the entire length of the play – we knew who to call: Chris Mathews. In fact, I believe it was a call from co-writer/company member/“Billy” from CYSM Cliff Chamberlain that made it all happen:

     (the sound of 4 long cell phone rings.) 

CHRIS MATHEW’S CELL PHONE
this is chris. leave a message.

      (”beeeeeeeep!”)

CLIFF
hey rickshaw, what’s happening. you know who this is. you better believe it buddy! so we’ve got this show, we’re going through with it, and we’ve got a part we’ve written and designed just for you. well, let me just sell it to you: you’re the mystery man. you’re the guy who’s running. you’re pretty much running for most of the show. well actually, you’re pretty much running for the WHOLE show. you don’t ever stop. you’re pretty much fucking running during the entire thing.  

And Mr. Mathews agreed. Luckily. But there was one condition: Mystery Man had to be not-so-loosely based on Pre. And thus the moustache was born. 

To laughter and applause, Chris re-appeared from the bathroom, with exhausted-clipper in hand, and upper lip newly exposed to the world. Using his characteristic simplicity, Chris emerged shorn, put down his clippers, picked up his beer, and muttered to the smiling group “Pre lives”. Yes he does, Chris. Yes he does.   

going…

going…

still going…

GONE!