Beach enjoys this
offbeat show

By Rita Charleston
For the Times

"If you want to become an actor then you have to get used to rejection. But I think there’s rejection in most businesses. And as for me, I’d rather be rejected doing something I really love," said actor David Beach, now appearing in the U.S. premiere of Ying Tong — A Walk With The Goons, at the Wilma Theatre through March 16.
Before Monty Python invaded television, The Goon Show, a famous BBC Radio comedy series showcasing its surreal humor, puns, catchphrases and groundbreaking sound effects, had an entire nation laughing week after week.
In his play, UK writer Roy Smiles delves into the mind of Goon writer and "godfather of alternative comedy," Spike Milligan, who many believe was a true comic genius yet burdened with trying to keep it all together as strange fellows sprang from his fragmented brain. Fellow Goons, the future Dr. Strangelove Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and announcer Wallace Greenslade, also appear and try to keep Milligan from losing his mind.
Beach, who most recently appeared in the New York City premiere of Michael Hollinger’s Opus, plays Milligan, a role, he said, that challenges his ability to recreate a real person whose tortured brilliance and comic genius stemmed from his reaction — post traumatic stress syndrome — to his service in World War II. Additionally, Milligan was bipolar, which presented another set of problems.
"In fact," explained Beach, "I play a good quarter of the play in a straightjacket because in some of Milligan’s hospitalizations — and there had been many — they had to restrain him because he was a danger to himself and others. He once attacked Peter Sellers with a potato peeler, which may seem like the fanciful invention of a playwright but is actually based on a real incident."
It is a very funny play that also has deep underpinnings of sadness. "Milligan himself always thought he was dealing with madness, and his own comic genius was a way of handling that," Beach said. "The man also ended up being an anti-war activist, worked for saving the planet and more. He was way ahead of his time."
Beach, who grew up in Ohio and planned to become a classical musician, admitted he got tired spending six hours a day in a rehearsal hall all by himself. "It’s not as much fun as spending six hours rehearsing with others. I discovered that while attending an art camp, and eventually turned to acting," he said.
Still, Beach never fully gave up on his musicianship, and at times is called upon to use his abilities — real or faked — in roles he has played. "For example, in my role in Opus I had to play the violin. And although it wasn’t real, I was able to give the illusion that I was," he said.
A graduate of Dartmouth College and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, Beach has gone on to appear in many Broadway productions, including Mama Mia, Urinetown and Moon Over Buffalo. He also has done many roles off-Broadway and in regional shows.
"My favorite time as an actor is when I’m working on new pieces. I would classify this show as new because it’s an American premiere and that’s exciting to me," he said. "I get to be involved in the process more. In the same way, I did the original version of Urinetown off and on Broadway, and had a certain sense of ownership that you don’t get by doing a show that’s been up for a long time. Then you’re basically just trying to fit in a puzzle that is already set." ••
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